Detail

St James’ Park first became home to Newcastle United in 1892 after two local clubs, Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End decided to merge. Before this the aristocratic ground had been used to host football matches for two years previously. Situated within Town Moor, the Leazes Terrace was constructed in 1830, and today remains a Grade 1 listed building due to its Georgian design. Traditionally seen as a working-class sport, the development of St James park has often caused conflict amongst local residents, even as far back as 1899. When Newcastle constructed the first 30,000 capacity Gallowgate End in anticipation of the football league, many residents opposed the stand, and this has been a reoccurring theme throughout St James Park history. In the 1920s famous football architect Archibald Leitch’s designs were sadly never implemented, and planning difficulties were cited as the main reason why Newcastle United’s ground failed to host group matches of the 1966 World Cup. With further attempts quashed by the local council, the club at one stage even contemplated sharing with their great rivals Sunderland A.F.C. After the tragic events of the Bradford City Stadium Fire in 1985 and Hillsborough in 1989, there was an increased emphasis on spectator safety, and the council became more receptive to renovation. A series of modest expansions increased the clubs capacity to 36,610 by 1995 however it wasn’t until the Freddy Shepherd lead expansion in 1998 that St James Park really came into its own. After plans for a 55,000 capacity stadium in Leazes Park inspired by the San Siro were rejected, Newcastle focused on expansion, and the Milburn Stand and Leazes Stand were rebuilt at a cost of £42 million. Completely filled in, the two stands consists of seating across two-tiers and are impressively large compared to the other two stands of St James Park.

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