The Rebuilt St.James' Park

The inaugural game against Derby County on Weds 23rd August 2000 saw an official attendance of 51,327, against a claimed capacity of 52,143 places available. 

That figure then climbed to over 52,000 by 2003, reaching its highest level to date on 28th August 2006 when 52,327 were present for the Manchester United game - the largest crowd ever to sit at St.James'. 

Extra seats being added to existing areas was the reason for the small increase to this figure - achieved by the narrowing of aisles etc.  

Rebuilding work in the Milburn Stand to alter the Directors Box and press areas then saw capacity for the 2008/09 season set at 52,138.

The last time crowds of this size were accommodated at St.James' was in season 75/76, when on 18th February 1976, 52,760 were on hand for a scoreless draw in the FA Cup against Bolton. For a larger league attendance, one must go back to Boxing Day 1973, when 55,638 saw Paul Madeley score the only goal of the game for Leeds, and send the points back to Yorkshire.

However, the all-time ground record of 68,386 set on 3rd September 1930 when Hughie Gallacher returned in the colours of Chelsea seems safe, barring further massive and seemingly unnecessary building work.

Having said that though, how many of the 7,184 (including both NUFC.com authors) who witnessed a home victory over Wrexham in May 1979 would have believed that 50,000 + crowds would ever return to the ground.....  

Click here for views of SJP in July 2004

Click here for views of the "New" SJP

Click here for views of SJP during 1999/2000

Click here for views of the "Old" SJP

Click here for views of SJP from Gateshead

Training ground:

The first team have trained at the purpose -built Newcastle United Training Centre more commonly known as Darsley Park since July 2003.

It's situated to the west of the main Newcastle -Edinburgh railway line, south of the A191 Whitley Road and next door to the  
Northumberland FA base of Whitley Park .

A valuable part of the centre is the full-size indoor training facility, which has an artificial grass-like surface called FieldTurf, which was also utilised on some outdoor pitches at Darsley Park and the adjacent Academy facility at Little Benton.


Other local sportsmen to have benefited from the facilities at Darsley Park include the Falcons rugby team who used the indoor facility to train when bad weather rendered their Kingston Park pitches unplayable.

England fast bowler and toon season ticker holder Steve Harmison has also spent some there time doing fitness work with the Newcastle side. 

Previous venues:

St.James' Park / Hunters Moor, Newcastle
Fenham, Newcastle
Maiden Castle, Durham
Riverside ground, Chester-le-Street

Youth Academy:

After years of borrowing inappropriate facilities and sharing changing facilities with hockey-playing students and the like, a proposal was made in the late 1990s for an Academy base to be constructed at Waverdale in the Walkergate area of Newcastle.

Initial planning consent from the local authority was gained in March 2000, but in December 2000, some publicity was given to the fact that as the site had formerly been a rubbish tip, a  special permit would needed to be obtained from the government's Environmental Agency before work to clear the site could begin.

That plan was subsequently abandoned and a nine hole golf course and driving range have been mooted for the Waverdale site, while Newcastle looked elsewhere for suitable land.

Since season 2003-04, United's youngsters have been housed in a purpose -built headquarters at Little Benton, located to the immediate south of Darsley Park.

In September 2004, the club hired the facility out to a TV production company who broadcast the Sky programme "The Match" from Little Benton. 

And along with St.James' Park and Darsley Park, Little Benton has also been used by the film crews shooting the football movie "Goal!" about an unknown youngster who signs for Newcastle United.

Previous venues:

Blue Flames aka Whitley Park, Newcastle 
Bullocksteads, Kenton Bank Foot, Newcastle
Federation Park, Dunston, Newcastle
Hillheads, Whitley Bay
Riverside, Chester-le-Street 
Riverside, Durham