Newcastle United: A Premier League Contender

Newcastle United Football Club, affectionately known as "The Magpies," was founded on December 9, 1892, through the merger of two local clubs, Newcastle East End and West End. The intention behind this union was to create a club strong enough to rival professional teams from other regions (source).

In their debut season (1893-94) in the Second Division of the English Football League, they finished fourth. Their early years were marked by gradual progress with an important milestone being their promotion to First Division in 1898 (source).

Notable early players like Bill McCracken and Colin Veitch helped shape the team's initial successes. In particular, McCracken's offside trap strategy played a significant role in establishing Newcastle as a top-tier club.

Amongst several successful periods in their history, two eras stand out for Newcastle United - the early 1900s under manager Frank Watt and mid-late '90s managed by Kevin Keegan.

Under Frank Watt’s management (1904–1935), Newcastle won three First Division championships (1905, 1907 & 1909) and made it into five FA Cup finals – winning one in 1910 (source).

The era fondly referred to as 'The Entertainers' started when ex-player Kevin Keegan became manager at St James' Park in February 1992. They secured promotion to Premier League at the end of that season. With legendary players like Alan Shearer, David Ginola and Les Ferdinand, the Magpies finished second in the Premier League twice (1996 and 1997) during Keegan’s tenure (source).

The Tyne-Wear derby against Sunderland is Newcastle United's most intense rivalry. The animosity dates back to 1883, with both teams representing two different cities within close geographic proximity. These matches are always fervent affairs, contributing a significant chapter in the club’s history (source).

Matches against Middlesbrough - known as the 'Tyne-Tees' derby - are also notable though less heated than their clashes with Sunderland.

St James' Park has been Newcastle United's home since their formation. With a capacity of over 52,000 seats, it is one of England's largest stadiums (source).

Known for its passionate crowd, St James’ Park provides an intimidating atmosphere for visiting teams. One memorable game was when they came from behind to beat Arsenal 4-3 in February 2011 after being four goals down at half-time – evidencing what can be achieved at this fortress when fans fully get behind their team (source).

Newcastle United has a large global fan base due to past successes on pitch and iconic players like Alan Shearer. Their die-hard supporters are collectively called "Toon Army". The fan base is united by the club's traditions, such as the black and white stripes of their home kit.

The 'Toon Army' is known for its vocal support with numerous chants including the famous "Blaydon Races". Traditions also extend off-pitch, where each home game is preceded by fans gathering at local pubs around St James’ Park before marching to stadium (source).

1. Winning their first League Championship (1904/05).
2. Capturing their second League Championship just two years later (1906/07).
3. Lifting their first FA Cup trophy in 1910.
4. Securing third First Division title (1908/09 season).
5. Post-war success: Three FA cup victories in five years - 1951, 1952 & 1955.
6. Kevin Keegan's appointment as manager and subsequent promotion to Premier League (1992).
7. Completing a league double over arch-rivals Sunderland during the ‘95/'96 Premiership campaign.
8. Signing Alan Shearer from Blackburn Rovers, who became Newcastle's all-time leading goalscorer.
9. Historic comeback against Arsenal on February 5th, 2011 (from being four goals down at half-time to drawing the match). 10.Finishing fifth in Premier League under manager Alan Pardew (2011–12), qualifying them for UEFA Europa League next season (source).