Wednesday 8 May 2013

Around the grounds piece for TwentyFour7Football

Since 1892 Newcastle United Football Club have resided in this magnificent stadium. St James' Park can boast at being the third highest capacity stadium in the Barclays Premier League, beaten only by Manchester United's Old Trafford and Arsenal's Emirates stadium.

The ground is steeped in history and has seen some amazing games over the years, including the 5-0 drubbing of Barcelona and more recently the humiliation of local rivals Sunderland in a 5-1 victory on Halloween.

Since 1892 disagreements and worrying financial positions had meant that the stadium wasn't developed to its full potential, apart from the West Stand being renovated and named the Milburn stand in honour of Newcastle's greatest number 9, Jackie Milburn. Until 1992 when Sir John Hall arrived on Tyneside, the Gallowgate end was transformed and the Leazes end structure rose from the ground and was re-named the Sir John Hall stand.

In the following years United's popularity grew to an extent that lead to a second tier being added to the Milburn and Leazes ends. Work was completed in August 2000 and the stadium now has the largest cantilever roof in Europe.

Although the stadium was re-named the Sports Direct Arena for a short period of time, new sponsors Wonga.com brought back the legendary name at the end of last year. Everyone knows that as long as this truly breathtaking stadium is seen on the beautiful skyline in Newcastle, it will forever be known as St James' Park.


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