Talk of St James’ Park expansion is rife at the moment, with Newcastle United’s owners looking into the prospect of getting more bums on seats for matches.
At present, the ground holds 52,000 but speculation suggests any possible expansion could take that up to 60,000 and beyond.
Of course, it won’t be easy. The challenge Leazes Terrace presents as well as any possible Gallowgate capacity increase, with the road and Metro system below, make things tough for the club’s owners.
However, the likes of CEO Darren Eales and part owners Mehrdad Ghodoussi and Amanda Staveley have reiterated the want to not only remain at the current site, but open its doors to a much wider audience.
St James’ Park, of course, has changed a lot through the decades, though. From the very early days, right through modernisation and the most recent expansion around the turn of the century taking capacity from around 36,000 up to its current size.
Here at NewcastleWorld, we love all things Newcastle United and St James’ Park has a very special place in our hearts. So as part of a tribute to the place we all know and love, here’s a retro feature with snaps and pics of the site right through the years. We’ll even take you as far back as 1904.
What are your favourite memories of Newcastle United’s iconic ground? Maybe some of these pictures, well the later ones, will job your memories.
1. A very different view
St James Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, 1975 (Newcastle Libraries)
2. Derby day in 1904
A photograph of the Newcastle v Sunderland derby match St. James Park Newcastle upon Tyne taken in 1904. Lord Beresford Admiral of the Channel Fleet is about to kick off the match. (Newcastle Libraries)
3. From Blackett Street
This is an aerial view of Blackett street in 1960. Eldon Square can be seen on the right. St. James’ Park can be viewed in the distance (Newcastle Libraries)
4. King Kev
A photograph of a Newcastle United F.C. football match St. James Park Newcastle upon Tyne taken in 1982. Kevin Keegan is tackling another player. Houses in Leazes Park Terrace can be seen in the background (Newcastle Libraries)