Last Update:
August 12, 2024
St James’ Park is one of the biggest stadiums in the country and one that generates a fantastic atmosphere. The stadium is similar to Old Trafford in that it is fairly lopsided with some stands much bigger than others.
On approaching St James’ Park, it looks absolutely huge, dominating the skyline. This is thanks in large to the additional tiers that were added to both the Milburn and Leazes Stands in 2000 that increased the capacity to over 52,400. These stands have a huge lower tier, with a row of executive boxes and a smaller tier above. It has a spectacular looking roof, which at the time was the largest cantilever structure in Europe.
St James’ Park looks somewhat unbalanced with one half of the ground being significantly larger than the other two sides. These remaining two sides the Gallowgate End and East Stand are both of the same height and are two-tiered.
The stadium is also totally enclosed with all four corners being filled with seating. In October 2014, a large video screen was installed on the upper side of the Sir John Hall Stand, which looks rather odd, in terms of its position.
Outside the stadium, there are three statues; of former players Jackie Milburn and Alan Shearer, plus former manager Sir Bobby Robson.
Where is the away section at St James’ Park?
Away fans are housed on the very far side of the Leazes Stand, in the top tier. It is one of the most famous away ends in England due to the number of stairs you have to climb to get to it.
What is the away allocation at Newcastle United?
Up to 3,000 supporters can be accommodated in this section for league games and a larger allocation is available for cup games.
How many steps is the away end at St James Park?
There are 14 flights of stairs up to the away section – that is 140 stairs to be negotiated, although there is a lift available if you are unable to take the stairs.
As a result, you are situated quite far away from the pitch. So if you are scared of heights or have poor eyesight then this may not be for you.
On the plus side, you do get a wonderful view of the whole stadium, plus the Newcastle skyline and countryside in the distance. Away fans also get the best view of the new video screen that has been installed as it is located on that side of the stand.
The concourse is spacious and the food on offer includes pies, hot dogs and burgers. Alcohol is also available to be purchased before kick off and at half time. There are also televisions on the concourse which show the game being played.
The atmosphere in St James’ Park can be electric and it is certainly one of the best footballing stadiums in the country A trip to Newcastle is certainly one of the better away trips in the Premier League and one that many fans look forward to.
After Newcastle were purchased by the Saudi-backed PIF in 2021, it seemed inevitable that a new stadium or a St James’ Park expansion would be on the cards.
In early 2023, the owners team at St James’ Park made a significant step to support the expansion plans of the stadium. Rewind to 2019 and former owner, Mike Ashley, sanctioned the sale of a large plot of land known as ‘Strawberry Place’. That land had been earmarked for over 300 residential units and a substantially sized hotel. Now though, it belongs to the club again.
Later in 2023, the owners confirmed that they were planning on expanding St James’ Park. They have asked architects to undertake a feasibility study to develop the Gallowgate End and East Stand so that they match up with the other two stands.
This expansion would remove the lopsided aesthetic of St James’ Park and increase the capacity to around 65,000 making it the third largest club stadium in the country after Old Trafford and the London Stadium.
No timescale has been set but the new owners are in a rush to make Newcastle a powerhouse in world football so watch this space.
Although Newcastle United have forever known St James’ Park as their home they weren’t the first team to play there with Newcastle Rangers, who folded in 1884, the original tenants. The Magpies moved in at the point of formation in 1892. At that time, the ground consisted of, well, not a lot. The first stand was added in 1899; it was Gallowgate End and allowed for 30,000 standing fans. Six years later the capacity increased by 100% with the build of what is now known as the Milburn Stand. A combination of legal challenges, financial woes and poor on field performances meant stadium expansions were few and far between for decades upon decades despite various plans being drawn up.
Half a job was done on the East Stand whilst the West Stand development, which was rushed through after the Bradford City fire out the worries up the club hierarchy, was hardly going to win architectural prizes with a lack of funds preventing full plans being met. In the mid-nineties things finally started to come together though; all four stands were either tarted up or completely rebuilt whilst each corner was filled in too to round the Newcastle stadium off. It took the capacity to 36,000. A few years later and expansion was on the menu again under Freddy Shepherd; two stands and a corner saw second tiers added at a cost of over £40m. It is a hefty price tag but did see the capacity jump to 52,000.
The Newcastle fans are generally welcoming to visitors and even bars located at or very close to the stadium such as Nine (Shearers Bar) or the Strawberry, will normally admit away fans.
Other options for away fans at Newcastle are:
- The Head of Steam – 2 Neville St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 5EN
- The Newcastle Tap – 4 Neville St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 5EN
- Percy Arms – Percy St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RW
At the end of the A1(M) continue onto the A1 North and then the A184 towards Newcastle. Continue along this road, bearing left onto the A189. Continue over the River Tyne on the Redheugh Bridge, from which the ground can be clearly seen. Carry on straight up the dual carriageway (St James Boulevard). This leads directly to the Gallowgate end of the ground. As the ground is so central there are a number of pay and display car parks in the vicinity.
Where is the best place to park for the Newcastle game?
Park At Newcastle College
Around a 10-15 minute walk away from St James Park is Newcastle College, where around 400 car parking spaces are available for Newcastle matches. The cost to park there is £4, which is paid on entry and then you will be given a voucher to display on your dashboard. The car park is supervised with security coverage.
The entrance to the College car park is off a roundabout on Scotswood Road (A695), see this Newcastle College location map. If approaching Newcastle from the South and following the directions above, then after bearing left onto the A189 and crossing over the River Tyne. Then at the next set of traffic lights turn left onto the A695 signposted Blaydon/Metro Radio Arena and at the next roundabout turn right into the College car park.
The car park is in easy walking distance of Newcastle Railway Station and City Centre. To walk straight to the stadium, then exit the car park via the entrance you drove through and turn left. At the traffic lights turn left onto the main St James Road. Just walk straight up St James Road and you will soon spot the stadium up in front of you. It is just over half a mile from the College to St James Park.
Park & Ride
There is a Matchday Park & Ride service which operates from Gateshead Metrocentre (NE11 9YG). It is free to park there and the Bus costs £2 return. The X50 Soccerbus operated by Go North East commences two hours before kick off. It leaves from the middle of the Metrocentre Coach Park and returns from Barrack Road (behind the Milburn Stand) with the last bus leaving one hour after the match has ended.
There is also the option of renting a private driveway near St James’ Park via YourParkingSpace.co.uk.
Newcastle Central Railway Station is half a mile from St James’ Park and takes around 10-15 minutes to walk.
Thanks to Dave Lawson for providing the directions: “Come out of the station, across the two zebra crossings and then head up the pedestrianised Pink Lane. Then cross Westgate Road at the top. Then up pedestrianised Bath Lane with the old city walls on your right. Turn right on to Stowell Street (Chinatown). At the end of Stowell Street bear left up St Andrews Street by Rosie’s Bar, under the ornate Chinese arch. Then left up Gallowgate. St James is on your right.”
You can also get the metro from inside the train station up to the ground, which has its own St. James’ stop. Go on the metro from the Central Railway Station to Monument Metro Station where you need to change trains to go to St James’ Park.
Newcastle Airport is located seven miles away from the City Centre. The easiest way to get into Newcastle is to go by the Metro transit system. The airport has its own Metro station which is situated next to the passenger terminal. There are frequent departures to the City Centre and the journey time is 23 minutes.
See a map of the entire Metro system (PDF file on the Nexus website).
The Newcastle United Main reception is located off Barrack Road, and is the point to gain access to most hospitality suites and executive boxes.
At the Leazes stand end, there is a multi-storey car park, while the East stand is accessed via Leazes terrace.
Strawberry Place serves the Gallowgate end, and there are accessible entrances at every side of the ground.
The map below gives more detail on the St James’ Park entrances.
As with most clubs nowadays, the ticket pricing at Newcastle United’s stadium, St James’ Park, is tiered depending on the ‘grade’ of game you’re watching and the area of the stadium you sit in.
Ticket prices for Category AA matches (the most expensive), are as follows:
- Adults – £32-70
- Over 65s – £26-58
- Young adults – £17-38
- Juniors – £17-38
A full breakdown of the current pricing can be found on the official club website.
- Official Programme: £3
Newcastle vs Sunderland rivalry: The hatred felt between Newcastle and Sunderland goes far outside of football with the underpinning event the English Civil War, which started in 1642. Football wise it’s obviously more than that. The two cities are only 12 miles apart, which is very little when you consider the landscape of professional football in the north east; it’s not loaded with clubs like London! Despite that, both teams originally had rivals within their own cities. As those rivals fell by the wayside, the ferocity had to be directed somewhere and they found each other. They’ve played 156 times since first locking horns in 1888 with both teams having won 53.
Newcastle vs Middlesbrough rivalry: We’d be telling porkies if we said the fans inside the Newcastle stadium are wild with excitement when Boro come to visit; they’re just not that fussed. Despite that the Tyne-Tees derby does put two teams together that have under 50 miles between them; it’s not a big time rivalry but does bring a little extra carnival to the terraces.
For details of disabled facilities and club contact at the ground please visit the relevant page on the Level Playing Field website.
When you are a club as big as Newcastle United is is not surprising that you want to allow your fanbase access to the club stadium. There are regular tours of St James’ Park going on. The prices attached to those tours are detailed below:
- Adults – £20
- Juniors – £11
- Concessions – £16
You can save £2 on each of the above prices by booking in advance.
In addition to the standard club and museum tours, the Newcastle United stadium is also accessible in multiple ways. There are autism friendly tours, rooftop tours, private tours and special event tours such as ‘Santa Tours’. All of these tour types are detailed in more depth on the official club website.
The song most commonly associated to Newcastle United is ‘Going Home’.
Below is a compilation of Newcastle United Fan Songs.
Record Attendance
68,386 v Chelsea
Division One, September 3rd, 1930.
Modern All Seated Attendance Record
52,758 v Liverpool
Premier League, Feb 18th, 2023.
Average Attendance
2022-2023: 52,127 (Premier League)
2021-2022: 51,487 (Premier League)
2020-2021: N/A (Covid-19)
2019-2020: 48,248 (Premier League)
2018-2019: 51,121 (Premier League)
2017-2018: 51,992 (Premier League)
If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me [email protected] and I’ll update the guide.
Ground Layout
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Newcastle United v Southampton
Premier League
Saturday 20th April 2019, 5.30pm
Eric Spreng (Southampton)
Newcastle United v Crystal Palace
Premier League
Saturday 6th April 2019, 3pm
James Lyons (Crystal Palace)
Newcastle United v Watford
FA Cup 4th Round
Saturday 26th January 2019, 3pm
Hornet Fez (Watford)
Newcastle United v Blackburn Rovers
FA Cup 3rd Round
Saturday 5th January 2019, 5:30pm
Byrom Oates (Blackburn Rovers)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting St James' Park?
It was the first time I would be visiting St James' Park. I was also hoping for a good cup run.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey was quite easy and car parking was also easy to find as there were not as many fans in attendance than there would be for a Premier League game.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I didn't do much before the game just walked around the stadium. Most of Newcastle fans seemed nice except for a few teenagers.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of St James' Park?
I thought St James' Park was amazing. The away end is really high. You can see most of the city from up there as the opposite side is small compared to that stand.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was good although there wasn't much of an atmosphere from the Newcastle fans, unfortunately. The stewards seemed a bit laid back compared to others. The food inside the ground was very expensive so I would suggest taking some food or getting it before or after the game.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
A bit stop and start getting away but once you get further out from the stadium it thins out a bit.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Great day and a good result (1-1) earning a replay at Ewood Park. I would love to go again and hopefully in the next few seasons.
Newcastle United v West Ham United
Premier League
Saturday 1st December 2018, 3pm
Lewis Richmond (West Ham United)
Newcastle United v Leicester City
Premiership League
Saturday 29th September 2018, 3pm
Sean Cherry (Leicester City)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting St James' Park?
St James' Park is one of the grounds that I'd always wanted to visit. It was a Birthday present from my daughter, so we went up together.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We set off from Leicester about 6:30am. The drive up was very easy with a stop off on the way. We arrived in Newcastle at 10:15 & parked up at "The Gate" which is a retail/leisure park around a 10-minute walk to the ground. It also has plenty of places to eat & drink and only cost £7.20 for the day.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We chose Wetherspoons as our first port of call which is in The Gate. After that, we headed for "The Strawberry" pub, directly opposite the ground. The staff and Newcastle supporters in the pub were very welcoming. They also served Sausage, Bacon Rolls and also Breakfast for £4.50. As it was a nice sunny day we sat on the veranda with a mixture of both Newcastle and Leicester fans chatting about football and our thoughts on the game ahead. Before entering the ground we took a look around the Newcastle club shop and went to see and took photos of the late great Sir Bobby Robson.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of St James' Park?
The sight of the ground is amazing. It dominates the skyline and when walking up to the ground it seems & is huge. The walk up to the away section via endless flights of stairs wasn0as bad I thought it would be after reading other supporters reviews, although there is a lift available for the less mobile supporters. Once at the top the concourse is very good with kiosks selling pies, chips, beer, soft drinks. We opted for the foot long Hot Dog (as we hadn't eaten yet) this was £4.60 but was very nice. On seeing the ground from the inside it's very high up in the away end but very impressive. Although the away are a long way from the pitch you do get a great view. The away end & the stand to our right absolutely dwarf the two other stands.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
I was looking forward to hearing the famous atmosphere from the Newcastle fans, but they were very quiet apart from giving Mike Ashley loads of abuse. The game itself went very well as a Leicester fan as we completely dominated the game and had a comfortable 2-0 win. The stewards were very friendly & as I've already pointed out there was the usual pies, chips, soft drinks and beer at the kiosks.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away from the ground was very easy. A ten minute walk to the car park and straight out and across the river and onto the A1 South for the journey back home which was a happy one as we'd won.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
As stated this was one of the grounds I'd always wanted to visit. The people of Newcastle were so welcoming towards us and both sets of fans mixing with each other which is how it should be. For us Leicester fans the day was made even better with us winning. Will definitely go back but next time make a weekend of it. All in all a great day and a great birthday gift.
Newcastle United v Arsenal
Premier League
Saturday 15th September 2018, 3pm
James Coutts (Neutral)
Newcastle United v Chelsea
Premier League
Sunday 26th August 2018, 4pm
Lee Dermott (Chelsea)
Newcastle United v Brighton & Hove Albion
Premier League
Saturday 17th August 2018, 3pm
Viv Johnson (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur
Premier League
Saturday 11th August 2018, 12:30pm
Dan Turner (Tottenham Hotspur)
Newcastle United v Chelsea
Premier league
Sunday 13th May 2018, 3pm
Geoff White (Chelsea fan)
Newcastle United v Manchester United
Premier League
Sunday 11th February 2018, 2.15pm
Alex (Neutral fan)
Newcastle United v Swansea City
Premier League
Saturday 13th January 2018, 3pm
Alun Williams (Swansea City fan)
Newcastle United v Luton Town
FA Cup 3rd Round
Saturday 6th January 2018, 3pm
Lewis Dunk (Luton Town fan)
Newcastle United v Barnsley
Football Championship League
Sunday 7th May 2017, 12 noon
Tom Bellamy (Barnsley fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting St James' Park?
This would be my second visit to St James' Park. The last time was when Barnsley had their one and only season in the Premier League in 1997/98, the score on that day being 2-1 to Newcastle. I was looking forward to seeing how much St James' Park has changed since then. Also, it was the final game of the season for both clubs. Barnsley were lying in the mid-table whilst Newcastle, although already securing automatic promotion to the Premier League, could actually be crowned Champions if they won and other results went their way.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I set off by car at 7.45am and arrived in Newcastle by 10:30am, via the M1, A1, then A184 and A189 which took me over the River Tyne and into the city centre There I found a car park in Ord Street which cost £5.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
As I made my way to the ground which was only a 15 min walk I called in a pub down a side street ( just can't think of the name) and had a swift pint. Although there are many pubs in the city centre near the railway station they were not all open. It could be because it was too early on a Sunday morning. It all seemed very quiet somehow. The atmosphere in the pub was subdued even with a mixture of fans.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of St James' Park?
What an impressive sight St James' Park looks when walking up the hill. It looks over the city like a fortress. The stewards and Police presence outside the ground made sure all the fans were safe. After being padded down before entering the away end at the Leazes Stand I made my way upstairs to Level 7 where my seat was. This was on Row C at the front of the upper tier. The concourse up there with the bars and food outlets are probably one of the best in the Championship. As I settled down before the game and on looking around the ground I realised how intimidating it could be with just over 50,000 home fans and barely 3,000 of ours. The noise made by the home fans all around the ground including a section of our stand was deafening to the ears.The atmosphere it created was astonishing. The view of the pitch was better than I expected with being only three rows back from the upper tier as opposed to being right at the back. It also helped by seeing the giant screen at our end, which showed all the replays throughout the game. The leg room between rows was more than adequate.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Newcastle, as expected, played the much better football for the entire game Barnsley didn't create any decent chances in the first half and I was not surprised at all when they took the lead on 23 minutes when De Andre Yeldin, who was causing all sorts of problems for our defence down the right wing, passed the ball to Perez, unmarked in the box, who sort of flicked the ball into the bottom corner of the net. Newcastle continued to dominate and could have increased their lead had it not been for Davies, in the Barnsley goal, pulling off a couple of great saves. And so both teams went into the break with Newcastle 1-0 up.
The second half started with Newcastle continuing to break up the Barnsley defence and yet again our keeper denying them more goals. Barnsley did create two decent scoring chances during the second half but with poor finishing came to nothing. The Magpies scored their second goal when our keeper could only parry a shot from Perez which Mbeba latched onto and smashed the ball home. Barnsley's hopes of getting anything from the game was sealed when Gayle, who came on as a late sub for Newcastle, scored their third goal on 90 min , when he was put through from the head of Mitrovic, and easily beat Davies in the Barnsley goal. And so it ended 3-0 to Newcastle United. who were a class act all through the game. The home fans then went absolutely ecstatic when they must have heard that Brighton had only drawn away at Villa, which that meant Newcastle were Champions. The Barnsley fans, however, responded by giving their own standing ovation to the Newcastle team on their success as well as showing appreciation to our own team for their contribution in the Championship in finishing 14th.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
As all the Newcastle fans remained inside the ground showing their delight in being promoted as outright champions of the league I was able to make my way back through the city centre to my car and head home.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Although not the result I wanted it was a pleasure to have seen St James' Park in all its glory. Its more than likely that it will be a few years before both teams meet again outside any cup competitions. I shall remember this day for many years simply for the occasion and a footballing lesson from the League Champions.
Newcastle United v Bristol City
Football Championship League
Saturday 25th February 2017, 3pm
Tony MacRae (Bristol City fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting St James' Park?
St James' Park is a ground that I've always wanted to visit and realising it could well be a long time before we play there again I decided it was a must see, despite the distance and our current league form/position.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I decided to go by official supporter's coach, which left Ashton Gate at 6:30am. It was a long hike but traffic was pretty good and we were there by about 12:30. The coach dropped us a few minutes walk from the away turnstiles.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We had a wander around the outside of St James' Park which looked very impressive. There appeared to be plenty of pubs and refreshments available as the ground is in the City Centre and the home fans were really friendly and welcoming. We decided to go into the ground as soon as it opened at 1:30pm.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of St James' Park?
Although St James' Park looked great from the outside, it was even more impressive from the inside. After climbing what seemed like "never-ending" flights of stairs, the view from our seats was quite spectacular. You could see for miles across the City of Newcastle. I've been to 60-odd grounds watching City and this was the most impressive stadium (apart from Wembley Stadium) that I've visited by far.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The 2,700 City travelling fans created a great atmosphere. The Newcastle fans were quieter than I expected although they did rouse themselves as their team got back into the match. City were 2-0 up at half time but Newcastle fought back to draw 2-2. Like the rest of the locals we met, the stewards and kiosk staff were very friendly.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Not surprisingly it took a while for 52,000 people to clear the stadium. We didn't get out of Newcastle until around 5:30pm for the six hour journey back to Bristol
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
St James' Park is one of the best away days ever. Well worth the 600 mile round trip. The unexpected point made it even better. Would love to go back IF we play them again one day but would probably stay overnight next time, as Newcastle looks like a City worth exploring.
Newcastle United v Aston Villa
Football Championship league
Monday 20th February 2017, 8pm
Gareth Thomas Davies (Aston Villa fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting St James' Park?
St James' Park has always been an iconic ground, and I'd heard lots of away fans talk about how high up the visiting supporters section is. I really wanted to sample it for myself.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I took full advantage of the supporters coach from Villa Park. The journey took three and a half hours, and we were dropped off a short two minute walk from outside St James' Park.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
With just over an hour until kick off, and obviously being very excited about my first visit to the ground, I headed straight inside for a few beers. Didn't encounter many Toon fans before the game unfortunately.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of St James' Park?
My first impressions of St James' Park were mind blowing. It's absolutely massive from the outside, and can be seen from miles around. I honestly felt like I was entering a fortress. Very impressed!
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself was the usual awful performance that Villa fans have come to expect really. Nothing going forward, and awful in defence. Having said that, the away supporters were in fine voice as always, and the stewards seemed friendly enough to me at least. The atmosphere from the Newcastle fans was poor all game, even when they went 2-0 up. I guess that's what a 8pm kick off on a Monday night can do a lot to the atmosphere.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
After the game there was a bit of trouble with the home fans, but this situation was swiftly stopped by lots of Police and Stewards.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall, despite yet another pathetic performance from the Villa, this was one of my favourite away trips for sure. St James' Park is a coliseum worth visiting!
Newcastle United v Queens Park Rangers
Football Championship League
Wednesday 1st February 2017, 7.45pm
James Walker (Queens Park Rangers fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting St James' Park?
I was expecting us to get absolutely slaughtered. However when the fixtures came out in the summer I said to myself that this is the one game I would not m ss this season, plus I have always wanted to experience the away end at St James' Park to see for myself this famous view.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey was easy. We got on the train at Stevenage and changed at Peterborough to get another train straight to Newcastle, arriving for just after 12:30pm. From there it was just a simple 5 minute walk to the Premier Inn Hotel where we were staying, which itself was just a 90 second walk from St James' Park!
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
After checking in to the hotel and dumping the bags in the room, I decided to walk up the stadium for a look around. From the Premier Inn Hotel you come out and turn left, turn left again then cross the road and the stadium is right there, located next to ChinaTown. I went to the shop to pick up a programme (£3) and then went in to 'The Back Page' which is a Sports Books and Football Memorabilia shop, selling all sorts of items from badges to keyrings, to signs to licence plates for all different clubs as well as Newcastle programmes from all over the years. This is located just a few seconds walk from St James' Park. After this we went in to a centre that has a lot of different restaurants in it, as well as a casino. We decided to go for a Frankie & Bennys before hitting the tables. From here it was back to the hotel to relax before going over to a Pool & Snooker Hall (Spot White) that's located opposite the stadium.
External View
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of St James' Park?
My first thought of seeing the outside of St James' Park was being very impressed, but my first thought of seeing the inside was stunning! The stadium under the lights really is a stunning sight! There are 14 flights of stairs to climb up to reach the away end, as well as a lift for the disabled and the lazy!
Comment o n the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself started awfully for QPR, with Jonjo Shelvey scoring after just 38 seconds. However after that we got in to the game and had several chances before Connor Washington got us a fully deserved equaliser just before Half Time. A Matt Ritchie header soon after the restart gave Newcaastle the lead again, before a Ciaran Clark own goal in the 90th minute gave us a fantastic, and fully deserved, point. I got a Chicken Balti pie for £3.50 but it tasted awful so promptly got rid of it, and didn't bother sampling any other food in the stadium. The facilities were clean, spacious and tidy, whilst the stewards mostly kept to themselves but seemed to enjoy trying to eject away fans for anything.
View From The Away Section
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away was simple as we simply went back down the stairs and followed the rest of the R's fans until we were back on the main road, then it was back to the hotel to change out of football gear in to regular clothes then back out to the snooker hall for a few hours!
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall this was an incredible night out! A great game with a new ground, a fantastic point as well as a 90th minute goal, what more could you ask for? If by some miracle Newcastle end up bottling promotion this season then I will definitely return to St James'Park next season!
Half Time Score: Newcastle United 1-1 QPR
Full Time Result: Newcastle United 2-2 QPR
Attendance: 47,907 (649 Away Fans)
My Ground Number: 101 (69 of the current 92)
Newcastle United vs Rotherham United
Football Championship league
Saturday 21st January 2017, 3pm
Pat (Rotherham United fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting St James' Park?
As soon as the fixtures came out in the summer, Newcastle away was the one I was hunting after. It's somewhere I'd never been, and St James' Park is really considered a Premier League venue. Also, it was a ground I'd been wanting to get to for a while, with no success. I didn't think I'd ever see Rotherham United there!
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We got a relatively early train from Sheffield. A single to York, and then another from there to Newcastle really brings the price down. As St James' Park is right in the city, is was pretty easy navigating from then onwards.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We got into Newcastle at just gone 11am, and then went looking for somewhere for a few pre-match drinks. There's a couple of decent pubs down by the Tyne Bridge, so we dived in one there. A good crowd and a good beer selection made for a welcome stay, before the 10-15 minute walk from there up to the stadium. A brisk walk, mind!
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of St James' Park?
St James' Park is enormous, the scale of it within the city really is impressive. It towers over everything else nearby, and reminds you of the status of the club that you are visiting. The Gallowgate End housing the No.9 bar and the club shop faces the city, so away fans have to walk around the other side for the Leazes stand. I'm told it's quite a number of stairs up to level 7, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled for the lift when you get through the turnstiles. It really made life easier! Once inside, the size and scale of the stadium hits you. It really is fantastic.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself was the write off that we predicted it would be. We lost 4-0, enough said. The home fans took some coaxing into life, probably under whelmed at the opposition in front of him. Once their first goal went in on the stroke of half time though, they made themselves heard.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Back down the lift and away into Newcastle. It was about a ten minute walk to make it onto the street approaching the train station, and enough time for a pint in the Dog and Parrot before the train back.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A great day, and one of the best away days that you're likely to encounter in this country. It's easy enough to get to Newcastle from most parts of the country, and the ground is around a 10 minute walk from the station, right in the city centre. A city full of friendly locals, with more than enough places for a pre-match booze up, and a fantastic stadium. If you have chance to make the trip, then you definitely should!
Newcastle United v Sheffield Wednesday
Football Championship League
Monday 26th December 2016, 7.45pm
G Keyes (Sheffield Wednesday fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting St James' Park?
St James' Park is the largest stadium in the Championship League, for what I expect to be only this season and therefore I wanted to visit it on a match day. To me as I (out of choice) will never ever visit Elland Road or Bramall Lane, is until we possibly get promoted the best away day I can experience as a Wednesday fan. The fact that so many friends from work are Newcastle fans made me want to go there even more.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I had booked myself into a nearby hotel as Sky had made this fixture the only 19:45 kick off on Boxing Day on a night with no train services whatsoever. The fact that I wanted to enjoy the whole day including meeting my friend from work who is from Gateshead made this the best decision I could ever make.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
After a few beers down by the river I met up with my Newcastle supporting friend at the train station. After being introduced to his brother and friends who were all very friendly to me, we all had a few more beers before the game at pubs nearer to the ground. I did enjoy seeing the landlord of a pub near the ground trying in vain to quieten down some Wednesday fans that were singing their hearts out in his pub.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of St James' Park?
St James' Park is simply huge. It is a very long and tiring trek up to the away seats, but once in you get a magnificent view of the stadium. The fact that it was a sell out made it appear even better.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Being high up in the away end and with Wednesday fans enjoying the experience at being at one of England's best grounds, I personally never heard anything from the home fans, no singing at all. I was might have been too drunk to remember too much about the game but as we won 1-0. Maybe the scoreline reflected in the lack of atmosphere from the home support.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
For me no problems at all. A 15 minute walk back to my hotel.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
St James' Park is a great day out that I will hopefully I will repeat one day in the Premier League.
Newcastle United v Brentford
Football Championship League
Saturday 15th October 2016, 3pm
Big Dave (Brentford fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting St James' Park?
As a very loyal Brentford fan I couldn't not wait to play Newcastle because their fans are the loudest and also to be able to go to St James Park which is like a Wembley stadium compared to our Griffin Park home.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
On the Friday me and my two sons travelled up from Surrey as we were booked into a hotel in Gateshead. We parked our car in the Metro Centre coach park, as that is what my Newcastle United friend told me to do.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Before the game we went to Mcdonalds in the Metro Centre and then caught a bus at 1pm into Newcastle, which took about 30 minutes. Even at around 1:30pm the traffic was starting to build up and after getting off the bus we took a walk up to St James' Park. On entering the ground we were searched by stewards, which I found strange as they didn't appear to be searching home fans.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of St James' Park?
Simply the sheer size and the 51,000 attendance, made it look amazing. It is not very often that Brentford get to play in front of such a large crowd.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
I would rate the atmosphere as 10/10 because the noise was very loud and also the home fans near us were chanting with fun with ours which was very good. Stewards would have to be 6/10 as they were rather grumpy. The Police in attendance in my view were more better as they were helpful. Toilets: 8/10 as they were clean concourse: 10/10 staff couldn't be more helpful Stairs up to the away section: 2/10 killed my legs! View: Seating up in 'the Gods' 10/10, we could see loads of action.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Leaving the stadium was a concern, as the sheer number of fans trying to cross roads and dart in and out of traffic, was a bit of a nightmare.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
10/10 best away match I have ever been to (event though we lost 3-1). I've followed Brentford and England for the last ten years and have never came across as much passion as the Geordies have for their team.
Newcastle United v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Football Championship League
Saturday 17th September 2016, 3pm
Richard Fletcher (Wolverhampton Wanderers fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting St James' Park?
As soon as Newcastle were relegated I was planning of my away day up north, praying that it wouldn't be scheduled for a Tuesday night! It's a city I have always wanted to visit, and the stadium is up there with the best.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
My journey was a three and a half hour drive up from Rugby, but was actually very straight forward and traffic free.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We parked up at 11:30am, and then made our way to the city centre for some food. We had a Greggs and then sat in Eldon Square Park and had a few beers as it was a nice day. The atmosphere in the city is fantastic, you can tell it is a "proper" football city.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of St James' Park?
The St James' Park ground is superb. Obviously you are very high up in the away end, but the view is still good and you also get a very good view of the big screen. If all four sides were like the two larger stands, then it would be up there with the best stadiums in Europe.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Rather surprisingly, Wolves played very well and won 2-0. Newcastle certainly had an off-day, and we caught them cold. The atmosphere was very subdued from the home fans throughout the game, whereas the Wolves fans were fantastic.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
I love the way the stadium is in the heart of the city, so you can literally be in an evening hot spot five minutes after leaving the match. The journey home again was traffic free and straight forward.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Nice city. Nice stadium. Great game. Good result. Happy days!
Newcastle United v West Bromwich Albion
Premier League
6th February 2016, 3pm
Kev and Jean Edwards (West Bromwich Albion fans)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting St James' Park?
We always stay over in North Shields when Newcastle is a weekend game. We stayed at the Ferry Terminal Premier Inn, which was reasonably priced.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Car parking was okay. We have previously parked at the University and at the NCP right by St James' Park. But this time we decided to try the multi-storey at the Royal Infirmary as recommended on this site.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We did a little shopping beforehand as my wife forgot to pack her coat (on purpose I think). Then we went to the Keel Row Wetherspoons pub. We have visited this pub pre match 3 or 4 times in the past as it is not far from St James' Park. Not that big as other Wetherspoon (only one floor ..toilets on upper floor) But if you are lucky enough to get a table happy days.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of St James' Park?
Having visited the stadium (I refuse to call it a ground as it is a fantastic stadium) many times I have always been impressed when it first catches my eye. However the away section seems to be further away on every visit and as for the stairs well……oxygen mask! Although on this occasion the stewards asked if we would like to go up on the lift…..YES!
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Massive concourse with brilliant views of Newcastle while eating a Balti pie and supping a cuppa.. On to the game which was totally one sided with Newcastle's newbies Shelvey and Townsend playing superbly and West Brom being totally poor. Newcastle took the lead after half an hour, which turned out to be the only goal of the game. If it were not for some poor finishing by Newcastle then it could have been more. Hopefully by the time you read this then the Pullis era will be no more.. Not really a good view of the match as you are simply too high up..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away from the ground was good although at first we couldn't locate the multi-storey car park as we went to the infirmary and the car park is at the rear of it. Once we located it was easy to get away as we were going to the Tyne Bridge and the other traffic being local going the opposite way. The car park cost us £8, staying from midday to 5.30pm.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Will always go to Newcastle when we play at the weekend and work permits.. Stewards were very friendly as were there fans. As for the Albion display…VERY poor
Newcastle United v Manchester United
Premier League
Tuesday 12th January 2016, 7.45pm
Walter Simpson (Manchester United fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting St James' Park?
I had heard much about the city and its nightlife. I had previously only been when I was 16 so I wasn't able to do much then. Other than that, its a very historic place to watch football.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Its one of the few grounds in the country which is in the heart of city centre. We went up from Manchester by train and its only a 10 minute walk from the central railway station. There's a metro line as well.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Home fans were pretty friendly. There's a plethora of pubs around the city and near St James' Park. We were spoilt for choice and ended up doing a pub crawl! It was a night game so had enough time as well. The only disadvantage I would say is the fact that there's no one individual pub designated for away fans, so the visiting supporters are pretty much scattered, which means there's little pre-match singing etc..
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides St James' Park?
The most obvious point was the fact that the away end has seven flights of stairs to climb, before you reach the away seating area. I'm asthmatic so it was a small issue walking up as there was no lift. Other than that, the away fans get a brilliant view of the city. The game itself seems miles away despite no restricted views.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The concourse was a lot smaller than other grounds co nsidering the away allocation they give is huge. Alcohol's a bit pricey but the pies were great. Stewards were friendly, but they did ask a few fans to remove flags which I feel was unnecessary.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Since its a big capacity ground, there were a lot of people getting out. The area outside the stadium is quite big so there was no difficulty in getting away from the crowds. Didn't use any public transport/taxis as the train station was quite close and we were easily able to catch the last train.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Its a great place to go and watch football, and have a nice day out. If your team's playing on a weekend I'd recommend staying the night and experiencing the nightlife. Overall it was a fab and comfortable day.
Newcastle United v Norwich City
Premier League
Sunday 18th October 2015, 4pm
William Horwood (Norwich City fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting St James' Park?
A large group of us attended as part of my brother's stag weekend. Many of us had wanted to visit St James's Park for a long time, and aside from the outcome of the match we were not disappointed.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We were staying in a house in Tynemouth over the weekend, so it was a 25 minute metro journey to St James' Park. The metro is clearly signposted and easy to navigate.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We had a pint in the garden of a cafe bar in the shadow of St James' Park. The home fans we encountered were very friendly.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of St James' Park?
St James' Park as a whole is very impressive, although away supporters are housed a very long way from the action. You need to arrive at the ground in good time as you will either have to wait for a lift or climb an awful lot of stairs.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc.
The match was like watching basketball. We lost 6-2, but hit the woodwork twice and had a shot cleared off the line, so it could easily have ended 6-5. The atmosphere was loud and raucous, especially as Newcastle turned the screw in the second half. The stadium design keeps the noise in really well, helping to create a good atmosphere. I didn't notice any over the top stewarding, which was good and the half-time pie was passable.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
This is one of the better grounds for getting away quickly. The metro station is right there, or it's a short walk to Newcastle Central station.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I would definitely recommend a visit to St James's Park. Do, however, be sure to arrive in good time to get to the top of the away end so as not to miss kick-off.
Newcastle United v Chelsea
Premier League
Saturday 26th September 2015, 5.30pm
Doug Rougvie (Chelsea fan)
Why were you looking forward to visiting St James' Park?
I'd only ever been to Newcastle once, back in 2000 so I was looking forward to doing the ground again. With it being a late kick off I also decided to make a weekend of it up in Tyneside.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We went by train arriving in Newcastle at 12.50pm leaving us plenty of time to sample a few pints before the game.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We drank in a pub around the corner from the station called The Union Room, nice big Wetherspoons pub. There were mostly Chelsea fans present inside, with some "Blues Brothers" from Glasgow Rangers as well. The Newcastle fans we met were very friendly.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of St James' Park?
I had forgotten just how over powering the ground looks from the outside amongst the other buildings nearby. I didn't like though the top tier sections for away fans, it was a perfect view but you just feel far to distant from the action and the vocal home support in the lower tiers.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Chelsea were terrible for 70mins of the game, but somehow we managed to snatch a late 2-2 draw which felt like a win at the end. We maybe should have won it in the last minute or so but the Newcastle keeper saved our chance. I thought the atmosphere was good but I've experienced better.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
After the game we done a pub crawl led by a local Chelsea fan, so we got away easily and enjoyed the hospitality.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Great weekend in a great city, will definitely try to do another weekend stay in the future.
Newcastle United v West Bromwich Albion
Premier League
Saturday 9th May 2015, 3pm
Sam Foord (West Bromwich Albion fan)
Why you were looking forward to going to St James' Park?
After an away win at Old Trafford the previous week in the league, my hopes were high of getting another win against a Newcastle team who were currently on a streak of 8 losses! Also tickets were priced at £5 for students, so I roped my brother in to join me on the long journey north!
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Went on the supporters coaches with my brother, got picked up from the Hawthorns at 9am in the morning. I had looked up how far away Newcastle was but nothing prepared me for how long the journey would take, it seemed to take forever! Luckily when we arrived the coach pulled up within a minutes walk of St James' Park.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We arrived in Newcastle around 1.30pm so me and my brother thought we would use the hour to explore the city centre. As my brother isn't old enough to drink I didn't get to go to any pubs unfortunately! There was though a brilliant football memorabilia shop called "the back page" not far from the ground. It is well worth a visit. The local Geordies seemed very friendly and we had a laugh with some Newcastle fans in the city centre… though a group of 12 year old kids did shout that "west from are s***!" at my brother which we just found funny!
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
The ground is awe inspiring…the size of it is incredible! The walk up to our seats took us up 14 flights of stairs and it was worth it for the fantastic view of the stadium and the city of Newcastle! The away end is right up in the gods, so you might need binoculars! However, the seats were well spaced and the seats were good as well. From what I could see the rest of the stadium seemed to be up to a very high standard.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Atmosphere from the Newcastle fans was a little disappointing… but this was to be expected after their dire run of form and the strange outburst of their manager John Carver in the previous game! Albion went 1-0 up thanks to Victor Anichebe and the Albion fans really gave a good cheer! Then a few minutes later Newcastle equalised…the noise was deafening! After that the game played itself out as a 1-1 draw, though Albion having the better of the chances.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away was easy (much easier walking down stairs than up them!) and the coach was parked a minute walk away from the stadium.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall, a fantastic day out even though we only got a point and the game was fairly forgettable! The beauty of Newcastle and the size of St James Park made it a brilliant day out for me and my brother!
Newcastle United v West Bromwich Albion
Premier League
Saturday 9th May 2015, 3pm
Alex Hopwood (West Bromwich Albion fan)
Why were you looking forward to visiting St James' Park?
St. James' Park is an iconic stadium for English football and one I've always wanted to visit. Albion weren't quite over the relegation line despite the fantastic 1-0 win at Old Trafford the week before. It was also being described as Newcastle's biggest game of the season. So it had the potential to be a really good match.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Me and my friend travelled with Baggies coach travel so the journey wasn't too problematic for us personally. We always knew it would be a long trip so the four hour journey wasn't a surprise. The ground was visible as soon as we entered the city and from this point on the ride was short and simple.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
The coach dropped us off right outside St James' Park and with little knowledge of where we were we didn't really fancy wandering off into the city. Because of this we decided to head straight into the ground and up the seven flights of stairs. The home fans were friendly enough and seemed more focused on their own team than us. The food inside the ground was of reasonable quality and wasn't too overpriced.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
The ground was impressive and the view from the away stand is even better. You get a clear view of the city as well as the stadium and the leg room is one of the best I've seen. The stewards were helpful in helping us find our seats and overall we were satisfied. However there were a couple of faults. I found the seats to be overused and felt like they were going to break from beneath me every time I sat down. Also, I wouldn't recommend getting seats right on the very end of the stand over by the windshield when in a group, as there is a row with just one seat up against the wall. Because of this I found myself separated from the person I attended the game with as well as the majority of travelling baggies fans.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game took a while to get going with the early singing of the Albion fans being the only entertainment. The atmosphere from the Newcastle fans was frosty in parts and never really got going until they scored. It was Albion who took the lead in the 32nd minute through the head of Victor Anichebe, and in all honesty it came against the run of play. It took Newcastle just 11 minutes to equalise thanks to a good strike from Ayoze Perez and the score at half time was 1-1. This was how it remained to the final whistle with both teams having chances to win it during the second period. The atmosphere from the home fans was better in the second half as they pursued a vital three points in their season. On the other hand, Albion were all but safe and seemed content with the point, and this showed with the relaxed atmosphere from within the away stand.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away from the ground and finding our coach was very easy as it was only round the corner from the exit. We integrated into a large group of Newcastle fans with no trouble and enjoyed a bit of lighthearted banter on the coach with a young group of toon fans waiting in the bus stop over the road. The trip back down to the West Midlands was a long but happy one knowing that the baggies will be playing Premier League football again next season.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I thought Newcastle was a really fun day out and I certainly wouldn't mind making the trip again next year. The game didn't live up to what was expected but the stadium it was played in made up for that, a long with the all important point Albion needed to stay up successfully achieved.
Newcastle United v West Bromwich Albion
Premier League
Saturday 9th May 2015, 3pm
Alex Smith (Doing The 92)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to St James' Park?
As the current league season for my team, Coventry City, had ended, me and my dad looked to take advantage of the Premiership League still playing for a further few weeks. So we decided to visit St James' Park for the simple fact that I had never been there before and the ticket prices were more than reasonable! In fact we have paid more to watch some Coventry away games in League One this season.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
In the morning we drove to Tamworth Railway Station as its the only station local to us as we that you can get to Newcastle direct from. We hopped on the 07:44 service and after a very boring four hour train journey we arrived in Newcastle for about quarter to midday. St James' Park is like a huge shrine in the centre of the City and it just stands out, being visible from some distance away. So finding the ground was not an issue at all.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
With plenty of time to spare before kick off we walked round Newcastle City Centre and went for a coffee and put some bets on for the day's football ahead. At about 1pm we walked up to the Stadium and had a look round there for half an hour, afterwards we went to the NINE bar at the ground and watched the midday match between Everton and Sunderland (A game that didn't go down too well with the locals as Sunderland won) when the game finished we made our way into the ground. Geordies have a reputation for being friendly and they did that reputation no harm! They were more than happy to give directions and were easy to chat to!
4. What you thoughts on seeing St James' Park?
The Stadium is absolutely Stunning! I was more than impressed with St James Park! The positioning of the ground is perfect, in the Middle of the City Centre, where in my opinion every stadium should be.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
It was generally a fairly poor match of football. Victor Anichebe but WBA 1-0 up in the 33rd minute before Ayoze Perez equalised for Newcastle just before half time. The atmosphere was a mixture of emotions, as for a while after West Brom scored the atmosphere was fairly hostile – with most Newcastle fans frustrations being vented at the Directors Box and at manager John Carver. Although the atmosphere did lift when Newcastle equalised, the draw mixed with other results lifted Newcastle them up the table. Stewards were no problem but can't comment on quality of refreshments.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
No problem at all! Just come back the way we came – Train no issues! We we're even home in time to watch 'Match Of The Day' on telly.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Absolutely fantastic, Would love to go back again at some point in the future. If you're traveling with your team or just doing the 92, the long journey up to Newcastle is really worth it!
Newcastle United v West Bromwich Albion
Premier League
Saturday 9th May 2015, 3pm
John Holding (West Bromwich Albion fan)
Why you were looking forward to going to St James' Park?
Always been looking to go to St James Park. Finally had the chance, with kick off being at 3 o clock on a Saturday!
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Drove up from the Midlands for a long days drive but worth it. Very straight forward to the ground. Instead of going through the city centre (Gateshead), simply followed the A1 around Newcastle, until Westerhope. Then went straight into Newcastle City Centre. We spotted a large sign detailing what city centre car parks were available and we ended it up parking in the Eldon multi-storey car park.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
The homes fans were very friendly considering where their team lies in the table before before and after the game (2 points above relegation) Burger before game (£4)
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
After catching my breath after climbing to the top of the stairs and then entering the away section then the thought was just wow! The concourse is huge at the back of the stand. The view from the seats was good considering you are very high up. Also the leg room was plentiful.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Steward friendly enough. Atmosphere wasn't the best, probably down to nerves from the home fans. But we got the point we needed to stay up, as it finished 1-1.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Took 30 minutes to get back to the car park. Out and on the long journey back shortly after. If using the Eldon Car park. Turn right at the lights. Right at T junction. 3rd exit on island. This will take you back onto the B1318.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Brilliant day out. Just would of been a very long trip back if we lost.
Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur
Premier league
Sunday, 19th April 2015, 4pm
Mark Coome (Tottenham Hotspur)
Why you were looking forward to going to St James' Park?
I haven't been to Newcastle since 1974 and the ground has changed so much since then.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We went on the coach so the route in was as per police instructions, as was our arrival time and we parked up on Barrack Road, near Leazes Park.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We asked a friendly police officer which were the away pubs. He said there weren't any real designated pubs and he directed us towards the Gallowgate area and said look for pubs down there. In the end we went through Chinatown and ended up in Tilleys Bar on Westgate Road. It was a real ale pub with a cracking selection of hand pulled ales and a vast collection of bottled beers. Atmosphere was friendly and there were a mix of home and away fans in there.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Very impressed with the early sightings of the ground. I had been warned about the massive climb up to the away end. I thought it was 15 sets of stairs that I counted. To make it worse we were on row W, right at the back of the away section which made it even more of a climb. The view though was good and as it was sunny you got a great view of the surrounding area.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The stewards were very friendly as were the home fans. One even took our photo for us outside having volunteered his services. I did have my flag scrutinised to see what was written on it. As there were demos outside the ground against Mike Ashley and a boycott, they were checking for any 'Ashley Out' banners. The atmosphere from the home fans was virtually non-existent. A few thousand had stayed away and those in the ground failed to get behind the team. We had 3,000 supporters there so the atmosphere in the away sections was good. The game sparked a bit more into life seconds into the second half when Colback equalised for them, but even that didn't rouse the Geordie fans. Spurs upped their game and in the end ran out comfortable 3-1 winners with Harry Kane scoring his 30th goal of the season in added on time.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We were a bit slower getting back to the bus as there were a few more demonstrations outside afterwards and we probably went the long way round as well (last back on the coach, not good!). Once under way it was steady getting out of Newcastle.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Really enjoyed the trip with the Scunthorpe Spurs. I took my niece who is a Newcastle fan and paying her first visit to the Toon and in spite of the score she had a good day too. Spurs also paid for our coach, which was a nice touch from the club.
Newcastle United v West Ham United
Premier League
Saturday 24 August 2013, 3pm
By Dan Evans (West Ham fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
I have been once before and had a great time before so I had no qualms of going again.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We left home at 6am for the long journey to Newcastle and arrived just after 11am with stopping off to for breakfast and a well earned coffee! We parked local to the ground at a shopping centre which cost £5
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
We went to Sammy Jacks before the game which had a mixture of home and away fans seemed fairly friendly. The venue had entertainment which is probably more for the adult variety. But still enjoyable.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The ground on the way looks very impressive on the eye. We got into the ground in plenty of time which is good because the 13 flights of stairs to the concourse is a challenge! We was also placed at the very top of the away end excellent view but maybe a little to high. The ground overall is fantastic.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was 0-0 and I think we was unlucky not to come away with three points but I would have taken a point beforehand. The atmosphere in the away end was fantastic almost non-stop the atmosphere amongst the home fans seemed a bit tense you can tell its not a happy place with all what is happening with management staff and the board. The stewards seemed reasonably friendly and helpful when assisting you to your seat. The facilities are impressive in my opinion easy enough to get to toilet at half time.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away from stadium was nothing short of a nightmare. Took well over an hour to get out of the car park I wouldn't recommend anybody to park there or even drive there.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Was a good day out although I wouldn't drive there and back again 580 miles in a day is some going. I would totally use public transport next time and stay for a weekend. Highly recommend any away fan thinking of doing Newcastle United away.
Newcastle United v Stoke City
Premier League
Saturday 21 April 2012, 3pm
By Dominic Bickerton (Stoke City fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
I was really looking forward to this game as it was a chance to have a day out with a few mates and visit a ground that none of us had previously been to. However, I wasn't looking forward to the inevitable result of this game; Newcastle were on an impressive run that saw them 5th in the league with the chance to move into the Champions League positions should they beat us. Meanwhile, Stoke had only won 1 of their last 6 games and were currently producing some rather pathetic performances.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Finding the ground was no problem at all. We arrived at Newcastle Central Train Station a few hours before the game and followed the mass of black and white shirts up to the ground which took us about 10 minutes.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
Before the match we visited Shearer's bar, which is actually part of the ground. I was thoroughly impressed with the bar as it serves a wide selection of beers on tap and the locals seemed to be very friendly; this could have due to the fact that we weren't wearing colours, however, I saw a few other Stokies in colours that seemed to be getting along well with the Geordies.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
Our first impressions of the ground was just amazement at how big it looks from the outside, so we couldn't wait to get into the away end and see the ground from the inside. I had seen a few pictures taken from the away end, but they can't prepare you for how colossal the ground really is. After going through the away turnstiles we made the tough journey up God knows how many flights of stairs before reaching the concourse. Whilst trying to catch our breath we ventured out into the away end and were simply in awe of the place. It is huge! The view is simply incredible and is the best I have experienced at any football ground I have been to. If you haven't been, then you're missing out on what has to be one of the best grounds in the country.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
As I mentioned earlier, we weren't expecting a good result here and we certainly didn't get one. We started the match fairly well with the goal-shy Jon Walters ballooning an early chance that should have at least tested Tim Krul. We were made to pay for our wastefulness when, on 14 minutes, Cabaye put Newcastle 1-0 to the good after reacting quickly to nod in Cisse's header that had bounced back off the bar. This didn't spell good news for the Potters and 4 minutes later we were punished again. Cabaye slid a ball through our paper bag defense and Cisse easily directed his shot past Begovic to all but seal the 3 points with 18 minutes on the clock. After an awful start from the Potters we somehow managed to get to half time only 2-0 down.
During half time I ventured down into the concourse. The toilets were fine but the bar quickly ran out of food which was quite annoying considering that we hadn't taken a large following. After watching the latest scores from around the country, I made my way back out for the second half.
The second half started much like the first had ended with Newcastle completely dominating and nicking an early goal, which, to our relief, was ruled out for offside. However, our relief was short lived when the ball broke to Cabaye, who curled in a sublime effort from just outside the box. 3-0 down after 57 minutes and the game was well and truly over.
The atmosphere in the ground wasn't as good as I was expecting, but then I imagine that most Newcastle fans were far too busy wondering how Stoke are in the Premier League with performances like this one! Despite the Newcastle fans not being as vocal as I first expected, the noise when they scored was absolutely deafening. The was the only downside of the away end being so high; you can see almost every Newcastle fan celebrating. Not fun when it happens three times! The travelling Stokies were in good voice and even did a conga through the away end – with such poor away performances our travelling fans have to do something to keep their spirits up.
As for the stewards, they didn't really get involved and seemed to be decent.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
After full time, we left the ground quickly and were back at the station in about 10 minutes.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
The day was brilliant. Having a few drinks with mates and visiting a new ground is always a good experience, but we agreed that it was the best ground we had been to in some time and thoroughly enjoyed our time in Newcastle despite the result. I would thoroughly recommend it those who haven't been.
Newcastle United v Queens Park Rangers
Premier League
Sunday 15th January 2012, 2pm
By Mark Buckingham (QPR fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
From a young age, I have always had a soft spot for Newcastle. Possibly because my Nan is a Geordie, possibly because I have a great amount of respect for Sir Bobby Robson and Alan Shearer (back when he was a national hero rather than a dull Match of the Day pundit). I agonised at how close they came to taking the Premier League title from Fergie’s United before Keegan lost his marbles live on television.
The atmosphere at St James Park is legendary and I had always wanted to see QPR play there; when Newcastle were in the Championship a few years ago it was the first fixture I looked for…a midweek game coming just three days after I started a new job was not what I had been hoping for! Now, two seasons later I decided I couldn’t miss the chance to visit St James Park again and as regular contributor to this site Ben Buckingham and the other QPR away day usuals decided they couldn’t justify the expense on the second weekend in January. I convinced 3 mates (who support Charlton, Blackburn and Brentford) to come up to sample Newcastle’s famous nightlife and take in the game the next day.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We got the train up to Newcastle on Saturday afternoon. It took less than 3 hours from London Kings Cross and as there were four of us we had reserved seats round a table, armed with a crate of beer and looking forward to sampling the delights of the Newcastle nightlife. The journey flew by and was so easy and direct. Coming out of the station, our hotel was a 10–15 minute walk over the Tyne Bridge. When we got there I was pleasantly surprised to find the QPR team coach parked outside and Joey Barton in the reception area (probably tweeting!). The ground itself was at the opposite end of Newcastle but still only a 10 minute walk from the station with plenty of pubs, bars, restaurants and fast food joints along the way.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
Me and my mates spent Saturday night drinking large amounts of alcohol and not returning to our rooms until the not-so-early hours. Newcastle provided a great night out with a big choice of pubs, bars and clubs and nearly all of them had free entry (a novelty for us London types). Needless to say come Sunday (matchday) we were all a little ropey. We started the day with Goals on Sunday. Zola was a studio guest and after a clip of one of his most famous pieces of skill he laughed and, in a thick Italian accent, said “for the rest of the game, the other team kicked the sheet out of me” which we found hilarious. As I mentioned previously, there were plenty of pubs to choose from for the pre-match build up, but we decided to chow down on some KFC and head straight to the ground, after bumping into a few more QPR players at the hotel and wishing them good luck. Over the course of the weekend the locals were very friendly and there was never any sign of trouble.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
Wow, where do I start? St James Park is massive. The away end is up in the Gods and it probably took us an age to climb the stairs to our seats. I think there were a few lifts which I would seriously advise those less able to take advantage of. The four of us are young-mid twenties and we struggled, although this is may have something to do with the horrendous state our bodies were in after the night before. From our seats we could see the Newcastle skyline which was nice. The facilities were good, it was easy enough to get food and drink but I can’t help but feel the whole stadium is just starting to look a little dated and could use a lick of paint. It was still a fantastic place to watch football however, despite the away fans (and anyone else sitting on the top tier) being so high up and far away from the action.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
The game itself was a poor one. Mark Hughes had just been appointed QPR manager so there was a lot of interest from Sky (who were showing the match live) and QPR did indeed start brightly; hitting the bar twice from range and having a few other decent chances early on. Then Newcastle started to control possession and Best scored with a well taken goal about half an hour in and that was his side’s first (and last) attempt on target. The fact that QPR never really looked like equalising after a poor miss in the second half tells you all you need to know about the game.
The atmosphere was a strange one. It was very good in the away end at first, but much like the performance of the team, the energy and enthusiasm seemed to drain as an uneventful second half played out. The Geordies seemed a bit lethargic too; the atmosphere was good at times but for much of the game they were quiet. The game was brightened up by some colourful characters sitting near us; there was an Asian Elvis who would shout manically to everyone and no-one whenever a QPR player made a mistake (very regularly) and there were a group of about 30 Dutch fans towards the back of our stand. They were clearly made of stronger stuff than us as they looked like they hadn’t stopped drinking all weekend. They spent the entire second half jumping up and down, waving scarves and chanting. One tried to climb up the stairs about 5 minutes after half time and could barely hold himself up, after some serious swaying and using the railings for support he still managed to fall into the laps of the 2 blokes between me and the aisle. The stewards duly led him away…only for him to return to a standing ovation and even more enthusiastic pogoing about five5 minutes later!
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Again, the journey down the flights of stairs seemed to take forever, but getting out the ground was very easy. In a nod to my usual away day routine of going to Frankie and Bennies with the Buckingham Boys before a game, I suggested to my mates we got some dinner there before heading back to the train station and London; another incredibly easy journey home although the amount of rubbish we were talking must surely have driven everyone else on the train mad. The alcohol had probably worn off by that point but had been replaced by a touch of hangover insanity as we spent well over an hour coming up with words/music video/dance moves for a very simple song to accompany the drinking game ‘ping pang pong’. It was understandably too much for one member of our group who tried to block us out with headphones whilst trying to sleep.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Despite the game itself (which I left feeling pretty miserable about QPR’s lack of invention or quality going forward) the weekend as a whole was brilliant. I would thoroughly recommend a night out in Newcastle to anyone making a long journey there to see their team play as there are plenty of restaurants and nice bars for those who don’t wish to spend their evenings making shapes on the dance floor with a high level of drunken confidence but a very basic concept of rhythm. The journey to and from London was so easy, and good fun with mates as well. I would definitely go back if time and finances allow.
Newcastle United v Manchester City
Premier League
Sunday 26th December 2010, 3pm
By Adam Smith (Manchester City fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
I've always wanted to go to St James' Park. I've visited Newcastle many times (for the best night life in the country) but this was to be a first visit to the football ground. From the images I have seen, I believe the stadium is without a doubt the best looking one in the country.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I took the train from Manchester Piccadilly to Newcastle Central. As you come out off the station, the stadium is so big that you can actually see it, and/or follow the black and white army from the pub. Its basically impossible to miss and if you do get lost, just ask the Geordie's, all of them are very friendly.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
Before the game, I went for a few pints at the bar in the Railway Station. The home fans were happy to have a chat with you no problems at all. Then on the way up to the ground got some food from Greggs.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The ground is truly magnificent! and huge. I've been to Old Trafford and this feels easily just as big. And although you are high up in the stands, you do get compensated with a fantastic view of the city skyline.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
City went 2 nil up after 5 minutes due to a catalogue of Newcastle errors. However as normal and as I've previously heard, the Geordie's never stopped singing, almost impossible to compete with although we did our best. The leg room and facilities are probably the best I've come across. And although the magpies looked like making a comeback thanks to Andy Carroll, we snatched one near the end to make it a 3-1 victory for city. And i will add: after City's the third, the Geordie's still sang! They really do have fantastic support, and although there was very little public transport that day in the North East, they managed an attendance of 51,657…. Not bad at all!
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Easy, walked out basically with home fans and headed towards the station, no problems once again.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Brilliant day, brilliant stadium, very good for pubs. I would recommend any away supporter to make the journey up (or down) and make a day of a game. Why not even stay for the famous night?
Newcastle United v Arsenal
Carling Cup 3rd Round
Wednesday 27th October 2010, 7.45pm
By Mark Archer (Arsenal fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
Managed to get a ticket for the game through a supporters club and so off I went! St James always looks very impressive and intimidating on the tv and I jumped at the chance to witness the arena for myself in person.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I came down from Edinburgh on the train and the ground is so central you can’t fail to miss it.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
Before the game we went to the Strawberry Inn beside the club shop. Found it very friendly and a nice terrace to enjoy a smoke with a drink (bliss!!)
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
Seeing the ground on the tv doesn’t really do it justice. It’s a very impressive structure from the outside and although high in the sky the away end gives a great view and like previous reviewers have said the legroom per seat is good.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
After a fairly even start the gunners got a goal just before half time and then took control in the second 45 to run out emphatic winners 0-4. Found the home fans to be surprisingly quiet: cue chants from the gunners fans ‘Where’s your famous atmosphere?’ There was a top tier of the ground empty which isn’t surprising given that this was a cup game which would have cost extra on the season ticket. Even at £20 a ticket football ain't cheap these days. The away end was a good 90% full and big up the fans coming from London on a Wednesday evening and making a 500 mile plus round trip.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Had an easy exit from the stadium and the gunners fans were obviously in good voice and spirits. I waited outside the ground for the gunners team bus – just to the left of the away turnstiles and managed to get Pat Rice and Mr Wengers autograph
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Cracking day – cracking stadium – very central for pubs,shops and transport. I would recommend any away supporter to make the journey up (or down) and make a day of a game. Why not even stay for the night?
Newcastle United v Crystal Palace
Championship League
Wednesday 27th January 2010, 8pm
By Andy Cross (Crystal Palace)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
For a long time I have wanted to go to St James Park. It was one of my favourite grounds, the tradition of the stadium, the club, and their fans which I'd heard so much about, so the moment the fixtures come out, this was the first away fixture I looked out for, seeing as we had no local rivals in the league this season!
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We hired out our own coach with about 30 other boys from the Holmesdale Fanatics, and left from the site of the original Crystal Palace, were we took a photo of us all in front of the HF banner. Luckily, we was allowed beer on the coach, so it was a banter filled journey up to the toon! Although it was a good 7 hours to the ground, the excitement I was feeling of going to one of my all time favourite football league grounds sort of made up for the long journey!
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
Once we got to the ground there was a lot of pubs to choose from, many with strict doormen on, but most of them were pretty friendly, with a few police checking round the pubs as you do. The Newcastle fans were actually genuinely nice and helpful, involved with good friendly banter, we even met a bloke wearing a Sunderland shirt in a pub near the station, which I wasn't expecting! We ended up going in " Idols " which was sort of a nightclub, but it was amazingly quiet when we went in, and there wasn't a person in sight, so we had the whole place to ourselves. Plus buying a pint there were only around £2 which was surprisingly cheap. Good build up and sing-song before the game, and once we finished a few pints we headed towards the stadium.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
One of the best things about St James Park, is that its situated practically right in the middle of the city, which makes it very easy to get to from the station, pubs etc. The ground looks amazing from outside, and really does tower over Newcastle. There's a lot of stairs to climb, to get right up to the away section though, but it was worth it as the views from the top were brilliant, not only a good view of the pitch but a good view of the Newcastle city as well. Mind you, if you have a problem with heights, I would suggest trying to sneak in to the lower tiers of the Home section as its a long olde way up!
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
The game was fairly good, and the players were giving a lot of passion considering it was only hours before the game we was put in administration, but it sort of bonded the players together more, and our fans were amazing, over 1,000 fans on a Wednesday night in the middle of January is pretty impressive and we certainly made up for it with noise! Surprisingly, I'd expected so much more from the Newcastle fans, as they only belted out a couple songs all game, but I was told it was one of there worst atmospheres from the home fans that season
At half time, it was clear the bar staff weren't prepared for such a large away following, as they ran out of stock extremely quickly, which was a disappointment. The toilets were fine as well, even if a bit crowded! The game ended in 2-0 to Newcastle, but the players did themselves proud, and deserved so much more.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
As it was a Wednesday we decided to stay over for the night, and walking away from the ground was fine as we made it back to our hotel, got changed and hit the clubs! The nightlife is Newcastle is as good as it sounds, and it was a pretty amazing night, the people in Newcastle are extremely friendly, had a good few drunken chats with a couple of Geordies, but it was a night to remember and I'd absolutely love to do it again one day!
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Well what can I say, possibly the best away trip of my footballing life, great day out with the lads, great stadium, great atmosphere, and great nightlife. Would absolutely recommend this away trip to anyone, And I hope to visit there again one day!