Last Friday evening, My workplace was shutdown by the government as part of their social distancing advice to combat the spread of the Coronavirus. As I write this piece, I have no idea when I will be returning to work, so for the foreseeable, it look likes I've got some time on my hands! It's a strange feeling, as I'm sure many of you will feel during these surreal times, with a total lockdown surely just a matter of days away. So to keep busy, I'm endeavouring to increase my article output, starting with a BIG 5 series. Not a top five, as I'm too much of a fence sitter to fully rank my favourites, but a BIG 5 should certainly start a friendly debate amongst readers.
So the first BIG 5 is on, my favourite Newcastle shirts from over the years that I've been loyally following the toon (1995-present day)
1. Adidas Newcastle Brown Ale 1995-97 Home
For many, this shirt was the the one and only, simply the greatest ever Newcastle United shirt of all time. This was my first ever Newcastle shirt as a six year old, with so many iconic players donning that famous Brown Ale logo with the grandad collar, this shirt was one of the many reasons I fell in love with Newcastle United. The only thing missing from the entertainers era was a trophy.
This shirt was worn in so many great matches in the highs and lows of Newcastle United's history. The obvious highs of the 5-0 thrashing of Manchester United, and the 7-1 spanking of Spurs, to the lows of back to back 4-3 defeats at Anfield. This shirt is easily the most recognisable in our history and it's no coincidence this shirt sparked a resurgence in the vintage shirt market, as our partners 3retro, will no doubt testify.
2. Adidas NTL 2001-03 Home
Many in their twenties may feel the same about this shirt, as I do about the previous. The shirt symoblised a revival under the legendary Sir Bobby Robson, with finishes of fourth and third in the Premier League, and an almighty run in the Champions League, back when the competition had TWO group stages! Iconic moments in this shirt included a dramatic late win at Feyenoord to qualify for said second group stage of the Champions League, Alan Shearer's greatest ever goal in the black and white against Everton, and of course the heroic 2-2 draw at Inter Milan.
Many a toon fan has fond memories of the 2002-03 season, en-captured in the brilliant "Flying High" season review DVD (I actually had it on VHS!) This was a time when Newcastle got their mojo back and were playing the football akin to the entertainers, with a solid defence the only thing missing.
3. Adidas Northern Rock 2003-05 Home
This shirt is one of my favourites, but has some fairly sad connotations to it. During the time when Newcastle sported this black and white number, with a tinge of blue, Sir Bobby Robson was sacked, and we came oh so close to success in both the UEFA Cup and FA Cup under the turbulent stewardship of Graeme Souness. Notable highlights in this shirt include a Shearer centre-forward masterclass against Chelsea, with a sensational goal turning the colossus that was Marcel Desailly. A Patrick Kluivert header, again against Chelsea in that famous FA Cup run.
The squad Sir Bobby had built was dismantled by Souness, reminiscent of when Kenny Dalglish did the same to the entertainers. However, at least Dalglish did have some success in the players he brought in, most notably a young Shay Given, and Nobby Solano. The same can't really be said for Souness, with Boumsong and Luque not really cutting the mustard. It was the start of a frustrating time for Newcastle, but it has to be said... a rather nice football shirt!
4. Puma Northern Rock/Virgin 2011-12 Home
We're now in the Mike Ashley era, where as we all know success stories have been few and far between to say the least. Heading into this season I remember being particularly angry and concerned, as Ashley, Llambias and Pardew dismantled the team Chris Hughton had used to rescue Newcastle United out of turmoil, and solidified back in the Premier League. Dressing room leaders Kevin Nolan and Joey Barton were shown the door, to go with Andy Carroll famously leaving for Liverpool the previous January. Newcastle replaced these figures with the unknown Yohan Cabaye from Lille, and Demba Ba from relegated West Ham. What a season this turned out to be!
Who would have thought it at the time, but chief scout Graham Carr, had discovered a worldie in Cabaye, and Demba Ba was proving to be one of the most deadliest strikers the Gallowgate had seen. The squad was boosted further still the following January, with the arrival of Papiss Cisse, with Pardew's men going on to finish a remarkable fifth. The shirt changed sponsors half way through the season after the collapse of Northern Rock, Virgin were on hand to pick up the pieces on a short-term sponsorship deal for the most successful part of Mike Ashley's ownership to date.
5. Puma Fun88 2017/18 Home
Finally I look at the first season back in the Premier League under Rafa Benitez. This shirt was in celebration of Newcastle United's 125th anniversary. This shirt is my favourite from the last few years, as we never really had much to shout about under Carver, and McClaren. My overriding feeling of this time was hope, both in the positive and negative sense. With Rafa at the helm, you always felt like we had a chance, but it seemed like it was a missed opportunity unraveling before your eyes, with the failures of our ownership and not backing their world-class manger.
Notable wins in this shirt included home wins against Manchester United and Arsenal, with Matt Ritchie firing in winners on both occasions. It was a really gritty and determined season from our players, which summed up Rafa's stewardship at Newcastle United.
Comment below on your favourites, there are no wrong answers, only opinion!