NEWCASTLE UNITED return to Wembley on Sunday as they take on Manchester United in the Carabao Cup final.
The Magpies’ recent record at the national stadium leaves a lot to be desired, but that wasn’t always the case. Here, we look back at all of the club’s Wembley outings…
April 1924 – FA Cup final
Newcastle United 2 Aston Villa 0
Newcastle’s first visit to Wembley came almost a century ago, one year after the stadium opened with the infamous ‘white horse’ final.
Playing in front of a crowd of more than 90,000, the Magpies claimed their second FA Cup victory – the first had come in 1910 thanks to a replay win at Goodison Park – thanks to two goals in the final seven minutes.
In a tight game, played in wet conditions, Scottish forward Neil Harris opened the scoring in the 83rd minute, before Kelloe-born George Seymour settled things with Newcastle’s second goal two minutes later.
April 1932 – FA Cup final
Newcastle United 2 Arsenal 1
Newcastle’s second FA Cup victory at Wembley remains one of the most controversial finals in the competition’s long and storied history.
Trailing 1-0 to Arsenal thanks to an early goal from Robert John, Newcastle equalised when Jack Allen headed home seven minutes before the break. However, newsreel footage clearly shows that the ball had crossed the goalline before winger Jimmy Richardson crossed it into the middle.
The goal stood despite vociferous Arsenal protests, and Allen applied the coup de grace as he claimed Newcastle’s winner with 18 minutes left. It was the first time a team had won an FA Cup final at Wembley after going behind.
April 1951 – FA Cup final
Newcastle United 2 Blackpool 0
Newcastle’s winning run at Wembley continued in a game that would mark the start of their domestic dominance in the first half of the 1950s.
Jackie Milburn scored of both of the Magpies’ goals early in the second half, with his opener coming five minutes after the interval and his second arriving five minutes later.
Newcastle captain Joe Harvey lifted the cup, with Newcastle’s side also featuring the likes of Frank Brennan, George Robledo and Bobby Mitchell.
May 1952 – FA Cup final
Newcastle United 1 Arsenal 0
Newcastle travelled to Wembley as the reigning FA Cup holders, and duly retained their crown thanks to a narrow victory over Arsenal.
With a record-breaking crowd of 127,000 watching on, Arsenal suffered a first-half injury to their full-back, Walley Barnes, which meant that, in an era before substitutes, they had to play most of the game with ten men.
Newcastle still struggled to break them down, but Chilean forward George Robledo headed home the only goal of the game with six minutes remaining.
May 1955 – FA Cup final
Newcastle United 3 Manchester City 1
The third of Newcastle’s three FA Cup final appearances in the 1950s saw the Magpies maintain their unbeaten record in Wembley finals.
Jackie Milburn opened the scoring after just 45 seconds, setting a new record for the fastest FA Cup final goal that would stand until Roberto di Matteo scored for Chelsea against Middlesbrough in 1997.
Bobby Johnstone equalised for Manchester City just before half-time, but Newcastle were always on top and second-half goals from Bobby Mitchell and George Hannah ensured they were able to celebrate another FA Cup success.
May 1974 – FA Cup final
Liverpool 3 Newcastle United 0
Newcastle ended a 19-year absence from Wembley in an FA Cup final against Liverpool that resulted in their first defeat under the Twin Towers.
The Magpies dug in during the first half, but fell behind when Kevin Keegan volleyed home shortly after the hour mark following a pass from Tommy Smith.
Steve Heighway doubled Liverpool’s lead when he headed home in the 74th minute, and Keegan added a third goal when he slotted home from close range in the closing stages.
February 1976 – League Cup final
Manchester City 2 Newcastle United 1
Newcastle’s only previous appearance in the League Cup final saw them go down to Manchester City in the 1975-76 season.
The Magpies fell behind in the 11th minute when Peter Barnes scored after a free-kick into the box, but were level before the break when Alan Gowling scored from a Malcolm MacDonald cross.
Manchester City’ winner came at the start of the second half, with boyhood Newcastle fan Dennis Tueart produced a sensational overhead kick to beat a helpless Mike Mahoney in the Newcastle goal.
April 1988 – Football League Centenary Tournament
Newcastle’s forgotten Wembley outing came in 1988, when the Football League staged the Mercantile Credit Football Festival over three days at Wembley to celebrate their 100th anniversary.
The event failed to capture the public imagination, with attendances poor, and while Newcastle beat Liverpool on penalties after their first 40-minute game ended in a goalless draw, they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Tranmere Rovers in the second round.
August 1996 – Charity Shield
Manchester United 4 Newcastle United 0
With Manchester United having won the double the previous season, Newcastle were invited to contest the 1996 Charity Shield thanks to their second-place finish in the previous campaign.
With new £15m world-record signing Alan Shearer making his competitive debut, the Magpies were soundly beaten by an on-song Manchester United side.
Eric Cantona, Nicky Butt, David Beckham and Roy Keane scored the goals, with most Newcastle fans remembering the day for the soaking they received as they trudged back up Wembley Way after the game.
May 1998 – FA Cup final
Arsenal 2 Newcastle United 0
Newcastle’s first appearance in an FA Cup final for more than two decades turned out to be something of a non-event as Arsenal brushed them aside to complete their second league and FA Cup double.
Marc Overmars opened the scoring midway through the first half, holding off Newcastle full-back Alessandro Pistone before slipping a low finish past Shay Given.
Nicos Dabizas headed against the crossbar as the Magpies tried to rally at the start of the second half, with Alan Shearer also shooting against the foot of the post, but Arsenal settled things when Nicolas Anelka outpaced Dabizas to score.
May 1999 – FA Cup final
Manchester United 2 Newcastle United 0
Newcastle returned to Wembley for the second time in 12 months, but the outcome was the same as they crashed to another 2-0 defeat, this time at the hands of treble winners Manchester United.
Teddy Sheringham was an early replacement for an injured Roy Keane, and within two minutes of coming onto the field, the substitute was opening the scoring after a one-two with Paul Scholes.
Manchester United doubled their lead at the start of the second half as Scholes fired past Steve Harper following a lay-off from Sheringham.
April 2000 – FA Cup semi-final
Chelsea 2 Newcastle United 1
Another Wembley outing, and another defeat for Sir Bobby Robson’s Newcastle side, who did at least score a goal for their fans to celebrate.
Gustavo Poyet opened the scoring for Chelsea in the first half, but after a much-improved spell at the start of the second period, Newcastle deservedly levelled when Rob Lee headed home Alan Shearer’s cross.
Five minutes later, though, and Poyet’s second sent Chelsea through to the final, with the Uruguayan heading home Jon Harley’s long, hanging cross.
May 2018/February 2019 – Premier League
Tottenham 1 Newcastle United 0 (twice)
Sunday’s showdown with Manchester United marks Newcastle’s first appearance in a final at the ‘new Wembley’, but the Magpies have actually visited the ground twice to face Tottenham when they were playing at the national stadium while their new stadium was being erected.
Both games ended in Newcastle losing 1-0, with Harry Kane claiming Spurs’ winner in the 2017-18 season and Son Heung-min scoring the only goal of the game in the following campaign.
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