THE NORTH EAST IN Labour, Barca and Princess Di: a year that defined an epoch

AS the decades roll on, sometimes we live through a year which already feels historic as it’s happening. 1997 was one of them. British politics was turned on its head as Labour stormed Westminster after 18 long years in opposition.

British culture was balanced on the crest of a wave and millions were plunged into mourning by the death of Princess Diana.

The reverberations from all of these were keenly felt in our corner of the British Isles, and 1997 would also prove to be a seismic year for our football clubs.

Relive it all through this collection of amazing pictures.

Led by Tony Blair, Labour swept to power in the May general election with 43% of the vote and a massive majority.

His association with the North East runs deep: he spent much of his childhood in Durham and represented Sedgefield in County Durham from 1983.

For the 862,262 Labour voters in the North East, it was a huge night.

January 1997 saw Newcastle United manager Kevin Keegan leaving the club, bringing to an end five incredible years in Toon history.

Kenny Dalglish took up the job shortly after, beginning a reign that would only last a couple of games into the next season.

While his time at Newcastle was mixed, it did include one of the greatest nights in the club’s history.

On September 17, 1997, one of the big- gest clubs in the world arrived at St James’ for a Champions League clash that will never be forgotten by Newcastle fans.

A Tino Asprilla hat-trick saw the boys in black and white go into the second half with a 3-0 lead.

Barcelona’s line-up of superstars – Figo and Rivaldo, to name just a couple, started – but, despite throwing everything they had at Newcastle, the game finished 3-2. A historic night. This was also the year which saw Sunderland AFC leave Roker Park and move to their new home.

The 49,000-seater stadium opened for the start of the 1997/98 season costing £24m.

Unfortunately, a match to celebrate the ground’s 20th birthday this summer ended with the Black Cats getting thrashed 5-0 by Celtic.

In 1997, the Britpop music scene was reaching its peak, with Oasis and Blur both putting out records.

Oasis came to Newcastle to play the Arena on September 16 on the Be Here Now tour, their most notorious and riotous.

Our photographer was there to capture the night the biggest band in the world rolled into town.

HRH Diana, Princess of Wales, was killed in a car crash in Paris on August 31.

Her death sent millions into mourning, no doubt including those who met her during her several visits to the North East.

She opened the Redheugh Bridge in 1983 and visited patients at the Freeman hospital in 1989. Stevie Charlton reads about Kevin Keegan’s resignation in the Chronicle in 1997