Newcastle United’s new kit is a nod to club’s heritage and great players
NEWCASTLE United’s new kit’s nice, isn’t it?
And in bringing back the classic red shirt numbers, the club have pulled off a marketing masterstroke.
The kids will love it - and so will the old timers.
For those of us who began watching the Toon in the 1970s and 1980s, it evokes memories of the likes of Malcolm Macdonald and Peter Beardsley in their imperious prime.
And indeed at the heart of the new advertising campaign, alongside the modern-day players and almost bringing a nostalgic lump to the throat, are the Supermac and Beardo of 2017 still looking good as they model the new strips.
Created by Puma, the new kit is intended to be a take on classic Newcastle United strips of the past.
But what of the return of the iconic red numbering - and when, indeed, did United first adopt numbers on their strips?
Alan Candlish, an expert on the history of the club and the author of several books, said: “Newcastle began to wear numbers on their shirts in the 1939-40 season which was aborted after the outbreak of World War II.
“There was a mixed reaction to the numbers. They were red but merely imposed over the stripes and were not clearly distinguishable. The press reported that ‘the numbers gave the crowd a laugh’.”
League football did not resume until the 1946-47 season, although there were FA Cup ties during 1945-46.
The first Newcastle player to score an FA Cup goal for Newcastle wearing a shirt number was fittingly Jackie Milburn after four minutes play against Burnley.
Next season, Milburn also became the first United player with a number to score a league goal, in a 4-1 home win over Millwall.
Alan continued: “Newcastle’s early numbers were in red. They wore red - on a white background throughout their FA Cup glory days of the 1950s.”
Looking at archive photographs, we see United still wearing red numbers during the 1992-93 season.
“But,” said Alan, “by the following season - 1993-94 - Rob Lee and Andy Cole were wearing shirts with white numbers on a black background.
“But when Les Ferdinand joined the club in the summer of 1995, he is pictured with manager Kevin Keegan holding up a shirt with a white No 9 super-imposed over the black and white stripes.”
By 1999, Alan Shearer was wearing a shirt bearing a white No 9 over a black shield.
Later on there are photographs of him with a black number, once again, merely superimposed over the stripes.
By 2005, he was wearing a blue No 9 over the stripes.
Alan went on: “In recent years, the players have worn gold numbers over the stripes, which are hardly discernible from a distance.
“Thank goodness red numbers are coming back.
“It’s just a pity Wor Jackie can’t as well!”