Newcastle have rejigged their matchday playlist and Local Hero will no longer be played as the final song before kick-off
St James' Park ahead of Newcastle vs Athletic Bilbao
St James' Park ahead of Newcastle vs Athletic Bilbao(Image: 2025 Newcastle United)
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If it isn't broken don't fix it.
It might sound cliched, but it has never felt so prevalent after Newcastle's decision to drop Local Hero as the final song on matchday before kick-off.
The famous Mark Knopfler song "Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero" is still set to be used on match days and in the build-up to games. But United will now play Blaydon Races as the final song before kick-off, at the request of the players.
Apparently the thinking behind the decision was made as the players want to hear fans singing right at kick-off, which they do not believe is possible with Local Hero.
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Yet, St James' Park is renowned for its fervent atmosphere and that has never been dampened by Local Hero playing before kick-off. In fact, the roar at the end of the song after the drums fade out is more loud and intimidating for opposition teams than many other Premier League grounds.
It sets the tone for the atmosphere and the chanting, rather than weakening it. It was telling that the news was met with an overwhelmingly negative response from fans on social media
For generations of match going fans, Local Hero still hits different when you hear it in the stadium. It brings a feeling of community and belonging to Newcastle that no other song can match. Something that is uniquely Newcastle.
When it was played at Wembley two years ago before the Carabao Cup final against Manchester United, there was barely a dry eye in the house. There certainly wasn't when it was beamed out at the national stadium in March after Newcastle won the competition to end their 70-year domestic trophy drought.
That is not to say Blaydon Races isn't special, too. The St James' Park atmosphere I grew up with was always whipped up by Blaydon Races coming in fresh off the heels of the Ramones' Blitzkrieg Bop, before the players walked out to Local Hero.
But it is Local Hero that my formative experiences of watching Newcastle were shaped by. It is also Local Hero that has been playing at weddings, funerals and engagement parties of Newcastle-supporting loved ones. Even now, sat in the press box, I can feel my hairs stand on end when it plays before a big game.
It may sound a bit dramatic saying all of this when it is still on the matchday playlist but when it played prior to the players walking out against Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday, I couldn't help but feel a little bit hollow.
It just didn't feel right and I am confident I wasn't alone in thinking that inside St James' Park.