Newcastle United 2-2 Chelsea: Joe Buck match reaction
Newcastle United latest news: A major St James’ Park change has been made.
Newcastle United have reverted back to playing ‘Local Hero’ immediately before matches following a brief change up in the running order.
The tune has been synonymous with Newcastle United for a number of decades and was always the last piece of music that the two teams heard before kick-off. Mark Knopfler’s ‘Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero,’ was released in 1983 but has welcomed Newcastle United players onto the pitch at St James’ Park since the early 90s.
However, most recently, the music has been played earlier in the running order, often as the two teams meet in the tunnel before entering the pitch. In its place has been ‘Hey Jude’ by The Beatles, a song used in stadiums up and down the country, before ‘Blaydon Races’ following a brief interlude by the Premier League music.
The change came following a request by players who wanted to see the atmosphere crank up a notch before the referee’s whistle.
However, eagle-eared fans on Wednesday night would have noticed that ‘Local Hero’ was played in its usual place before kick-off ahead of the win against Fulham. It then returned to that slot ahead of their clash with Chelsea on Saturday, much to the delight of supporters.
Wor Flags react to ‘Local Hero’ change
Writing last month, fan group Wor Flags released a statement in response to the initial change of running order: "Many have noticed a change in the order of songs pre-match at St James’ Park in the last couple of weeks.
"The club have told us the decision to swap Local Hero with the Blaydon Races before kick-off was done primarily at the request of the players and coaching staff, who want to hear the fans singing right at kick-off, which is not possible with Local Hero but is with The Blaydon Races!
"So whilst honouring the tradition of those two songs, the club have swapped them round so that Local Hero plays before the team emerge and The Blaydon Races before kick-off.
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"It’s up to us to live up to that request and belt out the Blaydon Races and also carry it into the game. Massive game tomorrow night. Bring your scarf, get it twirling, get behind the lads. Howay Newcastle!"
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