In recent years, FA Cup final day has become nothing more than another Saturday to Newcastle United supporters. The club has not reached the final four of the competition since 2005, and has not made a final appearance since 1999. In fact, Newcastle have not made an appearance at the newer version Wembley Stadium other than to to play Tottenham away in the Premier League.
However, while the 21st century has not yet brought silverware and domestic success for Newcastle, the FA Cup does hold very happy memories for the Magpies. Six times has a Newcastle captain lifted the famous old trophy, making the club the joint-seventh most successful club in the competition.
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On the 150th anniversary of the FA Cup final we look back at some of Newcastle's most memorable matches in this famous competition.
Barnsley 0-2 Newcastle United: 1910 FA Cup final replay
Having only drawn the original final 1-1 with second division Barnsley, Newcastle desperately needed to win the replay. Should they have failed, it would have been their fourth final defeat in just six years. The replay was held at Everton's Goodison Park, which some considered to be unfair towards United's opponents, Barnsley, who had knocked the Toffees out of the competition at the semi-final stage, and were likely to receive a negative reception.
Nevertheless, the game went ahead, with Newcastle making one change from the first fixture. An injured full-back, Tony Whiston, was replaced by Jack Carr. Despite this change being enforced, Carr did an excellent job alongside the half-backs of Colin Veitch and Peter McWilliam, restricting Barnsley to very few chances.
Newcastle also improved going forward, and thanks to a brace from Albert Shepherd, won the match 0-2, and in doing so, brought the FA Cup back to Tyneside for the very first time.
Newcastle United 2-0 Aston Villa: 1924 FA Cup final
Known as the 'Rainy Day Final', this FA Cup final was only the second ever to be played at the newly-constructed Wembley Stadium. The previous year had seen crowds estimated at around 300,000 pack into Wembley, with a famous 'white horse' being used by police to clear supporters off the pitch.
Newcastle had developed something of a rivalry with Aston Villa during the early days of the 20th century, giving this final added significance. United had seen off Liverpool and Manchester City on the way to Wembley, as well as taking four games to get past Derby County in the second round.
The final was a tense encounter, with both goals coming late on in the match. Newcastle finally broke the deadlock after 83 minutes, when Scottish forward Neil Harris found the net. Only two minutes later, Stan Seymour added a second. The man who would go on to lead Newcastle to FA Cup glory as a manager scored the decisive goal to give United their second FA Cup final win.
Newcastle United 3-1 Manchester City: 1955 FA Cup final
The early 1950s was a successful period for Newcastle, winning back-to-back FA Cups in 1951 and 1952, against Blackpool and Arsenal respectively. After a short absence, they returned to the final in 1955, to take on Manchester City in front of 100,000 spectators.
The game burst into life after just 45 seconds, when Jackie Milburn (wearing number 8 that day) headed home past Bert Trautmann. This would remain the fastest FA Cup final goal until 1997, when Roberto Di Matteo scored against Middlesbrough three seconds faster.
Following an injury to full-back Jimmy Meadows in the 17th minute, Manchester City were forced to play the remainder of the match with just ten men as substitutes were not yet permitted in English football. Despite this, they did equalise just before half time, through Bobby Johnstone. This was to avail however, as Newcastle made their extra-man advantage count early in the second period, with quick goals from Bobby Mitchell and George Hannah, and went on to win comfortably. Incredibly, this remains Newcastle's last domestic trophy.
Newcastle United 2-0 Burnley: 1974 FA Cup semi-final
Having watched neighbours Sunderland defeat Leeds United in the previous year's final, Newcastle looked to keep the North-East success going in 1974. A crazy path to the semi-final saw the Magpies struggle past Scunthorpe United, convincingly defeat West Bromwich Albion, and then have a win voided against Nottingham Forest in the sixth-round due to crowd trouble at St. James' Park.
They eventually got past Forest after two nervy replays, and faced Burnley in the semi-final at Hillsborough. Burnley had been the better side in the first half, but it was Newcastle who struck first in the second, when Malcolm Macdonald wrestled off a Burnley defender to put home a rebound after his initial shot was saved.
Burnley increased the pressure, looking to find a way back into the tie, but it was this that ultimately lead to their downfall. A ball into the Newcastle box was cleared to Terry Hibbitt, who played an inch-perfect ball on the half-volley into the sprinting path of Macdonald, who made no mistake. This sealed the tie and sent Newcastle back to Wembley.
Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle United: 2000 FA Cup semi-final
Despite the fantastic football of the 90s at Newcastle, there was no silverware to show for it. League success passed them by, and then two FA Cup finals in succession, in 1998 and 1999, were lost to Arsenal and Manchester United. Newcastle had not scored in either game, meaning their last FA Cup goal at Wembley was George Hannah's strike in the 1955 final.
They entered the semi-final in 2000 under the stewardship of Bobby Robson, who was coming to the end of his first season in charge of United, having replaced Ruud Gullit. Robson had steadied the ship, after the tumultuous reign of Gullit ended in disarray.
Gullit had ostracised fan favourite Rob Lee from the squad, but Robson made the decision to bring him back into the fold when he became manager. This proved to be a good decision, when Lee scored a bullet header in the 66th minute at Wembley, to cancel out Gus Poyet's opener. Poyet would go on to score again, and Chelsea would head to the final, but Rob Lee's header remains one of the most passionately celebrated Newcastle goals in recent times.
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