The Newcastle Tradition The Players Have Asked To Change

The Newcastle Tradition The Players Have Asked To Change

Pre-match music is a respected tradition and a massive part of footballing culture.

Think Liverpool's 'You'll Never Walk Alone' or Nottingham Forest's 'Mull of Kintyre' – the Premier League is full of iconic walk-out tunes.

They get the fans going and give the players a swell of noise to walk out of the tunnel to. I mean, just picture an arena full of adoring fans passionately belting out their club's song; that'd get anyone up for a football match.

So, understandably, when these traditions are changed, there is going to be some uncertainty and mumblings of discontent from those who follow their club through thick and thin.

And that is exactly what is currently happening at Newcastle United.

Local Hero's Rich History

Going Home by Mark Knopfler was originally made in tandem with the film Local Hero… And yes, despite what many believe, the song isn't actually called 'Local Hero', and it wasn't made by Dire Straits, just Mark Knopfler.

The song was released in 1983, and with the Blyth heritage of Knopfler himself (yes, just like Dan Burn), it was immediately adopted by the Geordies as a culturally significant song.

By the early 1990s the song had become synonymous with Newcastle United, with the club adopting it as their walkout anthem at St James' Park.

Mark Knopfler - Going Home 💝 pic.twitter.com/dtIDR0BogB

— Dire Straits 🎸 (@DireStraits77) July 7, 2025

Since then, the infamy has only grown.

The instrumental now resonates with Geordies from all walks of life and has become a cultural staple in that little part of the world. In fact, it has transcended purely a sporting significance and is now even used as a wedding song for some with strong Geordie heritage.

But it isn't the only song tied to the area and the football club.

The Blaydon Races

'The Blaydon Races' is a Geordie folk song written in 1862 by George Ridley.

It was originally written to commemorate the horse races which were held in Blaydon at that time and, in a similar way to 'Going Home', has become a song synonymous with the local area.

The song's cultural significance has led to it also becoming one sung by fans of various sporting clubs such as Newcastle Falcons Rugby Club, Durham Cricket Club, and most importantly, Newcastle United.

The Players Request a Switch

Usually at St James' Park, 'Blaydon Races' is played as the last song before the players enter the field of play.

This then leaves room for and leads into 'Going Home', which accompanies the players out onto the hallowed turf of the Cathedral on the Hill.

For as long as many fans can remember, this has been the running order, and one which sets up the atmosphere perfectly for the game ahead, at that.

But in recent weeks, the speakers at Newcastle's home ground have seen a slight tweak.

Now, instead of Mark Knopfler's instrumental coming after 'Blaydon Races', it is the other way round – something which Newcastle fans had noticed and immediately questioned.

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… pic.twitter.com/2fXpaw91fA

— Wor Flags 🏴🏳 (@worflags) November 4, 2025

In response to these questions, the news yesterday broke that it was actually the players who had requested the switch of music.

The reason for the change is that the players want to hear the fans singing as they enter the pitch and at kick-off, something which isn't possible with the instrumental of 'Going Home' but is with the hearty lyrics of 'Blaydon Races'.

And maybe they do have a point, but it's safe to say that Newcastle fans, including myself, haven't exactly taken fondly to the change.

The Fan Reaction

The main sentiment from fans is that there is no need for the change; in fact, the argument is that it takes away from the unique atmosphere of St James' Park.

The drums at the close of Going Home are followed by a roar which engulfs the stadium and is like not many other moments in world football.

So, despite the more traditional structure of Blaydon Races in terms of a football song, it just doesn't quite feel the same.

The version of the Blaydon races that's played is fucking awful as well. Get rid of Hey Jude while we're at it https://t.co/KOLTCfsMkW

— Brandon Armstrong (@Bren_Capstaff) November 5, 2025

One of the other inquests around the switch among fans is why the players have been allowed to decide without fan consultation.

With a tradition that means so much to so many, there has to be some sensitivity in any decision made surrounding its change.

So to just decide upon said switch, especially when it will both affect the match-going experience of so many fans who have only known the tones of Going Home, and possibly have the opposing effect to the desired by negatively impacting the atmosphere at the beginning of the game, feels quite frankly a little strange.

But, despite the current unrest within the fanbase. Wor Flags, Newcastle's fan-funded display group, has aimed to ease tensions by putting out a statement urging fans to get behind the switch and give it a chance.

And maybe there is something in that… But that doesn't make it any easier to accept, does it?