What came before Local Hero?

[joeheadland]

I’m part of a team at the University of Sheffield, led by Dr Chris
Stride. We've published a number of academic papers and magazine
articles relating to football history, on subjects such as statues and
replica shirts (see, for example sportingstatues.com, and
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10 ... 19.1578255).

Our current project is investigating the music that football teams have run or walked out of the tunnel to over the years. We have a few questions that we hope you may be able to answer regarding the music Newcastle have used.

As far as we are aware, Newcastle players have entered the pitch to “Local Hero” since it was released in 1963. Is this correct? Has the song team come out to always been the Mark Knopfler version of the song?

Have there been any notable occurrences since this time in which the club have used other songs?

And do you know what the club played in the pre ‘Local Hero’ days?

If you remember any others, can you tell us the artist, the song title, and roughly what season you think it was used in please?

And if you have any personal anecdotes around the reasons for the songs
being used, or the changes between them, that would also be fantastic.

I should also add that we are not interested in goal music, or a song
that is played at the final whistle, but just the song that is on the
tannoy system as the players enter the field.

If you think someone else may be able to help, or you have any
questions, please let us know! We would be very happy to discuss the
project. Thank you very much for your help here.

Regards

Joe Headland

[Colback's Orange Tufts]

An interesting question. I'm too young to answer. I'd also add, we play a classical piece for the players coming out of the tunnel (before local hero), but I can't remember what...

[biggeordiedave]

An interesting question. I'm too young to answer. I'd also add, we play a classical piece for the players coming out of the tunnel (before local hero), but I can't remember what...

The most recent one I can remember is 'Carmina Burana (O Fortuna)' but haven't been for ages and not sure if that's still played.

Other than that there have been various versions of 'Blaydon Races' played, including one by a local band 'The Longsands'.

[Colback's Orange Tufts]

An interesting question. I'm too young to answer. I'd also add, we play a classical piece for the players coming out of the tunnel (before local hero), but I can't remember what...

The most recent one I can remember is 'Carmina Burana (O Fortuna)' but haven't been for ages and not sure if that's still played.

Other than that there have been various versions of 'Blaydon Races' played, including one by a local band 'The Longsands'.

Oh yeah I remember that version. I hated that.

[ToonCraig]

Local hero should be mentioned more. Instead all you hear is the press going on about, Youll never walk alone.

[Colly]

The most recent one I can remember is 'Carmina Burana (O Fortuna)' but haven't been for ages and not sure if that's still played.

Other than that there have been various versions of 'Blaydon Races' played, including one by a local band 'The Longsands'.

Oh yeah I remember that version. I hated that.

One of my mates went to uni with one (some?) of the Longsands, so I always wondered if I should be polite about that version. I wasnt...

[Colly]

Local hero should be mentioned more. Instead all you hear is the press going on about, Youll never walk alone.

In fairness what's there to say about it? You can't really compare a whole ground singing a song to us at a push doing the drum bit just as it ends. I love that bit.

[biggeordiedave]

Oh yeah I remember that version. I hated that.

One of my mates went to uni with one (some?) of the Longsands, so I always wondered if I should be polite about that version. I wasnt...

They're really canny, talented lads to be fair but I was never sure about that version either. They once played 'Chasing Rainbows' by Shed Seven at my request at an open mic night in the pub I used to drink in .

[Colly]

I was confused there, thought this thread had mysteriously vanished but it turns out it's just not in football discussion...

Back on topic is the 1963 in the first post a typo? If not, it's definitely not that old.

[biggeordiedave]

I was confused there, thought this thread had mysteriously vanished but it turns out it's just not in football discussion...

Back on topic is the 1963 in the first post a typo? If not, it's definitely not that old.

Good point, moved it to FD.

Local Hero came out in '83 so definitely a typo!

[Toondes]

When I used to go with my old man in the late 80’s early 90’s I can’t recall ever hearing a song / music before kick off.

[Remember Colo]

When I used to go with my old man in the late 80’s early 90’s I can’t recall ever hearing a song / music before kick off.

It's funny when it comes to sports customs like that (or I guess anything really), once you get used to it, you don't remember it ever being different. Americans threw a huge fit when NFL players took a knee in protest during the national anthem, forgetting players only began being on the field for the anthem in 2009. Whoops, I really didn't mean to get political, that's just the first example that came to mind.

[ToonCraig]

If the Club decided to play something else, the supporters would go mad. Me too.

[biggeordiedave]

We need some Charlie Methven EDM.

[Colly]

I want a return of that weird 2 or 3 game spell in maybe 2007ish where we inexplicably came out in the second half to Kurt Angle's WWE theme music.

[biggeordiedave]

I think we should play 'Tom Hark' after we score.

[beatski]

If the Club decided to play something else, the supporters would go mad. Me too.

There ain't no doubt that we'd all go mental for a little something from Jimmy Nail's back catalogue



(p.s. Big River with Knopfler is a legitimately good song about Newcastle)

[Colly]

Do you reckon we could convince the new owners that what would really get the fans onside would be a different song from The Nail File every second half?

[Tsi]

Do you reckon we could convince the new owners that what would really get the fans onside would be a different song from The Nail File every second half?

[biggeordiedave]

This would be the perfect entrance music:



"Do do do do dodo dodo do. COME ON!!!!!!"