1995–96 Newcastle United F.C. season

During the 1995–96 FA Premier League season, English club Newcastle United participated in the Premier League, finishing in second place.

Newcastle United
1995–96 season
ChairmanSir John Hall
ManagerKevin Keegan
StadiumSt James' Park
Premier League2nd
FA CupThird round
League CupQuarter-finals
Top goalscorerLeague:
Les Ferdinand (25)
All:
Les Ferdinand (29)
Highest home attendance36,589 (vs. Tottenham Hotspur)
Lowest home attendance36,225 (vs. Chelsea)
Average home league attendance36,506

Season summary

The 1995–96 season saw Sir John Hall's millions allow Newcastle to invest heavily in players from across the world. With a total of some £16 million spent on the signings of Les Ferdinand, David Ginola, Warren Barton and Shaka Hislop before the start of the season, Kevin Keegan's team made a strong start. Colombian striker Faustino Asprilla and England midfielder David Batty were also attracted to the north-east in February 1996 for a combined total of around £11 million.

An explosive start to the season saw Newcastle storm to the top of the Premier League table. Newcastle led the league for virtually all of the season from August until mid-March, and by Christmas had established a 10-point lead over Manchester United. Though they lost 2-0 at Old Trafford on 27 December, they still managed to extend this lead to 12 points on 20 January 1996, putting them in prime position for the title with 15 matches remaining. However, Manchester United – bolstered by the return of Eric Cantona from suspension – then enjoyed a surge in form. Despite an emphatic 2–1 win at Middlesbrough largely inspired by debutant Faustino Asprilla, Newcastle lost five of their next eight.[1] Newcastle dropped vital points away to West Ham and Manchester City, whilst A 1-0 win for Alex Ferguson's team at St James' Park on 4 March ended Newcastle's 100% home record in the league and cut their lead to a single point, and further away defeats at Arsenal, Liverpool and Blackburn Rovers allowed Manchester United to overtake them and establish a lead that would ultimately prove decisive.

Ferguson's mind games added further heat to the title race and provoked an infamous rant from Keegan live on Sky Sports on 29 April 1996,[2] following his team's 1-0 win at Leeds United. A 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest three days later left Newcastle needing to beat Tottenham Hotspur, and Manchester United needing to lose against Middlesbrough, if the title was to return to Tyneside for the first time since 1927. In the end, a 1-1 draw proved academic as Manchester United beat the Teessiders 3-0, thus winning by four points. Newcastle's second place finish was nonetheless their highest finish for 69 years.[3]

  • Warren Barton
  • Les Ferdinand
  • David Ginola

Analysis

The contest between Newcastle United and Manchester United for the Premier League title in the 1995-96 season has been described by Total Football magazine as "an absolute classic."[4] In 2012, the season was one of six nominees for the Premier League 20 Seasons Award for the best Premier League season ever.[5]

The 4-3 loss to Liverpool was voted the greatest game of the first decade of the Premier League at the Premier League 10 Seasons Awards,[6] attributing to the jubilant celebrations at Anfield whilst Keegan slumped over the advertising hoardings in distress.[7]

Newcastle's collapse in the Premier League title race has been the subject of continuous debate.[8][9] Newcastle's performance has been described by Graham Lister of Goal.com as having "entered football folklore as the Premier League's ultimate Devon Loch moment."[10] Rob Lee claimed that the failure to capture the title was due to falling player confidence,[11] whilst Ian Cusack believed that the return of Eric Cantona was the major difference, stating "Newcastle United had, player for player, the best team in the Premiership, but didn’t have the best player."[12] Mark Lawrenson said the general consensus was Keegan's attacking philosophy having been instrumental in costing Newcastle the title, stating "I really think they should have won the league in the 1995–96 season...Kevin could have done it if he'd altered the system very, very slightly. But he didn't want to betray his principles...I think Kevin wanted it free-flowing in all departments and that doesn't necessarily happen."[1][13]

Final league table
Main article: 1995–96 FA Premier League
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Manchester United (C) 38 25 7 6 73 35 +38 82 Qualification for the Champions League group stage
2 Newcastle United 38 24 6 8 66 37 +29 78 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
3 Liverpool 38 20 11 7 70 34 +36 71 Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round[lower-alpha 1]
4 Aston Villa 38 18 9 11 52 35 +17 63 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
5 Arsenal 38 17 12 9 49 32 +17 63
Source: Premier League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champion.
Notes:
  1. Liverpool qualified for the Cup Winners' Cup as FA Cup runners-up, as winners Manchester United already qualified for the Champions League. They defaulted their UEFA Cup spot from league position to Arsenal.

Kit

Newcastle United's kit was manufactured by the company Adidas and sponsored by Tyneside-based brewery Newcastle Brown Ale.

Appearances, goals and cards
Starts + substitute appearances)
No. Pos. Name League FA Cup League Cup Total Discipline
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1GK Pavel Srníček 14+10201+1017+2000
2DF Warren Barton 30+10205137+1140
3DF John Beresford 32+10102035+1041
4DF Darren Peacock 33+10205240+1230
5MF Ruel Fox 2+2000103+2000
6DF Steve Howey 281104033120
7MF Rob Lee 368103140910
8MF Peter Beardsley 3582132401160
9FW Les Ferdinand 37252153442940
10MF Lee Clark 22+621+103026+7210
11MF Scott Sellars 2+4000214+4100
11FW Faustino Asprilla 11+33000011+3320
12DF Marc Hottiger 0+10001+101+2000
14MF David Ginola 345204040560
15GK Shaka Hislop 240004028000
16FW Darren Huckerby 0+100+10000+2000
17MF Jimmy Crawford 00000+100+1000
18MF Keith Gillespie 26+23004130+2430
19DF Steve Watson 15+83103+1119+9400
22MF David Batty 111000011120
23MF Chris Holland 00000+100+1000
25FW Paul Brayson 0000101000
26DF Robbie Elliott 5+101+10208+2010
27DF Philippe Albert 19+44212+1123+5640
28FW Paul Kitson 2+5220004+5210

Coaching staff
Position Staff
Manager Kevin Keegan
Assistant Manager Terry McDermott
First Team Coach Arthur Cox
First Team Coach Chris McMenemy

Source:

Matches

Pre-season
22 July 1995 Hartlepool United0–4Newcastle UnitedHartlepool
Allen  22', 45'
Kitson  57'
Brayson  70'		 Stadium: Victoria Park
Attendance: 5,300
26 July 1995 Rushden & Diamonds1–3Newcastle UnitedIrthlingborough
Ferdinand  ?', ?'
Brayson  ?'		 Stadium: Nene Park
Attendance: 4,600
5 August 1995 Celtic1–1Newcastle UnitedGlasgow
Collins  29' (pen.) Ferdinand  56' Stadium: Celtic Park
Attendance: 31,000
7 August 1995 Gateshead0–4Newcastle UnitedGateshead
Ferdinand  ?', ?'
Beardsley  ?'
Gillespie  ?'		 Stadium: Gateshead International Stadium
9 August 1995 Heart of Midlothian0–1Newcastle UnitedEdinburgh
Beardsley  65' Stadium: Tynecastle Stadium
Attendance: 13,337
12 August 1995 Tottenham Hotspur0–2Newcastle UnitedLondon
Sellars  45'
Ferdinand  70'		 Stadium: White Hart Lane
Attendance: 17,288

Premier League
19 August 1995 Newcastle United3–0Coventry CityNewcastle upon Tyne
16:00 Lee  7'
Beardsley  82' (pen.)
Ferdinand  83'		 Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 36,485
Referee: Roger Dilkes
22 August 1995 Bolton Wanderers1–3Newcastle UnitedBolton
16:00 Bergsson  51' Ferdinand  17', 84'
Lee  77'		 Stadium: Burnden Park
Attendance: 20,243
27 August 1995 Sheffield Wednesday0–2Newcastle UnitedSheffield
16:00 Ginola  53'
Beardsley  75'		 Stadium: Hillsborough Stadium
Attendance: 24,815
Referee: Paul Alcock
30 August 1995 Newcastle United1–0MiddlesbroughNewcastle upon Tyne
Ferdinand  67' Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 36,500
Referee: R. Hart
9 September 1995 Southampton1–0Newcastle UnitedSouthampton
Magilton  65' Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 15,237
Referee: G. Ashby
16 September 1995 Newcastle United3–1Manchester CityNewcastle upon Tyne
Beardsley  18'
Ferdinand  38' (pen.), 59'		 Creaney  81'
Edghill  		 Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 36,501
Referee: Jeff Winter
24 September 1995 Newcastle United2–0ChelseaNewcastle upon Tyne
Ferdinand  41', 57' Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 36,225
Referee: Peter Jones
1 October 1995 Everton1–3Newcastle UnitedLiverpool
Limpar  81' Ferdinand  11'
Lee  59' (pen.)
Kitson  65'		 Stadium: Goodison Park
Attendance: 33,080
Referee: Keith Cooper
14 October 1995 Queens Park Rangers2–3Newcastle UnitedLondon
Dichio  45', 71' Gillespie  46', 71'
Ferdinand  65'		 Stadium: Loftus Road
Attendance: 18,254
Referee: Paul Durkin
21 October 1995 Newcastle United6–1WimbledonNewcastle upon Tyne
Howey  31'
Ferdinand  35', 40', 63'
Clark  59'
Albert  84'		 Gayle  60' Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 36,434
Referee: Graham Poll
29 October 1995 Tottenham Hotspur1–1Newcastle UnitedLondon
Armstrong  21' Ginola  47' Stadium: White Hart Lane
Attendance: 32,279
Referee: Martin Bodenham
4 November 1995 Newcastle United2–1LiverpoolNewcastle upon Tyne
Ferdinand  3'
Watson  89'		 Rush  11' Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 36,547
Referee: Mike Reed
8 November 1995 Newcastle United1–0Blackburn RoversNewcastle upon Tyne
Lee  13' Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 36,473
Referee: Dermot Gallagher
18 November 1995 Aston Villa1–1Newcastle UnitedBirmingham
Johnson  22' Ferdinand  58' Stadium: Villa Park
Attendance: 39,167
Referee: Stephen Lodge
25 November 1995 Newcastle United2–1Leeds UnitedNewcastle upon Tyne
Lee  70'
Beardsley  72'		 Deane  31' Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 36,572
Referee: Steve Dunn
3 December 1995 Wimbledon3–3Newcastle UnitedLondon
Holdsworth  18', 65'
Ekoku  21'		 Ferdinand  9', 29'
Cunningham  35' (o.g.)		 Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 18,002
Referee: G. Ashby
9 December 1995 Chelsea1–0Newcastle UnitedLondon
Petrescu  25' Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 31,098
Referee: Roger Dilkes
16 December 1995 Newcastle United1–0EvertonNewcastle upon Tyne
Ferdinand  17'
Beresford  32'		 Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 36,557
Referee: Paul Durkin
23 December 1995 Newcastle United3–1Nottingham ForestNewcastle upon Tyne
Lee  11', 74'
Ginola  25'		 Report Woan  11' Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 36,531
Referee: David Elleray
27 December 1995 Manchester United2–0Newcastle UnitedManchester
Cole  6'
Keane  53'		 Stadium: Old Trafford
Attendance: 42,024
Referee: Paul Alcock
2 January 1996 Newcastle United2–0ArsenalNewcastle upon Tyne
Ginola  1'
Ferdinand  47'		 Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 36,530
Referee: Dermot Gallagher
14 January 1996 Coventry City0–1Newcastle UnitedCoventry
Watson  44' Stadium: Highfield Road
Attendance: 20,547
20 January 1996 Newcastle United2–1Bolton WanderersNewcastle upon Tyne
Kitson  9'
Beardsley  37'		 Bergsson  19' Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 36,530
Referee: Keith Cooper
3 February 1996 Newcastle United2–0Sheffield WednesdayNewcastle upon Tyne
Ferdinand  54'
Clark  90'		 Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 36,567
Referee: Paul Danson
10 February 1996 Middlesbrough1–2Newcastle UnitedMiddlesbrough
Beresford  37' (o.g.) Watson  74'
Ferdinand  78'		 Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 30,011
Referee: Steve Dunn
21 February 1996 West Ham United2–0Newcastle UnitedLondon
Cottee  7'
Williamson  82'		 Stadium: Boleyn Ground
Attendance: 23,843
Referee: Paul Alcock
24 February 1996 Manchester City3–3Newcastle UnitedManchester
N. Quinn  16'
A. Quinn  62'
Rösler  77'		 Albert  44', 81'
Asprilla  71'		 Stadium: Maine Road
Attendance: 31,115
Referee: Martin Bodenham
4 March 1996 Newcastle United0–1Manchester UnitedNewcastle upon Tyne
Cantona  51' Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 36,584
Referee: David Elleray
18 March 1996 Newcastle United3–0West Ham UnitedNewcastle upon Tyne
Albert  21'
Asprilla  55'
Ferdinand  65'		 Potts  90'  Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 36,331
Referee: Stephen Lodge
23 March 1996 Arsenal2–0Newcastle UnitedLondon
Marshall  3'
Wright  17'		 Stadium: Arsenal Stadium
Attendance: 38,271
Referee: Paul Durkin
3 April 1996 Liverpool4–3Newcastle UnitedLiverpool
Fowler  2', 55'
Collymore  68', 90'		 Ferdinand  10'
Ginola  14'
Asprilla  57'		 Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 40,702
Referee: Mike Reed
6 April 1996 Newcastle United2–1Queens Park RangersNewcastle upon Tyne
Beardsley  77', 81' Holloway  53' Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 36,583
Referee: Paul Danson
8 April 1996 Blackburn Rovers2–1Newcastle UnitedBlackburn
Fenton  86', 89' Batty  76' Stadium: Ewood Park
Attendance: 30,717
Referee: Gary Willard
14 April 1996 Newcastle United1–0Aston VillaNewcastle upon Tyne
Ferdinand  64' Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 36,510
Referee: Martin Bodenham
17 April 1996 Newcastle United1–0SouthamptonNewcastle upon Tyne
Lee  10' Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 36,554
Referee: Dermot Gallagher
29 April 1996 Leeds United0–1Newcastle UnitedLeeds
Gillespie  18' Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 38,862
2 May 1996 Nottingham Forest1–1Newcastle UnitedNottingham
Woan  75' Beardsley  32' Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 28,280
5 May 1996 Newcastle United1–1Tottenham HotspurNewcastle upon Tyne
Ferdinand  71' Dozzell  57' Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 36,589
Referee: Dermot Gallagher

FA Cup
7 January 1996 Round 3Chelsea1–1Newcastle UnitedLondon
Hughes  35' Ferdinand  90' Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 25,151
17 January 1996 Round 3rNewcastle United2 – 2 (a.e.t.)
(2–4 p)		ChelseaNewcastle upon Tyne
Albert  42'
Beardsley  64' (pen.)		 Wise  62' (pen.)
Gullit  89'		 Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 36,535
Penalties
Beardsley
Watson
Beresford
Albert 		Lee
Wise
Peacock
Newton

League Cup
19 September 1995 Round 2 1st legBristol City0–5Newcastle UnitedBristol
Peacock  ?'
Sellars  ?'
Ferdinand  ?'
Gillespie  ?'
Lee  ?'		 Stadium: Ashton Gate
Attendance: 15,592
4 October 1995 Round 2 2nd legNewcastle United3–1Bristol CityNewcastle upon Tyne
Barton  ?'
Albert  ?'
Ferdinand  ?'		 Agostino  ?' Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 36,357
25 October 1995 Round 3Stoke City0–4Newcastle UnitedStoke-on-Trent
Beardsley  ?', ?'
Ferdinand  ?'
Peacock  ?'		 Stadium: Victoria Ground
Attendance: 23,000
29 November 1995 Round 4Liverpool0–1Newcastle UnitedLiverpool
Watson  ?' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 40,077
10 January 1996 Round 5Arsenal2–0Newcastle UnitedLondon
Wright  44', 90' Ginola  67'  Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 37,857
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References
  1. Adams, Tony (31 March 2011). "Newcastle's Entertainers fall at Anfield". ESPN. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  2. Kelly, Ryan (29 April 2020). "Kevin Keegan's 'I will love it' rant: What outburst was about & full transcript". Goal.com. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  3. Morton, David (30 April 2017). "How Newcastle United clinched their last league title - 90 years ago today". The Chronicle. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  4. Wright, Simon (2013). "Premier League flashback - 1995-96 review: King Eric's one man crusade to the championship". Total Football. Archived from the original on 15 July 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  5. "Premier League 20 seasons awards – best season". Premier League. 16 April 2012. Archived from the original on 15 July 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  6. "Premier League 20 seasons awards – best season". Premier League. 16 April 2012. Archived from the original on 15 July 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  7. Glenn, Moore (5 April 1996). "Keegan's philosophy faces reality test". The Independent. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
  8. Delaney, Miguel (28 March 2020). "Keegan, Ferguson, Cantona and a collapse: The inside story of the 1995/96 title race". The Independent. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  9. Hardy, Martin (24 September 2015). "Newcastle United a far cry from Kevin Keegan's 1995 entertainers, 20 years on". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  10. Lister, Graham (30 March 2012). "Manchester United in 1992, Newcastle in 1996 & the great title-challenge collapses Manchester City will be desperate not to emulate". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  11. Smallwood, Jimmy (20 March 2012). "Are Man City about to relive the Newcastle collapse of 1996?". BBC. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  12. Cusack, Ian (13 July 1996). "Imperfect Match – Newcastle Utd 1995-96". When Saturday Comes. Archived from the original on 15 July 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  13. Malam, Colin (20 January 2008). "Why Keegan's class of 96 blew a 12p-point lead". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
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