Jack Grealish is Newcastle United saviour as off-air remarks cause a storm at St James’ Park
As Newcastle United prepare for their decisive final Premier League clash against Everton, the stakes couldn’t be higher. A victory at St. James’ Park will secure their place in next season’s Champions League, capping off a remarkable campaign under Eddie Howe.
Yet with Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Chelsea, and Manchester City all vying for European qualification, the tension is palpable. This isn’t the first time Newcastle have faced a nerve-shredding final day—their history is littered with last-minute drama, heartbreak, and unforgettable triumphs.
One of the most iconic final-day moments came in 1997, when Kenny Dalglish’s side defied the odds to clinch a Champions League spot.
Sitting fourth before kickoff, Newcastle needed a dominant performance against Nottingham Forest to leapfrog Arsenal and Liverpool. What followed was nothing short of sensational.
Tino Asprilla, Les Ferdinand (twice), and Alan Shearer fired the Magpies into a 4-0 halftime lead, with Robbie Elliott adding a fifth after the break. When results elsewhere went their way—Arsenal only managed a 3-1 win over Derby, while Liverpool drew at Sheffield Wednesday—Newcastle’s superior goal difference sealed a second-place finish.
After the agony of missing out on the title a year earlier, this time, the Toon Army celebrated a return to Europe’s elite competition.
Fast forward to 2017, and another dramatic final day unfolded—this time in the Championship. Rafa Benítez’s side had stumbled late in the season, allowing Brighton to seize control of the title race.
The Seagulls even prepared celebratory “Champions 2017” t-shirts and booked an opera singer for their promotion party. But football, as ever, had other ideas.
As Newcastle cruised to a 3-0 victory over Barnsley thanks to goals from Chancel Mbemba, Ayoze Pérez, and Dwight Gayle, news broke from Villa Park that Brighton had surrendered their lead.
The architect of their downfall? A young Jack Grealish, whose equalizer for Aston Villa handed Newcastle the Championship trophy in the most unexpected fashion. Overnight, Grealish became an unlikely hero on Tyneside.
Not all final-day memories are joyous, however. The 2003-04 season saw Sir Bobby Robson’s side crumble under the weight of expectation. After flirting with Champions League qualification for much of the campaign, a late collapse left them scrambling.
Their final home game, against Wolves, summed up their frustrations—Lee Bowyer’s early opener was canceled out, and as the full-time whistle blew, a half-empty St. James’ Park reflected the disillusionment of a fanbase that had dared to dream.
Yet there have been redeeming chapters, too. In 2006, caretaker manager Glenn Roeder engineered a stunning turnaround, dragging Newcastle from relegation candidates to European hopefuls in just three months.
The final game against Chelsea was a tense affair, but Titus Bramble’s decisive strike secured a 1-0 win and seventh place—enough to qualify for the Intertoto Cup. The victory not only booked a European adventure but also earned Roeder the permanent manager’s job.
As the current squad gears up for their own moment of destiny, history serves as both inspiration and caution. The highs of 1997 and 2017 prove that against all odds, Newcastle can deliver when it matters most. But the lessons of 2004 remind them that nothing can be taken for granted.
One thing is certain: if the Magpies secure Champions League football this weekend, St. James’ Park will erupt in a celebration worthy of their most legendary final-day triumphs. And who knows? Another unlikely hero might just emerge when they’re needed most.