When was Newcastle United founded?

Newcastle United Football Club was officially founded on Friday, the 9th of December, 1892. Resulting from a merger between Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End - hence the "United" - the club has competed in the English Football League since 1893.

However, the origins of Newcastle United can be traced back even further to the formation of a football club by the Stanley Cricket Club of Byker in November 1881. This club underwent a name change to Newcastle East End Football Club in October 1892 to avoid confusion with the Stanley cricket club, located in County Durham.

On the other side of the city, the West End Cricket Club established the Newcastle West End Football Club in August 1882. The latter moved into St. James' Park in May 1886 and became a rival to Newcastle East End in the Northern League.

By 1889, East End had become a professional team, with the club transitioning into a limited company in 1890. Meanwhile, West End found themselves in financial difficulty, leading them to propose a takeover to East End in the spring of 1892. Consequently, West End was liquidated, with many of its players and staff joining East End, who then took over the lease of St. James' Park in May 1892.

However, East End's application to join the First Division of the English Football League for the 1892/93 season was denied. They also declined an invitation to participate in the Second Division. Hoping to draw larger audiences in the Northern League, East End considered adopting a new name that would reflect the significance of the merger.

Names such as "Newcastle F.C.", "Newcastle Rangers", "Newcastle City", and "City of Newcastle" were proposed, but it was "Newcastle United" that was finally chosen on Friday, the 9th of December, 1892, to symbolise the union of East and West End. The English Football Association approved this change on Thursday, the 22nd of December, 1892, and as the saying goes, the rest is history.