Newcastle United’s Wembley weekend – a timeline of hope, excitement and glorious celebrations

March 18, 2025
5:00 am

Newcastle United have won a major trophy. That sentence never gets old does it? To think it was just a few days ago that their hopes of beating Liverpool at Wembley had all been written off by those supposedly in the know.

But we knew differently, didn’t we? We may not have said it openly, for we’re all aware how good Liverpool are, but this time it just felt different. Come what may, Eddie Howe’s side were going to compete. Yes, it might not have been enough against a side which are one of the best in the world right now, but it meant they were ALWAYS in with a chance.

Even the pre-final celebrations around London had a more ‘business-like’ feel to them, unlike the ‘happy to be there’ atmosphere of 2023. On the pitch, Newcastle lived up to all expectations – and possiby exceeded them. We know what this side are capable of, after all they’ve beaten the current top four sides in the Premier League to get here, but the way they dismantled Liverpool was incredible.]

Cue the party starting for real – both in London and back home in Newcastle. Such amazing sights. We were there every step of the way, on the journey to and from the capital, in the press box at Wembley and on the terraces, and of course around our own Tyneside. Here’s just a flavour of how we brought you coverage of a weekend which no one associated with Newcastle United will ever forget. Here’s to the next one.

Time Line

Newcastle United’s weekend of glory

Wembley here we come

It feels a long time ago now doesn’t it? Thousands set off from Tyneside for the Wembley weekend by road, rail and air – all travelling with hope in their heart but, if we’re in honest, in hope rather than expectation. We were there every step of the way, with all the latest as it happened in our live blog. We had reporters travelling with fans, with Owen Younger’s experiences told in this brilliant piece here
Covent Garden and London turns black-and-white

It was the night London turned black-and-white. No Trafalgar Square, no problem, United fans flocked to Covent Garden to ease the nerves the night before the game. But while 2023 had been a great party, this time it felt different. Newcastle were here to win, and it was reflected in the fan mood, as we reported here. The pictures of the atmosphere around London – brilliant captured by our team in the capital – set the scene for what was to come.
History made on the pitch

Eddie Howe knew each and every player had to be at their best to get the better of Liverpool, and that’s how it turned out on the day, with standout performances across the pitch. Goalscorer Dan Burn clinched man of the match with an incredible display, but any number of players could have walked away with the accolade. Here’s how Lee Ryder rated the Newcastle players and his final whistle verdict – plus how the match unfolded
How the game was won

A tactical masterclass from Eddie Howe saw Newcastle outplay, outfight and out-think Liverpool on the Wembley turf. While a late goal from Arne Slot’s side made for a tense final 10 minutes, United were always in control, after being underdogs before the game. Ciaran Kelly broke down the key moments here, while looked at how Liverpool had reacted to defeat and what it tell us about this NUFC side.
The party starts

The celebrations kicked off inside Wembley Stadium as Newcastle United players and coaching staff joined fans in memorable moments. Eddie Howe was drenched in beer ahead of his post-match press conference, while he spoke with emotion about what the win meant to him and the club. We had full dressing room reaction as they partied started in earnest at Wembley, before continuing in the Box Park into the night.

For some fans, including Head of Sport Ross Gregory, the emotions were too much. Meanwhile, not to be outdone by those in London, United fans headed to St James’ Park to kick off their own celebrations on in Newcastle.
The day after

For many, it still hasn’t properly sunk in. Emotions. The squad arrived home before jetting off for a warm weather training trip, and for international commitments, while the reality dawned for the thousands of fans. Chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan’s message indicated this is just the start, while Newcastle know one door to Europe is now secured. The club will celebrate their success with fans – with a date set for a parade in a couple of weeks.