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Andrew Musgrove

As the Newcastle United home strip for 2019-20 is revealed, how does it compare to kits of the past?

The Newcastle United home strip for the 2019-20 season has been revealed - dividing opinion across the fan base.

As you can see by the picture below, it's slightly different to what NUFC shirts of the past have been.

This obsession over strips is nothing new and thanks to the wonders of the internet, strips which warmed the hearts of supporters decades ago can be bought and worn by today's generations.

That means memories can be shared, and stories of Supermac or Wyn Davies can be brought to life through the shirts.

But what makes a good Newcastle United kit? For some it's the design, for others it's the sponsor and for most, it's the events of that season which can add to a shirt.

Here, Andrew Musgrove has a go at ranking the top 10 Newcastle shirts, taking in home and away strips as well as goalkeeper jerseys.

10) 1997-1999, home shirt - Newcastle Brown Ale

On the pitch, things were falling apart under Kenny Dalglish who set about building his own squad at the expense of The Entertainers, but this is still a lovely design.

It's very much back to basics - narrows stripes, and the lined collar is a throwback to the 70s design.

The placement of the kit supplier, badge and sponsor in the middle on top of one of other is a unique quirk of it.

Add in the memories of Alan Shearer leading United to an FA Cup Final - via a wonderful striker against Spurs in the Semi-Final - plus Tino Asprilla grabbing a hat-trick against Barcelona in the Champions League and it makes it into the top 10.

9)  1968-69, home shirt

Newcastle United v Glasgow Rangers at St James' Park, Newcastle, May 21, 1969 (Mirrorpix)

Sometimes the simplest things are the best and that is very true for this design.

On the pitch United finished 9th in the league, and lifted the Fairs Cup in what was a surprise to many.

Joe Harvey had quietly gone about building a team which had a little bit of everything - leadership with Bob Moncur, defence genius with Frank Clark, and wondrous eye for goal of Wyn Davies.

It was all done in the simplest of black and white stripes, five across the body from shoulder to shoulder with a lined collar. A badge was added for the Fairs Cup Final.

The new strip for the forthcoming season supposedly pays tribute to the winning side. 

8) 1983-86, home shirt - Newcastle Brown Ale (Blue star)

The shirt most will remember as worn by Kevin Keegan as he hung up his boots while Paul Gascoigne also emerged the season after.

There's also a change of badge - gone was the Magpie with the castle in the circle, and in came the bizarre design which saw NUFC in a curve with an arch underneath and a Magpie. It's a little strange but grows on you quite quickly.

The simply stripe design - three down the middle - makes this easy on the eye.

7) 1990-1993, away shirt - Greenalls/Mcewans lager

Liam O'Brien celebrates scoring against Sunderland at Roker Park, 1992 (Newcastle Chronicle)

My first ever away shirt so this one is close to my heart. It's a yellow that stands out without being blinding.

McEwans came into replace Greenalls as sponsors but the design remained - worn by Liam O'Brien at he put the ball over the wall against Sunderland.

It's another simple design.

6) 1976-1978, home shirt

A simply with black stripe design but accompanied with a lovely deep v-neck collar and the first outing of the the circle Newcastle United badge with the Magpies on top of the castle.

Few better shirts from that era.

5) 1969-1973, home shirt

Newcastle United footballers Bob Moncur and Malcolm Macdonald July 1972 (Mirrorpix)

The strip in which the club finally adopted the city's Coat of Arms as their official badge; similar to today's badge but with a red shield and three castles within it.

It was the shirt Supermac wore as he tore up the top flight, scoring a hattrick on his debut against Liverpool.

A relatively simple design; three stripes across the centre of the shirt, a further two come down from the shoulders, with stripes across the back and red numbers on the back.

4) 1993-1995, home shirt - Newcastle Brown Ale

Andy Cole (Clive Brunskill / Getty Images)

Having run riot the season before, this was United's first year in the Premier League and they took it at frightening pace.

They finished third in the league as Andy Cole 34 goals in the league, and 41 overall.

United's fast flowing football was just a breath of fresh to the top flight, and a more simply home jersey to the one before (three narrow black stripes, one wider black one and then one wider white one with a Greenalls sponsor) was also welcomed by fans.

It was the first return of the famous blue star sponsor logo since 1986 (although it had return in December of 1990 but with the same design as the Greenalls' shirt) and set the bar for United's shirt design in the 1990s. 

3) 1996-1997, goalkeeper shirt - Newcastle Brown Ale

On this shirt, the landmarks of the city to stand out - the Tyne Bridge, Castle Keep and St Nicholas Catherdral.

The sunrise sort of colour in which they emblazoned onto really does bring the landmarks to life.

The Newcastle badge in a shield at the top of the shirt, and the lack of an Adidas logo also make this shirt special - the word 'Adidas' simply sown into the collar. This design followed on from the fully blown keeper jersey of the year before.

2) 1995-1996, away shirt - Newcastle Brown Ale

The first away shirt produced by Adidas, and one fans instantly fell in love with - helped by United's charge up the Premier League table.

It's blue and maroon design with it's horizontal lines really caught the eye. Memories of David Ginola's strike against Sheffield Wednesday, his first for the club, stick in the mind for many.

The shirt gathered so much affection that when the 2018-19 away shirt was unveiled, and turned out to be very similar, it took place down memory lane.

1) 1995-1997, home shirt - Newcastle Brown Ale

It has to be this one doesn't it? Not only does this shirt look brilliant, it comes with the memories of almost winning the Premier League title.

Of course, not winning the title, and throwing it away in the manner United did hurts but the memories of David Ginola galloping down the wing, Alan Shearer being unveiled or Philippe Albert chipping Peter Schmeichel - all while wearing this shirt, numbs the pain.

It was the first shirt produced by Adidas and for many remains the best. The collar remains a particular favourite element for many.

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