An £8m project to provide the Newcastle United Foundation with its own city-centre base was completed yesterday. Newcastle United legend Shola Ameobi cut the ribbon to officially mark the centre’s opening.
On the former site of Murray House in Diana Street, just a stone's throw away from St James’ Park, the facility, known as NUCASTLE, will provide an important base for the charity and the tens of thousands of people it helps across the North East. In front of some of the region’s most well-known faces - including Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe and Sir John Hall - the end of the five-year project was particularly poignant for Ameobi, who used the services at Murray House when he was a child.
Murray House served generations of kids from the community but the building had fallen into disrepair before the Foundation stepped forward to hand it a new lease of life
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A patron and trustee of the foundation, Ameobi was emotional as he spoke about the importance of the project to our city, and what it means to him. Standing on the rooftop six-a-side pitch with views across Newcastle, he was asked about his feelings now the building was complete.
He said: “Last year when we came to sign the steel was when it really became apparent it was going to happen, because up until then everything that happened in the world - COVID, the funding - was so unpredictable. It was an emotional rollercoaster to get to this point, but standing here now, seeing the end product, it goes beyond what I thought it was going to be.
“St James’ Park is the backdrop - this is the inspiration that I used to have living around here. Knowing what this facility is going to do for countless other thousands of kids who are going to come through this place is a momentous occasion for the Foundation.
“When I talk about Murray House, it is about the inspiration I took every time I came in here to play football. It was like I was in the stadium because it was so close.
“Hopefully, that is what it will do for countless other kids. It’s not just about playing football but about being the best you can be, regardless of what you can do.
“Part of the Foundation’s ethos is to make sure the kids understand their worth and what they can achieve. Having a space like this can only help us do that, it really is an amazing space.”
Ameobi was joined on stage by current Newcastle captain Jamaal Lascelles who, like all those visiting the centre for the first time, was left impressed by the build.
“As soon as I walked in, I just thought ‘wow’,” Lascelles said. “The facilities are fantastic, and for the people, it’s a great opportunity to be involved. I didn’t have anything like this when I was a kid - we had a community centre with table tennis.
“It’s a real safe place. Parents can know their kids can come here and feel relaxed about it because it’s a really safe environment.
“The fact it’s right next to St James’ Park brings a real togetherness. I think when the kids are here, they are going to be wearing the Newcastle badge so they will feel part of the club community.
“Putting on the shirt for me is still a huge thing and for the kids putting on a tracksuit or a training top, they will feel part of it playing here on the pitch overlooking St James’ Park. Especially the young Geordies who are big Newcastle fans, I can’t imagine how great they are going to feel.”
The project was funded by 22 key partners from across the region, including the North of Tyne Combined Authority which provided £2.6m of the total cost. North of Tyne mayor Jamie Driscoll spoke of his pride in the project at today's event, as did Northumbria Police chief constable Winton Keenen and, via video link, MP for the constituency in which NUCASTLE is located, Chi Onwurah.
Steve Beharall, Head of Newcastle United Foundation, said: “This is not just an historic day for Newcastle United Foundation, but an historic day for the city of Newcastle and the wider region.
“It has been a tremendous team effort to bring this community hub back to life for children, young people, families and older people who will find meaningful opportunities to change and improve their lives at NUCASTLE.
“Harnessing the power of football alongside the extraordinary support of Newcastle United Football Club, the Premier League, Newcastle Building Society, North of Tyne Combined Authority, Football Foundation, North East LEP and other key partners – we are confident NUCASTLE will be at the heart of our community for generations to come.”
As well as the rooftop pitch, the building houses an E-Sports room, cycling studio, workout and fitness suite, sports hall and meeting and event spaces - all of which the community can use through the Foundation. There are also state-of-the-art IT facilities and a specialist STEM room on site.
Of the £8m it took to build the centre, 95 per cent was spent within 40 miles of Newcastle, and 50 per cent within five miles of Murray House. All those heading up the project were pleased with its close ties with the local community and what it will mean for the people of the West End of Newcastle.
Sarah Medcalf, Deputy Head of Foundation at Newcastle United Foundation and a key lead on the project, noted: “It’s something that the region should be proud of. Collectively together, we can help more people if we work together.
"The fact we have Shola Ameobi here with the North of Tyne Mayor and the chief constable, it shows that if you work together this is what you can achieve.
“The North East especially likes to come together. The fact that all these different people bought into this vision - one to build a united community - is hopefully what we’ve achieved.”
The business leaders and guests invited to the opening day heard from various funding partners, including the Football Foundation as well as community partners such as Northumbria Police. The stories of the kids and young people who the Foundation has helped already were a major element of the opening celebrations - including moving words from Faiequl Alom, who came into the Foundation as a shy young man and is now part of their team.
It is those stories that show the importance of the work of the Foundation and why such a lot of effort and funds have gone into providing the charity with a state-of-the-art base which Newcastle can be rightly proud of.
Guests also heard messages of support from Foundation Patron Gabby Logan, NUFC heroes Alan Shearer and Steve Harper. Praising the work of those behind the project, former Newcastle owner Sir John Hall said: "There’s only one word to use - fantastic. It’s unbelievable that they managed to put this together.
"It’s the next generation of football in the community. It’s a tremendous achievement, and I hope this can be extended throughout the whole of the region.
"It’s not just for Newcastle, fans come from all over the region and I’m certain they will come here from all over because they deserve it. These projects - tackling mental health - were never thought of in my day but now we’re moving into a new era, and you need facilities like this. The North East needs the best, this is the best and we’ve always got to fight for the best.
"We should never be second best. This is an example of what can be done. You’ve got to applaud and say to everyone who has been involved - ‘well done, you deserve all our congratulations'.
"It’s wonderful to see this, I’m very, very proud. You’ve got to come and see it for yourself - and understand it. It’s not just a football pitch or a building, it’s all the social activities that go with it."
The underlining message from those involved in NUCASTLE and the work of the Newcastle United Foundation is that this is a space where the community and its needs are the priority - whether they are young or old. This is a place where all can flourish, as Sarah Medcalf explains.
"We know the power of the Newcastle United brand to engage young people, bring them into the fold and support them. It’s great that the club has come out to support them as well.
"We know we can use the brand identity and passion inspired by football to engage young people - but actually, it’s outcomes we are looking to achieve. To get people fitter, healthier, more active and more employable.
"We’ve had walking football and talking sessions, helping the elderly generation who have been socially isolated. Football is that uniting factor in all of that - it’s really important to us but it is about how you use that for social good.
"It’s been five years in the making and now I’m really looking forward to the next five years."
