St. James’ Park, the venerable home of Newcastle United, is one of the most famous football stadiums on planet earth.
But were you aware of the little-known fact that the pitch is on a gradient?
Is the St James’ Park pitch on a slope?
St. James’ Park is indeed on a slope. Originally built atop a hill, the pitch initially had a noticeable incline of 5 metres from north to south. This unique feature has been somewhat moderated over the years to a more subtle 2-metre slope but is still visible, especially to those familiar with its contours.
Viewers tuning in via television might observe this gradient from left to right, subtly influencing the game’s dynamics. It slopes towards the Gallowgate end, affectionately known by players as ‘down the hill’ – a tactical advantage when attacking in that direction.
That’s why, when Newcastle win the toss, you’ll always see them choose to kick ‘up the hill’ in the first half, so they’re going ‘down the hill’ at the end of the game.
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What have players said about the slope?
Nick Pope, the Toon no. 1, describes the experience vividly, noting that while it might be overlooked on TV, players feel a significant boost when running downhill towards the Gallowgate.
“On TV it doesn’t get a second look. No one would mention it, or notice it… [But] you feel rapid when you’re running towards it, because you’re running down the hill.”
Similarly, Ben Foster recalls his time in goal at the other end as a challenge, likening it to hitting a golf shot uphill where extra effort is required just to maintain distance.
“As a goalie, I remember looking up the hill, thinking ‘my goal kicks aren’t going to go anywhere’. It’s like playing a golf shot uphill. When you play a golf shot uphill, you think ‘I’ve got to hit this harder’, because it’s a genuinely massive hill.”
As matches wear on, the slope at St. James’ Park can turn into a real test, especially when fatigue sets in and players must kick uphill. This enduring characteristic of the stadium adds a layer of strategy to the game, a quirk that continues to challenge visiting teams.
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What do FA rules say about pitch slopes?
FA rules say ‘The maximum slope allowable shall not exceed an even gradient of vertical to horizontal 1: 41 in any direction.’
That’s approximately 2.44%, meaning that for every 100 metres along the pitch, there can be no more than a vertical drop of about 2.44 metres.
With Newcastle’s 2 metre slope, given the pitch length is 110 metres, the gradient of vertical to horizontal would be around 1.82%, making the dip perfectly legitimate.
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