I always thought that was a mackem song...

Im sorry but Mark knopfler is maybe even MORE Geordie than Scottish.

His mother was a Geordie, his father was Hungarian and he was born and lived the first 8 years of his life in Glasgow then he moved to Newcastle where he spent his teenage years and currently speaks with an accent which sounds much more Geordie than Scottish.  

Local hero is a class tune which should be played.

I'm hoping this poll gets to 520 participatns, personally, so then we can claim it speaks for 1% of the stadium's capacity

Resounding so far, mind.

log in then

Its a bit droll for trying to get the team excited in my opinion. Cant really think of a replacement, but I just dont think it conveys any pride or excitement. It just plods along and goes nowhere.

Sorry for bumping this thread up. No link.

Where has local hero gone to?

Sep 29 2007 by Paul McMillan, Evening Chronicle

IT’S OPENING chords send a shiver down the spine for some, but Newcastle United bosses say the iconic Local Hero now leaves the Tune Army feeling flat.

Mark Knopfler’s 1983 classic has been removed from the playlist as the team runs on to the pitch at St James’ Park as officials say they are looking for ways to improve the atmosphere in the ground.

Instead, the Geordie musician’s song has been replaced by London-based punk band Sham 69’s The Kids Are United because officials say it has an upbeat ending.

But the change has hit a bum note with some fans, who say the swap is unnecessary.

Frank Gilmour, of the Newcastle United Independent Supporters’ Association, said: “It should be used. The vast majority of Geordies – including me and my son – have it on their mobile phone as a ring tone.

“It’s got to be as much a Geordie anthem as The Blaydon Races. I bet the vast majority of Geordies are upset it’s not being played anymore, especially as it’s written by a Geordie.”

Marion Williams, of the fans’ liaison committee, said Local Hero was a personal favourite: “It sends shivers down my spine. There’s something about that piece of music. But I also know people who don’t like it and will be pleased it’s gone.

“At the West Ham match people were talking about the atmosphere at half-time, which was dire. My son was saying that at West Ham they have cheerleaders, which is something I’m against. I think it’s a bit tacky.”

A United spokesman said they were experimenting with different tunes and Local Hero still had its place on occasions.

He explained: “We decided to change the music around at the start of the new season and we’ve used The Kids Are United for recent games as it ends with a football-style chorus of ‘United! United!’ which has always been a popular chant of our fans.

“Lots of fans have different opinions on what music they’d like the team to run out to – while others tell us they’d prefer no music at all and just to have the noise of the crowd building up the atmosphere. It’s something we’re always happy to listen to the fans on.

“Local Hero has still been used this season and it was never more appropriate to use then when we invited supporter Mark Allison to run a lap around the pitch at the Aston Villa game after his charity exploits in running from John O’Groats to Land’s End.

“Many fans tell us that they’d also like The Blaydon Races to be played before kick-off.”

Find other local music to play. Why not Johnson era AC/DC or the Angelic Upstarts?

(though now that I am typing this I am thinking Crumpy and others are going to take exception to the Upstarts because they are from South Shields)

Bring it back. I'm gonna write to the club. It should be a permanent part of the match-day.

Just bring the tune back. Simple.

This.

As well as the end of TKAU sounds like pumping crowd noise in. Mickey mouse-ariffic.