Newcastle United players have walked out to a new sound at St James' Park. The team's walkout song has been changed to a modern version of Blaydon Races, a much-loved Geordie folk song.

What happened?

The change was made at the request of the players and coaching staff, who want to hear the fans singing right at kick-off. Local Hero, the team's previous walkout song, has no words and does not encourage fan singing. The new song was first played before the match against Athletic Club on November 5.

Why it matters for Newcastle United

The change has sparked controversy among fans, with many expressing their dislike for the new song. A poll on X found that 58.2% of respondents disliked the change, while 14.5% liked it.

What comes next?

The team will continue to play the new song before matches, at least for now. The decision was communicated via a social-media statement from Wor Flags, an independent fan group. | Stat | Value | | --- | --- | | League standing | 12th in Premier League, 49 pts, 14W-7D-17L from 38 games | | Goals this season | 53 scored, 55 conceded (-2 goal difference) | | Title race | 36 points behind leaders Arsenal | The change has been met with mixed reactions from fans, with some expressing their concern about the team's performance rather than the song. As the team prepares to face Manchester City on Saturday, the new song will be played once again. And the fans will have to wait and see if the change will have a positive impact on the team's performance. But for now, the controversy surrounding the new song continues to be a topic of discussion among fans. So, what do you think about the new walkout song? Let us know in the comments. The current league standing and stats are: | Stat | Value | | --- | --- | | Recent form | LWDWL | The team's performance will be crucial in the upcoming matches, and the fans will be watching closely to see if the change in walkout song will have a positive impact.