Newcastle Manager on League Cup: “We Aim to End a 70-Year Trophy Drought”

Newcastle United’s progress to the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup, where they host Brentford on Wednesday, has reignited the team’s and fans’ hopes of ending one of the longest trophy droughts among England’s major clubs.

Speaking on Tuesday, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said: “I think the desire has always been there with previous teams, but we want to be the team that goes beyond the boundaries and achieves something special.”

No Newcastle fan born after 1955 has experienced the joy of the club winning a major domestic trophy. That year, the Magpies claimed the FA Cup with a victory over Manchester City.

Since then, the club has alternated between periods of stagnation and excitement, failing to deliver tangible success to their long-suffering fanbase. Newcastle has reached the FA Cup final three times (1974, 1998, 1999) and finished runners-up in the League Cup twice, most recently in the 2022–23 season.

They also famously collapsed in the Premier League title race in the 1995–96 season after leading by 12 points at one stage.

Howe, the latest manager tasked with ending Newcastle’s trophy drought, has impressed by transforming the team from relegation candidates to Champions League qualifiers.

Despite injury struggles, the club is currently 12th in the Premier League, just five points off the top four. On Saturday, Newcastle thrashed Leicester City 4–0 to return to winning ways, but Brentford will be a tough challenge as they, too, dream of a Wembley final.

Speaking to reporters, Howe acknowledged the significance of ending Newcastle’s 70-year trophy drought.

“The importance of this game is not lost on any of us,” Howe said. “I made it clear when I joined Newcastle that this is what I wanted to achieve. These matches take on huge significance when you reach the later stages.”