Newcastle Falcons' history dates back to 1877, but it was in September 1995 that the foundations of the club that we know today were laid.

It was during that month that Newcastle United owner Sir John Hall bought over 70% of the club's shares and recruited Wasps and England outside-half Rob Andrew as director of rugby.

High-profile signings Dean Ryan and Steve Bates joined the coaching and playing staff, and were followed by All Black Inga Tuigamala, Scotland's Gary Armstrong and Doddie Weir, and England winger Tony Underwood.

The club added Falcons to their name and changed their home colours to black and white, and in the 1997 gained promotion to the Premiership. Remarkably, the Falcons went on to win the Premiership title in their first season in the top flight.

In 1999 they reached the final of the Tetley Bitter Cup, only to be defeated by London Wasps at Twickenham, and in the same year current chairman Dave Thompson bought Sir John Hall's Sporting Club shareholdings.

Two years later the Falcons beat Harlequins in the 2001 Tetley Bitter Cup final and they repeated this success in 2004 when they won the Powergen Cup with victory over Sale Sharks in the final.

In 2006 Andrew, who had left to join England, was succeeded by John Fletcher and he remained in the post for two years, until he was replaced by Steve Bates, who guided the club to 10th in 2008-09.