Newcastle Thunder

2000-2014: Gateshead Thunder

In 1999 Gateshead Thunder was added to the Super League as an expansion team. Playing at Gateshead International Stadium, the club was relatively successful on the field but suffered heavy financial losses, and so at the end of Super League IV the club was merged with Hull Sharks, with the team relocating to Hull. Following this, a group of supporters formed a new Gateshead Thunder club, which was accepted to play in the Northern Ford Premiership starting in the 2001 season. The new club struggled both on and off the field, facing financial problems again in 2002 before being accepted to play in the new National League 2 competition in 2003.

The club continued to struggle for a number of seasons, finishing bottom of the RFL pyramid in 2004 before a period of stability saw them gradually become more competitive. The club appointed Australian coach Dave Woods in 2007 and although they finished second-bottom in his first year in charge, the club saw a massive improvement in his second season, winning the 2008 National League 2 title and earning promotion to the Championship. In 2009, the team managed to avoid relegation from the Championship, finishing in 7th place, the reformed club's highest ever league position. However, financial problems occurred once again with the club breaching the competition's insolvency rules. Following a change of ownership, the club was voluntarily demoted back to League 1 in order to regroup. Further years of struggle followed with the club once again finishing bottom of the RFL pyramid in 2010, 2011 and 2012 and third from bottom in 2013.

2014-present: Newcastle Thunder

Stanley Gene took over as Head Coach of Gateshead Thunder in the 2014 season. Thunder were taken over by Newcastle Rugby Limited, owned by rugby union side Newcastle Falcons' chairman Semore Kurdi, in March 2014. The club were rebranded in January 2015 as the Newcastle Thunder and applied for permission to use Kingston Park in Newcastle as their home ground.

Honours

Colours

The Thunder adopted the colours of the original club, playing in a predominately purple home kit with a white V and a black and white stripped away kit with a nod towards traditional Newcastle colours that Newcastle United play in.

Badge

The clubs first badge as Gateshead had Thunder underneath it with the N styled as a bolt of lightening and a purple face, facing right. The new Newcastle Thunder badge is very similar that it has Thunder with the N as a bolt of lightening and Newcastle above it, replacing Gateshead and the purple face has been removed, the logo looks more modern and updated.

2001-2014: Gateshead International Stadium

The new club moved into the Gateshead International Stadium, known as the Thunderdome when used for Rugby League, in 2001 as it was previously occupied by the original Gateshead Thunder club. The stadium is a multipurpose venue with athletics, American football and association football being hosted at the stadium, with Gateshead Harriers, Gateshead F.C. and, until they moved out Gateshead Senators, occupying the stadium. In 2006 a move to Kingston Park was mooted after a fall out with the local council who own the stadium.

2015-present: Kingston Park

In 2015 rugby union club Newcastle Falcons bought Gateshead Thunder and moved the club to Newcastle Upon Tyne to share their ground, Kingston Park with a view to increasing attendances compared to at Gateshead. The ground also has excellent facilities as the Falcons play in the rugby union Premiership.

Past coaches

2017 transfers

Gains

Losses

Player records

Team records

Juniors

Gateshead run a junior team in the Gillette National Youth League.