The Chronicle

In October 2021, the Newcastle United takeover saga came to a swift and stunning conclusion. It was the culmination of 18 months of on-off drama as it was revealed that controversial owner Mike Ashley had finally sold the club. It was a moment that fans had begun to think might never happen. A mammoth story in both the news and sport sections, we needed eye-catching designs for both front and back pages. Gary Beckwith produced a striking pair of designs that reflected the landmark occasion - SOLD for the front, THE END for the back. A simple NUFC crest dominated page 1, while a departing Mike Ashley walked through the exit door and off the back page for the final time. An example of when the newspaper becomes collectors’ item. Widely-praised on social media, it was simple but brilliantly effective. On the first anniversary of the takeover, the SOLD front page formed part of the huge fans’ banner that was unfurled by the Toon Army before Newcastle’s match against Brentford. It confirmed the place of the Chronicle - and this superb front page - in fan folklore.