The O'Brien can be ordered online here and is part of the NUFC.com reader offer where a full price purchase of any NUFC hat gets a free Mirandinha bobble hat.

Use promo code DOTCOM at checkout.  

We had one to give away and asked you to identify a team mate of Liam O'Brien at United. It was Kevin Scott and the winning entry came from was Mark Amess.

2024/25:
No United Ireland
 
The draw for the 2024 NI SuperCup competition has taken place, with SJP old boy Aaron Hughes the guest of honour at the ceremony.

However there was no sign of a team representing Newcastle United in the draw this year, the Magpies having returned to the event in 2023.  

Latest:
Sandro still on track 
for August return

From NUFC, Thursday:

Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali has been given a suspended two-month ban from competitive football by an independent Regulatory Commission after self-declaring breaches of FA Betting Rules.

He has also been fined £20,000 and warned by the FA as to his future conduct.

The banning period is fully suspended for the duration of the 2024/25 season, meaning he will be available to return to competitive football upon the conclusion of an existing ten-month sanction imposed by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) on 27 October 2023.

Provided that he does not commit any further breach of the FA Betting Rules during the suspension period, Sandro will not serve any part of the two-month sanction.

As acknowledged by the FA in the independent Regulatory Commission’s written reasons, the level of assistance Sandro has provided by self-referring and fully cooperating with a subsequent investigation is extraordinary and unprecedented. Sandro made full admissions as to his betting activity, and did so in circumstances where there was no other evidence to support misconduct
proceedings.

Sandro is continuing to follow a therapeutic plan and educational programme with the club's full support and will continue to train with his teammates.

Italian international Tonali admitted 50 breaches of FA Rule E8 for placing bets on football matches between 12 August 2023 and 12 October 2023.

His bets included four Newcastle games that he played in and one he was on the bench for, backing his side to win in all cases:

An accumulator bet involving either Newcastle to beat Brighton on September 2 2023 or Newcastle to beat Burnley on September 30 2023

An accumulator bet including Newcastle to beat Brentford on September 16 2023

A single bet on Newcastle to beat Manchester City on September 27 2023

An accumulator bet including Newcastle to beat West Ham on October 8 2023.

With no extension to his original ban, that leaves him free to resume his playing career on August 27th.

NE29 fundraiser:
70's night
 
The Independent North Shields Supporters Association are staging a fundraising talk-in to boost their club's fortunes this Thursday, May 9th at 7.30pm.

Special guests at Chirton Club are SJP old boys Paul Cannell, Irving Nattrass and Jimmy Smith, with comedian Gavin Webster acting as host.

Tickets are just £7 including pie & peas and available online here or via [email protected]

2024/25:
Japan tour claim

The Chronicle report that Newcastle have been given the opportunity to play two pre-season games in Japan against J-League sides in July.

They name the possible opponents as Yokohama F Marinos and Urawa Red Diamonds, with a date for the latter opponent listed as July 31st. 

No official confirmation of either game has been received as yet, with Urawa fan sites also mentioning the possible Magpies meeting.

Meanwhile, United's post-season opponents Spurs have announced a kickabout against J-League side Vissel Kobe in Tokyo on July 27th. Kobe's current squad includes former Magpie Yoshinori Muto. 

Our first visit to Japan followed the 1982/83 season, playing four games in three cities - Toyko, Okayama and Nagoya - en route to lifting the Japan Cup. We then returned in August 1996, losing 1-3 to Gamba Osaka. 

2024/25:
Season tickets etc.

For those who haven't already done so as part of the long-term deals, season ticket renewals can now be made online here until 5pm on Monday May 20th.

Meanwhile, home cup ticket schemes for the FA Cup and Carabao Cup are also open now, with a closing date of 5pm on Friday June 21st. Remember that separate sign-ups are required for both.

Depending on our finishing place in the PL, a further home cup ticket scheme for European competition may become available.

Cup ticket prices are unchanged from 2023/24:

Carabao Cup: £20 & £25 adults / £10 & £15 others

FA Cup: £30 & £35 adults / £15 & £20 others

This season's ticket price increase was repeated for next season, raising adult prices by 5% and freezing junior prices. Full announcement online here

PS: The Magpie Mover matchday public transport ticket will again be available to 2024/25 season ticket holders at an unchanged price of £25. NB: sales of this don't look to have commenced yet. 

Update:
More train strikes 

Further industrial action has been announced by the ASLEF union - although no Newcastle games are directly affected this time round.

A rolling series of one day strikes will see drivers walk out for 24 hours as follows. A separate overtime ban will run from Mon 06.05.2024 until Sat 11.05.2024:

Tue 07.05.2024: c2c, Greater Anglia, GTR Great Northern Thameslink, Southeastern, Southern, Gatwick Express, South Western Railway.

Wed 08.05.2024: Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway and West Midlands Trains.

Thu 09.05.2024: LNER, Northern, TransPennine.

2023/24:
Brighton (h)

The Magpies round off their PL home programme with a visit from The Seagulls on Saturday.

It's an old-fashioned, non-televised 3pm kick-off.

Team: to follow

Both Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak are one game away from reaching 50 PL appearances for the Magpies.

Coral rate this match as follows:

NUFC win 8/15
The draw 19/5
BFC win 17/4

New customers receive a £20 bet when staking £5 (T's & C's apply). Find those markets online here 

BHAFC: Evan Ferguson, Solly March, Jack Hinshelwood, Pervis Estupinan and Kaoru Mitoma are all out injured.

Ahead of their trip to Tyneside, Albion ended a six game winless streak in the Premier League with a 1-0 home victory over Aston Villa on Sunday. 

Away from home this season, Roberto De Zerbi's side have won at Wolves, Manchester United, Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United - the most recent being at Bramall Lane back in February.

Since then they've lost three times and drawn twice, scoring just twice in those five games.

Referee: tbc