Old boy:
Ex-Magpie has 
brain surgery   

From the BBC, Saturday:

Former Liverpool and Newcastle defender Jose Enrique is recovering from surgery to remove a brain tumour.

The 32-year-old Spaniard, who retired last September because of a persistent knee injury, said: "It has been the toughest few weeks of my life.

"Within the space of one month I have found out the news that I have a rare brain tumour and had surgery to have it removed.

"I am now in recovery and so thankful. Life is too precious."

Enrique, who had been working as an agent since retiring, told Spanish newspaper Marca how he started to suffer headaches following a meeting with Brighton boss - and his former Newcastle boss - Chris Hughton.

"I arrived at the hotel and thought that they were migraines. During the night I had a brutal headache and by the next morning my vision started to blur. Then I started to see double."

Enrique was admitted to hospital in London for neurological tests, before returning to Spain and having the tumour removed in Valencia.

"I was told that I might stay blind, but then I regained my vision and even the doctors were surprised.

Enrique said he faces 35 sessions of radiotherapy.

"There are only four machines in Europe," he said. "My options are to go to Zurich or Paris.

"It will take about a month and a half, but that is not important. I want to get well.

"All this makes me value life more. Football players live in a bubble - it's an unreal life. You lose yourself and think you're invincible."

World Cup:
Heads you lose

A small piece of history was made in Kaliningrad on Friday, as Aleksandar Mitrovic became only the seventh Magpie to net at the World Cup Finals.

Mitro took just five minutes to add his name to the list alongside Jorge Robledo, Ivor Broadis, Peter Beardsley, Alan Shearer, Craig Moore and Moussa Sissoko.

Heading home expertly to put his side ahead against Switzerland (and delight those who took Coral's enhanced price of 10/1 for doing so), the striker had a lively first half and led the line well for his country.

Missing the target with another header early in the second half, Mitro then saw his side concede almost immediately before being denied a clear penalty when two defenders held him down in the box.

Despite his efforts at both ends of the field though, he and Serbia ended up empty-handed after the Swiss conjured up a 91st minute goal to win 2-1.

Elsewhere in Group E on Friday, Brazil boosted their fortunes by beating Costa Rica 2-0, ending the day top of the group and eliminating their opponents.

Over in Group E meanwhile, Nigeria overcame Iceland by the same margin - an outcome that gave boosted Argentina's fading hopes of qualification.

Day 10 in Russia began with England's Group G rivals Belgium soundly defeating Tunisia 5-2 before the attention switched to Group F and South Korea versus Mexico in Rostov at 4pm followed by Germany against Sweden in Sochi later on.

Our betting partner Coral have another new customer offer, this time for England versus Panama on Sunday.

Harry Kane to score at any time is 50/1 - max stake £1, min deposit £5, winnings paid out in free bets. Terms and conditions apply. Find that online here

The Ware Rooms on Carliol Square in Newcastle city centre have every World Cup game live on their big screen TVs and will be running special food & drink promotions for all England games.

You'll find The Ware Rooms located at 17 Carliol Square, NE1 6UQ - five minutes walk from both Monument and Manors Metro stations.

Sunday's specials: half price pints during the game, £1.50 bottles of Kronenbourg and Woodpecker, pizza and a pint for £7, Nachos for £3, bacon baps and hot dogs for £1.50 and the Two Dine for a Tenner offer (including a drink each)

Thurs 14th June
A Russia 5-0 Saudi Arabia, Moscow (Luz)

Fri 15th June
A Egypt 0-1 Uruguay, Yekaterinburg
B Morocco 0-1 Iran, St. Petersburg
B Portugal 3-3 Spain, Sochi

Sat 16th June
C France 2-1 Australia, Kazan
D Argentina 1-1 Iceland, Moscow (Otk)
C Peru 0-1 Denmark, Saransk
D Croatia 2-0 Nigeria, Kaliningrad

Sun 17th June
E Costa Rica 0-1 Serbia, Samara
F Germany 0-1 Mexico, Moscow (Luz)
E Brazil 1-1 Switzerland, Rostov

Mon 18th June
F Sweden 1-0 South Korea, Nizhny
G Belgium 3-0 Panama, Sochi
G Tunisia 1-2 England, Volgograd

Tues 19th June
H Colombia 1-2 Japan, Saransk
H Poland 1-2 Senegal, Moscow (Otk)
A Russia 3-1 Egypt, St. Petersburg

Wed 20th June
B Portugal 1-0 Morocco, Moscow (Luz)
A Uruguay 1-0 Saudi Arabia, Rostov
B Iran 0-1 Spain, Kazan

 

Group A	W	D	L	F	A	Pts	GD
Russia	2	0	0	8	1	6	+7
Uruguay	2	0	0	2	0	6	+2
Egypt	0	0	2	1	4	0	-3
Saudi Arabia	0	0	2	0	6	0	-6

 

Group B	W	D	L	F	A	Pts	GD
Spain	1	1	0	4	3	4	+1
Portugal	1	1	0	4	3	4	+1
Iran	1	0	1	1	1	3	-
Morocco	0	0	2	0	2	0	-2

Thu 21st June
C Denmark 1-1 Australia, Samara
C France 1-0 Peru, Yekaterinburg
D Argentina 0-3 Croatia, Nizhny
 
 

Group C	W	D	L	F	A	Pts	GD
France	2	0	0	3	1	6	+2
Denmark	1	1	0	2	1	4	+1
Australia	0	1	1	2	3	1	-1
Peru	0	0	2	0	2	0	-2

Fri 22nd June
E Brazil 2-0 Costa Rica, St. Petersburg
D Nigeria 2-0 Iceland, Volgograd
E Serbia 1-2 Switzerland, Kaliningrad

 

Group D	W	D	L	F	A	Pts	GD
Croatia	2	0	0	5	0	6	+5
Nigeria	1	0	1	2	2	3	-
Iceland	0	1	1	1	3	1	-2
Argentina	0	1	1	1	4	1	-3

 

Group E	W	D	L	F	A	Pts	GD
Brazil	1	1	0	3	1	4	+2
Switzerland	1	1	0	3	2	4	+1
Serbia	1	0	1	2	2	3	-
Costa Rica	0	0	2	0	3	0	-3

Sat 23rd June
G Belgium 5-2 Tunisia
F South Korea v Mexico, ITV 4pm, Rostov
F Germany v Sweden, ITV 7pm, Sochi

 

Group F	W	D	L	F	A	Pts	GD
Sweden	1	0	0	1	0	3	+1
Mexico	1	0	0	1	0	3	+1
Germany	0	0	1	0	1	0	-1
South Korea	0	0	1	0	1	0	-1

 

Group G	W	D	L	F	A	Pts	GD
Belgium	2	0	0	8	2	6	+6
England	1	0	0	2	1	3	+1
Panama	0	0	1	0	3	0	-3
Tunisia	0	0	2	3	7	0	-4

United's sole current representative in Russia is Serbian Aleksandar Mitrovic, with Matz Sels not surviving to the last 23 for the Belgians.

The former Magpie count is also singular - France's Florian Thauvin - James Troisi, Kevin Mbabu, James Milner, Fraser Forster, Mathieu Debuchy and Moussa Sissoko all omitted from their respective squads.

Nobby Solano is present as Peru assistant boss, Jon Dahl Tomasson as Denmark's number two and the Senegal backroom staff includes Lamine Diatta.

For the terminally obsessed, the Belgian goalkeeping coach Marc Ziegler played for us on trial in 1999.

Jong-un = Wrong-un:
Pyongyang, twinned 
with Shirebrook?

Andy Milne / @rockandrollmag

From The Guardian, Friday:

Times article comparing Mike Ashley to Kim Jong-un was fair, Ipso rules

Sports Direct boss complained to press regulator over comment likening him to North Korea leader

Mike Ashley, the boss of Sports Direct, can be legitimately compared to the despotic North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, the British press regulator has ruled.

The sportswear tycoon had complained to the press regulator Ipso after an article in the Times suggested he shared many characteristics with the supreme leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

Ashley, who has faced years of criticism over working conditions at his business after the Guardian went undercover at Sports Direct’s main warehouse, argued the comparison was unfair because he was not “responsible for extensive humanitarian crimes, and for extreme social and political suppression”.

The accusations were made in a comment piece that appeared in the Times business section in September 2017. 

The article included suggestions that Ashley was a “supreme leader”, that he was “in charge of what many regard as a rogue institution”, that his “inner circle is packed with family members and toadies”, that he “routinely flouts the norms of good behaviour and sticks two fingers up at his critics”, and that he was a “relative lightweight, but has run circles around his much more powerful enemies”.

The article went on to state: “Apart from that, and a common rotundity, there is no similarity between Mike Ashley and Kim Jong-un.”

The Times argued these observations were fair comment with “adequate factual basis”.

Sports Direct made a legal complaint to the newspaper in October before following it up with a complaint to Ipso earlier this year.

Following an investigation Ipso concluded it was “clearly a polemical comparison” which was a “matter of comment and interpretation” and the Times had been able to show it was made “on an adequate factual basis”.

“The article did not suggest that the complainant and Kim Jong-un were directly equivalent, deserving of similar moral condemnation,” said Ipso. “The newspaper was able to show that the comment had been based on an adequate factual basis, and there was no failure to take care not to publish inaccurate or misleading information in making the comparison.”

Ipso did, however, conclude that the Times had included a significant inaccuracy in the article with its claim that Sports Direct’s Shirebrook warehouse was “found by parliament” to have been run like “Victorian warehouse” and that it had “gulag conditions”. 

These claims were actually made by a representative of the Unite union who was giving evidence to a select committee, rather than by MPs themselves.

Ipso ruled that the piece should be updated online to reflect the correct information.

Update:
Clark injury revealed

Mail newspaper, Friday:

Newcastle United star Ciaran Clark sported a busted lip after being pictured for the first time since he was attacked in a Magaluf bar.

The clean cut 28-year-old was seen with an ugly facial scar following the brawl at Crystal's Bar in the resort on the Spanish holiday island of Majorca.

He was photographed with his busted lip in La Sala, Marbella, after flying to the resort from Magaluf.

Reports yesterday claimed the defender was punched in the face, but witnesses today say he was actually glassed.

Clark was allegedly confronting a group of men who were trying to flirt with his girlfriend.

Bar staff said that Clark's girlfriend was seen shouting at a group of men who were harassing her.

They say that when the Newcastle defender got involved he was struck in the face with the bottle.

The Premier League star is said to have been injured after stepping in to help his friend.

Initial reports were that Harrow-born Clark had been knocked unconscious with a punch to the face.

Police confirmed he had suffered a lip injury, but said they could not confirm he had been knocked out and revealed he had gone to hospital himself in a taxi while his friend was taken away by ambulance.

A spokesman for Calvia Town Hall, which covers the Magaluf area, confirmed: 'Local police arrested a 32-year-old British man on suspicion of two assaults.

'He was handed over to the Civil Guard the same night so he could be taken to court.'

Update:
Former boss gives evidence in court

The trial of ex-youth coach George Ormond - who denies 38 charges of sexual abuse against players between 1973 and 1998 - is now in its fifth week.

Some of the allegations made relate to a time when Ormond volunteered at Newcastle's Academy, something that saw John Carver giving evidence.

Known as a former Newcastle first team boss and coach, Carver previously held a senior role at the club's academy and spoke about that time.

Also giving evidence was former United player and physio Paul Ferris, who confirmed that allegations about Ormond had been made by Derek Bell and several other un-named ex Academy players.

U21s:
Checkatrade re-listing

Following their first appearance in the competition last season, a Newcastle U21 side will again feature in the Checkatrade Trophy during 2018/19.

The Magpies are one of 16 invited sides from the top two divisions, whose reserve sides will compete against the 48 clubs from Leagues One and Two - including one in red and white not too far away.....

United's inaugural season in what began life as the Associate Member's Cup during 1983 saw them fail to progress from a group including Oldham Athletic, Port Vale and Crewe Alexandra.

As was the case last season, all of Newcastle's group stage ties will be played away from home, while rule changes mean only two over 21 players to have made more than 40 first-team appearances can be named.

2018/19:
Bluebirds date set

National League side Barrow AFC have announced a pre-season friendly against Newcastle United U23s.

A Magpies XI will visit Holker Street (known as the Furness Building Society Stadium for sponsorship purposes) on Monday July 16th at 7.45pm.

This remains the only U23 pre-season fixture to be confirmed by United to date.

2018/19:
Home start

Find Newcastle's 2018/19 fixtures online here

There's a certain sense of deja vu about United's first fixture of the forthcoming season, with a repeat of the 2017/18 opener seeing Spurs visit St. James' Park.

The Cockerels won 2-0 that day and also triumphed on their very first Premier League trip to Tyneside, winning 1-0 back in August 1993.

We did beat them here 2-1 on the opening day of the 2012/13 campaign, but Spurs also left with the points from our opening home game of 2004/05, winning 1-0. 

In addition to Spurs, no less than four of last season's top six will face the Magpies in their opening half dozen games, Chelsea and Arsenal heading to Tyneside while we're off to Manchester City. 

With Gallowgate otherwise engaged in rugby union action on the closing weekend of the season, United conclude hostilities at Fulham on Sunday May 12th.

Unlikely lads:
Old boys, new clubs



Beginning our updates of ex-Magpies on the move during this close season, here's alleged striker Facundo Ferreyra following his transfer from Shakhtar Donetsk to Portuguese side Benfica. 

The 27 year-old native of Argentina put pen to paper on a four year deal at the real Stadium of Light after his contract at the Ukrainian champions expired.

Failing to make a single competitive appearance in his time on Tyneside, "Chucky" scored 29 club goals last season including three in the Champions League.

One day the truth about him and NUFC will emerge.   

Sam Allardyce sacked as Everton manager
Shola Ameobi released by Notts County
Demba Ba signed for Shanghai Shenhua (China)
Hatem Ben Arfa released by Paris SG
Adam Collin released by Notts County
Paul Farman signed for Stevenage
Facundo Ferreyra signed for Benfica (Portugal)
Macaulay Gillesphey signed for Carlisle United
Mackenzie Heaney signed for Newcastle Benfield
Jeff Henderson signed for Morpeth Town
Jamie Holmes signed for Blyth Spartans
Stephen Ireland left Stoke City
Alan Irvine sacked as West Ham coach
Brian Kerr resigned as Albion Rovers manager
Tim Krul released by Brighton & Hove Albion
Kazenga LuaLua released by the mackems
Marcus Maddison transfer-listed by Peterborough
Obafemi Martins released by Shanghai Shenhua
Mike Mahoney appointed Bristol Manor Farm GC
Callum Morris signed for Ross County (Scotland)
Steve McClaren appointed QPR manager
Chris Moore appointed Consett manager
Michael Newberry signed for Vikingur (Iceland)
Alex Nicholson signed or Blyth Spartans
Greg Olley released by Hull City
Stuart Pearce sacked as West Ham coach
James Perch released by QPR
Jack Robson enrolled at Saginaw Valley SU (USA)
Alan Smith released by Notts County
Mark Stimson appointed Waltham Abbey manager
Louis Storey signed for Hebburn Town
Steven Taylor transfer-listed by Peterborough
Ben Tozer signed for Cheltenham Town
Mike Williamson released by Oxford United 

Union #3:
Swing low...down Barrack Road

In addition to hosting European Champions Cup and Challenge Cup Finals next year, a third rugby union fixture is to set be played at St. James' Park.  

The England national team will visit Tyneside to play one of four friendlies in August and September 2019, ahead of the World Cup in Japan the following month.

And England's opposition at Gallowgate has now been confirmed as their Six Nations rivals Italy.

Points decision:
FAO: NUFC away 
match attendees

Update: NUFC have now clarified the situation and confirmed that away loyalty points will remain live, have been transferred by them over to their new ticketing system and will continue to be available to those renewing for 2018/19.

The June 30th deadline (below) refers to the re-registering process. Failure to complete this by then means that fans won’t be able to confirm their supporter number by looking on the old ticketing system.

Earlier: If you have an account with NUFC and buy match tickets from them (specifically away games), you should have received an email regarding changes to their online presence during the close season.

In brief, a new ticket website has been created and migration of fan accounts from one to the other is required - with a vital part of the process needing to be completed by fans themselves, not the club.

If you haven't received the email - and it seems a good many didn't - then the text follows. 

From NUFC, May 2018:

We’re delighted to announce that our new and improved ticketing site, BOOK.NUFC.CO.UK is currently in its initial launch phase. This phase is designed to allow supporters to re-register in order to link their old accounts up to a new single account.

The new platform will allow fans to easily buy tickets from phones, tablets and desktop computers, but you’ll need to re-register for full access. There will be plenty of time to re-register ahead of season tickets, match tickets and memberships going on sale for our 2018-19 season. Thank you for your support!

Will the new site remember my existing account?
Once you've completed the registration form and logged in to the new site you’ll have the option to link to your existing ticketing account using your supporter number. You must do this if you want to retain your purchase history and loyalty points.

Where can I find my supporter number?
You can find your supporter number on your season ticket card. We will also be keeping our previous ticket site live at tickets.nufc.co.uk until 30th June, to allow supporters to login and find their Supporter Number.

Please note that this site will be available purely for reference and any changes you make to your account via the old site will not be automatically transferred to the new one.

We’ve prepared some Registration FAQs to help you create your account, link your supporter number and set up friends and family but if you need further assistance please contact the Box Office on 0844 372 1892 or email with your query.

*Call cost 7p per minute plus your access charge.

To Re-register click here

Departure:
Gunners capture Chris

While uncertainty over the future of U23 head coach Peter Beardsley remains, one departure from the club’s development squad staff has been confirmed.

U23 goalkeeping coach Chris Terpcou is leaving United, after accepting a post working for ex-Magpie Andy Woodman at Arsenal’s youth academy.

The 49 year-old Australian moved to Tyneside in 2004 and has worked with the club’s youngsters since them - helping the seniors in 2010 after the appointment of Alan Pardew before Woodman's recuirtment.

The Chronicle carried the story over the weekend and the club’s first team goalkeeping coach Simon Smith then confirmed it via social media.

Ex-Newcastle goalkeeper Steve Harper has been working with schoolboys at the club's academy, while fellow former Magpie custodian Tony Caig deputised for Terpcou at an U23 game late last season.