Ticket news:
Norwich (h) Public sale now
Rotherham (a) SOLD OUT
Brentford (h) Public sale now
Barnsley (a) Member sale now
Ipswich (h) Public sale now (online)
Preston (h) (EFL Cup) ST holder sale now 
 

Latest:
It's coming home....
 


....to roost. 

After one game in charge, Sam Allardyce has been relieved of his position as England manager "by mutual consent" following revelations about him published in Tuesday's edition of the Telegraph newspaper.

Meanwhile, Derby County suspended their manager Nigel Pearson on Tuesday for reasons yet to be fully disclosed. Amazingly, the Rams are reported to be considering Steve McClaren as a replacement.

The Telegraph promise more disclosures in the coming days, with much speculation surrounding their tease concerning "at least six English managers" allegedly involved in rule breaches. This could get messy.... 

2016/17:
Norwich City (h)
 
Wednesday night sees United renew rivalries with the Canaries, whose poor form on Tyneside continued last season with a 2-6 battering.

Kick-off is at 7.45pm and tickets are on general sale, with 47,500 flogged by Tuesday afternoon.

Following Tuesday's Championship games, Newcastle dropped down to ninth spot but a victory over City would see them go third on 19 points - one behind Norwich and three behind leaders Huddersfield. A draw would see them go fourth on goal difference.

Betting: 

Coral's match betting offer for new and existing punters this midweek is a Correct 'n' Collect score prediction online here

Bet £10 on the 90 minute correct score market and if your wager fails to come in, you'll receive a free £10 bet on any football market to be placed by 23.59 on Thursday. 

That means if your Wednesday prediction is incorrect, then you'll get a tenner to try again on the Saturday Rotherham v NUFC market - as long as you place that bet at some point on Thursday.

Coral match betting is online here

A home win is rated at 21/20 while a Magpies victory with both teams scoring weighs in at 13/4. Over four goals in the match is available at 6/1

Team: Vurnon Anita serves the last leg of his three game suspension while there's a doubt over DeAndre Yedlin after he turned an ankle at Aston Villa.

Massadio Haidara, Rob Elliot and Rolando Aarons all remain unavailable as does Jesus Gamez presumably.

Daryl Murphy has already faced Norwich this season, playing all 90 minutes of a 1-1 draw for Ipswich. His record against them for the Tractor Boys wasn't great however, no wins or goals in five East Anglian derbies.

By contrast, fellow striker Aleksandar Mitrovic has a liking for the Canaries, scoring three of his ten toon goals against them - his first home strike coming in the 6-2 victory at SJP and another two during our 2-3 reverse at Carrow Road.  

NCFC: Matt Jarvis and Youssouf Mulumbu remain out, but Alex Tettey is back in contention. Former Magpie Sebastien Bassong hasn't featured in the Championship for Norwich this season.

City arrive on Tyneside top of the table with 20 points from a possible 27 and four successive Championship victories under their belt. That run has come despite failing to keep a clean sheet in any of their last six league outings.

On the road they've won 4-1 at Blackburn, drawn 1-1 at Ipswich, lost 0-3 at Birmingham and won 2-1 at Forest.

Referee: Peter Bankes - first senior game involving Newcastle for the whistler from Merseyside. 

Travel:

Metro: Central Station Metro will be closed from 8pm.

Park & Ride: Dedicated Soccerbuses run from Metro Centre to and from SJP and there's a similar service (Q3) from Great Park to Haymarket/Barras Bridge. 
More information online here

UK TV: No UK live coverage

Overseas TV: None

UK Radio: None

Local Radio: Live on BBC Radio Newcastle

Stats: 

Magpies versus Canaries - post WWII:

2015/16 won 6-2 Wijnaldum 4, Perez, Mitrovic
2013/14 won 2-1 Remy, Gouffran
2012/13 won 1-0 Ba
2011/12 won 1-0 Cisse
2004/05 won 2-1 Jenas, Sh.Ameobi (LC)
2004/05 drew 2-2 Bellamy, Hughes
1994/95 won 3-0 Beardsley 2(1pen), Kitson
1993/94 won 3-0 Cole, Lee, Beardsley
1988/89 lost 0-2
1987/88 lost 1-3 Gazza
1986/87 won 4-1 Goddard, Gazza, McDonald, Jackson
1984/85 drew 1-1 Waddle
1981/82 won 2-1 Varadi, Mills
1977/78 drew 2-2 Burns, Kennedy
1976/77 won 5-1 T.Craig, Gowling, Oates, McCaffery 2
1975/76 won 5-2 Gowling 2, Macdonald 2, OG
1973/74 drew 0-0
1972/73 won 3-1 Tudor 2, Guthrie
1964/65 won 2-0 Cummings, Robson
1963/64 won 2-0 Cummings, Iley
1962/63 won 2-1 Fell, Thomas
1961/62 drew 0-0

Full record v Norwich:

Latest Championship results:

Tuesday 27.09.2016:
Barnsley 1-1 Aston Villa
Birmingham City 2-2 Preston North End
Blackburn Rovers 0-1 Sheffield Wednesday
Brentford 4-1 Reading
Bristol City 1-0 Leeds United
Burton Albion 1-1 QPR
Cardiff City 0-2 Derby County
Huddersfield Town 2-1 Rotherham United
Ipswich Town 0-0 Brighton and Hove Albion
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Fulham
Wigan Athletic 2-1 Wolves

Proud sponsors of NUFC.com

Internationals:
Kyle's off to Iceland

Magpies defender Kyle Cameron has received a maiden call-up to Scotland U21s for a pair of Euro qualifiers next month against Iceland and Macedonia.

The 19 year-old native of Hexham is currently on loan at League Two side Newport County following a similar temporary posting to York City last season.

Scotland cannot now qualify for next summer's final tournament and have selected a host of new players including Kyle, fellow Magpie defender Stuart Findlay among those making way.

Loan lads:
Tom gets on

Tom Heardman (Hartlepool United)
A debut in senior football came on Tuesday evening, as Tom arrived as an 84th minute substitute in a 1-1 draw with Luton Town in League Two.

Alex Gilliead (Luton Town)
Alex played the first 79 minutes of a 1-1 draw away at Hartlepool United in League Two on Tuesday, with the Hatters levelling from a free kick awarded for a foul on him.

Ivan Toney (Shrewsbury Town)
A dismissal during Town's 1-1 draw at AFC Wimbledon on Saturday means that striker Ivan sat out Tuesday's League One home game against Peterborough United. That game ended 1-1.

Adam Armstrong (Barnsley)
Arma arrived from the bench in the 67th minute as the Tykes found a late equaliser in a 1-1 home draw with Aston Villa in the Championship on Tuesday. 

Sammy Ameobi (Bolton Wanderers)
Arriving from the bench for the final 27 minutes, Sammy was unable to prevent the Trotters tumbling to a 0-1 defeat at Rochdale in League One on Tuesday.

Haris Vuckic (Bradford City)
Vuckic started for the Bantams on Tuesday night, completing 64 minutes of a 2-1 home victory over Fleetwood Town in League One.

Kyle Cameron (Newport County)
The Scottish U21 international defender played the full game as Newport lost 0-1 at Grimsby Town in League Two on Tuesday.

Macaulay Gillesphey (Carlisle United)
A 2-2 draw at Doncaster Rovers in League Two on Tuesday night means that the Cumbrians have lost just once in 13 league and cup games this season - and that was on penalties to Championship side Derby County.

Macaulay played the full 90 minutes at the Keepmoat.  

Siem De Jong (PSV Eindhoven)
The on-loan Magpie is included in a 21 man squad for PSV's Champions League visit to Russian side Rostov on Wednesday evening.

Jamie Sterry (Coventry City)
AFC Wimbledon (h) League One, Wednesday

Kevin Mbabu (BSC Young Boys)
A possible Europa League bow is in the offing for Kevin this week, with Young Boys travelling to Kazakhstan for Thursday's game against Astana.

Emmanuel Riviere (Real Osasuna)
Las Palmas (h) Primera Division, Saturday.

Florian Thauvin (Olympique Marseille)
Angers (a) Ligue 1, Sunday.

Paul Woolston (Darlington 1883)
Brackley Town (a) National League North 08.10.2016

Injured:

Tim Krul (Ajax) 
Game tbc

Liam Smith (Crewe Alexandra)
Game tbc

Henri Saivet (AS Saint-Etienne)
Game tbc

U23s:
Breakthrough

Newcastle U23s  3  Swansea U23s  2
 
Match report

2016/17:
Our defence is terrified

Aston Villa  1  Newcastle  1

Match action is online here

Match report

Old boy in hot water:
Caen man?

From Associated Free Press:

A French court handed former Caen coach Franck Dumas a three-year jail sentence for tax fraud on Tuesday, but the former Monaco, Marseille and Newcastle player was neither present in court nor represented by a lawyer.

The court heard Dumas described by tax inspectors as a high roller who made large cash withdrawals on spending sprees and frequented casinos.

The main charge against him was hiding £380,000 earnings from his 2012 tax returns.

On top of the three years jail the court ordered the judgment to be posted on the outer wall of the Caen football stadium and for an advert announcing the verdict to be run in sports daily L'Equipe at Dumas' expense.

L'Equipe reported they had contacted Dumas in Equatorial Guinea and the 48-year-old former Monaco midfielder who was coach of Ligue 1 outfit Caen between 2005 and 2012 disputed details of the case.

"The prosecution all knew that I would not be in court today," he said. I'm going to appeal this ruling, of course."

"What really shocks me is the ruling to post the verdict on the wall of the stade d'Ornano de Caen," he said.

Dumas played for many years at Caen and was head coach there for seven years.

In total the tax authorities say Dumas owes £482K from a three-year period. Dumas wrote to the court from Guinea in August promising to attend the trial and to settle the debt.

Presiding judge Christophe Subts was scathing about Dumas and his wife's behaviour, and the sentence he handed down was heavier than the three years with 18 months suspended that the prosecution had originally demanded.

"In sport sometimes money seems to disappear," he said. He should have settled his debts. He was paid £1.206m in 2012," the judge said, explaining that a large part had been paid into a joint account with his wife.

This account was later shifted into his wife's name and a sum of £389K was in that way left undeclared to the tax authorities.

The judge said Dumas' wife bore moral responsibility in the matter.

"He was a high roller, he made large cash withdrawals and it seems he was gambling at casinos. He had no problem blowing his money," regional tax inspector Michel Dieder told the court.

As a player Dumas played more than 500 top flight games with Caen, Monaco and Marseille and won the French league title with Monaco. He also played six matches in a brief spell at Newcastle United in 2000.

Old boys return:
Entertainers 

Tickets remain on sale for "The Entertainers" reunion match at Kingston Park next month, marking 20 years since our glorious 5-0 win over Manchester United.

Non-playing duo Alan Shearer and Les Ferdinand will manage a side of SJP old boys against a Manchester Select at Kingston Park with kick-off at 1.30pm on Sunday October 7th.

Back in black and white once again will be Asprilla, Beardsley, Beresford, Bernard, Clark, Dabizas, Fox, Harper, Howey, Ketsbaia, Kilcine, Lee, D.Peacock, P.Robinson, Sellars, Thompson and Watson with two special guests: Milan Srnicek (Pavel's brother)and Nick Emmerson (Tino's interpreter in the 1990s).

Standing tickets are on sale at £10 (£5 concessions) with seating available at £20 & £10 online here or 0871 226 6060. Premium options via 0191 214 2892.

The game is preceded by a dinner at SJP on Saturday night, which acts as a fundraiser for Sport Newcastle. Tickets for this are still available online here

U18s:
Unbeaten run ends

Derby U18s  2  Newcastle U18s  1

Enjoying their best start to a season since 2004, Newcastle's table-topping U18s headed to Derby on Saturday looking to extend their unbeaten run to six.

And they got off to the perfect start at Moor Lane when Rams defender Jaydan Thorne left his 'keeper helpless with a backpass after just 71 seconds.

The Rams equalised five minutes after the break when Jayden Bogle took advantage of the blustery conditions to curl in a wind-assisted effort from distance.

But the game ended as it started with a self-inflicted error, this time it was the visitors with a misplaced backpass seized upon by Cameron Cresswell who shot home to deservedly claim the points for Derby.

Danish youngster Elias Sørensen debuted in right midfield but Dave Watson's side were without striker Lewis McNall, who faces an extended period on the sidelines following a training ground injury.

PS: A 4-0 win on wearside for Manchester City on Saturday was enough to see them replace Newcastle at the top of the league table.

The Merseyside U18 derby meanwhile saw our next opponents Liverpool beaten 1-4 at home by Everton.

Team: Harker, Spooner, Cass, Longstaff, Bailey, Kitchen, Sorensen, Lowther (Goodridge 73), Gallacher (Allen 73), Heaney, Smith.
Subs n/u: Marrs, Wilson, Robson.

I got stripes:
Hat giveaway



Now that the dark nights are upon us again, Tyneside -based merchandisers Spirit of 69 have new stocks of their Fairs Cup bobble hat available, priced £22.50.

We've purloined one of said items for a free to enter competition and simply want you to tell us which of the following sides didn't oppose United in a Fairs Cup tie:

Sporting Lisbon, Rangers, AC Milan, Porto

Email answer to comps@nufc.com (subject: FC).

Closing date is Fri Sep 30th @ 9pm
    
Hats etc. can be ordered online here

EFL Cup:
Another double header 
 
The EFL Fourth Round draw handed United their fifth successive home draw in the competition with fellow Championship side Preston North End bound for SJP days before we travel to Deepdale in the league.

We've played PNE once before in the League Cup, beating them 3-0 on Tyneside way back in 1963 - having played them in the league five days before.

Our most recent cup meeting was a 2-0 home victory in the FA Cup at Gallowgate in January 1987.

The tie will played on Tuesday 25th October 2016, between a Saturday home game against Ipswich Town (22nd) and a visit to Deepdale on Saturday 29th.

United confirm that the two tier pricing policy they adopted against Wolves in the last round continues for this game - with the advance ticket prices £10 & £3 again, but on the day admission rising to £20 & £10.

Tue 25.10.2016:
Arsenal v Reading
Bristol City v Hull City
Leeds United v Norwich City
Liverpool v Spurs
Newcastle United v Preston North End

Wed 26.10.2016:
Manchester United v Manchester City
Southampton v mackems
West Ham United v Chelsea

Theatre:
"The Season Ticket"

Based on Jonathan Tulloch's award-winning book of the same name, a theatrical production of "The Season Ticket" is currently being staged in Newcastle,.

The story of penniless Toon fans Gerry and Sewell and their attempts to find the money to watch the black and whites was filmed as "Purely Belter" in 2000 and now returns, adapted and updated for the stage.

Starring Will Graham and Niek Versteeg, "The Season Ticket" runs through to Saturday October 8th at Northern Stage in the Haymarket.

We had a pair of tickets up for grabs and set the following question: In the Season Ticket (and Purely Belter),  Gerry and Sewell do get tickets to see a match, but it's not quite what they had in mind. Why?  

We probably had the most wrong answers of any quiz we've set, with many of you mentioning that the duo watched a game at SJP from an old woman's balcony.

However we did say "get tickets to see a match" with the answer we sought being that they received free tickets for the mackems. Thanks to all who entered - the winner was chosen as Christine Dunbar.

Adult tickets cost from £15.50-£26, with U21s and students £13. Bookings online here

PS: After leaving Newcastle, "The Season Ticket" moves on to Winchester, York and Dundee.

Book:
PDF update released

For anyone who owns a copy of "Newcastle United: The Ultimate Record", the latest seasonal update for 2015/16 is now available as a PDF free of charge.

If you'd like one or have mislaid any previous PDFs, just email biffa@nufc.com and they'll be sent out for you to download and print off if desired. 

PS: the last copies of sister publication, "Newcastle United: The Ultimate Who's Who" are now available for the special price of just £17.50 including UK delivery. 

For further details please email biffa@nufc.com with your postcode (overseas orders are possible - delivery charged at cost - email with your location for quote).

2016/17:
Rotherham United (a)

United make their first appearance at New York Stadium on Saturday afternoon, when they face the Millers in an old-fashioned 3pm kickoff.

All 2,500 away section tickets have been sold.

Travel: If you're off to South Yorkshire by train, be aware that Central Metro station is closed from 8pm Friday until Monday AM for scheduled maintenance.

Where: New York Stadium S60 1AH (12,021)
Nearest station: Rotherham Central (0.4 miles)
Return mileage from SJP: 257 miles

The New York Stadium (named after the area it was built in) opened for business in 2012 - ending a four season tenancy at the Don Valley Athletics Stadium.

That came about when disputes with their landlord prompted the Millers to leave Millmoor - which rather oddly remains intact (but unused) only a short distance away from the new one.

Team: To follow

RUFC: To follow. 

Ahead of hosting us, Alan Stubbs saw his side beaten 1-2 at Huddersfield Town on Tuesday evening.

Avoiding relegation last season under the guidance of Neil Warnock, the Millers have won just once so far this time round, defeating Brentford 1-0 at home.

Other opposition sides haven't found goals hard to come by at New York Stadium, with Wolves, Bristol City and Nottingham Forest all drawing 2-2 and Cardiff winning 2-1. Morecambe also won 5-4 there in the EFL Cup.

Our most recent visit to Rotherham was for a rather feisty FA Cup tie that ended 1-1 in January 1993. Newcastle won the replay 2-0.

Referee: tbc - but will be from the Premier League group of referees.

UK TV: None

Overseas TV: 
Arena Sport 1 +HD
beIN Sports 3 Australia
Sportdigital TV +HD
SportKlub (Cro/Ser/Slo)
Ten 3 (India/Nepal/Pakistan/Sri Lanka)

UK Radio: None

Local Radio: Live on BBC Radio Newcastle

Stats:

Mags @ Millers - all-time:

1992/93 drew 1-1 Lee (FAC)
1982/83 won 5-1 Keegan 4, Todd
1981/82 drew 0-0
1964/65 drew 1-1 Penman
1963/64 won 3-2 Penman, Suddick 2
1962/63 lost 1-3 McGrath
1961/62 drew 0-0

(All games staged at Millmoor)

Upcoming Championship Fixtures:

Sat 01.10.2016:

Fulham v QPR (12.45pm)
Birmingham City v Blackburn Rovers (3pm)
Brentford v Wigan Athletic (3pm)
Bristol City v Nottingham Forest (3pm)
Burton Albion v Cardiff City (3pm)
Ipswich Town v Huddersfield Town (3pm)
Leeds United v Barnsley (3pm)
Preston North End v Aston Villa (3pm)
Reading v Derby County (3pm)
Sheffield Wednesday v Brighton & Hove Albion (3pm)
Wolves v Norwich City (5.30pm)