Rangers (a) ST holder sale now 5 pts

Update:
New kit claim

Currently circulating on social media is this image, claiming to be of Newcastle's 2023/24 home shirt. As yet, it's unconfirmed - but has a strong whiff of the Umbro effort that served us from 1984 until 1987:   

Charity effort:
Hospice fundraiser

Bidding for the first five lots in the Run Geordie Run charity auction has now closed, with the winning amounts as follows:

Signed 2009/10 season home shirt £200
Signed Eddie Howe FIFA team card £500
Glenn Roeder's sweatshirt £110
Signed Jack Charlton photo £85
Signed Shay Given photo £70

Bidding continues on various other NUFC related items, with the squad signed Sammy Ameobi match issue 2011/12 season home shirt ending at 7pm tonight.

Bids for the remaining items will close at 7pm on Thursday, when the online raffle for an NUFC shirt signed by Eddie Howe (pictured below) also concludes. 

Entries cost £5 and can be purchased online here   

Details of the lots are here and all bids should be emailed to [email protected]

Earlier: most of you will be familiar with Mark Allison aka Run Geordie Run, whose charity exploits have raised over £348K to date - a fair chunk of which came via the generosity of NUFC.com readers.

Mark's next fundraising trek is a 3,100 mile trek due to take place in 2025 but before that, he's staging an online auction of NUFC related memorabilia. 

Every penny raised helps fund St. Benedict’s Hospice and Centre for Specialist Palliative Care here

Internationals:
Losing start for Garang 

Newcastle's Garang Kuol is in the Australian squad for this year's Maurice Revello Tournament in France.

The Olyroos were held 0-0 by Qatar in their Group B opener in Aubagne on Tuesday, losing the penalty shootout that followed 4-3 as their opponents collected the extra point on offer.

Garang was named among the substitutes, appearing from the bench in the 69th minute and coming close to winning the game when his 95th minute free kick from a central position just outside the box was saved.

He wasn't called upon to take a spot kick.

The 12 team tournament is played at U23 level this year and the Olyroos line-up also includes Garang's elder brother Alou, currently playing for Stuttgart. 

The Olyroos play as follows:

Tue 06.06.2023 Qatar (n) Aubagne drew 0-0
Fri 09.06.2023 Mediterranean XI (n) Mallemort
Mon 12.06.2023 Mexico (n) Aubagne

Knockout stages then follow, with the final staged in Salon on Sunday week, June 18th.

* Originally scheduled to be Togo but they withdrew.

Australia have entered as preparation for their Asian Cup qualifying ties for September and beyond that, the football tournament at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

Update:
Al be seeing you?

Neatly filling the NUFC news vacuum on Monday were not one but two Allan Saint-Maximin tales; one prompted by his own extended social media posting.

Thanking Newcastle fans for their support since he signed in 2019, the use of phrases like "turning point in my career" and "whatever happens" hints at some uncertainty over where he'll be playing next season.

Simultaneously, reports of interest in the 26 year-old Magpie from AC Milan resurfaced; claims that have been repeated by the Italian press throughout 2023.

Asked about the future of a player under contract until 2026 after the Chelsea game, Eddie Howe said:

"That will be dictated by Maxi himself. He has so much ability, and he’s such an important player for us when he’s at his very best, fitness-wise. He’s unique, there’s no one like him in the Premier League.

"You saw he’s a huge transitional threat today, his end product was there, so really pleased. We just hope he comes back really fit, and ready to do well in what is a massive season for him personally."

Update:
Live and let LIV....

From the Financial Times, Tuesday:

Saudi Arabia is set to pump billions of dollars into the world’s biggest professional golf organisation to seal a stunning merger between its breakaway LIV Golf and the US-based PGA Tour.

The infusion, which some people involved said could amount to about $3bn, underscores how Saudi Arabia has muscled into global sports through its use of oil-funded state finances.

Yasir al-Rumayyan, head of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, and PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan unveiled the deal on Tuesday, telling the FT that an unlikely peace between their two organisations was brokered over meals in Venice and rounds of golf in London.

Under the agreement, the PGA Tour and Riyadh’s Public Investment Fund have agreed to create a jointly managed entity to house their commercial operations, and intend to cease their pending litigation. The current European tour, known as the DP World Tour, has also signed up to the deal.

Saudi-backed LIV Golf, which has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to lure top golfers such as Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson to join its breakaway league, will also slot into the new entity.

This week, the Saudi government transferred majority holdings in four Saudi football teams to the PIF, arming the fund — which already owns Premier League side Newcastle United in England — with key assets.

Rumayyan (currently NUFC Chairman) will chair the board of the new commercial entity, with Monahan as chief executive. 

Update:
PIF privatise "big four"

Public Investment Fund statement, Monday:

As part of today’s announcement of the Sports Clubs Investment and Privatization Project, four Saudi clubs – Al Ittihad, Al Ahli, Al Nassr, and Al Hilal – have been transformed into companies, each of which is owned by PIF and non-profit foundations for each club.

PIF’s ownership in the clubs’ companies represent 75% in each club, while their respective non-profit foundations hold 25% ownership of each club.

Existing members of each club will be included in the four foundations. PIF is working closely on all the necessary regulatory procedures to complete the clubs’ transfers to their new structures as newly founded companies alongside non-profit foundations.

The transfer of the four clubs will unleash various commercial opportunities, including investment, partnership and sponsorships across numerous sports.

2023/24:
NI SuperCup update

Newcastle U16s now know their group stage fixtures in the 16 team Premier Section of this season's NI Super Cup in Northern Ireland: 

Group A:

Mon 24.07.2023 Northeast Rush (USA) 
@ 4pm, Cloughwater, Clough.

Tue 25.07.2023 County Tyrone (Northern Ireland) 
@ 7pm, Broughshane.

Wed 26.07.2023 County Antrim (Northern Ireland)
@ 5pm, Seahaven, Portstewart.

Based on group stage performance, teams will qualify for the semi-finals as follows on Thursday:

SuperCupNI: Winner in each group
Globe: Second place in each group
Vase: Third place in each group
Bowl: Fourth place in each group

Movie:
Glory days

The latest effort from short film maestro Waxxa is the most magnificent summary of last season online here

If the fantastic efforts of Wor Flags in that film inspire you to help fund future displays at SJP, donations can be made online here and a range of miniature flags are available to order from them online here 

Update:
Transfer target update

The latest movements of five players strongly linked with moves to Tyneside are as follows:  

Domink Szoboszlai (RB Leipzig):Saturday saw the in-demand midfielder score his 10th league and cup goal of the season, capping a 2-0 win for Leipzig over Eintracht Frankfurt in the German Cup Final at Berlin's Olympic Stadium. 

The 22 year-old will now link up with the Hungary squad for Euro qualifiers against Montenegro and Lithuania later this month.

Yankuba Minteh (Odense)
Amid much speculation as to his future, the 18 year-old winger was omitted from the squad for Saturday's Superliga season closer away to FC Midtjylland. In his absence, Odense lost 2-4.

That situation was confirmed by Odense as follows - with the "foreign club" widely predicted to be NUFC:

OB has for a long time been in close negotiations with a foreign club about the sale of Yankuba Minteh, and the negotiations have now reached such a stage that Yankuba Minteh will not be in the squad when we meet FC Midtjylland tomorrow.

The Gambian-born 18 year-old wasn't called up by his country for service at the U20 World Cup currently taking place.

Gabri Veiga (Celta Vigo):
Sunday saw what looks like an eye-catching end to the central midfielder's time at his current club - scoring both goals in a 2-1 home win over Barcelona just days after celebrating his 21st birthday.

That brace took Spanish-born Veiga's club tally to 11 this season, ensuring that Celta avoided relegation. 

Veiga now switches his attentions to U21 duty with Spain and a kickabout with Mexico in Madrid next week. Following that, the Spanish squad for the U21 European Championship Finals in Romania and Georgia from June 21st will be selected. 

James Maddison (Leicester City):
Along with current Magpies Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson, the 26 year-old is in the England squad for Euro qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia later this month.

Kieran Tierney (Arsenal):
26 year-old left back Tierney is in the Scotland squad for Euro qualifiers against Norway and Georgia later this month.

RL:
Magic numbers

Last weekend saw SJP play host to Rugby League's Magic Weekend for the seventh time: 

Saturday results::
Salford Red Devils 26-16 Hull KR
Wigan Warriors 22-46 Catalans Dragons
Leeds Rhinos 24-26 Castleford Tigers

Sunday fixtures:
Wakefield 4-30 Leigh Leopards
St Helens 48-6 Huddersfield Giants
Hull FC 30-18 Warrington Wolves

MW @ SJP - Crowds:

2023: 63,269 (Sat 36,943/ Sun 26,326)
2022: 62,154 (Sat 36,821/ Sun 25,333)
2021: 60,866 (Sat 35,104/ Sun 25,762)
2018: 64,319 (Sat 38,881 / Sun 25,438)
2017: 65,407 (Sat 35,361 / Sun 30,046) 
2016: 68,276 (Sat 39,331 / Sun 28,945)
2015: 67,841 (Sat 40,871 / Sun 26,970)

This may have been the final year of Magic Weekend in its current form, with discussions ongoing as to when and where future events will be - and the possibility of playing later in the year, which may adversely affect the availability of venues such as SJP.

Supporters Trust:
NUST polls open

Elections to the board of the Newcastle United Supporters Trust (NUST) are underway and members should now have received their ballots via email.

If anyone hasn't, email [email protected]

The deadline to vote is 8pm BST this Sunday, 11th June. Thirteen candidates are standing and each member can vote for up to six candidates.

Update:
Wood chop date

Nottingham Forest update, Friday:

Chris Wood's loan deal from Newcastle United will become permanent from the summer transfer window open date*.

* June 14th.

Sponsor:
When the Fun stops...

A short message from the club on Friday confirmed the departure of FUN88 following six seasons acting as Newcastle United shirt sponsors.

The Far East betting company succeeded Wonga in 2017 and will continue as club partners in Asia. Their replacements should be confirmed imminently. 

2023/24:
Bluebirds v Magpies
 

The first pre-season fixture announced for Newcastle U21s will be a visit to League Two side Barrow AFC.

While the first team are in the USA, the development squad will head to Holker Street for a 3pm kick-off on Saturday July 29th.

Prices: Adults £10, concessions £5, U7s free. Tickets can be bought on the day or in advance here

Our most recent visit to what is now as the SO Legal Stadium came in July 2018; the reserves 3-2 winners in a kickabout thanks to goals from Elias Sorensen (2) and Ivan Toney. What are the odds on that...?

Internationals:
Call-ups

The season continues for a group of Magpies, with various international fixtures in June including Euro qualifiers, Nations Cup ties and friendlies:

Jamal Lewis (Northern Ireland) (tbc):
Mon 05.06.2023 to Thu 08.06.2023
Training camp ahead of ECQ games. 
Squad announcement due on Fri 09.06.2023. 

Anthony Gordon (England U21): 
Wed 07.06.2023 to Sat 10.06.2023
Training camp ahead of Euro U21 finals. 
Squad announcement due on Wed 14.06.2023. 

Sven Botman (Netherlands):
Wed 14.06.2023 Croatia (n) NL Rotterdam

Alexander Isak ( Sweden):
Fri 16.06.2023 New Zealand (h) FR Stockholm
Tue 20.06.2023 Austria (a) ECQ Vienna

(Isak is part of a 29 man squad and it appears that he'll primarily feature in the competitive game, with a more experimental selection facing the Kiwis). 

Fabian Schar ( Switzerland:
Fri 16.06.2023 Andorra (a) ECQ Andorra
Mon 19.06.2023 Romania (h) ECQ Lucerne

Kieran Trippier, Callum Wilson (England):
Fri 16.06.2023 Malta (a) ECQ Ta'Qali
Mon 19.06.2023 North Macedonia (h) ECQ OT

Martin Dubravka ( Slovakia): 
Sat 17.06.2023 Iceland (a) ECQ Reykjavik
Tue 20.06.2023 Liechtenstein (a) ECQ Vaduz

Joelinton, Bruno Guimaraes (Brazil):
Sat 17.06.2023 Guinea (n) FR Barcelona
Tue 20.06.2023 Senegal (n) FR Lisbon

Jeff Hendrick (Ireland):
Fri 16.06.2023 Greece (a) ECQ Athens
Mon 19.06.2023 Gibraltar (h) ECQ Dublin

Callups yet TBC:

Miguel Almiron (Paraguay) for a home friendly against Nicaragua.

2022/23:
Back of the net!

Courtesy of the official NUFC twitter account, all 68 PL goals scored by the club this season can be viewed online here

Premier League:
Fourth Bridge

Chelsea  1  Newcastle  1

Match report

2023/24:
Ticket update

Newcastle United confirm that they intend to introduce a digital ticketing system next season for home games - both season tickets and individual match sales.

The original club announcement can be read here

Last Tuesday saw over 100 fans attend a ticketing workshop at SJP to discuss this and other issues related to match ticketing, both home and away. 

Clarification on various issues related to the transfer of tickets and access options for supporters who don't use smart phones is promised but not yet available.  

2022/23:
Hoyoots
 
Ex-Magpies who now have free agent status include:

Rolando Aarons (Huddersfield Town)
Owen Bailey (Gateshead)
Jack Colback (Nottingham Forest)
Mathieu Debuchy (Valenciennes)
Siem De Jong (De Graafschap)
Ludwig Francillette (Crawley Town)
James Milner (Liverpool)
Ayoze Perez (Leicester City)
Jamie Sterry (Hartlepool United)
Dan Ward (Gateshead)

2023/24:
Movers
 
Ex-Magpies with new clubs include:

Liam Gibson (Harrogate Town)
Jamie Sterry (Doncaster Rovers)

2023/24:
Basques back?
 
News that Athletic Bilbao are to visit Glasgow for a friendly against Celtic on August 1st has prompted speculation that the La Liga side may be lining up another visit to Tyneside.

The Basques were one of two pre-season opponents at SJP in 2022, when Eddie Howe's side concluded their preparations with games on successive days. 

It's believed that a similar home double header will be arranged ahead of next season against as-yet undisclosed overseas opposition.