Bayer 04 / Strasbourg (h) Public sale now
Liverpool (h) ST forwarding/resale now
West Brom (h) Ticket details tbc
Spurs (a) SOLD OUT
Bournemouth (h) ST forwarding/resale now
Leeds (a) Seat selections close Fri 14.08, 2pm

2026/27:
Bayer 04 / Strasbourg (h)

Newcastle conclude their pre-season preparations with a home double-header this weekend, facing German foes on Saturday and French opposition on Sunday.

Ticket remain on general sale for what is billed as the Visit Malta Weekender. It's a 3pm kick-off against Leverkusen on Saturday and a 4pm start versus Strasbourg on Sunday.

Ticket holders for Sunday can also gain admission to the NUFC Women's friendly against Inter Milan Women at 1pm.

NB: should any of this weekend's three games be drawn after 90 minutes, a penalty shootout will take place.

Hat sellers Football Bobbles will have a stall outside the Trent House pub from Noon on both days, with stocks of the brand-new Drill bucket hat. Card payments accepted.

Team: Dan Burn is expected to make his first appearance of pre-season but Tino Livramento won't play. The fitness of Ewen Jaouen, Lewis Miley and Fabian Schar is tbc.

BFC: Finishing sixth in the Bundesliga last season to secure Europa League qualification, Leverkusen arrive on Tyneside after a 1-2 defeat at Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.

That was their first loss of pre-season, beginning their competitive fixtures with a German Cup tie at Wehen Wiesbaden next Saturday.

Leverkusen's only previous visit to SJP was for a 1-3 Champions League loss back in February 2003. Head coach Kasper Hjulmand has left the club since United's 2-2 Champions League draw at the BayArena last December.

He was replaced by Carles Martinez Novell last month, the 42 year-old Spaniard relinquishing his post at Toulouse.

England international defender Jarell Quansah remains with the squad, although strongly linked with a move to Arsenal. A similar situation faces Argentinean international defender Exequiel Palacios, allegedly pursued by Ipswich Town.

RCSA: Following the close season departure of coach Gary O'Neill to Ipswich Town, his successor Hugo Oliveira has lost all six pre-season fixtures to date. 

The Portuguese-born 47 year-old is no stranger to English football after eight years assisting Marco Silva at Hull City, Watford, Everton and Fulham.

Strasbourg have sold centre forward Julio Enciso to Ipswich and midfielder Rabby Nzingoula to West Bromwich Albion in recent days. That follows midfielder Valentin Barco's switch to partner club Chelsea earlier in this window.

Finishing eighth in Ligue 1 last season, they begin their competitive fixture programme at Marseille next Friday.

Bus: The Matchday Park & Ride X50 Soccerbus will not operate either this Saturday or Sunday.

Metro: The line between South Gosforth and Newcastle Airport will be closed in both directions for a nine day period beginning at the start of service this Saturday (15th).

Services will recommence on Monday week (24th). 

The closure will affect anyone planning to use that route for the Leverkusen, Strasbourg Liverpool home games.

Bus replacement services will run - details online here

A reminder that Magpie Movers are not valid for friendlies.

United's remaining two pre-season games are available as paid live streams from NUFC here.

Stats:

This is the fifth successive season that Newcastle have rounded off pre-season with a home double header.

2022/23 Atalanta (Italy) won 1-0
2022/23 Athletic Bilbao (Spain) won 2-1
2023/24 Fiorentina (Italy) won 2-0
2023/24 Villarreal (Spain) won 4-0
2024/25 Girona (Spain) won 4-0
2024/25 Brest (France) won 1-0
2025/26 Espanyol (Spain) drew 2-2
2025/26 Atletico Madrid (Spain) lost 0-2

2026/27:
Toffees eclipse Toon

Newcastle  1  Everton  3

Match report

2026/27:
Albion (h) date set  

Newcastle will begin their Carabao Cup campaign with a Second Round home tie against Championship side West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday August 26th.

It's a 7.45pm kick-off and will be played to a finish on the night, with a penalty shootout if it's a draw on 90 minutes.

This and the rest of the ties will be live on Sky Sports.

Member (and STs not enrolled in cup scheme) ballot opens Mon 17.08.2026 Noon, closes Tue 18.08.2026, Noon.

Ballot winners notified by Wed 19.08.2026, 11.30am, ballot winners seat selection opens Wed 19.08.2026 Noon, closes Fri 21.08.2026, Noon.

ST forwarding/resale opens Fri 21.08.2026, 4pm.
Member Sale opens Mon 24.08.2026, Noon

Prices:
£35 adults, £20 concessions (normal areas)
£40 adults, £25 concessions (1892/Platinum)

The tie comes between United's first two Premier League fixtures, at home to Liverpool the previous Sunday then away at Spurs the following Saturday.

The Baggies will be in Championship action on the same two days, facing Burnley at the Hawthorns the Sunday before travelling to Boro on the Saturday.

Season ticket holders on the Carabao Cup scheme pay £22 or £28 depending on location. Payments were taken on Thursday August 13th. Other ticket sale info is awaited.

Managed by Darlington-born James Morrison, Albion won 4-1 at Rotheram United on Saturday in the First Round.

This is the third time the two sides have met in the League Cup: Albion winning 1-0 on Tyneside back in October 1989 and returning to Gallowgate during October 2003 to register a 2-1 success - Lee Hughes scoring an extra-time winner three minutes after Alan Shearer came off the bench.

Their last visit to SJP ended in a 2-1 Premier League home win behind closed doors in December 2020. Joelinton and Jacob Murphy remain from the 14 players used that day. 

2026/27:
ST downloads available

NUFC are currently emailing 2026/27 season ticket holders to confirm that their digital tickets can now be downloaded by logging on via their supporter accounts.

2026/27:
Liverpool (a) info

One of our readers notes that Newcastle's Premier League visit to Anfield this season takes place at some point on or around Saturday April 10th 2027 - the day that the Grand National horse race will be staged at nearby Aintree.

While the days of moving Liverpool and Everton home games to avoid clashes are over, transport and hotels etc. across merseyside will be adversely affected that weekend.

Liverpool versus Newcastle should be confirmed as part of the live TV amendments on or around February 22nd - with the added complication of falling between the first and second legs of the Champions League Quarter-finals, were the Reds to reach the last eight.

2026/27:
Matthias checks in

Quotes from Thursday's SJP media unveiling of Matthias Jaissle, following his first training session at the KNOX:

"First of all, really looking forward to the weekend, finally being here at two days ago already to an amazing stadium,

"I can't wait to see it full of our home crowd. That's already a good set-up, the two friendly matches on the weekend.

"But again, the process is step by step. Tomorrow we have again a friendly match, many matches in the first week now so that means we can see them in the game but also we don't see them too often on the training pitch so we need to find a good balance, we need to be smart with the loan management, also with the technical approaches, how much we can already give them and then we see it step by step.

"We are going in the right direction, I am pretty sure, I am really pleased what I've seen so far from the guys. There is a huge commitment - and that's the most important thing.

"It's a challenge, a big challenge. Always when there's a transitional period. But it's not time to complaint, it doesn't make sense to see the negative things, we want to see the chance in that situation, and that's our approach from day one.

"We are here to do our best job. We want to support the players, the current squad, there will be adjustments to see in the coming days, weeks. But for now it's only focused on the daily work, the work we can influence. And that's all that matters now.

On his appointment:

"I received a call at the end of July, when it was clear that most likely Eddie would quit.

"Obviously if there's first of all a club original from Premier League, and then also a club like Newcastle with that special club history, that fan base, that DNA, which is so linked to the idea of how I want to play football.

"There was no doubt or question marks but to listen and take that process further. For sure I had a big smile.

On his ambitions and priorities:

"I’m long enough in the industry now that you cannot promise anything. It makes no sense to promise you things now because I don’t know how things will look in one year, but it doesn’t make sense to see the negative.

"There will be more adjustments to the squad this summer. We still have time. I would say keep the optimism.

"I'm really happy that the fans appreciate me already a lot. I have to say the welcome was unbelievable, I'm very grateful, not only from the players but also the staff and the fans when I was having a walk yesterday in the city. It was really giving me a nice feeling."

On his playing ethos:

"The phrase how Newcastle should play like, is front-footed, intense, aggressive and of course also successful.

"It's in the end all about what I can say and it's also why I'm sitting here, the approach we have as a coaching team, and the identity of Newcastle is famed for, it's so linked so close together, which is a perfect fit in my eyes. And that's going to be exciting.

"Football is really complex. It's not only out of possession, really intense, high press, at one point, why are we doing it?

"To have the ball also. We want to win the ball and then we need to have solutions as well. Then you need to be smart, you have to have your identity, how we want to play - vertical, target-orientated, we want to score goals - but it also depends how our opponent is playing, this is an adaptation as well.

"You need to be smart with what the opponent is giving you, use their weaknesses and use our strengths."

On the loss of key figures from his squad:

"This is now a vacuum as you call it. They were great characters, great players, experienced players. Obviously we are in that transition phase. My job is to make the best out of it all.

"I am quite optimistic. We are ambitious, that’s the most important thing and why I decided to come here. But it will not happen overnight.

"It is why I decided to come here, but this will not happen overnight, especially when you have such a big transition phase now.

"You need to have a clear goal and wish of where we want to go to. That starts from the decision-makers, the management and the board.

"Then, if you have that synergy with the fans, the players and the staff to go there, I'm pretty sure it will be a successful story. But we need time now."

On taking advice from Thomas Tuchel:

"It’s been a long connection. Thomas was my youth coach when I was a youth player at Stuttgart. He was amazing, I really admire him.

"He’s a really special coach and I’m looking forward to staying in touch with him, and getting insights on the league. That’s something I want to use for sure.

"But it’s also important to build your own opinions because every coach is their own human being and has their opinions and, ­sometimes players get stuck in a box. It’s ­important for me to be neutral about players.”

On his animated touchline behaviour in game:

"I will not change my style because that's my personality

"On the touchline, I am emotional, but I need to respect the box (technical area) a bit more.

"I'm a bit scared. I hope in the beginning the referees can maybe close their eyes here and there a little. I need to learn that.

"I had a long touchline in Saudi Arabia, so I think the GPS would be quite high if I had worn it!"

On first seeing inside the ground:

"I had a tour of St James’ Park two days ago. When I entered the pitch here with my assistant coaches for the first time, we were looking at each other with smiles and goosebumps.

"It’s really special, an amazing stadium. I can’t wait to see it full. The guys here who were leading the tour told me how it feels when the crowd are there.

"When we hopefully play in the way they want to see us - intense football, a vertical approach, aggressive, front-footed - there is a great synergy between the fans and the team."

Loan exit:
Auf Wiedersehen, Alex

Defender Alex Murphy has made a season-long loan switch to Bundesliga second tier side Kaiserslautern.

The 22 year-old Galway native was absent from United's squad for Saturday's friendly against Valencia, having featured in the opening three pre-season kickabouts.

Signed from his hometown club in summer 2022, Murphy made two brief substitute appearances in Premier League games for the Magpies during the 2023/24 campaign.

Signing a new long term contract of undisclosed length at Gallowgate in 2024 (reportedly running until 2028), Alex was loaned to League One Bolton Wanderers for the second half of the 2024/25 season.

Eight more outings in all competitions then followed for Newcastle last season, including his first-ever senior start - in the Champions League home win over Qarabag.

2026/27:
U21s break new ground

A new season brings another mixture of first team grounds, training facilities and borrowed venues for Newcastle's U21 side - and some uncharted territory.

Three new stadia appear so far: a Premier League Cup meeting with Peterborough United at the Zeeco Stadium of Stamford in November and a PL2 game against Chelsea in March at the Kings Meadow in Kingston upon Thames.

The third then sees United head to the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham to play West Bromwich Albion in PL2 during April - a venue known more for athletics and now the home of the Baggies' women's side. 

There's some duplication of away venues this season; United's second string facing two trips to the homes of Boreham Wood, Solihull and York where'll they face the nominal home side and also the temporary occupants.

That scenario sees them visit York twice within a week during September for games against City and Leeds.

The U21s kick off by making a National League Cup visit to Tamworth on Tuesday, before successive PL2 home games on the following two Mondays against Spurs and Fulham.

Saturday sees United U18s begin their league campaign, facing Derby County in a 1pm kick-off at Little Benton.

That's the first of three home games on successive Saturdays, with Stoke City and Blackburn Rovers on Tyneside the following two weekends.

As ever, all venues and schedules are subject to change, often at minimal notice - as we've found to our cost....

Friendly:
Jaissle off to a
winning start

Valencia  1  Newcastle  2

Match report

Loan lads:
The borrowers

Odysseas Vlachodimos (Seville):
Rayo Vallecano (h) La Liga, Saturday.

Harrison Ashby (Luton Town):
Reading (a) League One, Saturday.

Alex Murphy (Kaiserslautern):
Karlsruhe (h) Bundesliga 2, Saturday.     

Antonio Cordero (Cadiz):
Celta Vigo II (h) Segunda Division, Saturday.

Cadiz have undergone yet another change of coach in recent days, their fourth appointment in barely a year.

2026/27:
Ticket to ride

2026/27 Magpie Mover tickets are now on sale, allowing public transport use in Tyne & wear on home matchdays from three hours before kick-off until the end of service*

Held at £25 for each of the last four seasons, the price has increased to £35 this time round, with no concessions.

Available to season ticket holders, Magpie+ members are also eligible to purchase them as was the case last season - although pass validity depends on having a match ticket.

* competitive senior games only, no friendlies/U18/U21s.

Update:
Squad updates

Senior players signed (5):
Aladji Bamba, Lukas Hornicek, Ewen Jaouen, Sean Steur, Bazoumana Toure. 

Development players signed (1):
Afner Ca

Academy players signed (3 - all tbc):
Eli Hall, Kyle Healy, Kryan Thompson

Senior contracts extended (3):
Harvey Barnes, Mark Gillespie, Fabian Schar

Senior players sold (3):
Anthony Gordon (Barcelona), Sandro Tonali (Spurs), Bruno Guimaraes (Arsenal)

Development squad players sold (2):
Travis Hernes (Groningen), Joe White (Crewe Alexandra)

Senior players loaned (3):
Harrison Ashby (Luton Town), Antonio Cordero (Cadiz), Odysseas Vlachodimos (Seville)

Professional contracts signed (6):
Sam Alabi, Guy Bloomer, Jake Durrant, Henry Johnson, Mason Miley, Kacey Wooster

Scholarship contracts signed (8):
Chukwudi Afumuzor, Theo Benjamin, Roman Dowell, Jayden Kouossu, George Mair, Leon Mukumbira, Alfie Seldon, Lesecond Yeutembip


 

What Else?

1937 The Magpies began pre-season preparations two weeks before their league opener, with the black and whites defeating the whites 9-6 at Gallowgate. 6,791 fans saw the victors - comprised of the previous season's reserve attack and senior defence net through McGarry (4), Isaac (3), Connelly and Mooney. On target for the losing side were Smith (2), Pearson, Docking, Livingstone and Garnham. Missing due to injury was forward Billy Cairns, who wouldn't return to first team action until the following December. Black and whites: Tapken, Richardson, Ancell, Gordon, Carver, Imrie, Park, Isaac, McGarry, Connelly, Mooney. Whites: McPhillips, Forster, Fairhurst, Leighton, Denmark, Garnham, Rogers, Livingstone, Smith, Docking, Pearson. 1959 RCD Mallorca (Spain) (a) 1-1 (1-1) Friendly  White(1-0) Oviedo(42) crowd tbc United visited the Estadio Lluís Sitjar to officially inaugurate RCD's floodlights in what was a three team tournament that also featured Belgians Olympic Charleroi. Guesting for the home side was Alfredo Di Stefano. Then aged 33, the legendary Real Madrid forward was holidaying on the island. United would go on to win the tournament on goal difference following a 5-1 victory over the Belgians - Charleroi beating RCD 4-2. 1965 Middlesbrough (h) 3-2 (3-2) Friendly  Hockey(5), Cummings(12), og(Jones)(39) Holliday(8,42) 13,534 Two goals from Boro's Edwin Holliday weren't enough in this second Tyne-Tees pre -season meeting of 1965. Boro fielded future Magpie Arthur Horsfield but were undone by an own goal from Gordon Jones, who somehow headed the ball into his own net after 'keeper Ed Connachan blocked a Bobby Cummings penalty.  1968 Sheffield Wednesday (a) 1-1 (1-1) Division One  B.Robson(17) Ford(16)  27,258  Tommy Gibb made his debut in the absence of more established midfielders and held down a first team place for over 150 consecutive games. 1971 Crystal Palace (a) 0-2 (0-1) Division One  Tambling(13), Taylor(0-2) 25,281  There were quiet debuts for both Terry Hibbitt and Supermac at Selhurst Park, but better was to come.... 1973 Workington (a) 4-1 (2-1) Friendly  Hodgson(4,4-1), Gibb(3-1), McDermott(83) Martin(34) 1,000 Magpies boss Joe Harvey took a strong reserve XI back to his former Borough Park home, with Tommy Gibb, Terry McDermott, Irving Nattrass and Stewart Barrowclough. Teenager Colin Ayre also had a run out. 1976 Middlesbrough (h) 3-0 (3-0) Anglo-Scottish Cup  Gowling(27,43), Barrowclough(28)  15,703 Future Magpies boss Jack Charlton brought his Boro boys to Gallowgate and saw them deservedly routed. 1981 West Bromwich Albion (h) 0-2 (0-1) Friendly Regis(4), Cross(90)  6,843 The Second Division hosts were dispatched without fuss by their Division One visitors, who included future Magpie David Mills. Team: Carr, Brownlie, Davies, Trewick, Barton, Halliday, Walker, Harford, Shoulder, Wharton Waddle. Subs: (usage tbc) Martin, Johnson, Shinton. 1984 Hartlepool United (a) 4-2 (2-1) Friendly  Wharton(13,61,67)  Roeder(33) Hedley(16), Dobson(53)  2,084  Kenny Wharton's pre-season purple patch continued as he made it six goals in three games, pushing up from midfield to boost the Newcastle attack. Billy Horner's monkey hangers were fresh from a fourteenth re-election to the Fourth Division and included former Magpie John Brownlie. Fringe players involved for the visitors at the Victoria Ground included Ian Dawes, Tony Hayton and Darren Melville. None of them played competitively for the club. Team: Thomas (Carr), Hedworth (Anderson), Ryan, Roeder, Clarke, Saunders, McDonald, Wharton, Waddle (Allon), Dawes, Hayton (Melville). 1989 Scarborough (a) 1-0 (0-0) Friendly  McGhee(76)  3,000 Striker Mark McGhee's header from a Kevin Brock corner divided the sides at the McCain Stadium. Team: Wright, Anderson (Ranson 46), Sweeney, Dillon (Roche 83), Scott, Kristensen (Thorn 45), Gallacher (Brazil 75), Brock, Quinn, McGhee, Fereday. Subs n/u: Simpson, G.Kelly, D.Robinson. 1989 Michael O'Neill joined up with ex-SJP colleague Darren Jackson, after completing a £350K move to Dundee United.  He was in good company on Tayside; Wes Saunders and Albert Craig at neighbouring Dundee, whose assistant boss was fellow former Magpie John Blackley. 1990 St.Johnstone (Scotland) (a) 3-1 (1-1) Friendly  Quinn(35), McGhee(53), O'Brien(55),  Inglis(23)  5,000 Following a trio of friendlies in England and two in Hungary, Jim Smith's Magpies were in Scotland for a maiden visit to McDiarmid Park - opened 12 months earlier.  Fitness issues meant that United were without Benny Kristensen, Wayne Fereday and Kevin Brock but promising youngster Lee Clark made his senior team bow. Team: Burridge, Ranson, Stimson (Sweeney 46), Aitken, Bradshaw, Scott, Dillon, O'Brien (Clark 73), Quinn, McGhee (Robinson 73), Askew (Gallacher 46). Subs n/u: Wright, Simpson. 1990 A Magpies XI won 1-0 at non-league Consett, Gary Brazil scoring the only goal of the game from Archie Gourlay's pass. Defender John Anderson played after being omitted from the senior squad following a failure to a agree a new contract. 1993 Tottenham Hotspur (h) 0-1 (0-1) Premier League  Sheringham(36) 35,216  A tough baptism in the Premier League, Teddy Sheringham's goal giving former manager Ossie Ardiles a successful return to SJP.  The rebuilt Leazes Stand was open for the first time and United gave debuts to Nicky Papavasiliou and Malcolm Allen. The latter was an eve of season signing from Millwall, after Neil Ruddock's pre-season thuggery had robbed United of the services of Peter Beardsley. Liam O'Brien hit the post with a last minute free kick. Youtube footage is online here 1996 Future Magpie Nicos Dabizas won his 16th senior cap for Greece as they beat Albania 2-1 in a friendly staged in Athens.  2001 Reserve striker Colin McMenamin's prolific pre-season continued as he made it 16 goals in just eight games.  This time it was Guisborough Town on the receiving end as McMenamin hit four of United's half dozen in a 6-1 win. Olivier Bernard and Damon Robson got the others NUFC.com match report. 2002 Zeljeznicar (Bosnia) (a) 1-0 (0-0) Champions League Third Qualifying Round First Leg Dyer(55) 35,000 The door to the Champions League swung open after this result in Sarajevo. Both Hugo Viana and Titus Bramble made their debuts. NUFC.com match report 2003 The Reserves beat a Border Amateur Select XI 6-1 at Galashiels, with Bradley Orr grabbing a hat-trick. Martin Brittain hit a brace and Calvin Zola rounded off the scoring at Netherdale. NUFC.com match report 2004 Middlesbrough (a) 2-2 (1-0) Premiership Bellamy(14), Shearer(83pen) Downing(73), Hasselbaink(90) 34,268 The opening game of the season saw United make the trip down the A19 in bright sunshine and when Shearer converted a late penalty, a winning start looked on. However that was before The hand of Smog (aka Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink) - and referee Steve Bennett -  intervened. Bolo Zenden's cross from the left in the last seconds eluded everyone until "Fat Eddie Murphy" stooped to meet it with his hand, rather than his head. Robbed. NUFC.com match report 2005 Arsenal (a) 0-2 (0-0) Premiership Henry(81pen),  van Persie(87) (Jenas - 32 straight red, downgraded to yellow) 38,072 Twelve months on and another howler from Bennett (see above) made it a miserable start to the season, needlessly dismissing Jermaine Jenas 32 minutes into our last ever league game at Highbury. The ten men held on bravely but Charles N'Zogbia conceded a late penalty that Thierry Henry converted and Robin van Persie scored a second to seal the defeat. Bennett later rescinded the red-card, reducing it to a yellow, after studying video evidence. As always though, the rethink wasn't a fat lot of use after the game. NUFC.com match report   2006 United's reserve side beat Conference North side Workington 1-0 at Borough Park thanks to late Andy Carroll effort. The striker's header ended up in the back of the net via post and 'keeper. NUFC.com match report 2007 Having featured for the first team in pre-season under incoming boss Sam Allarydce, Andy Carroll made a loan switch to Championship side Preston North End. 2014 Ahead of their first season in the U21 Premier League, United reserves beat Oldham Athletic 2-1 in a training ground kickabout. Adam Campbell and Brad Inman netted. 2018 From the BBC, we always knew he was a wrong 'un: "The man who scored the winning goal when Hereford United knocked Newcastle out of the FA Cup in 1972 has been jailed for money laundering. "Ricky George, 72, was sentenced to two years and his son Adam, 40, has also been jailed, for 15 months. "The fraud involved the sale of a house without the knowledge or consent of the owner." 2021 A remarkable opening league game of the season for the U18s saw them beaten 3-8 by Burnley at Whitley Park. The Clarets took an early two goal lead before Newcastle hit a purple patch and netted three times in four minutes through Michael Ndiweni (2) and Jay Turner-Cooke. Reality then intervened though as Burnley levelled before half time and then scored another five without reply after the break. 2025 Aston Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey, flew into Tyneside for his medical after a £38m move to Newcastle was agreed.