NUFC fan advice for Japan is online here

NUFC live stream information is online here

A reminder that all 2024/25 season ticket holders are automatically enrolled as MAGs members and can then upgrade to MAGS+ for an additional £10.

In addition to other season-long benefits that may or may not be of value, MAGS+ members get to view the two Japanese friendlies as part of their package.

2024/25:
Book launch this week

There's a free event* at Waterstones in Newcastle city centre on Wednesday, as former Newcastle United scout Paul Montgomery launches his book, "Rough Diamond."

Paul will be joined by veteran local journalist John Gibson and ex-Magpies Roy Aitken, Alan Foggon and Lee Clark.

It's a 7pm start and tickets are free of charge (despite what it says on the Waterstones website) but space is limited, meaning that reservations are required. This can be done by emailing [email protected]

2024/25:
Tigers tamed

Hull City  0  Newcastle  2 

Newcastle made a winning start to their programme of public pre-season games on Saturday, two first half goals enough to defeat the Tigers on Humberside.

Alexander Isak and Jacob Murphy give Eddie Howe's side the win at the MKM Stadium as Tim Walter took charge of City on home territory for the first time.

Playing down the right, Murphy centred for Joelinton to fire just off target within the opening 30 seconds. 

Isak opened the scoring in the 32nd minute with a simple touch home from close range after Murphy crossed from the right hand side of the box, aided in his assist by the home defender shadowing him falling over.

Having had very little to do, Nick Pope made a smart stop to deny Regan Slater in the 39th minute, seconds before United doubled their advantage through Murphy. 

Harvey Barnes and Jamie Miley combined to give Murphy possession on the right hand side of the City area and his low cross ended up in the far corner of the net as Barnes arrived but didn't make contact.

Isak then headed into the arms of Ivor Pandur before the half ended, both Barnes and Lewis Hall having caught the eye for the black and whites.

After an unremarkable start to the second period, both sides made extensive changes and any pattern to the game inevitably disappeared as a consequence.

United ended the game with Dan Burn and Emil Krafth harnessing an inexperienced outfield line-up including several youngsters played out of position.  

Odysseas Vlachodimos replaced Pope and was equal to the occasional effort that the home side created before the full time whistle sounded.

The Magpies squad leave for Japan on Sunday, ahead of kickabouts on Wednesday and Saturday against J-League sides whose season is in full swing.
  
Full match report to follow.

Team: Pope (Vlachodimos 74), Livramento (Al.Harrison 64), Lewis (Munda 74), Krafth, Burn, Hall (Charlton 85), J.Murphy (Emerson 74), Joelinton (Sanusi 64), J.Miley (Stanton 79), Isak (Parkinson 64), Barnes (Turner-Cooke 64).
Subs n/u: Ruddy, Kuol, Heffernan, C.Thompson.

Sandro Tonali remains ineligible to play pending the end of his ban while Sean Longstaff, Joe Willock and Lloyd Kelly trained on Tyneside rather than travelling to Hull. 

Fabian Schar and Miggy Almiron are back in training after extended post-season breaks, while Anthony Gordon, Martin Dubravka, Bruno Guimaraes and Kieran Trippier haven't returned as yet.

Lewis Miley, Sven Botman, Jamaal Lascelles, Callum Wilson and Matt Targett remain sidelined. 

Goals: Isak 32, J.Murphy 40.

HCFC: Pandur, Coyle (Fleming 65), Jones (Ashbee 89), McLoughlin (Smith 84), Jacob (Drameh 46), Slater, Simons (Furlong 89), Omur (Vaughan 84); Longman (S. Hall 89), Estupinan (Seri 62), Giles (Tinsdale 80).
Sub n/u: Foster.

Crowd: 13,670 including 4,500 away fans who
supplied a hearty rendition of "Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall" during a first half break in play. Both were quick to acknowledge that show of support following media speculation about the vacant England position.

Referee: Tom Nield - West Yorkshire-based official who has officiated in the EFL since 2017 and taken charge of Championship games during the last two seasons.

Eddie Howe said:

"I think it was a good game, a tough game for us. I think they are slightly ahead of us physically, very different team tactically to most you see....a lot of interesting things from them and it took us probably 10 minutes to get to grips with it.

"The attitude of the group was very good. Pre-season is always difficult as players don't want to get injured but want to impress. I thought the attitude was there, the collective mindset to defend and then some quality on the ball as well.

"First and foremost the attitudes were excellent. I think if you have a group that give you everything, hopefully we can have a great season.

On Jamie Miley:

"He has similar qualities to Lewis, his brother. I think he delivered a very good performance and should be very pleased with himself."

On Callum Wilson:

"Callum had an injection in his back. Without going into too much detail on the injury, I think it was a bulge in his disc which needed treatment so he had that operation and I think he may miss the start of the season. 

"But thankfully there are not too many games at the start - we’re week to week so hopefully he won’t miss too many.”

On recent speculation over his future: 

"It’s not about having a final say (on transfers). I’m not going to say anything different to what I said before: collaboration.

"We’ve had really positive talks and we’re trying to bring the right players for the football club. But it’s never about one person’s decision and neither should it be. 

"It’s about a group of people coming together and making the right decisions, all for the benefit of the football club.

"Towards the end of collating information, that’s when I’ll have my input. There’s a lot of work going on always through the year in terms of trying to bring players in.

"I have just been working every hour to make sure we are ready for next season. We are having discussions every day, several times a day to try to move the squad forward and make sure we are ready for what is a very tough Premier League season.

"But I can't give you false news, we are working towards that and everyone wants the same end point, let''s see what happens.

"We all want players in now, but it’s a very slow market, a difficult market. Prices are high. All we can do is do our best to bring players in.”

Stats: 

There was a first senior appearance for 17 year-old midfielder Anthony Munda.

Toon @ KCOM/MKM Stadium:

2024/25 won 2-0 Isak, J.Murphy FR
2018/19 drew 2-2 Joselu, Perez FR
2016/17 drew 1-1 Diame (lost 1-3 on pens) LC
2014/15 won 3-0 Cabella, Sa.Ameobi, Gouffran PL
2013/14 won 4-1 Sissoko 2, Remy, Anita PL
2008/09 drew 1-1 S.Taylor PL
2008/09 drew 0-0 FAC
2007/08 lost 0-1 FR
2003/04 won 4-0 Chopra 2, Sh.Ameobi, Cort FR

Jacob Murphy was the only one of the 20 Newcastle players who featured in 2018 and again in 2024.

2024/25:
Broadway strip show 

Eagle-eyed NUFC.com reader Neil Rutherford spotted the 2024/25 change strip - or the shirt anyway - already on sale in a sports shop near Times Square in NYC, USA.

2024/25:
Away tickets: no change 

Friday saw NUFC divulge the details of their recent away ticketing survey. The full document is online here but the main points are as follows:

No change to the loyalty point system, with points only applied to season ticket holder accounts once it has been confirmed that it was used to gain entry. 

Spot checks of ID to continue unchanged, with the manner in which they are conducted to be subject to review.

No change to the situation where away tickets can be transferred, but further consultation to take place over a possible limited change to that rule.

Premier League:
Home ticket details 

Details of ticket sale dates for Newcastle's opening three PL home games of the season are now available.

A reminder that ticket sales are restricted to members, but a limited sale on a first come, first served basis now follows the ballot.

Full details of that are online here

Southampton (h)
Ticket forward/resale: Mon 29.07.2024 @ 10am
Member sale opens: Tue 30.07.2024 @ 10am

Spurs (h)
Ballot open: Tue 30.07.2024 @ 10am
Ballot closes: Thu 01.08.2024 @ 10am
Ballot winners notified: by Thu 01.08.2024 @ 5pm
Ballot winners purchase open: Fri 02.08.2024 @ 10am
Ballot winners purchase closes: Sun 04.08.2024 @ 10am
Ticket forward/resale: Mon 05.08.2024 @ 10am
Member sale opens: Tue 06.08.2024 @ 10am

Manchester City (h)
Ballot open: Tue 27.08.2024 @ 10am
Ballot closes: Thu 29.08.2024 @ 10am
Ballot winners notified: by Thu 29.08.2024 @ 5pm
Ballot winners purchase open: Fri 30.08.2024 @ 10am
Ballot winners purchase closes: Sun 01.09.2024 @ 10am
Ticket forward/resale: Mon 02.09.2024 @ 10am
Member sale opens: Tue 03.09.2024 @ 10am

96 tears:
"Love It..." offer

Following a successful run there last year, "Love It If We Beat Them" returns to the Live Theatre on Newcastle Quayside from September 10th to the 28th.

Rob Ward's play mixes football and politics against a backdrop of Newcastle's fruitless pursuit of the 1995/96 Premiership title.

NUFC.com readers can buy tickets for just £19.96 by using promo code NUFC here. 

The discount also extends to personal callers at the box office but is only valid until the start of the PL season on August 17th. 

2024/25:
Spanish break for 
Toon youngsters 

While the search continues for new head coaches at both U18 and U21 level, Newcastle's academy and development squads are in Spain for a week-long training camp.

They are based in and around the Pinatar Arena in Murcia, a venue that the Magpies have used at both youth and senior level several times previously.

For anyone in the area, the Pinatar Arena website has an U18 friendly against a Sports Talent XI at 10.30am local time on Wednesday, open to spectators free of charge.

Update:
Tonali returns 

Wednesday saw Newcastle play a training game against Championship side Burnley behind closed doors at United's Darsley Park training ground.

Details are scarce (amid online claims of a 2-3 loss), but The Times confirm that Sandro Tonali featured for the Magpies - his first appearance since October 2023, when the midfielder began a ban for breaking betting regulations.

That suspension ends late next month but extends to include any non-competitive games registered with the FA, meaning that Tonali isn't able to feature in any of United's public pre-season friendlies.

Now managed by ex-Magpie Scott Parker, this is the third time in four years that Burnley have provided pre-season opposition in similar training games, having done so in both 2021 and 2022. 

Update:
Dawson departs 

Newcastle United Development Coach Ben Dawson has left the club with immediate effect to take up a first team coaching role at Leicester City.

His departure ends a decade-long association with the Magpies that included periods in charge of the U18 and U21 sides and a brief stint as interim first team boss ahead of the 2019/20 campaign.

Also moving to the Foxes from Crystal Palace is physio James Haycock, who was previously at Gallowgate. 

Dawson's departure leaves the Magpies with vacancies at both U18 and U21 Lead Coach level, following the departure of Graeme Carrick to join brother Michael at Boro earlier this summer.

2024/25:
Three stripes,
three goals
 
SpVgg Unterhaching  1  Newcastle  3

Match report

Brief match footage is online here

Incoming:
Miodrag is a Mag 

Newcastle have confirmed the signing of 19 year-old Serbian youth international Miodrag Pivas, some days after he was spotted outside St.James' Park.

The defensive midfielder joins from Serbians FK Jedinstvo for an undisclosed fee, having played 26 times in his debut season as they won promotion to the Super Liga. 

Internationals:
Happy ending for Hernes 

There was a fourth international start of the week for Newcastle midfielder Travis Hernes on Thursday, as Norway concluded their participation at the U19 European Championship finals in Northern Ireland.

The Norwegians missed out on a semi-final place after finishing third in their group, but have qualified for a playoff to determine who takes the fifth and final European place at next year's U20 World Cup in Chile. 

That took place at Seaview in Belfast against Turkey, with Travis in the starting XI and completing 80 minutes - coming off with Norway winning 1-0.

Within seconds the Turks had levelled, sending the tie to extra time. With no further scoring, a penalty shootout then saw Norway triumph to seal a World Cup spot.

 

Update:
Here are the 
young men

Update: there's news of an addition to the pro contract list below in the shape of teenage goalkeeper James Taylor, who featured for Hemel Hempstead Town last season.

Newcastle confirm that 11 players have signed their first professional contracts at Gallowgate:

Aidan Harris, Dylan Charlton, Anthony Munda, Harry Powell, Rory Powell, Johnny Emerson, Sean Neave, Scott Bailey, Josh Donaldson, Adam Harrison and Darren Palmer.

Meanwhile, an intake of 14 new scholars was announced by United's Academy:  

Will Anderson, Guy Bloomer, Jude Cogdon, Jake Durrant, Matheos Ferreira, Henry Johnson, Tyler Jones, Alex O’Donovan, Matt Taylor, Mo Waddani, Kacey Wooster, Kayden Lucas, Ezra Tika-Lemba and Aaron Epia. 

Three of those were previously with other clubs:

Kayden Lucas striker, Clevedon Town
Aaron Epia defender, Everton
Ezra Tika-Lemba defender, West Ham

Update:
Transfers

First team arrivals and departures:

Inbound:
Odysseas Vlachodimos Nottingham Forest
John Ruddy unattached
Lloyd Kelly unattached
Lewis Hall Chelsea 

Outbound:
Elliot Anderson Nottingham Forest
Yankuba Minteh Brighton
Paul Dummett unattached
Matt Ritchie unattached
Loris Karius unattached
Kell Watts unattached
Jeff Hendrick unattached  

Old boys:
Unlikely lads

SJP old boys with new clubs/jobs include:

Craig Bellamy Wales Manager
Kyle Cameron St.Johnstone (loan)
Adam Campbell Hartlepool United
Lewis Cass Grimsby Town
Ian Cathro Estoril (Portugal) Head Coach
Luke Charman Hartlepool United
Stephen Clemence Barrow Head Coach
Kyle Crossley South Shields
Mathieu Debuchy Lille (France) C
Ryan Donaldson Blyth Spartans
Cameron Ferguson Inverness CT (Scotland)
Owen Gallacher Stockton Town
Dan Gosling Westfield
Jamie Holmes North Shields
Jack Hunter Hartlepool United
Joselu Al-Gharafa (Qatar)
Dan Langley Morpeth Town
Michael Ndiweni Darlington (trial)
Michael Ndiweni Gateshead (trial)
Michael Newberry Cliftonville
Scott Parker Burnley Manager
Ben Pollock Chester
Allan Saint-Maximin Fenerbahce (Turkey)
Antoine Sibierski Troyes DoF (France)
Moussa Sissoko Watford
Dylan Stephenson Dagenham & Redbridge
Jude Smith Carlisle United
Lewis Suddick North Shields
Ben Tozer Forest Green Rovers
Dan Ward South Shields
Kell Watts Cambridge United
Callum Williams Tow Law Town

Ex-Magpies looking for new clubs include:

Mehdi Abeid Istanbul Basaksehir (Turkey)
Chris Basham Sheffield United
Ciaran Clark Stoke City
Shane Ferguson Rotherham United
Dwight Gayle Derby County
Paul Huntington Carlisle United
Kazenga LuaLua Charlton Athletic
Jonathan Mitchell Harrogate Town
Islam Slimani Anderlecht (Belgium)
Patrick van Aanholt Galatasaray (Turkey)
Josef Yarney Tranmere Rovers

Off-field departures include:

Habib Beye Red Star Paris (France)
Emre Ankaragucu (Turkey)
Steve Guppy Nashville SC (USA)
Ryan McGuffie St.Albans Saints (Australia)
Kevin Nolan West Ham