Monday to Friday: between 10am and 5pm.
Home matchdays: 10am until 30 minutes before kick-off.
Away matchdays: Three hours before kick off until kick off.

Mark Allison aka Run Geordie Run has now reached Illinois, the seventh different state that he's run through on his 3,200 mile charity route from New York to California.

Mark is raising funds for St.Benedicts Hospice and his total for this challenge stands at £18K. That means over £360K has gone to worthy causes as a result of his charity efforts - a decent chunk coming from NUFC.com readers.

If you can contribute, please do so online here  

Links to the various RGR online outlets appear here  

Old boys:
Comings & goings 

Former Newcastle defender Jean-Alain Boumsong has returned to one of his former clubs, rejoining Auxerre as defensive coach.

Now 45, the former French international centre half played for the Ligue 1 side between 2000 and 2004, ending up on Tyneside a year later following a stint at Rangers.

Fellow SJP old boy Steven Taylor meanwhile has guided UAE side Al-Qaliba to promotion in their maiden season - a goal from a certain Papiss Cisse earning a 1-1 draw and a place in next season's Second Division.   

Ex-Magpies leaving their clubs include:

Paul Dummett Carlisle United
Fraser Forster Spurs
Dwight Gayle Hibernian (retired) 
Jeff Hendrick Derby County
Tim Krul Luton Town
Oisin McEntee Walsall
James Milner Brighton & Hove Albion
Greg Olley Gateshead
Jonjo Shelvey Burnley
Freddie Woodman Preston North End

Update:
Howe award confirmed

Wednesday saw City councillors approve the motion awarding Eddie Howe the Honorary Freedom of the City of Newcastle, in recognition of winning the Carabao Cup. 

Howe is the latest Magpie-related addition to the list of those afforded this honour, which now consists of:

2025 Eddie Howe
2022 Shaka Hislop
2017 Freddy Shepherd (Chairman)
2017 Bruce Shepherd (Director)
2005 Bobby Robson
2000 Alan Shearer 
1993 NUFC*
1980 Jackie Milburn
1966 William McKeag (Chairman)
1909 William Sanderson (Director)

* the club itself was collectively honoured, "in recognition of over 100 years' sporting achievement in the Football League and FA Cup and European competitions and of the Club's contribution to the reputation of the City and its place in the hearts of Geordies everywhere."

PS: It was Dan Burn's turn on Friday, receiving the Freedom of Northumberland in a ceremony at County Hall in Morpeth.

That gives the England international defender access to benefits including a guaranteed parking space in Bamburgh, sea coal collection rights at Lynemouth and queue jumper status at Delaval Ices. Allegedly. 

Update:
Mitchell bombshell

From NUFC, Tuesday:

Paul Mitchell, Newcastle United’s Sporting Director, will leave the club by mutual consent at the end of June 2025.

Paul joined the club in July 2024, reuniting him with Magpies CEO Darren Eales, who had previously recruited Paul to Tottenham Hotspur in 2014.

Due to health reasons, Darren will be stepping down as CEO in the near future.

During Paul’s tenure as Sporting Director, the club won its first major domestic trophy in 70 years by lifting the Carabao Cup in March 2025 and has secured Champions League football for the 2025/26 campaign.

Paul Mitchell said: "I'd like to thank everyone at Newcastle United for their support over the last year, including Eddie Howe, Becky Langley, the players, staff, owners and fans. It has been an honour to be part of the club and to work with some incredible people.

"I'm leaving at a time that is right for me and the club, particularly with Darren Eales - someone who I have worked so closely with in my career - moving on soon.

"The club is in great hands on and off the pitch, and is in a fantastic position to continue building.

"I'd like to wish everyone connected with Newcastle United a bright and successful future."

Paul leaves with the club’s best wishes and the Board would like to express its sincere thanks to him for his professionalism and diligent service.

This unexpected development looks to have caught the media on the hop, following reports that Eddie Howe was meeting Mitchell to discuss transfers on Sunday night. Both men had earlier featured in the post-game celebrations.

There seemed to be an assumption that the pair had developed a working relationship since an apparent power struggle following Mitchell's installation last July. That version of events now seems flawed. 

Mitchell departs having failed to oversee any meaningful acquisitions since belatedly succeeding Dan Ashworth and speculation over the next Sporting Director has already included current Head of recruitment Steve Nickson. 

The 60 year-old who has been at United for over a decade was linked with the post following Ashworth's departure, but remained at SJP to work under Mitchell in a diluted role. Messrs Tonali, Isak, Gordon, Joelinton, Bruno and Botman were all recruited under his guidance. 

Andy Howe remains in post at United as assistant head of first team recruitment, assuming that role in February 2024 after two years in a scouting position. He's Eddie's nephew.

There's no confirmation as yet whether club Performance Director James Bunce will remain in post, having previously worked alongside Mitchell at Southampton and Monaco.

2025/26:
Korea opportunities

From NUFC, Tuesday:

Our men's team will play matches in South Korea for the first time in the club's history this summer. 

Ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, we will take part in the prestigious Coupang Play Series 2025, one of Asia's biggest summer sporting events.

Eddie Howe's men will head to South Korea for two highly anticipated games where we will face a K-League Select XI, followed by an all-Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur.

Venues and fixture dates are set to be announced in coming weeks, along with ticket details for fans in South Korea as well as those wishing to travel to support us.

This will be the fourth staging of the annual Coupang Play event, with four of the six games to date played at the 65,000 capacity World Cup Stadium in Seoul (pictured above), including both 2024 fixtures.

The football-asian.com website claims United's game against the K-League XI will be played at the 42,000 capacity Suwon World Cup Stadium near Seoul. 

United's pre-season itinerary is shaping up as follows:

Sat 19.07.2025 Celtic (a)
Sun 27.07.2025 Arsenal (n) Singapore
??? ??.??.2025 K League XI (a) South Korea
??? ??.??.2025 Spurs (n) South Korea

Premier League:
United effort confirms
Champions League spot

Newcastle  0  Everton  1

Match action

2025/26:
Champions League dates