Saturday June 21st, 2025

    Last update 23:59 BST

      Your genial hosts: Niall and Biffa




Next Match

 

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Last Match

 

Newcastle 0
Everton 1
Premier League
St. James' Park
Sunday 25th May
Match report

The Never-Ending Tour

  Number of Newcastle
  games attended by
  NUFC.com in 2025/26:

0

 

alt

 

ST home Cup schemes x3 sign up by 27.06 @ 5pm
Celtic (a) SOLD OUT
Atletico Madrid (h) SOLD OUT (premium seats left)
Aston Villa (a) details awaited

Internationals:
England advance 

Tino Livramento (England U21s):
Sat 21.06.2025 Spain (n) won 3-1 ECF
With the Newcastle full back restored to the starting line-up, England ran out winners in Trnava. Livramento completed the full game while ex-Magpie Elliot Anderson rounded off the scoring with a late penalty conversion.

England's reward is a semi-final meeting with the Netherlands on Wednesday.

William Osula (Denmark U21s):
Sunday 22.06.2025 France (n) Presov ECF QF
Live coverage of the tie is on Channel 4 from 4.45pm.

The winners will face either Germany or Italy.

2025/26:
Extra home friendly 

Newcastle confirm that they will play an additional pre-season friendly fixture at St. James' Park, facing Spaniards Espanyol in a 7.30pm kick-off on Friday August 8th

That's the night before the sold-out visit of fellow La Liga side Atletico Madrid to Gallowgate - the fourth successive season that Eddie Howe's side have concluded their preparations with back to back home kickabouts.

Tickets go on sale at 10am on Tuesday, June 24th with no exclusive period for ST holders or members - it's open to everyone with a box office account at that time.

Cheapest adult tickets cost £20.

The two sides last met in a pre-season kickabout staged at Espanyol's former home at Montjuic Stadium in August 2000, the hosts running out 2-1 winners.

The Magpies did rather better against Espanyol in Spain during May 1960, securing a 5-2 victory at their previous Estadi de Sarria base.

2025/26:
Cup Schemes x 3:
sign up by Friday 

Sign-ups remain open for the three stand-alone home cup schemes available, allowing season ticket holders to guarantee entry to Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup fixtures at Gallowgate this coming season.

Enrolment must be complete by Friday  June 27th at 5pm. That is a hard deadline with no exceptions.

Anyone struggling to opt in can contact NUFC via
0344 372 1892 from 10am until 5pm every weekday, but the ticket office in the Milburn Stand will only be open for personal callers this coming Wednesday from 10am to 5pm.

For anyone who doesn't sign up, there's no guarantee of any seat for a home tie in that competition and their sales window will open alongside that of club members.

Pricing for the two domestic cup competitions is unchanged from 2024/25 at £35 & £30 for home FA Cup ties and £25 & £20 for Carabao Cup games at SJP.

FA Cup and Carabao Cup payments will be taken within seven days of a home game being confirmed.

Champions League tickets cost £70 & £60, increasing from our last entrance in 2023/24 when they were £60 & £55. 

Regardless of when United's Champions League home games are staged, payments will be taken for those tickets on the 1st day of July, August, September and October.

NUFC Cup Scheme announcement is
here

NUFC Cup Scheme enrolment guide is here

NUFC Cup Scheme FAQs are here

NUFC Cup Scheme Ts & Cs are here

2025/26:
Villa (a) 

Newcastle will begin their 2025/26 season against Aston Villa at Villa Park on Saturday August 16th, with kick-off confirmed as 12.30pm for live UK TV (TNT Sports).

The first Tyne-wear derby league fixtures since 2015/16 take United to the dark place on or around December 13th, with the return at SJP on or around March 21st - a game that would be rescheduled should Eddie Howe's side make it to Wembley to defend the Carabao Cup.  

The festive season will be played away from Tyneside, with successive trips to Manchester United and Burnley - note that the only "blackout" day announced by the PL is December 24th, meaning that fixtures are liable to be rescheduled to both December 26th and January 1st. 

There's a Wednesday night London game against Spurs in February, but a further trio of midweek home fixtures.

Two Saturday home games are set to be pushed back to Sundays as a result of European scheduling: the visit of Nottingham Forest to SJP in October moving to Sunday 5th assuming that the visitors have progressed through their Conference playoff and are in action on Thursday 2nd.

Similarly, the home game against Aston Villa in January should move to Sunday 25th as the Villans will be in Europa League action the previous Thursday.

There's no clash with PL games on any FA Cup round weekend until the semi-finals, with the Quarter Finals on or around Saturday April 4th, which is the Easter weekend. 

That follows an international break, meaning that there's a guaranteed 19 day period with no PL games as it stands.

The final home game against West Ham is scheduled on Sunday May 17th along with the rest of the PL games that weekend. Saturday May 16th is clear for the FA Cup Final. 

The closing game of the season then takes the Magpies to Fulham on Sunday May 24th, Craven Cottage also the venue for our 38th and final PL game in 2019 and 2021.

United's visit to Everton is scheduled for the final weekend of November, with the Hill Dickinson Stadium the 61st venue to have staged a PL fixture involving the Magpies.

This will be the first time since 2020/21 that Newcastle have begun and ended a season away from home.

fixture list

The return of Burnley, Leeds United and the mackems at the expense of
Southampton, Ipswich Town and Leicester City means that Newcastle's seasonal away mileage will reduce by a whopping 1,300* miles from 9,462 to 8,162. 

* subject to slight alteration, depending on which daft route the Toon bus convoy takes to wearside....

RGR:
Road runner 

The man known as Run Geordie Run is now in the state of Kansas, as he continues his charity trek across the USA from New York to California.

Donations are now heading towards £22,000 with every penny raised supporting the work of St.Benedicts Hospice. 

If you can help, please do so online here  

Find the RGR blog here  

Old boys:
The departed 

Former Magpie Andy Carroll has announced his departure from Bordeaux, after spending one season with the club who were demoted to the fourth tier of French football due to financial issues.

It's unclear whether the 36 year-old will extend his playing career elsewhere, but in a statement confirming the exit, Bordeaux say Carroll is returning to England in order to be closer to his children. 

Also heading for pastures new is Steven Taylor, who is standing down as Coach of UAE-based Al Qabila despite leading the club to promotion last season.

Internationals:
U19 Euro update 

Antonio Cordero (Spain U19s):
Thu 19.06.2025 Montenegro (n) won 5-0 ECF
Spain's perfect start to defending their European Championship title continued with a third win in as many Group A ties.

Cordero was rested and appeared from the bench with 83 minutes played in Ploiesti and the scoring having ended.

Next up is a semi-final meeting on Monday against Germany - Netherlands and hosts Romania clash in the other tie. 


U21s:
Mariners again 

In a repeat of their 2024/25 pre-season meeting, Newcastle U21s will travel to South Shields for a friendly fixture on Sunday August 3rd. Kick-off is at 3pm.

Before that public fixture, the second string host Hull City U21s behind closed doors on Saturday July 26th (1pm).

Competition:
Fanzine giveaway

Available online now is the latest issue of Seen.By. a softback photography fanzine that covers regional topics captured by a loose collective of photographers.

Issue 2 documents the events of March 2025, when Newcastle's eternal quest to win silverware ended in memorable style against Liverpool at Wembley.

Photos of that day from Wembley, Covent Garden and Tyneside are joined in the 84 pages by other memorable shots from the open top bus parade and celebrations.

Limited to 250 copies, the fanzine costs £10 plus £3.70 postage (overseas postage rates available on request) and can be purchased online
here

We have copies of the books to give away and to be in with a chance of winning, send your answer to the following question via email to [email protected] by 9pm on Monday June 23rd. Subject line of Photos


Eddie Howe became the first English-born Manager to guide a side to League Cup glory since 2004, when Middlesbrough had won that trophy. Who was the Boro boss that day? 

No age limit, open to anyone on the planet. Delivery only to UK addresses. One entry each please per person.

2025/26:
Teen trio commit 

Newcastle have agreed contract extensions with three 18 year-old players on the verge of the senior squad.

Full back Leo Shahar, winger Trevan Sanusi and forward Sean Neave have all put pen to paper on new deals of unspecified duration.

First professional contracts have been awarded to forward Joe Brayson and defensive duo Logan Watts and Luke Craggs, who are all 18 or reach that age imminently.

Elsewhere in the Academy, Sam Alabi, Michael Mills and Sam Pinnington have accepted scholarships and Thomas Bryant's scholarship is extended into a third year.

Update:
Coach departure 

Newcastle confirmed on Monday that U21 lead coach Diarmuid O’Carroll had left Gallowgate in order to join the senior team coaching staff at Czechs Sparta Prague.

O'Carroll moved from his post as St. Mirren assistant manager in September 2024 to join the Magpies, combining that role with coaching the Northern Ireland national team.

The U21 lead coach role became vacant in July 2024 when Ben Dawson left to join Leicester City, Neil Winskill and Jack Ross taking interim charge until O'Carroll's appointment.


Old boy:
AA joins Tynesiders 

National League side Gateshead confirm that former Magpie Alun Armstrong has become their new manager.

The 50 year-old came through the ranks at Gallowgate but left without making a senior competitive debut, appearing for the likes of Stockport County, Boro and Ipswich Town during his playing career.

Previously taking charge of Blyth Spartans and Darlington, Alan has been out of management since leaving the latter back in September 2023. More recently he became head of Elite and Performance Football at Gateshead College. 

2025/26:
Korea
confirmation

Following last months announcement that Newcastle will play two pre-season games in South Korea, belated confirmation of the dates and venues has now appeared.

Eddie Howe's side will take place in the Coupang Play Series against a local XI and fellow Premier League side Spurs.

The meeting with Team K League will take place on Wednesday July 30th (8pm local time) at the 42,000 capacity Suwon World Cup Stadium (above).

That will be followed by a kickabout against Spurs on Sunday August 3rd (8pm local time) at the 65,000 capacity Seoul World Cup Stadium (above).

The two venues are around 25 miles from each other.

From NUFC: 

Tickets for fans based in South Korea will be available during pre-sale and general sale windows, with pre-sale exclusively available to Coupang Play Sports Pass subscribers.

Team K League: 
Pre-sale 25.06.2025 (8pm), general sale 27.06.2025 (8pm)

Spurs: 
Pre-sale 26.06.2025 (8pm), general sale 04.07.2025 (8pm)

Tickets will be exclusively available via Coupang Play.

Tickets for fans travelling to South Korea will be initially available to ST Holders and Mags Members from 10am on 30.06.2025. General sale is from 10am on 07.07.2025.

United's pre-season schedule now extends to six matches as follows, which are predicted to follow a behind closed doors friendly and a training camp in Austria.

Sat 19.07.2025 Celtic (Scotland) (a)
Sun 27.07.2025 Arsenal (n) in Singapore
Wed 30.07.2025 Team K League (South Korea) (a)
Sun 03.08.2025 Spurs (n) in South Korea
Fri 08.08.2025 Espanyol (h) (Spain) (h)
Sat 09.08.2025 Atletico Madrid (Spain) (h)

Update:
Bill of rights

Marking a century since a rule change by football's ruling body inspired by his cunning, The Athletic reflect on the genius of Newcastle United's Bill McCracken here

PS: A detailed biography of McCracken has been written by NUFC club historian Paul Joannou and is due for publication in September 2025.

Update:
FAB minutes

Minutes from the most recent FAB (Fan Advisory Board) meeting at SJP are now available online
here

Amongst the usual range of topics covered was the following update regarding 2025/26 kit releases:

"Third kit to launch in early July and Away shirt launch planned to be on pre-season tour in Asia during July or August."

Old boys:
Comings & goings 

SJP old boys with new clubs/jobs include:

Tom Allan Darlington
Kieran Aplin
Whitley Bay
Alun Armstrong
Gateshead M
Jean-Alain Boumsong
Auxerre C
Mark Boyd Carlisle City AM
Lewis Cass Harrogate Town
Stan Flaherty Hampton & Richmond
Lloyd Kelly Juventus
Oisin McEntee Hearts
John Robertson Ross County AM

Free agents leaving SJP:

Josh Donaldson
James Huntley
Jamal Lewis
Lloyd Kelly
Harry Powell
Rory Powell
John Ruddy
(possibility of new terms)
Ellis Stanton
Jay Turner-Cooke

Callum Wilson (possibility of new terms)

Former Magpies leaving their clubs include:

Tom Allan Gateshead
Graeme Carrick Boro C
Andy Carroll
Bordeaux
Lewis Cass
Grimsby Town
Nicky Deverdics
Blyth Spartans
Paul Dummett
Carlisle United
Stan Flaherty Kingstonian
Fraser Forster
Spurs
Dwight Gayle
Hibernian (retired) 
Jeff Hendrick Derby County
JJ Hooper Blyth Spartans
Tim Krul Luton Town
Oisin McEntee
Walsall
Greg Olley
Gateshead
Jonjo Shelvey
Burnley
Steven Taylor Al Qabila
Ben Tozer Forest Green Rovers (retired)
Jonathan Woodgate
Boro C
Freddie Woodman
Preston North End

 







Privacy policy

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Tickets/Fixtures
Season 2025/26


NUFC ticketing website online here

NUFC Box Office opening times: 

0344 372 1892 line manned:
Monday to Friday: 10am to 5pm
Home games: 10am to 30 minutes from KO
Away games: Three hours from KO to KO


Milburn Stand Box Office manned:
Wednesdays only: 10am to 5pm
Home games: 10am to half time


Future STs:
No additional sale, none planned, no waiting list in operation.

2025/26 ST prices online here

2025/26 ST home cup scheme: 
closing date Fri 27.06.2025 @ 5pm

ST home cup scheme pricing: 
CL: £60 & £70
FA
: £30 & £35
CC:
£20 & £25

2025/26 Memberships
- ££ unchanged.


SJP seating plan
online here  

Away ticket transfers are possible between 72 hours and five hours before kick-off (times can occasionally vary).

Home ticket transfers are possible between three weeks and one hour before kick-off. 

More info online here

Away tickets:
The PL-wide £30 away ticket price cap for adults will apply in 2025/26.

All
2025/26 Champions League away ticket prices will be pegged at €50.

Away ticket FAQ is online here

2025/26 season Magpie Movers are now on sale via NUFC for £25 (no concessions).

For the first time, they are open to Mags+ members in addition to ST holders. NUFC press release is online
here


Fri 27.06.2025 Cup Schemes (h)
ST holder sign-up closes @ 5pm.


Sat 19.07.2025 Celtic (Scotland) (a)
@ Parkhead, 3pm. Friendly. SOLD OUT. Allocation: 7,200 (paper tickets).

Sat 26.07.2025 U21s v Hull City (h) @ venue tbc, 1pm. Friendly.
Behind Closed Doors.

Sun 27.07.2025 Arsenal (n) @ National Stadium, Singapore, 7.30pm local time. Friendly.
Tickets available online here

Wed 30.07.2025 Team K League (South Korea) (a) @ Suwon World Cup Stadium, South Korea, 8pm local time. Friendly. ST holder sale Mon 30.06.2025 10am, public sale Mon 07.07.2025, 10am.

Sun 03.08.2025 Spurs (n) @ Seoul World Cup Stadium, South Korea. 8pm local time. Friendly. ST holder sale Mon 30.06.2025 10am, public sale Mon 07.07.2025, 10am.

Sun 03.08.2025 U21s v South Shields (a) @ First Cloud Arena, 3pm. Friendly.

Fri 08.08.2025 RCD Espanyol (Spain) (h) @ SJP, 7.30pm. Friendly. Public sale Tue 24.06.2025 @ 10am (no exclusive sales period for ST holders or members).

Sat 09.08.2025 Atletico Madrid (Spain) (h)
@ SJP, 4pm. Friendly. SOLD OUT (Premium tickets still available).

Sat 16.08.2025
Aston Villa (a) @ Villa Park, 12.30pm. Premier League. Live on TNT Sports. Ticket sale details tbc. 

Thu 28.08.2025 CL League stage draw.

Mon 01.09.2025 Transfer window closes.

Sun 24.05.2026 PL ends. 

NUFC live on TV:
Sat 16.08.2025 Villa (a) 12.30pm TNT

CL League stage match dates:

1: Tue 16.09/Wed 17.09/Thu 18.09.2025
2: Tue 30.09/Wed 01.10.2025
3: Tue 21.10/Wed 22.10.2025
4: Tue 04.11/Wed 05.11.2025
5: Tue 25.11/Wed 26.11.2025
6: Tue 09.12/Wed 10.12.2025
7: Tue 20.01/Wed 21.01.2026
8: Wed 28.01.2026

NORD VPN products protect and secure
your online activity.
Click here for fast
and secure sport streaming guidance.

Live TV release dates:  

Aug by Wed 09.07.2025
Sep by Wed 09.07.2025
Oct by Wed 20.08.2025
Nov by Wed 17.09.2025
Dec by Wed 15.10.2025
Jan by Wed 15.10.2025
Feb by Wed 17.12.2025
Mar by Wed 21.01.2026
Apr by Wed 04.03.2026
MW35 by Wed 25.03.2026
MW36 by Wed 01.04.2026
MW37 by Wed 08.04.2026
MW38 after Sun 17.05.2026

(The only PL games not televised live in the UK during 2025/26 will be 3pm Saturday KOs. All games rescheduled to Sunday due to European commitments will be shown). 

Carabao Cup:
(NUFC enter in Round 3: draw takes place on or around Wed 27.08.2025). 

R3:
w/c Mon 15.09.2025 / 22.09.2025*
R4: w/c Mon 27.10.2025
QF: w/c Mon 15.12.2025
SF1: w/c Mon 12.01.2026
SF2: w/c Mon 02.02.2026
F: Sun 22.03.2026

* NUFC tie will be played in w/c 22.09

FA Cup: 

(NUFC enter in Round 3: draw takes place on or around Sun 07.12.2025).

R3: Sat 10.01.2026
R4: Sat 14.02.2026
R5: Sat 07.03.2026
QF: Sat 04.04.2026
SF: Sat 25.04.2026
F: Sat 16.05.2026

EFL Trophy (Vertu Trophy):
Group Stage draw 26.06.2025
Matchday One: w/c Mon 01.09.2025
Other dates tbc

Premier League International Cup:

Details tbc

U
19 Youth League:
League fixtures replicate the first six in the CL (not eight). The competition then moves to a knockout phase from the last 32. 

FA Youth Cup:
NUFC U18s enter in Round 3, ties be played on or before Sat 13.12.2025.

Sat 09.08.2025 NUWFC v Atletico Madrid Femenino (Spain), 1pm. Friendly.

Euro 2028 - date(s) awaited.

Winter transfer window:

Thu 01.01.2026-Mon 02.02.2026 @ tbc

International Magpies
National Service

2025/26
International breaks:

01.09-09.09.2025
06.10-14.10.2025
10.11-18.11.2025
21.12-18.01.2026 AFCON
23.03-31.03.2026

11.06.2026-19.07.2026 World Cup

 
Coxy's Corner

Whoops, He did it Again...


What's this all about then?
Click here  
for a rambling explanation of sorts....
 

On This Day in History
21st June


Born Or Died:

1920 Denis Ronald Lewin born, Edmonton (1966-68 coach),(1974-76 coach)

Beginning his playing career with Enfield as a defender, Ron served as a paratrooper during World War II and guested for Bradford City, Stockport County in war games.

Signing for Fulham in 1946, Lewin moved on to Gillingham two years later and also gained FA coaching certification before ending his playing career at Chatham Town.

Heading overseas in 1956 to coach for the Norwegian FA, Ron returned to England two years later and managed Southern League sides Cheltenham Town and Wellington.

Following a further stint in Norway with Skeid, Lewin was appointed youth coach at Everton in 1962 and guided the Goodison youngsters to FA Youth Cup success.

August 1966 saw him arrive on Tyneside to replace Magpies trainer Jimmy Greenhalgh when he took over as Darlington boss.

Known as a strict disciplinarian, Ron served United for two seasons before accepting the position of Walsall Manager.

Sacked by the Saddlers in February 1969, a brief move to Greece was followed by a coaching role at Bradford Park Avenue, just before losing their Football League status.

With both of his daughters settled in the North East, Ron coached Wearside side Washington briefly before heading overseas to fill posts in both India and Kuwait.

By 1974 he was living in Cramlington and back at Gallowgate as reserve team boss - a bout of tonsilitis for first team coach Keith Burkinshaw seeing Ron deputise for a League Cup victory at QPR three months later.

Sacked by Gordon Lee in July 1976, Lewin later coached in Kuwait and Iceland before taking charge of Brandon United for a time.

What proved to be his final job in the game was as the Youth Development Officer for Gateshead, but a lack of funds forced him to relocate to Cumbria in December 1984.

Living near Cockermouth, Ron sadly died following a heart attack in September 1985.

1936 Alan Kirkman
born, Bolton. (1963)  

Just a four month stay on Tyneside for this striker signed from Rotherham United for £12,300 as a replacement for the injured Willie Penman.

Kirkman began his professional career with Manchester City, who spotted him playing for Lancashire Combination side Bacup Borough and signed him in 1955.

Moving on to Rotherham in 1959, Alan went on to score 58 goals in 144 games for the Millers - including 21 from 39 in 1961-62.
 
His Magpies debut came in a 2-0 midweek defeat at Southampton in September 1963, with the only first team goal of his United career in a 2-4 home loss to Preston North End the following Saturday. 

Alan's fifth and final appearance came in another home loss - this time at the hands of Northampton Town - before a knee problem sidelined him.

A £10,000 switch then saw join Scunthorpe in late 1963, although his Iron debut was memorable for the wrong reasons, former side Manchester City running out 8-1 winners in a Boxing Day game. 

Later converted to a defensive midfielder, Alan played for both Torquay United and Workington Town and had occasional games at centre half for the latter.

Moving into the non-league with Netherfield in 1968, Alan lived in his hometown of Bolton and later turned out for Rossendale United, taking over as their manager after a broken leg ended his playing days in 1972.

Later managing Leigh RMI, Alan worked for a haulage company in Lancashire. His death was confirmed in January 2011.

1964 Dean Saunders born, Swansea.
(2004-06)
 

As a player, Saunders made over 600 appearances and scored almost 200 goals for Swansea City, Cardiff City, Brighton and Hove Albion, Oxford United, Derby County, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Galatasaray, Nottingham Forest, Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United, Benfica and Bradford City.

After hanging up his boots in 2001, the Welsh international striker teamed up with his former Anfield and Galatasaray boss Graeme Souness, who by then was the Blackburn Rovers manager.

Following Souness to SJP in 2004, Saunders was initially employed as a striker coach but soon became assistant manager.
 
September 2005 saw him make his sole appearance in a Newcastle shirt - as a late substitute in a meaningless 0-2 friendly loss at Spanish side Malaga
.

Leaving Tyneside in 2006 when Souness was sacked, Saunders took up a coaching role with Wales before accepting the job of Wrexham manager in October 2008.

He left Wrexham to take over at Doncaster Rovers in September 2011 but after some initial optimism, Saunders couldn't prevent Rovers being relegated to League One.

Several big name players controversially arrived at the Keepmoat to use the club as a "shop window", instigated by agent Willie McKay, but the experiment proved to be a dismal failure. 

Saunders was then poached by Wolves in January 2013 but left Molineux at the end of that season having spectacularly failed to keep the club in the Championship.

Turning up at Crawley Town following the appointment on John Gregory, Dean took over in an interim capacity when illness forced Gregory to stand down.

2015 then found him appointed as the new manager of Chesterfield but by November he had been relieved of his duties.

Saunders was in the news during 2019 after admitting a charge of drink-driving.

Telling the magistrate that his job as a football pundit left him with no time to do community service, he was promptly handed a 10 month custodial sentence.

However, after serving just one day he was released on appeal, later agreeing to complete 200 hours of community service.

1981 An Qi born, Dalian, China.
(2002)

Goalkeeper who joined United on trial briefly in December 2002, a by-product of the club's short-lived "North East - Far East" affiliation with Chinese side Dalian Shide.

However, the Chinese international who had been an unused substitute during the 2002 World Cup Finals failed to impress and was soon on his way back home.

Before joining Dalian, Qi had appeared for Guangzhou Songri and subsequently served fellow Chinese sides Dalian Changbo, Xiamen Lanshi & Changchun Yatai.

Believed to be the shortest-named player ever to have been associated with us, we couldn't resist reporting his arrival at SJP with the headline, "An Qi in the UK"....

1986 Cheick Ismael Tiote born, Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast. (2010-17)

The incredibly sad news of Cheick's death was confirmed on Monday 5th June 2017, with the midfielder collapsing while training with Beijing Enterprises in China and subsequently passing away, aged just 30.

The Ivory Coast international
arrived in August 2010 from
Dutch Champions, FC Twente, the £3.5m fee the largest while Chris Hughton was in charge.

Cheick had impressed in three appearances for the Ivory Coast during the World Cup Finals in South Africa just weeks before and both Hughton and chief scout Graham Carr later claimed credit for spotting him.

Beginning his career with minor league side FC Bibo in his native Yamoussoukro, Cheik joined Belgian side Anderlecht in 2005.

A loan deal took him to Roda JC for the 2007/08 season, after which he remained in the Netherlands with a permanent move to FC Twente in July 2008.

Capped by the Ivory Coast at U23 level, Cheick then won his first senior cap in June 2009 in a friendly against Cameroon.

Named as an unused sub for Newcastle's home loss to Blackpool, Cheick's first outing came at Everton when he completed a flawless 90 minutes "looking instantly at ease in a central midfield anchor role and never wasting a ball" as we commented.

That was the first of 26 league appearances in a memorable first season, capped by an incredible long-distance effort to cap the comeback from 0-4 to 4-4 against Arsenal at the Gallowgate End - his only Toon goal.

A new six year deal followed and three seasons as a regular starter until 2014/15, when he was sidelined with a foot injury aggravated while on Nations Cup duty.

Used sporadically by Steve McClaren, the installation of Rafa Benitez saw Cheick back in the fold: starting the final six Premier League games and remaining in situ despite interest from overseas clubs.

A Championship debut came from the bench during a 1-1 draw at Aston Villa in September 2016,
with starts against Birmingham City two FA Cup ties the following January.

Seeming set to join Sporting Gijon in Spain, continued rumours of interest from China eventually brought an offer from Beijing Enterprises Group and he was confirmed as their player in early February 2017.

The earlier part of Tiote's time in Toon was memorable for the right reasons, but the balance between competitiveness and foul play wasn't always achieved, disciplinary issues not aided by poor officiating.

Removing that element of his game also reduced his effectiveness though - and probably ensured that he remained at the club instead of following the "develop and sell" blueprint then in place at SJP. 

A suspended prison sentence and a driving ban also came his way following a conviction in 2013 for using a fake ID to gain a UK driving licence (Tiote admitted paying out €15K to get a fake Belgian licence).   

Returning to his unexpected loss in 2017, a horde of former team mates paid tribute while Papiss Cisse attended his funeral - players and fans alike unable to comprehend the passing of someone who had worn a black and white shirt months earlier.

Cheick's epitaph will remain that Arsenal
rocket, but an equally wonderful strike was wrongly chalked off during a home game against Manchester City in 2014 - a rare occasion that ironic "shoot" shouts from the SJP crowd inspired him to hit the target.


 

What Else?

1952 East Transvaal (a)
2-0
(0-0)
Friendly 
Mitchell, Brennan 
13,000
Game ten of United's 16-date tour of Southern Africa took them to Willowmoore Park in Benoni, near Johannesburg.

1982
David McCreery was in the Northern Ireland side held 1-1 by Honduras in a World Cup Final tie staged in Zaragoza.

At the time he was contracted to NASL side Tulsa Roughnecks but within months was a Magpie. 

1990 England's third World Cup Final group stage game saw Bobby Robson's side beat Egypt 1-0 in Cagliari.

Former/future Magpies Stuart Pearce, Chris Waddle, John Barnes and Paul Gascoigne were all in the starting XI, with Peter Beardsley utilise as a late substitute - and booked within a minute of arriving.

1995 Conflicting stories over the abortive transfer of Crystal Palace winger John Salako. He had allegedly agreed to join United before releasing a statement that Newcastle "was too far North". 

Other sources however claimed United had pulled out of the deal over medical concerns that an old leg injury hadn't healed fully. He eventually signed for Coventry City and made his debut for them at...St.James' Park.

2001 Three players seemed to be on their way to SJP: Barcelona's Boudewijn Zenden, Bolton's Robbie Elliott and QPR's Paul Murray. 

In the event, only Gosforth's Roberto Carlos made a return to Tyneside.

2002 A 1-2 loss to Brazil saw England exit the World Cup at the Quarter-Final stage. Kieron Dyer was a late substitute, while future Magpie Michael Owen scored.

United meanwhile confirmed the £8.5m capture of Sporting Lisbon midfielder Hugo Viana.

2004 Future Magpie Jean-Alain Boumsong made the briefest of substitute appearances for France at the Euro 2004 tournament.

92 minutes were on the clock as he took to the field in Coimbra, as his side recorded a 3-1 win over Switzerland. It proved to be his only appearance of the tournament.

2005 Almost four years to the day that he signed from Coventry City, United's Craig Bellamy looked set to join Everton after allegedly rejecting Aston Villa, Birmingham City and Blackburn Rovers. 

The lure of reuniting with former international boss Mark Hughes ultimately saw the Welsh striker opt instead for Ewood Park.

2006 The day after crawling off after just a minute of England's World Cup game against Sweden in Cologne, scans confirmed United's Michael Owen had sustained a cruciate knee injury.

That was to sideline him until the final weeks of the following season, following repair work by US-based surgeon Richard Steadman.

2020 Sheffield United (h)
3-0
(0-0)
Premier League
P30,38pts,13th/20
Saint-Maximin(55),
Ritchie(69), Joelinton(78)
BCD
Newcastle returned to action after an enforced 15 week break due to COVID, playing their first league game in June since 1947.

The down time seemed to have benefited the hosts, who racked up their biggest victory of the season in front of an empty SJP.

Taking advantage of a temporary rule change, The Magpies used five substitutes for the first time in a competitive fixture.
NUFC.com match report

2022 Various media claims circulated that Newcastle were close to a deal for Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope. 

The 30 year-old England international was in the final year of his Turf Moor deal and unwilling to drop into the Championship.

2023 United were close to securing Italian international midfielder Sandro Tonali from AC Milan, Technical Director Dan Ashworth in Milan for final talks.

2024 Disaster in Dusseldorf for Martin Dubravka, who conceded twice after Slovakia held a 1-0 advantage at half time to lose 1-2 to Ukraine in their second Group A game in Euro 2024.