ST home Cup schemes x3 end Fri 27.06 @ 5pm
Celtic (a) ST holder sale now: 3 or 4 points only
Espanyol (h) Public sale now
Atletico Madrid (h) SOLD OUT
Aston Villa (a) details awaited

Latest:
Targets not acquired 

Did you hear the one about the Englishman, the Swede and the Brazilian? 

There isn't a punchline - yet - only news from The Times on Thursday night that Newcastle's initial transfer bids for James Trafford, Anthony Elanga and Joao Pedro had all come up short.

Offers of £25m for Burnley's goalkeeper, £45m for Nottingham Forest's winger and £50m for Brighton's forward were all rebuffed by their current clubs this week - amid uncertainty over whether increased bids will now be forthcoming.

The Times predict that improved offers for Trafford and Pedro are pending but is less certain whether Newcastle's focus will now switch from Elanga to other claimed targets.

Interest from Gallowgate in those three players is nothing new; Trafford and Elanga unsuccessfully targeted a year ago and Pedro tracked whilst at Watford back in 2022. 

2025/26:
Third kit "leaked" 

Photos of Newcastle's 2025/26 third shirt have now appeared on Adidas retail websites, although they cannot be ordered yet. Release date is listed as early July.

2025/26:
Celtic (a) more tickets 

Following a low take-up from home fans, Newcastle have now received an undisclosed additional number* of tickets for next month's pre-season visit to Celtic.

These are now on sale to season ticket holders, with the loyalty point threshold restarting at 4 points - which is the level the original sale reached when the original allocation of tickets sold out.

ST holders with 3 points can also purchase now, with the threshold reducing to 2 points on Friday at 2pm, subject to availability.

NB: It looks as if anyone with more than 4 points who didn't buy a ticket previously when they could have done isn't able to now purchase one.

* Celtic's own publicity this week mentioned that 7,900 Toon fans would be attending - the original allocation was meant to be 7,200; whether that means that an extra 700 places have now gone on sale is tbc.

Internationals:
No glory for Toon teen   

Reigning U19 champions Spain failed to defend their U19 European Championship title on Thursday, beaten 0-1 by the Netherlands in the final staged in Bucharest.

Recent Newcastle acquisition Antonio Cordero retained his place in Spain's starting line-up and came close to breaking the deadlock when firing against a post from distance six minutes into the second half.

What proved to be the only goal of the tie came shortly after, with the last touch coming off the Spanish goalkeeper. Cordero was then replaced after 77 minutes.

Compo:
Hat giveaway

The latest addition to the range of Toon-themed bucket hats by Football Bobbles is this Lee model, inspired by United's distinctive 1997/98 change kit.

These are available to purchase here now and there's a special offer for NUFC.com readers of a half-price Kelly bucket hat with orders of the Lee bucket only.

To take advantage of that, add a Lee bucket hat to the online shopping basket and use promo code NUFC.com - that will prompt a Kelly hat to add at checkout. 

We have a Lee bucket hat up for grabs in a free-to-enter competition and to stand a chance of winning it, require you to answer the following question:

A Wembley goalscorer for his previous club, this England U21 international midfielder made a scoring debut for Newcastle in the 1997/98 season but failed to establish himself and moved to Sheffield United on loan. Name him.

Email that to [email protected] with subject Hats

Closing date is 11am on Wednesday July 2nd. No age limit, open to anyone on the planet. Delivery only to UK addresses. One entry each please per person.

2025/26:
Familiar foes for U21s 

Newcastle U21s will again participate in the EFL Trophy this season - taking their place in the 64 club competition for a ninth successive season.

Thursday's Group Stage draw placed the Magpies second string in Northern Section Group F, alongside Harrogate Town, Huddersfield Town and Mansfield Town.

Newcastle will play each of those sides away from home, having travelled to Harrogate in 2021 and Mansfield in both 2021 and 2024. They've not previously faced Huddersfield in this competition. 

Sky Sports will televise all the ties, with round dates tbc.

Games are played over 90 minutes, with a penalty shootout staged if the scores are tied then and the winners of that receiving a bonus point.

The Magpies were successful last season in a shootout against Bradford City, but haven't claimed maximum points in this competition since back in 2018.

PS: The U21s are set to feature in the Premier League International Cup for the first time since 2019/20 - pitting them against European sides played games in the UK.

The National League Cup also returns this season but it's unclear as yet whether Newcastle will enter again.  

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 this Friday  June 27th at 5pm. That is a hard deadline with no exceptions.

Anyone struggling can contact NUFC via 0344 372 1892 from 10am until 5pm every weekday (the ticket office in the Milburn Stand is only open on Wednesdays).

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

Internationals:
Another final for Tino 

England U21s will attempt to defend their European U21 Championship title this Saturday, following a 2-1 semi-final victory over the Netherlands in Bratislava on Wednesday.

Newcastle's Tino Livramento played the full 90 minutes at right back, former Magpie Elliot Anderson providing an assist for Harvey Elliott to score the first of his two goals.

Livramento now has the chance to emulate club colleague Anthony Gordon, who was part of England's winning 2023 squad. Standing in his way will be Germany, who defeated France 3-0 in the second semi-final.

Saturday's final is an 8pm kick-off, live on Channel 4.

2025/26:
Espanyol (h) now on sale  

Tickets for Newcastle's pre-season friendly fixture at St. James' Park against Espanyol are now on public sale, priced at £25 and £20 for adults. 

The Magpies face the Spaniards in a 7.30pm kick-off on Friday August 8th - the night before the sold-out visit of fellow La Liga side Atletico Madrid to Gallowgate. 

This will be the fourth successive season that Eddie Howe's side have concluded their pre-season preparations with back to back home kickabouts, splitting the squad across both games and giving pitch time to U21 squad players.

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 in Spain during May 1960, securing a 5-2 victory at Espanyol's previous Estadi de Sarria base.

RGR:
Stormy weather 

The man known as Run Geordie Run continues his charity trek across the USA from New York to California, encountering electrical storms passing through Kansas.

Donations have now passed £22,000, thanks in part to a very generous contribution from the Newcastle United Supporters Club (NUSC). Every penny raised supports the work of St. Benedicts Hospice. 

If you can help, please do so online here  

Find the RGR blog here

2025/26:
Fixtures announced 

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....

Giveaway:
Fanzine comp answer

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 had copies to give away and asked who the last English -born Manager before Eddie Howe to win the League Cup was, doing so in 2004 with Middlesbrough.

It was of course Steve McClaren and the winning entries came from Graeme Herberson and Simon Ritter. 

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).

2025/26:
Korea confirmation

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, preceded by a behind closed doors friendly:

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)

Old boys:
Comings & goings 

1955 Newcastle completed the signing of right back Archie Simpson on a free transfer from Dundee.

The 22 year-old had missed most of the previous season due to illness and linked up with his new club after completing national service with the Black Watch Regiment.

Simpson made a scoring debut for the reserves as an inside forward, but wasn't tried at first team level. He joined Barrow ahead of the 1956/57 season.

1995 Barry Venison departed from SJP in a £750,000 deal to join Turks Galatasaray - managed at the time by Graeme Souness. 

After a brief and eventful stay in Istanbul, he returned to England with Southampton before injury curtailed his career.

1998 England qualified for the second stages of the World Cup with a convincing 2-0 victory over Colombia in Lens. 

Without Tino Asprilla, the Colombians posed little threat to England and Robert Lee was given a late runout when victory was assured. Alan Shearer was bizarrely booked for taking a free kick too early.

1999 United confirmed the signing of another Frenchman, as TV chef lookie-likie Franck Dumas joined from Monaco in a £500k deal.

2000 Argentinean striker Daniel Cordone joined United on a 12-month loan deal at a cost of £500k from Racing Club Avellaneda - subject to passing a medical. 

He consequently became our second signing from that country in as many months, following on from midfielder Christian Bassedas.

2001 Arriving for a second spell at SJP was Robbie Elliott, who joined up just as United's Intertoto participation was confirmed by UEFA. Elliott returned from Bolton Wanderers on a free transfer.

2006 A penalty conversion with the final kick of the match gave Italy a 1-0 World Cup win over Australia in Kaiserslautern. United's Craig Moore played for the full 90 minutes.

2007 David Rozehnal's move to Newcastle was confirmed after the 26 year-old Czech international defender passed his medical. 

Newcastle beat both Borussia Dortmund and Sevilla in the race to conclude a £3m capture from Paris St.Germain.

2008 Replacing the previous G14 group, European football clubs including Newcastle banded together in a new organisation named the European Club Association.

103 clubs from the 53 nations that participate in UEFA competitions formed the group, membership initially based on UEFA rankings.

That meant, despite a season out of Europe, that Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle represented England in the ECA.

2012 Birmingham City confirmed that they had reached agreement for ex-Magpie Lee Clark to become their manager, days after seeing previous incumbent Chris Hughton move on to join Norwich City.

Clark had been jobless since leaving Huddersfield Town the previous February. He would work alongside fellow Toon old boy Terry McDermott.

2015 Former Valencia assistant boss Ian Cathro was linked to a coaching position in Steve McClaren's backroom team at SJP by overseas journalists - and they were correct.

2023 Claims of talks between Newcastle and recently-relegated Southampton over right back Valentino Livramento emerged via several media outlets.

2024 Martin Dubravka was between the posts for Slovakia, as they qualified for the last 16 of the Euros with a 1-1 draw against Romania in Frankfurt.