Playoff:
Cop that!

Having managed just three goals all season, former Magpie James Coppinger chose a good time to hit form, grabbing a hat trick to help send Doncaster Rovers to Wembley.

The 27 year-old who made a solitary senior appearance during his time at SJP struck in the 39th, 52nd and 79th minutes, as Donny thumped Southend 5-1 on the night. 

Coppinger and his fellow Newcastle old boy Lewis Guy now face Leeds in the League one playoff final, after they completed a 3-2 aggregate win over Carlisle on Thursday.

That victory was especially sweet for Magpie old boy Paul Huntington, who played the full 90 minutes for Leeds against his hometown club at Brunton Park.

The 20 year-old defender was subjected to death threats from angry Cumbrians earlier in the season, after some OTT celebrations of the goals Leeds scored in a 3-2 win.

PS: following Carlisle's playoff exit, their retained list was published and included the names of ex- Mags Paul Arnison (released) and Kevin Gall (free transfer). 

Ex-Mag:
Boum-gong

This Saturday sees Magpie old boy Jean -Alain Boumsong engaged in what could be the first leg of a domestic double for his current club, Olympique Lyonnais.

The French league leaders are going for what would be a record seventh successive title - and with one game to play are sitting two points ahead of second-placed side Girondins Bordeaux.

Lyon are away at Auxerre in their last game - Boumsong's former club.

And there's also the chance of further medal success for the French international, with a forthcoming Cup Final appearance for Lyon against PSG on Saturday May 24th.

Ex-Mag:
Dis-time 

And also looking to pick up a gong on Saturday is another former Newcastle United defender.

Sylvain Distin lines up at Wembley for Portsmouth against Cardiff in the FA Cup Final looking to join the list of ex-Mags who have left SJP in successful pursuit of club silverware.

During the Premier League era, both Dietmar Hamann and Andy Cole have won this competition.

The former appeared for Liverpool in both 2001 & 2006 and the latter won it in 1996 & 1999 with Man U. 

Premier League:
Last orders

Everton  3  Newcastle  1

Match report online now

I just wanna bit part in your site:
Evan is a Geordie again

Treading the boards at The Cluny once again this month is Lemonheads front man Evan Dando, who performs a solo show at the Ouseburn venue on Monday May 26th.

As well the usual favourites from his own albums and some killer covers, Evan will perform the whole of the 1992 Lemonheads album "It's a shame about Ray".

Tickets are £20 and go on sale this Saturday from Beat Down Records on Vine Lane & online here now.

PS: Evan will be on stage at 10pm at this Bank Holiday Monday gig, which ties in nicely with the latter stages of the Evolution Festival nearby - providing a tuneful alternative to their headlining charver shouting turn...

RIP:
Former coach 
passes away

The death of Celtic coach Tommy Burns at the age of 51 was confirmed on Thursday. He had been suffering from cancer.

Former Scottish international Burns spent some time at SJP as a coach in the Kenny Dalglish administration. 

Coach claim:
PT instructor?

Peter Taylor has now confirmed that he has met with Dennis Wise to discuss a possible position at Newcastle's Academy.

The much-travelled former club and international manager is currently without a club, having resigned as manager of Stevenage Borough last month.

And it's claimed that Taylor is the preferred candidate out of four possible names being considered to oversee our worldwide youth development and signing programme.  

The 55 year-old has managed in the league at Southend, Gillingham, Leicester, Brighton, Hull and Palace. During his time at Filbert Street he signed Wise from Chelsea. 

Taylor was also England U21 coach between 1996 & 1999, taking the senior England side on a caretaker basis for one game in 2000 to bridge the gap between Kevin Keegan's departure and Sven's arrival (after Newcastle refused to allow Sir Bobby Robson to temporarily fill the position).   

Premier League:
Dates

Mon 16.06.08 PL Fixtures published @ 10am.
Mon 07.07.08 Players report back for training.
Sat 16.08.08 PL season begins.

As an aside, it's agreed that next season will see clubs allowed to name seven substitutes on the bench rather than the current five, although only three can come on.   

Premier League:
Money

Prize money for finishing 12th in PL = £6.48m
Facility fees received for 20 live PL TV games = £9.2m
Broadcast fee for 1 live FA Cup game = £150K

(figures don't including other monies received)

Promotion playoffs:
Tiger feat    

The battle to join West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City in the Premier League next season is now a tale of two Cities.

Despite going a goal behind, Hull City levelled on the night before the break to take a 3-1 aggregate lead, before scoring three more without reply in the second half.

That follows Tuesday night's decider, when Bristol City recorded a 2-1 victory to secure a 4-2 aggregate success over Crystal Palace.

The Eagles had scored the only goal in the opening ninety minutes (and also missed a penalty), sending the game into half an hour of extra time.

Former Magpie reserve Bradley Orr appeared for the home side, while among the Eagles coaching staff was ex-Toon defender Carl Serrant.

The Tigers and Robins meet at Wembley on Saturday May 24th @ 3pm. 

Hull are famously bidding to reach the top level for the first time ever - after a century of trying, while Bristol City are also yet to taste Premier League action; their last visit to what was Div One ending back in 1980.

Internationals:
Call-ups

Confirmed post-season international duties for wor lot:

Andy Carroll (England U19):
Mon 26.05.08 Poland (n) Borisov, Belarus (Euro Qualifier)
Wed 28.05.08 Serbia (n) Borisov, Belarus (Euro Qualifier)
Sat 31.05.08 Belarus (a) Minsk, Belarus (Euro Qualifier)

Damien Duff (Republic of Ireland):
Sat 24.05.08 Serbia (h) Croke Park, Dublin (Friendly)
Thu 29.05.08 Colombia (n) Craven Cottage (Friendly)

As expected, the injured Shay Given withdrew from Trappatoni's first squad for an Algarve training camp and two kickarounds. 

Emre (Turkey):
Tue 20.05.08 Slovakia (n) Bielefeld, Germany (Friendly)
Sun 25.05.08 Uruguay (n) Bochum, Germany (Friendly)
Thu 29.05.08 Finland (n) Duisburg, Germany (Friendly)

Geremi (Cameroon):
Sat 31.05.08 Cape Verde Isles (h) Yaounde (Wld Cup Q)
Sun 08.06.08 Mauritius (a) Curepipe (Wld Cup Q)
Sat 14.06.08 Tanzania (a) Dar Es Salaam (Wld Cup Q)
Sat 21.06.08 Tanzania (h) Yaounde (Wld Cup Q)

The Indomitable Lions will be preparing for their games with a training camp in Tunis.

Tamas Kadar (Hungary):
Sat 24.05.08 Greece (h) Budapest (Friendly)
Sat 31.05.08 Croatia (h) Budapest (Friendly)

First senior call up for the 18 year-old defender. 

Obafemi Martins (Nigeria):
Tue 27.05.08 Austria (a) Graz (Friendly)
Sun 01.06.08 South Africa (h) Abuja (Wld Cup Q)
Sat 07.06.08 Sierra Leone (a) Freetown (Wld Cup Q)
Sat 14.06.08 Equatorial Guinea (a) Malabo (Wld Cup Q)
Sat 21.06.08 Equatorial Guinea (h) Abuja (Wld Cup Q)

Before Nigeria's fixtures, Oba flew to Italy for a short holiday and called in to visit his former club Inter Milan. That bad leg certainly healed up quickly...

Charles N'Zogbia (France U21):
Sun 25.05.08 Netherlands (n) Trelleborg (Friendly)
Wed 28.05.08 Portugal (n) Malmo (Friendly)
Sat 31.05.08 Sweden (a) Helsingborg (Friendly)

Michael Owen (England):
Wed 28.05.08 USA (h) Wembley (Friendly)
Sun 01.06.08 Trinidad & Tobago (a) Port of Spain (Friendly)

Owen gets the chance to add to his international appearance & goal tally (currently 89 caps & 40 goals).

David Rozehnal (Czech Republic):
Tue 27.05.08 Lithuania (h) Prague (Friendly)
Fri 30.05.08 Scotland (h) Prague (Friendly)

"I have played from the start in the last five matches and it has given back to me the self-confidence I had when I was playing for PSG.

"Everything looks like it is returning to normal and I hope that it will continue like this. I have not played as much as I wanted to, though, and now it is up to Lazio to make a decision on my future.

"If I was going to be playing then I would definitely come. It’s important that I am playing regularly. I wouldn’t want to be here in a situation where I get a single game and sit out the next three."
 
Ole Soderberg (Sweden U18)
Wed 21.05.08 Portugal (a) Lisbon (Friendly)
Thu 22.05.08 Norway (n) Lisbon (Friendly)
Sat 24.05.08 USA (n) Lisbon (Friendly)

Fabio Zamblera (Italy U19):
Mon 26.05.08 Sweden (n) Martigny (Euro Qualifier)
Wed 28.05.08 Switzerland (a) Sion (Euro Qualifier)
Sat 31.05.08 France (n) Sion (Euro Qualifier)

TBC:

Habib Beye/Abdoulaye Faye (Senegal):
Sat 31.05.08 Algeria (h) Dakar (Wld Cup Q)
Sun 08.06.08 Gambia (a) Banjul (Wld Cup Q)
Sun 15.06.08 Liberia (a) Monrovia (Wld Cup Q)
Sat 21.06.08 Liberia (h) Dakar (Wld Cup Q)

Ex-Mag:
Rammy a Ranger

Having played his final game in a Newcastle shirt on Sunday, free agent Peter Ramage was in London on Monday to undergo a medical and sign for QPR.

The 24 year-old agreed a three year deal at Loftus Road and will be playing Championship football next season.

Ex-Mag:
Nine minute hero....

The career of Newcastle defender Lamine Diatta has also ended, with the 32 year-old Senegalese international having made two sub appearances in the first team, totalling nine minutes (Reading home, West Ham away).

His short-term contract won't be renewed, but alleged interest from one or two other clubs could yet see him turning out against us in the Premier League next season.

Visit the North East and see the
spectacular Northumberland coastline: