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Next Match |
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Darlington
Friendly
The KNOX
Saturday 18th July
Kick-off
tbc
(BCD - no public access) | |
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Last Match |
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Fulham 2
Newcastle 0
Premier League
Craven Cottage
Sunday 24th May
Match report |
The Never-Ending Tour |
Number of Newcastle
games attended by
NUFC.com
in 2026/27: |
0 |
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2026/27 Home Cup scheme deadline Mon 13.07, 5pm
2026/27:
Home Cup scheme info
Season ticket holders are now able to log on their NUFC account and
sign up for both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup home ticket scheme
guaranteeing places for this season.
The deadline for both schemes is 5pm on Mon 13.07.2026
and as previous seasons have shown, there's no scope to sign up
after that point.
Separate sign-ups are required for each scheme and success can be
checked by the appearance of one (or both) on your cup scheme menu.
No confirmation email(s) are generated.
2026/27 home cup pricing:
Carabao Cup: £22/£28 adults*
FA Cup: £35/£40 adults*
(2025/26 prices were Carabao £20/£25 and FA £30/£35)
* Last season's decision to charge more for home Champions League
ties after the group stage has been extended to domestic home cup
ties this season.
Any home Carabao Cup or FA Cup Quarter-final or Semi-Final ties will
be subject to as-yet undisclosed prices.
United enter the Carabao Cup in the regionalised Second Round on or around Wed 26.08.2026.
They should learn their opponents on or around Mon 10.08.2026.
The usual FA Cup Third Round ties will take place on or around Sat 09.01.2027, with the draw for that staged on or around Sun 06.12.2026.
Update:
GK away again
Wednesday saw Newcastle confirm a further loan exit for goalkeeper
Odysseas Vlachodimos, who returns to Spanish side Seville for
a second successive season.
The 32 year-old Greek international started 33 games last season
in La Liga, helping to secure Seville's top-flight status in the
closing weeks of last season.
It's exactly two years since Vlachodimos arrived at SJP from
Nottingham Forest on a permanent contract of undisclosed duration,
as Elliot Anderson moved to the City Ground.
His sole competitive appearance as a Magpie remains a 45 minute
outing during a Carabao Cup home tie against AFC Wimbledon in
October 2024.
There are media claims that this second loan agreement for
Vlachodimos includes provision for a permanent switch, if certain
conditions are met. Neither club refer to this however, in their
confirmation of the switch.
Update:
Livramento latest
From NUFC, Tuesday:
Newcastle United can confirm that Tino Livramento has
successfully undergone a minor surgical procedure.
The defender, who returned from World Cup duty with an injury,
is expected to return during pre-season.
The 23 year-old reportedly suffered a calf injury while training
with England in the USA, having sat out United's closing five
Premier League games with a thigh issue.
Update:
NUFC reveal UEFA fine
From NUFC, Tuesday:
Newcastle United has
entered into a settlement agreement with UEFA following a breach of
its Financial Sustainability Regulations in the three-year period
ending June 2025.
Following an overspend in
relation to UEFA's Football Earnings threshold, the club has worked
closely and constructively with the Club Financial Control Body (CFCB)
to swiftly resolve the matter.
Accordingly, the club has
accepted the three-year settlement, which includes a €3m financial
penalty, with a further €7m suspended pending future compliance.
In addition, UEFA has determined
that the club will pay a further €3m due to breaching UEFA's 70%
Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) target in calendar year 2025.
Newcastle United thanks UEFA for
its careful consideration and is committed to full ongoing
compliance.
Aston Villa, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest were also censured, with all
four clubs required to operate within the UEFA financial thresholds
next season, even though Villa are the only one of them actually
playing in European competition.
WC:
Magpies meet
Dan Burn (England):
Wed
01.07.2026 DRC Congo, Atlanta, 5pm
bbc
Yoane
Wissa (DR Congo):
Wed 01.07.2026 England, Atlanta, 5pm
bbc
£2 guaranteed entry tickets to watch the England v DRC game at Frate in the Bigg Market are available now
- follow links in their instagram and facebook socials.
Find
Coral's WC betting markets
online here
Anthony Elanga (Sweden):
Tue 30.06.2026 France lost 0-3
A 90 minute shift for the Newcastle man in New Jersey, as Sweden
were dismantled by the French.
Malick Thiaw, Nick Woltemade (Germany):
Mon 29.06.2026 Paraguay drew 1-1 (lost 3-4 on pens)
Both Magpies came off the bench in Boston when the score was 1-1;
Woltemade an 88th minute arrival and Thiaw introduced in the 20th
minute of extra time.
With no further goals the tie went to penalties, Woltemade seeing
his meek effort saved and Thiaw not taking one.
Bruno Guimaraes
(Brazil):
Sun 05.07.2026 Norway, New Jersey, 9pm (round of 16).
Miscellany:
Bruno is the first Newcastle player to appear at two separate
World Cup Finals while on the books at SJP.
The 2026 World Cup Finals are the first at which more than one
current Magpie has scored, with both Yoane Wissa and Anthony Elanga
on target.
Wissa became the first
Newcastle player to score three times in the World Cup Finals,
eclipsing the two goal hauls of Elanga plus England duo Ivor Broadis
and Alan Shearer.
The DRC man emulated Broadis with two goals in one WC match: Ivor
netting his brace against Belgium in the Swiss city of Basel during
England's 4-1 success in June 1954.
Nick Woltemade became the 35th different player to feature at
the World Cup Finals while on the books at SJP.
He's the fifth Magpie
to appear at the 2026 tournament - emulating our five
representatives at 2014 and 2022. Any pitch time for England's Dan Burn would set a record of six.
Ex-Magpies still in play include Mikel Merino (Spain), Miguel
Almiron (Paraguay), Nabil Bentaleb (Algeria), Chancel Mbemba (DR
Congo) and
England trio Elliot Anderson, Anthony Gordon and Ivan Toney.
2026/27:
Gateshead (a) tickets
Newcastle's opening public pre-season game sees them face National
League Gateshead at
the International Stadium.
That's a 12.30pm kick-off on Saturday July 25th and
all ticket sales are direct from the home club, meaning that loyalty
points aren't required but also won't be awarded.
Tickets are now on general sale
here
Prices:
Adults (aged 18-64): £25
Concession (65+ and students): £20
Young Adult (16-17 years) - £15
Young Adult (14-15 years) - £10
Child (Under 14) - £5*
Carer - Free**
*Child tickets can only be
purchased with an adult or concession ticket and cannot be purchased
separately.
**Carers are limited to one carer
ticket per paid ticket and can be added alongside the paid ticket at
checkout.
2026/27:
Pre-season
The Magpies have now confirmed further games in their first team pre-season
programme as follows:
Sat 18.07.2026 Darlington (h) training ground BCD
Sat 25.07.2026 Gateshead (a) 12.30pm
Wed 29.07.2026 Bristol City (a) 7.30pm
Sat 08.08.2026 Valencia (a) 9pm local
Wed 12.08.2026 Everton (n) 5.15pm (Murrayfield)
A pair of home friendlies over the weekend of August 15th/16th are
anticipated, with opponents still tbc.
No fans will be admitted to the Darlington game, while there's a
separate news item about Gateshead tickets.
Ticket details for the Ashton Gate* and Mestalla visits are both yet
to be announced, while
Ticketmaster continue to handle all sales for the Everton game
in Edinburgh.
* Bristol City confirm
adult ticket prices of £10 for members/season ticket holders and £15
for public sale.
2026/27:
Bucket list
An unexpected highlight of United's
pre-season schedule is the opportunity to visit the genuinely
authentic ground of a notable side, as opposed to a generic "super"
stadium.
Newcastle's confirmation as opposition in Valencia's annual
curtain-raiser Trofeu Taronja game kicks off what should be the
final season for the 1923 vintage Mestalla.
Although preparation works for the Nou Mestalla in the suburbs of
Valencia began in 2007, it's only now that construction of the
70,000 capacity arena has advanced to the point that an opening date
next summer looks feasible.
With the countdown underway, the chance to sample a unique ground
holding 50,000 fans that is atmospheric and idiosyncratic in equal
measure is one not to be passed up.
PS: this will be Newcastle's first visit to the Mestalla, having
faced Valencia at Gallowgate back in 2008.
EFL Trophy:
Bantams, Millers
and Minstermen
The draw for the Group Stage of the EFL Trophy
placed
Newcastle's U21 side in Northern Group Section C,
handing them visits to League One Bradford City and League Two
duo Rotherham United and York City.
Round dates are as follows - match order is awaited:
w/c Mon 21.09.2026
w/c Mon 05.10.2026
w/c Mon 09.11.2026
Update:
Shirt sponsor unveiled
As previously reported, Newcastle have confirmed that their new main shirt
sponsor is South African soft drink company Knox
Hydrate, whose deal for naming rights to the club's Darsley Park
training ground began on July 1st 2026.
The agreement duration is for three years but no details of the
value were announced in United's press release.
It has been claimed that it will net
up to £60m, with the 2026/27 season set at a maximum of
£10m and the ceiling for the following two campaigns increasing to
£25m.
The KNOX branding of United's Darsley Park training ground
remains a separate three year deal that will boost the
club's coffers by £6m annually.
In terms of replica shirts which were launched without any sponsor logo, the club confirm that:
Supporters who have purchased the 2026/27 home shirt will be
given an opportunity to get the Knox Hydrate logo applied.
Home shirts with the Knox logo will also be retailed later in the
season, whist upcoming away and third shirts will include the Knox
logo.
Update:
Alan Murray RIP
The death of former Newcastle United Assistant Manager Alan
Murray has been confirmed, at the age of 76.
Walker-born Murray began his playing career at Wallsend Boys Club
and joined Wolves as an apprentice in 1966, switching to
Middlesbrough the following year.
Following a decade of service in the midfield for Boro, York City,
Brentford and Doncaster Rovers, Alan held various off-field roles
including spells managing both Hartlepool United and Darlington.
Teaming up with former Ayresome Park colleague Graeme Souness at
Southampton in 1996, the pair later took charge of both Benfica and
Blackburn Rovers before succeeding Sir Bobby Robson at Gallowgate
during September 2004.
Murray remained at United with Souness until both left in February
2006.
2026/27:
Fixtures released
Newcastle will begin the season against Liverpool at SJP on Sunday August 23rd at 4.30pm - the fifth time in the last six years that
United have had a home opener.
In addition to player-related sub-plots - a possible PL debut for
Toon target Victor Munoz and the first time Alexander Isak has faced
his former club - it also sees new Reds boss Andoni Iraola test his
unbeaten PL record on Tyneside.
That Liverpool home game is live on Sky Sports, who hold UK live transmission rights along with TNT
Sports. The first live schedule release date is in the week
commencing Monday July 13th, covering our first PL away game at Spurs.
The Spurs game takes place over the August Bank Holiday weekend and were
it to be played on the Sunday, would clash with rail work affecting
Kings Cross services.
Five midweek match rounds send Manchester United, Nottingham Forest
and Chelsea to SJP. Old Trafford and City Ground visits comprise our midweek PL aways.
At least one Saturday game will be rescheduled as a result of the
opposition's European commitments; United's PL visit to Crystal
Palace on Saturday October 24th just 48 hours after the Eagles are
in Europa League Group Stage action.
Progress for Brighton into the Conference League Group Stage
meanwhile would require our PL visit to Sussex on Saturday
November 28th to be similarly rescheduled.
Coventry's CBS Arena will become the 62nd different PL venue to have hosted Newcastle when they head there during October for our first visit since
December 2009.
Following last season's away double header, the two festive season games are both on Tyneside.
This season's Carabao Cup takes place on Sunday March 21st, coinciding with the visit of Leeds United to SJP.
There's no clash with PL games on any FA Cup round weekend until the Semi-finals, on or around April 24th. The Magpies are due to host
Ipswich Town that weekend.
The final home game against Crystal Palace is scheduled on Sunday May 23rd, along with the rest of the PL games that weekend.
Saturday May 22nd is clear for the FA Cup Final.
The closing game of the season then takes the Magpies to promoted Hull City
on Sunday May 30th at 4pm - their first top-flight visit to
Humberside since January 2015.
Charity success:
Football, friendship
and fundraising
Saturday saw the third Live
Forever Cup take place, as teams representing NUFC, SAFC,
Manchester City and Barcelona took to the field at Newcastle
Benfield.
The round robin stage produced goals and drama as the Newcastle
United side netted four goals without reply against their wearside
foes, defeated Manchester City 2-1 and drew 3-3 with Barcelona in a
pulsating contest.
Barcelona meanwhile reached the final following victories over
Manchester City (3-0) and Sunderland (2-1).
In what was a rematch of the 2025 event, the Toon retained the
trophy thanks to a deserved 3-0 success.
Winning captain Iain Chisholm collected the silverware from former
Magpie Steve Watson, with funds raised benefiting Amber's
Legacy, Chicks in Pink, St Benedict's Hospice, Sir Bobby Robson
Foundation and Ricky Hatton Foundation.
Update:
Staying, going etc.
Squad updates:
Senior players signed (1):
Ewen Jaouen
Contracts extended (2):
Mark Gillespie (to 2027)
Fabian Schar (to 2027)
Senior players out of contract (5):
Emil Krafth, Kieran Trippier, John
Ruddy, Matt Targett,
Max Thompson.
Senior player loan expired (1):
Aaron Ramsdale (returned to Southampton)
Senior player sold (1):
Anthony Gordon (Barcelona)
Senior player loaned (1):
Odysseas Vlachodimos (Seville)
Development squad players out of contract (15):
Will Anderson, Joe Brayson, Thomas Bryant,
Jude Cogdon, Adam Harrison, Alfie Harrison,
Kayden Lucas, Charlie McArthur,Alex O'Donovan, Darren
Palmer, James Taylor, Matty Taylor, Ciaran Thompson, Ezra Tika-Lemba,
Mo Waddani.
Development squad player sold (1):
Travis Hernes (Groningen)
Unlikely lads:
Comings and goings
SJP old boys on the move recently include:
Tom Allen left Darlington, now Hebburn Town
Demba Ba now Le Havre (Sporting Director)
Dan Barlaser left Boro
Rafa Benitez left Panathinaikos (Manager)
Habib Beye left Marseille (Head Coach)
Joe Brayson now
George Washington University
Adam Campbell left Hartlepool United
John Carver left Lechia Gdansk (Manager)
Ian Cathro left Estoril, now St.Etienne (Head Coach)
Michael Chopra now Trethomas Bluebirds
Lee Clark left Rotherham now Hartlepool (Manager)
Steve Clarke left Scotland (Coach)
Luuk de Jong left Porto
Martin Dubravka left Burnley, now Spurs
Damien Duff now Brentford (Coach)
Kieron Dyer now Southend United (Manager)
Rob Elliot left Gateshead, now Carlisle (Manager)
Ludwig Francillette left Morecambe
Macauley Gillesphey left Charlton, now Bradford City
Alex Gilliead left Shrewsbury Town
Isaac Hayden left QPR
Chris Hogg now Northampton Town (Manager)
Jamaal Lascelles left Leicester City
Robert Lee now Hornchurch (Director of Football)
Jamal Lewis left Preston North End
Kevin Mbabu left Midtjylland
Charlie McArthur now York City
Steve McClaren now Rotherham (Head of Football)
James Milner left Brighton & Hove Albion
Michael O'Neill left Blackburn Rovers (Manager)
Scott Parker left Burnley (Manager)
Brian Pinas left Feyenoord (Coach)
Matt Ritchie left Reading, now Bournemouth (Tech Dir)
Callum Roberts left Scunthorpe, now Notts County
Allan Saint-Maximin left RC Lens,
now Charlotte FC
Mo Sangare left Morecambe
Josh Scott now West Auckland Town
Danny Simpson now Arabian Falcons (player/coach)
Islam Slimani left Cluj
Elias Sorensen now PEC Zwolle
Dylan Stephenson left Dagenham, now Darlington
Louis Storey left Gateshead, now Carlisle United (Coach)
James Tavernier left Rangers
Steven Taylor now Desert Falcons (Manager)
Kieran Trippier now Wolves
Dan Ward left South Shields
Isaac Westendorf now Torquay United
Georginio Wijnaldum left Al-Ettifaq
Mike Williamson now South Shields (Manager)
Privacy policy
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Tickets/Fixtures |
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Season 2026/27 |
NUFC ticketing website online
here
NUFC Box Office:
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 until KO
Milburn Stand Box Office manned:
Wednesdays only: 10am to 5pm
Home games: 10am to half time
2026/27 ST prices
here
2026/27 ST home cup scheme:
closes on Mon 13.07.2025 @ 5pm
ST home cup pricing:
CC: £22 & £28
FA: £35 & £40
SJP seating plan online
here
PL
home ST limits:
ST left unused, limit is 5
ST sold/transferred limit is 10
Home ticket transfers are possible from three weeks until one hour
before KO.
Away ticket
transfers are possible between 72 hours and five hours before KO (times
may vary). A maximum of two are permitted per season (PL only).
More info online
here
and
here
ST holders have 24
hours to apply for away tickets, 24 hours to determine success, then 48 hours to
buy.
Success is based on the loyalty point total calculated from applications
received. Any applications from ST holders with less points are entered into a
ballot, which will have taken place before tickets go on sale.
Regardless of the loyalty point level a game sells out at, to purchase a
ticket you must have applied in the initial 24 hour window.
The initial purchase window is divided into two sections determined by a loyalty
point division that alters for each game - those successful applicants above
that point division usually get two hours head start.
NB: emails from NUFC confirming success may arrive after the purchase
window opens - if you think you qualify due to your points total, log
on and complete your purchase.
Tickets not bought by successful applicants are then offered to unsuccessful applicants with a
reduced loyalty points total - new applications cannot be made at this time.
Only those within the new loyalty point total are
eligible to buy - even if you had more, your purchase window has already
closed.
PL away ticket prices are unchanged at 30 for both the 2026/27
and 2027/28 seasons.
Metro service updates are online
here
Fixtures:
Mon 13.07.2026 NUFC first team players return for pre-season (excluding
those involved at WCF).
Mon 13.07.2026 2026/27 home cup scheme
deadline, 5pm.
Sat 18.07.2026 Darlington (h) @ The KNOX training ground, KO tbc. Friendly. Behind closed doors - no public access.
Sat 25.07.2026 Gateshead (a) @ International stadium, 12.30pm. Friendly.
Public sale now, all sales via GFC
here
Wed 29.07.2026 Bristol City (a) @ Ashton Gate, 7.30pm. Friendly.
Ticket details tbc.
Sat 01.08.2026 U21 training camp
@ Pinatar Arena, Spain (until Sun 09.08).
Sat 08.08.2026 Valencia (Spain) (a) @ Mestalla Stadium, 9pm local
time. Friendly. Ticket details tbc.
Wed 12.08.2026 Everton (n) @ Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, 5.15pm. Friendly.
Public sale now, all
sales via Ticketmaster.
Sun 23.08.2026 Liverpool (h) @ SJP, 4.30pm. Premier League.
Ticket details tbc.
Live on Sky Sports.
Tue 01.09.2026 Transfer window closes @ 11pm.
Fri 01.01.2027
Transfer window opens @ Midnight.
Mon 01.02.2027 Transfer window closes @ 11pm.
NUFC live on TV:
Sun 23.08.2026 Liverpool (h) 4.30pm Sky
(PL selections made to Mon 24.08.2026)
(PL season ends on Sun 30.05.2027)
PL live TV release dates:
Aug
w/c Mon 13.07.2026
Sep
w/c Mon 13.07.2026
Oct
w/c Mon 24.08.2026
Nov w/c Mon 21.09.2026
Dec w/c Mon 19.10.2026
Jan w/c Mon 30.11.2026
Feb w/c Mon 21.12.2026
Mar w/c Mon 18.01.2027
Apr w/c Mon 22.02.2027
MW35 w/c Mon 29.03.2027
MW36 w/c Mon 05.04.2027
MW37 w/c Mon 26.04.2027
MW38 after Sun 23.05.2027
Carabao Cup:
(NUFC enter in Round 2 regionalised into Northern and Southern
sections. The draw takes place after Round 1 ties, played from Fri 07.08.2026 to
Sun 09.08.2026).
R2:
w/c Mon 24.08.2026
R3:
w/c Mon 07.09.2026 / Mon 14.09.2026
R4:
w/c Mon 26.10.2026
QF:
w/c Mon 14.12.2026
SF1:
w/c Mon 11.01.2027
SF2:
w/c Mon 01.02.2027
F:
Sun 21.03.2027
FA Cup:
(NUFC enter in Round 3: draw takes place on or around Sun 06.12.2026).
R3: Sat 09.01.2027
R4: Sat 13.02.2027
R5: Sat 06.03.2027
QF: Sat 03.04.2027
SF: Sat 24.04.2027
F: Sat 22.05.2027
EFL Trophy Northern
Group C:
??.??.2026
Bradford City (a)
??.??.2026
Rotherham United (a)
??.??.2026
York City (a)
Round dates - match order tbc:
w/c Mon 21.09.2026
w/c Mon 05.10.2026
w/c Mon 09.11.2026
FA Youth Cup:
NUFC U18s enter in Round 3, ties be played on or before Sat
12.12.2026.
Other events @ SJP:
Euro 2028:
Four group stage games
and one last 16 tie will be played at SJP on the following dates:
Mon 12.06.2028
Thu 15.06.2028
Sat 17.06.2028
Tue 20.06.2028
Sun 25.06.2028
(Kick-off times will be advised in 2027)
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International Magpies |
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National Service |
2025/26:
19.07.2026 World Cup Finals end
2026/27:
21.09-06.10.2026
09.11-17.11.2026
22.03-30.03.2027
2027/28:
20.09-05.10.2027
08.11-16.11.2027
20.03-28.03.2028
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Coxy's Corner |
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Whoops, He did it Again... |
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What's this all about then?
Click here
for a rambling explanation of sorts....
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On This Day in History |
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1st July |
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Born Or Died:
1916 Death of Tommy Goodwill, 20.
(1913-16)
Another victim of the First World War, Tommy served as a Private with the
Northumberland Fusiliers and was killed during the battle for the Somme.
His name appears on the war memorial at Thiepval in France.
1916 Death of Dan Dunglinson, 26.
(1913-16)
Reserve player Dan was a Corporal with the Northumberland Fusiliers and also
died on the opening day of the Somme.
He's also commemorated at Thiepval.
1940 George
Heslop born, Wallsend.
(1959-62)
Centre half
signed from Dudley Welfare who made his senior Magpies debut in an
8-2 home win over Everton in 1959.
In and out of the side, relegation in 1961 saw him a regular choice in
the early part of the season back in Division Two, unfortunately putting
through his own goal in a 2-1 home defeat by Liverpool.
Losing his
place, Heslop returned to the top flight with Everton but
failed to break into the first XI at Goodison, playing just ten games in four
years.
Joining Manchester City in 1965, George won a Second Division Championship
medal in his first season at Maine Road.
A key member of the side that won the First Division title thanks to an
epic 4-3 success at SJP in 1968, Heslop also collected League Cup and European Cup
Winners Cup medals at City.
Moving to South African side Capetown City on loan in late 1971, he returned to England
within months, playing for Bury and Macclesfield.
Managing Northwich Victoria for a spell, George then entered the licensed trade
with bars in the Manchester area. He later became a social worker and passed
away shortly after his retirement, in 2006.
1976
Patrick Stephan Kluivert born, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
(2004-05)
Playing for
his hometown club Ajax from the age of seven, Kluivert scored on his senior
team debut in 1994, capping a first season with the winner in the Champions
League final against AC Milan.
By 1997 he was a Milan player, but within a year had joined Barcelona and shown
good form for the Netherlands in both the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000
tournaments - sandwiched by a Spanish league title win.
By 2004 though he was a free agent following his release from Barcelona making
his 79th and final international appearance against Shay Given's Ireland side
in a friendly.
Within two months he was a club colleague of Given at United, having sat unused
on the bench for the Dutch at Euro 2004.
Kluivert had been feted when playing and scoring for Barcelona at SJP in a
pre-season game back in 2002, also finding the net both home and away against
Newcastle in the Champions League that season.
Chairman Freddy Shepherd later revealed that he'd tried to sign Kluivert at
that time and saw him as Shearer's Toon successor.
Lacking fitness, a first competitive outing for Kluivert saw him manage the
last three minutes of a 2-2 draw at the smoggies, with his first goal coming in
the 4-2 defeat at Villa that ended Sir Bobby Robson's reign.
Scoring both goals in a home win over Israeli side Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin then got
him off to a good start with new boss Graeme Souness and he netted against
West Bromwich Albion in the next game, playing alongside Shearer.
After Kluivert scored twice in the return game against Sakhnin (after earlier losing a
£4K diamond earring on the pitch in training), Souness tellingly commented:
"The only doubt about Patrick is his desire. He's a
world-class player in anybody's book.
"If Patrick wants it, Patrick will get it
because he's got that much class, athleticism and ability that it can only be
his state of mind which will prevent him from becoming the best striker in the
world in the next four years."
Those doubts were justified as within six months the striker left SJP,
having started just 14 league games. Groin problems saw him miss games and
training, but didn't seem to affect his off- field "activities".
Highpoints were goals that beat Chelsea and Spurs in the FA Cup, but those were
isolated highs for the mostly non-flying Dutchman, who didn't need to tell Toon
fans they "never saw the best of him".
United passed on their option
for a further two seasons of flabby Paddy - a decision greeted with a sigh of
relief by most locals, save for those with a commercial interest in the
fleshpots of Jesmond.....
After equally underwhelming stints with Valencia and PSV Eindhoven, Paddy then
had a mostly non-playing part at Lille before opting to retire in 2008 having
failed to find a new club (save for his own Carpe Diem establishment in
Barcelona).
Coaching roles then followed at both AZ Alkmaar
and FC Twente, sandwiched by a short-term posting at Brisbane Roar.
Appointed by Dutch national team manager Luis van Gaal as a coach, he could be
spotted filling the screen during Holland's 2014 World Cup campaign but failed
to follow him to Old Trafford as predicted.
Kluivert also took on an UEFA Ambassadorial role for a time, before
unexpectedly being named as the Curacao national team coach in March 2015 -
attempting to guide the tiny Caribbean island where his mother was born to
World Cup qualification.
He then served Director of Football for Paris SG but stepped down in June 2017
after barely a year in post. He was then appointed Academy Director at
Barcelona in July 2019 following a spell with the Cameroon national team as
assistant to Clarence Seedorf.
By 2021 he was back working in the media and briefly back in his post
with Curacao.
Next came a six month stint as coach of Turkish club Adana Demirspor during
2023, before returning to international football in early 2025 in charge of
Indonesia.
However that lasted only until October, since when he's returned to
punditry.
Paddy was certainly a
good club man....if you're talking about the nocturnal variety with bars,
rather than the sporting type. As a Newcastle player though, he was one of the
biggest let-downs of the modern era.
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What Else?
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1975 United midfielder Tommy Gibb departed
on a free transfer to Joker Park, where he spent two unhappy years before
defecting to Hartlepool United.
1997 In a controversial
move, defender Robbie Elliott was sold to Bolton Wanderers for £2.5m by Kenny
Dalglish - who had lined up Alessandro Pistone from Inter Milan.
Elliott had been instrumental in United's qualification for the Champions League
and was reportedly in tears when told of the club's decision to offload him.
Four years later, almost to the day, he was to return to SJP from the Reebok
Stadium on a free transfer.
2002 A Premier League
tribunal found in favour of Newcastle United and ruled out a move to West Ham
for Olivier Bernard.
Credit was due to Magpies Chairman Freddy Shepherd for sticking to
his guns and not allowing West Ham or Bernard's agent to engineer an
unscrupulous bit of business.
OB had uttered these
untimely words before the deal was done and was subsequently forced into a
climb down:
"I was disappointed at my
lack of first-team opportunities at Newcastle and that is why I turned down
their offer of a new contract.
"Whatever happens, I do
not want to play for Newcastle United and would find it very difficult to go
back.
"I am really looking
forward to playing for the Hammers and I am confident of doing a good job for
them."
And the West Ham boss at the time who was forced to deny accusations
of an illegal approach?
Glenn Roeder.
2003 Free agent Lee Bowyer put pen to paper on a four-year deal at SJP,
having passed a medical the previous evening.
2004 Transfer gossip was for once correct, as midfield duo Nicky Butt and
James Milner were linked with moves to Tyneside from Manchester United and Leeds
United respectively.
2005 Having only managed to
add Scott Parker to his squad in the close season, Toon boss Graeme Souness
confirmed that an approach to
sign Manchester United's Alan Smith
had been unsuccessful.
2006 Norwegians Lillestrom
seemed certain to be Newcastle's Third Round opponents in the Intertoto Cup
after they took a 4-1 first leg lead over Icelandics IBK Keflavik.
2007 Cameroon international
Geremi was on Tyneside once more as speculation inc reased
over a transfer from Chelsea to United.
2008 Day two of Joey
Barton's trial for the assault on former Manchester City team mate Ousmane Dabo
ended with the Newcastle midfielder handed a four month custodial
sentence, suspended for two years.
Barton was also ordered to carry out 200 hours community service and pay Dabo £3,000
compensation.
2011 Following the expiration of his contract with RC Lens, United
officially confirmed the signing of French midfielder Mehdi Abeid, who penned a
five-year deal.
2013 Utility player James Perch left United to join Championship side
Wigan Athletic in a deal reportedly worth £700K.
The 27 year-old was moving into the final 12 months of his three year contract
and failed to cement a permanent starting place despite committed
displays that led to fans dubbing him "Perchinio."
2014 United made
their
third signing, Ajax captain Siem De Jong arriving on a six year deal
after Jack Colback and Ayoze Perez.
The 25 year-old Dutch international midfielder came for an undisclosed fee
with 12 months of his deal at the Amsterdam club left - just weeks after
his younger brother Luuk had exited after his dreadful loan period at the
Magpies ended with no goals in 12 games.
2016 A day of comings and goings at SJP, with winger Andros Townsend
completing a £13m move to Crystal Palace after the Eagles triggered his release
clause.
In a separate deal, striker Dwight Gayle arrived from Selhurst Park in a claimed
£10m deal, while winger Matt Ritchie made a reported £12m switch from
Bournemouth - an instant replacement for Townsend.
2019 Hours after his three year contract as Newcastle Manager expired, Rafa
Benitez issued the following statement:
Dear NUFC fans,
Thank you for three fantastic, exciting and, at times, challenging years.
"What we have had here - your support,
your affection and your passion - has been unbelievable for me. St James' Park
has been always special, the 5-1 win against Tottenham, 15-05-2016, was so
emotional that since that day I have always felt as though I belonged at
Newcastle and I thank you for making me feel so welcome and at home.
Thank you to everyone at the
Club who has helped the team and of course to the fine players who grew and
fought with us and to the staff (one of the best I have ever shared time with).
"From winning the Championship, to our two seasons in the Premier League,
fans, staff and players have all been United. I wanted to stay, but I didn't
just want to sign an extended contract, I wanted to be part of a project.
"Unfortunately, it became increasingly clear to me that those at the top of
the Club did not share the same vision.
"I’m very sad about that, but I do
not regret for one moment my decision to come to Tyneside and I’m very proud
about what we achieved together.
"I will always have you in my heart.
Best of luck for the future. C’mon Toons!’"
2020 Bournemouth (a)
4-1 (2-0)
Premier League
P32, 42pts, 13th/20
Gayle(5), S.Longstaff(30),
Almiron(57), Lazaro(77)
BCD
Newcastle made it five league games without defeat as they extended their unbeaten PL record at
the Vitality Stadium to four visits.
Eddie Howe's Championship-bound Cherries introduced Callum Wilson from the bench, but
fellow future Magpie Ryan Fraser was omitted after refusing a short-term contract
extension to take part in the elongated season.
Dwight Gayle and Sean Longstaff left the
orange-clad Mags in total control before substitute duo Miguel Almiron and Valentino
Lazaro netted after the interval.
NUFC.com match
report
PL highlights are online here
2022
Formal confirmation came that Sven Botman
was a Newcastle
player, as the international transfer window opened.
The Lille defender put pen to paper on a five year deal and
became United's third senior signing of the close season after Matt Targett and Nick Pope.
2024 Amid ructions from the enforced sales of Elliot Anderson and Yankuba
Minteh, a quartet of incoming deals were officially concluded.
Defender Lloyd Kelly and veteran goalkeeper John Ruddy signed up, while the loan
transfer of full back Lewis Hall from Chelsea became permanent.
The fourth - and most controversial - was Nottingham Forest's Greek
international custodian Odysseas Vlachodimos in a claimed £20m deal.
2024 Agreement was reached between Newcastle and Manchester United on a
compensation fee for Dan
Ashworth.
The Magpies had placed their Director of Football on gardening leave five months
previously when his interest in defecting to Old Trafford became evident.
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