Sunday saw Newcastle's U15 side victorious in the Premier League International Tournament - an eight team, two day event staged at the Cobham home of Chelsea.

Qualifying with a 100% record after wins against Everton, Liverpool and Burnley during which they netted 18 times, the young Magpies began with a 2-0 win over Manchester United, Muawiya Ghanem and Jack Skleton on target.

Charlie Robinson's treble and one from Ghanem then accounted for Crystal Palace, who were defeated 4-0.

With qualification for Sunday's knockout stages virtually assured, Saturday then concluded with a much-changed line-up losing 0-1 to Juventus.

Following a 0-0 draw with hosts Chelsea on Sunday, the black and whites then progressed on penalties, with goalkeeper Lucas Flack making the vital save.

That set up a final against Manchester City; a first half header from Ghanem sending the silverware to Tyneside.

PS: That's a second win over City U15s inside a month, after a 6-2 success in a Premier League Floodlit Cup tie.

Premier League:
Brighton (h) no TV

Friday brought confirmation that Newcastle's home meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion wasn't among the latest Premier League games selected for live TV coverage.

That remains a 3pm kick-off on Saturday May 2nd.

The remainder of United's season looks like this:
 
Sun 12.04.2026 Crystal Palace (a) 2pm Sky

Sat 18.04.2026 Bournemouth (h) 3pm

Sat 25.04.2026 Arsenal (a) 5.30pm Sky*

* To be rescheduled if Arsenal beat Southampton in their FA Cup Quarter-final on Sat 04.04.2026. The week commencing Mon 20.04.2026 is earmarked for Premier League fixtures to be rescheduled in, but that's not 100% definite.

Sat 02.05.2026 Brighton & Hove Albion (h) 3pm

Sat 09.05.2026 Nottingham Forest (a) 3pm^

^ To be rescheduled if Forest beat Porto in their Europa League on Thu 09.04.2026 & Thu 16.04.2026. They would then be in SF second leg action on Thu 07.05.2026 and we would visit the City Ground on Sun 10.05.2026 tbc.

TV schedule for this weekend due Wed 01.04.2026. 

Sun 17.05.2026 West Ham (h) 3pm%

% To be rescheduled if West Ham beat Leeds United in their FA Cup QF on Sun 05.04.2026 and then win a SF on or around Sat 25.04.2026,

TV schedule for this weekend due Wed 08.04.2026

Sun 24.05.2026 Fulham (a) 4pm
(all games kick off at the same time on final day)

Premier League:
Brighton (h) tickets

Following confirmation of Albion's visit to SJP, ticket information has been released as follows:

Member ballot opens Mon 30.03.2026, Noon
Member ballot closes Tue 31.03.2026, Noon
Ballot winners notified Wed 01.04.2026, 11am

Winner seat selection opens Wed 01.04.2026 Noon
Winner seat selection closes Fri 03.04.2026 Noon 

ST forwarding/resale opens Fri 03.04.2026, 4pm
Member sale opens Tue 07.04.2026, 10am

Internationals:
National service

International action:

Park Seung-soo (South Korea U23s):
Sun 29.03.2026 Japan U23 (h) won 2-1. FR.
Success in Seoul in a training ground kickabout with the Newcastle winger omitted from the starting line-up. Substitute usage is tbc.

Tue 31.03.2026 USA (h) Seoul FR.

Malick Thiaw, Nick Woltemade (Germany):
Mon 30.03.2026 Ghana (h) Stuttgart, FR.

Fri 27.03.2026 Switzerland (a) won 4-3. FR.
Woltemade appeared as a 63rd minute substitute in Basel with his side 3-2 ahead. Thiaw remained unused.

Harvey Barnes, Dan Burn, Anthony Gordon, Lewis
Hall, Tino Livramento, Aaron Ramsdale (England):
Tue 31.03.2026 Japan (h) Wembley. FR.
Dan Burn and Anthony Gordon weren't in the squad for the Uruguay game but should both feature on Tuesday. Aaron Ramsdale was the only Magpie out of the eight players released back to their clubs ahead of the Japan game.  

Fri 27.03.2026 Uruguay (h) drew 1-1. FR.
Livramento completed 90 minutes at Wembley in the right back role, with Barnes and Hall introduced from the bench on 69 minutes. Ramsdale didn't feature.

Barnes became the 44th Magpie to represent England while on the books at Gallowgate and almost marked that with a goal, diverting Cole Palmer's corner towards the back post for Ben White to touch the loose ball home.

Harvey's second cap came over five years after his first - against Wales at Wembley back in October 2020 when a Leicester City player.

Livramento's fourth outing was his first since last September while Hall represented England for the third time, having won his first two caps in November 2024. 

Yoane Wissa (DR Congo):
Tue 31.03.2026 Jamaica (n) Zapopan WCPO F.
With SJP old boy Isaac Hayden in the starting line-up, the Reggae Boyz beat New Caledonia 1-0 in Friday's play-off Semi-final to set up a winner-takes-all clash with DRC.

Wed 25.03.2026 Bermuda (n) won 2-0. FR.
The forward marked his return to the international scene with a second half penalty conversion in Guadalajara.

Sandro Tonali (Italy):
Tue 31.03.2026 Bosnia (a) Zenica WCPO F
An away tie for Tonali & Co. at a 15,000 capacity venue.

Thu 26.03.2026 Northern Ireland (h) won 2-0 WCPO SF
Sandro scored a fine opener with a shot from the edge of the area in Bergamo and set up their second goal. He was replaced in the closing stages.

That's four international goals now for the midfielder, all scored in competitive games while a Magpie.

Anthony Elanga (Sweden):
Tue 31.03.2026 Poland (h) Stockholm WCPO F
The Swedes enjoy home advantage in their showdown.

Thu 26.03.2026 Ukraine (n) won 3-1 WCPO SF
Anthony was subbed during the fourth minute of added time as victory in Valencia moved Sweden to within one game of reaching the World Cup Finals.

William Osula (Denmark):
Tue 31.03.2026 Czech Republic (a) Prague WCPO F
The Danes learn their fate at the home of Sparta Prague.

Thu 26.03.2026 North Macedonia (h) won 4-0 WCPOSF
Will stayed on the bench and awaits his first senior cap as Denmark ran out comfortable winners in Copenhagen to maintain their hopes of a ticket to the USA.

Alex Murphy (Ireland U21s):
Tue 31.03.2026 Kazakhstan U21s (a) Turkestan ECQ.

Thu 26.03.2026 Moldova U21s (h) drew 1-1 ECQ
Alex was in the starting line-up, played the full game and was booked at the Tallaght Stadium in Dublin.

Rory Finneran (Ireland U19s):
Tue 31.03.2026 Italy (n) Glasgow. 2027 ECQ.

Sat 28.03.2026 Scotland (a) drew 3-3. 2027 ECQ.
Rory captained his side and completed the game at Kirkintilloch.

Wed 25.03.2026 Poland (n) drew 1-1. 2027 ECQ.
The midfielder captained Ireland, completed 90 minutes, picked up a booking and netted the opener at Kirkintilloch.

Aaron Epia (Poland U19s):
Tue 31.03.2026 Scotland (a) Airdrie. 2027 ECQ.

Sat 28.03.2026 Italy (n) drew 1-1. 2027 ECQ.
Aaron completed the full game in Glasgow at the cost of a yellow card.

Wed 25.03.2026 Ireland (n) drew 1-1. 2027 ECQ.
The defender was an unused substitute at Kirkintilloch.

Sean Neave (England U19s):
Tue 31.03.2026 Portugal (a) Braga, Portugal. 2026 ECQ.

Sat 28.03.2026 Poland (n) won 1-0. 2026 ECQ.
Victory in Guimaraes came with Sean making his debut as an 80th minute replacement.

Wed 25.03.2026 Serbia (n) lost 0-2 2026 ECQ.
The striker remained on the bench in Guimaraes, Portugal.

Roman Dowell, Michael Mills (England U17s):
Tue 31.03.2026 Estonia (h) St.George's Park. ECQ.

Wed 25.03.2026 Faroe Islands (h) won 3-0 ECQ.
The United pair were both named in the starting line-up at St.George's Park, goalkeeper Roman playing the full game and attacker Michael completing the opening 65 minutes.

Sat 28.03.2026 Israel (h) lost 1-3. ECQ.
Roman kept his place in the side while Michael arrived off the bench in the 86th minute when the scoring was complete at St.George's Park.

Update:
Alex Cropley RIP

The death of former Magpie Alex Cropley has been confirmed. He was 75.

Arriving on Tyneside on loan from Aston Villa in January 1980, the midfielder struggled to influence Newcastle's faltering bid to gain promotion from the Second Division.

Struggling for fitness after several injuries, Cropley made his Magpies debut in a 0-1 loss at Wrexham, keeping his place for a 0-0 home draw against Birmingham City and a 1-3 reverse away to Shrewsbury Town before exiting.

Winning two Scotland caps despite his Aldershot birthplace, Alex began his career at Hibernian in 1969 before joining Arsenal five years later, where he suffered two broken legs.

Sold to Aston Villa in 1976 he was part of their League Cup winning side the following year.
   
After his brief loan spell at SJP, Cropley returned to Villa Park before a year in Canada with Toronto Blizzard. A brief period with Portsmouth was then truncated by injury.

Returning to Edinburgh, Cropley ran a pub in the Portobello area of the city before becoming a taxi driver.

A dementia diagnosis sadly came in December 2020. 

Premier League:
Crystal Palace (a)

2024/25 drew 1-1 og(Guehi)
2023/24 lost 0-2
2022/23 drew 0-0
2021/22 drew 1-1 Wilson
2020/21 won 2-0 Wilson, Joelinton
2019/20 lost 0-1
2018/19 drew 0-0
2017/18 drew 1-1 Diame
2015/16 lost 1-5 Cisse
2014/15 drew 1-1 Cisse
2014/15 won 3-2 (aet) Riviere 2, Dummett (LC)
2013/14 won 3-0 Cabaye, og(Gabbidon), Ben Arfa
2009/10 won 2-0 Nolan, Ryan Taylor
2004/05 won 2-0 Kluivert, Bellamy
1997/98 won 2-1 Tomasson, Ketsbaia
1994/95 won 1-0 Beardsley
1983/84 lost 1-3 Beardsley
1982/83 won 2-0 Waddle, Varadi
1981/82 won 2-1 Waddle, Mills
1978/79 lost 0-1
1972/73 drew 0-0 (AI)
1972/73 lost 1-2 Tudor
1971/72 lost 0-2
1970/71 lost 0-1
1969/70 won 3-0 Davies, Dyson, Robson
1964/65 drew 1-1 Cummings

Latest PL fixtures:

Fri 10.04.2026:
West Ham v Wolves (8pm) Sky

Sat 11.04.2026:
Arsenal v Bournemouth (12.30pm) TNT
Brentford v Everton (3pm)
Burnley v Brighton & Hove Albion (3pm)
Liverpool v Fulham (5.30pm) Sky

Sun 12.04.2026:
Crystal Palace v Newcastle (2pm) Sky
Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa (2pm) Sky
mackems v Spurs (2pm) Sky
Chelsea v Manchester City (4.30pm) Sky

Mon 13.04.2026:
Manchester United v Leeds United (8pm) Sky

Update:
Loan lads

Tyler Jones (Dunston UTS):
The goalkeeper wasn't involved in Friday's 0-1 loss at Ashington in the Northern Premier League.

Antonio Cordero (Cadiz)
Saturday brought a 1-2 loss at Ceuta in La Liga 2; Antonio introduced from the bench with his side trailing 0-2.

Matt Targett (Middlesbrough):
Millwall (h) Championship, Friday.

Harrison Ashby/Joe White (Bradford City):
Northampton Town (h) League One, Friday.

Charlie McArthur (Airdrieonians):
Ross County (a) Scottish Championship, Saturday.

1915 Liverpool (a)
2-2 (0-0)
Division One
P30, 24pts, 15th/20 
King(70), Hall(71) 
Miller(80), Pagnam(82)
3,000
Rescheduled to a Monday due to FA Cup commitments, Newcastle's visit to Anfield was described as "curiously uneven" in the view of The Journal reporter.

Both sides struggled with a heavy pitch and scoring attempts verged on the farcical, save for the 13 minute spell when all four goals were netted.

At 0-0, "the crowd became saucy and cried aloud their jeering remarks" according to the Liverpool Echo correspondent.

1919 Middlesbrough (h)
0-1 (0-1)
Wartime (Northern Victory League)
Elliott
35,000

1924 Manchester City (n)
2-0 (1-0)
FA Cup Semi-Final 
Harris(44,50) 
50,039 
This tie at Birmingham's St.Andrews saw Billy Meredith play his final City game, aged 49 years and 245 days.

A brace by Scottish international forward Neil Harris clinched United's first trip to the Empire Stadium and a meeting with Aston Villa, who disposed of Burnley.
Newsreel footage is online here

1930 Portsmouth (a)
0-2 (0-1)
Division One
P33, 27pts, 20th/22 
J.Smith(15), Easson(72)
18,000
Newcastle's relegation fears returned after this defeat at Fratton Park - three wins and four draws from their final nine games seeing them ultimately finish a point above the drop zone.

1932 Leicester City (a)
2-4 (2-0)
Division One
P34, 38pts, 8th/22 
Allen(27), Weaver(30pen) 
Ritchie(50), Hine(55,82,84)
25,000
The Foxes gained revenge for a 2-3 loss on Tyneside four days earlier, recovering from a 0-2 interval deficit to win at Filbert Street.

Ahead through Jack Allen, United's second came when Ron Starling was fouled in the area as a free kick was delivered; Sammy Weaver converting the resultant penalty.

Ernie Hine netted a second half hat trick despite blasting his penalty kick high over Albert McInroy's crossbar at 2-2. 

Among those present in support of the visitors was Joseph Wilkinson - en route from Tyneside to London for the FA Cup Final the following month - by foot.

He was clad in a Newcastle shirt that had been given to him by Stan Seymour.

1941 Middlesbrough (h)
3-0 (0-0)
Wartime
Duns(50), Birkett(2-0), Gilholme(3-0)
12,397

1947 Charlton Athletic (n)
0-4 (0-3)
FA Cup Semi-Final 
Dawson(18), Welsh(39,41), Hurst(52)
47,821 
Internal divisions wrecked Newcastle's preparations for this tie at Elland Road, Leeds.

Charlie Wayman was dropped and Joe Harvey and Len Shackleton were in dispute with the club, although they both played.

The Addicks however were intent on going one step further than the previous season, when they were the beaten finalists.

Their South Shields-born goalkeeper Sam Bartram would go on to help them achieve that feat. 
Newsreel footage is online here

1948 Barnsley (a)
1-1 (1-0)
Division Two
P36, 46pts, 2nd/22 
McCall(35)
Griffiths(59)
30,247
United took a point from Oakwell despite completing 75 minutes a man short; George Lowrie badly incapacitated by a leg injury but remaining on the field.

The Magpies remained second in the table with six games of the season to play.

1950 Derby County (a)
1-1 (0-1)
Division One
P34, 37pts, 9th/22 
Hannah(60) 
Morris(17)
16,029
Newcastle extended their unbeaten run to six games thanks to a point at the Baseball Ground in this rearranged game staged on a Wednesday afternoon.

Fog had caused the abandonment of the first meeting in November after 75 minutes, at which point the Rams had been 1-0 up.

1952 Blackburn Rovers (n)
0-0 (0-0)
FA Cup Semi-Final 
65,000
"Defence magnificent in dour duel" was The Journal headline, as Cup holders United and Second Division Rovers barely mustered a shot between them at Hillsborough.

21 special trains operated from Newcastle to Sheffield, the first of which arrived at 7am.

The two sides met again at Elland Road the following Wednesday, Newcastle winning 2-1.

The other tie - between Chelsea and Arsenal - was postponed due to adverse weather conditions.

1958 Luton Town (h)
3-2 (2-1)
Division One
P34, 27pts, 18th/22 
Davies(5), Bottom(23), White(63)
Whitby(31), Turner(65)
16,775
Victory for United began to dispel their relegation fears, steady rain leaving the pitch mud bound: conditions that forward Arthur Bottom seemed to revel in.

Len White's scoring run continued - his sixth in four games coming after he'd earlier rattled a post.

1969 Coventry City (h)
2-0 (1-0)
Division One
P32, 31pts, 14th/22 
Robson(63pen), McNamee(71) 
26,750
The exertions of their midweek Fairs Cup trip to Portugal clearly affected Newcastle, but a handball by Jeff Blockley allowed Pop Robson to put his side ahead from the penalty spot.

John McNamee then sealed the win when he took Jackie Sinclair's pass and hammered a rising shot past Bill Glazier and into the net.

1975 Leeds United (a)
1-1 (1-0)
Division One
P36, 35pts, 13th/22 
Nulty(2) 
Clarke(83)
41,225
Arriving at Elland Road looking to avoid a fifth successive loss, Newcastle led in just 62 seconds when Geoff Nulty forced Malcolm Macdonald's centre home.

Just when the travelling support were beginning to acclaim an away win though, Allan Clarke shot past Iam McFaul to snaffle a point.

1978 Manchester City (h)
2-2 (0-1)
Division One
P33, 19pts, 22nd/22 
Kennedy(53), Bird(90+1)
Palmer(15,70)
20,256 
Rookie striker Roger Palmer twice put City ahead, only for Alan Kennedy and John Bird to rescue a point - although that was of little use to the relegation favourites.

This was the final game that the covered Leazes terrace that had been home to thousands of United fans was open.

The financial health of the club was such that the replacement stand never got any further than a few walls in the fifteen years before SJP was revamped under the Halls. 

1980 Bristol Rovers (h)
3-1 (0-1)
Division Two
P35, 41pts, 5th/22 
Withe(71,74), Cassidy(84)
Penny(44)
18,975
Winless in eight games, a 0-1 deficit at half time didn't augur well for United, but they turned things around against the Pirates.
 
Future Magpies goalkeeper Martin Thomas could do nothing to deny Peter Withe breaking his scoring duck with two headers in quick succession, before setting up Tommy Cassidy to hit a third.

1986 Everton (a)
0-1 (0-1)
Division One
P33, 52pts, 9th/22 
Richardson(29)
41,116 
Future Magpies youth coach Kevin Richardson scored the only goal at Goodison Park, although visiting goalkeeper Dave McKellar felt that he was impeded by Graeme Sharp as the cross came over.

Chances to equalise came and went: Paul Gascoigne hit a post and Ian Stewart put the rebound wide with the goal gaping.

Billy Whitehurst was then flagged offside as he touched in a shot on the line before blazing another shot into the Gwladys Street End.

Kevin Ratcliffe's trip on Glenn Roeder was then deemed to be a penalty, only for future Toffee Peter Beardsley to step up and whack the ball over Bobby Mimms' crossbar - his third successive failure from the spot.
Youtube footage is online here

1992 mackems (h)
1-0 (1-0)
Division Two
P39, 46pts, 17th/24 
Kelly(33) 
30,306 
What the scorer and future mackem called "a spawny goal" settled this derby played on a Sunday on police advice because of the fear of crowd disorder. 

Mick Quinn claimed a second goal after Anton Rogan appeared to clear from well behind the goal line, but the referee disagreed.
Youtube footage is online here

1994 Norwich City (h)
3-0 (1-0)
Premier League
P34, 63pts, 3rd/22 
Cole(45), Lee(50), Beardsley(70)
32,228
United's sixth successive home league win - their best top flight run since 1948 - was called "thoroughly professional" by manager Kevin Keegan.

Darren Peacock's Magpies debut was made easier by the absence of Canaries striker Chris Sutton, the defender getting upfield to nod on a corner that Andy Cole eventually converted.  

SJP old boy Gary Megson was in the visiting lineup, along with Robert Ullathorne - who later joined Newcastle on non-contract terms but got no further than the reserves.
Youtube footage is online here

1999 United's Reserve side were held 2-2 by York City at Kingston Park. Paddy Kelly and Paul Robinson netted for the Magpies.

2002 Everton (h)
6-2 (2-2)
Premiership
P31, 59pts, 4th/20
Shearer(13), Cort(15), O'Brien(59), Solano(71,73),
Bernard(88)
Ferguson(6),
Alexandersson(34)
51,921
A very Good Friday, despite falling behind to an early goal from old boy Duncan Ferguson. Alessandro Pistone and Steve Watson also featured for the Toffees.
NUFC.com match report

2003 A 4-0 win for Wales over Azerbaijan at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium included goals from United's Craig Bellamy and Gary Speed - the former after just 13 seconds.

2005 United boss Bobby Robson pronounced himself mystified by media reports that he had received job offers from both the Iran and Bahrain national sides.

2010 Nottingham Forest (h) 2-0 (0-0)
Championship
P39, 83pts, 1st/24
Ameobi(71), Enrique(90+1)
45,987
Two late goals preserved Newcastle's season-long unbeaten home record and opened up a thirteen point gap on Forest.

Shola Ameobi came off the bench to put United ahead then set up Jose Enrique to net his first goal for the club on his 88th appearance. Promotion was imminent.
NUFC.com match report
 
2011 Newcastle Reserves ended their home league programme by beating Everton 2-1, although yet again the fixture was staged behind closed doors.

Ryan Donaldson and Phil Airey netted.
NUFC.com match report

2014 Southampton (a) 
0-4 (0-1) 
Premier League
P32, 42pts, 9th/20
Rodriguez(45+1,89), Lambert(49), Lallana(70)
31,360
Following a three game stadium ban for his touchline tussle with Hull City's David Meyler, Alan Pardew returned to one of his former clubs - albeit in the seats near to owner Mike Ashley. 

United were pummelled by the Saints, who made and missed ten chances before going ahead in the final seconds of the first half.

An apparent on-field mutiny was ended by Pardew withdrawing Hatem Ben Arfa at half time, but only goalkeeper Rob Elliot prevented a loss of mammoth proportions.
NUFC.com match report

2025 Newcastle city centre came to a standstill, as Eddie Howe, his staff and the players showed off the Carabao Cup, won at Wembley almost a fortnight earlier.
NUFC.com report

Two open top buses left St.James' Park, going via Barrack Road, Gallowgate, Percy Street, Haymarket and the Great North Roaden route to reach the Town Moor.

The squad disembarked and took to a temporary stage, where former players including Bob Moncur, Les Ferdinand and Alan Shearer had preceded them.

 

Kieran Trippier, Jamaal Lascelles and Bruno Guimaraes then recreated their Wembley trophy lift before several players spoke to the crowd, including Alexander Isak.

It would prove to be his last public sighting as a Magpie.