Strasbourg (h) Public sale now
Liverpool (h) ST forwarding/resale now
West Brom (h) Member ballot Mon 17.08,  Noon
Spurs (a) SOLD OUT
Bournemouth (h) ST forwarding/resale now
Leeds (a) SOLD OUT

2026/27:
Toothless Toon fail
to earn their stripes

Newcastle  1  Bayer 04 Leverkusen  2

A performance as indistinct as the stripes on the new home shirt saw Newcastle lose to last season's Champions League rivals at a subdued St. James' Park on Saturday afternoon.

It was an inauspicious introduction to life at SJP for new manager Matthias Jaissle whose beginning on Barrack Road was as quiet as his team's showing; they fell behind twice to the visitors and then couldn't force penalties with a late leveller.

Searching for any positives from the day is tough, with a strong line-up looking decidedly weak and Leverkusen took just 47 seconds to find the back of the Gallowgate goal.

Ibrahim Maza curled a shot from the edge of the box that easily beat Lukas Hornicek, entering the middle of the net when he was given far too much time to line up his effort.

The Magpies came close to equalising when Mason Miley found space and chipped the ball to Yoane Wissa whose volley was saved.

Wissa played in Harvey Barnes but his cross from the left was intercepted by former Brentford stopper Mark Flekken.

An unpopular drinks break saw Newcastle change their shirts to the lilac third kit but that failed to inspire the wearers who created very little as the half progressed.

The change of shirt appeared to be because the all white reverse on the home kit clashed with the white Leverkusen strip, Toon fan referee Michael Oliver ordering the change.

With a minute left of the first period Anthony Elanga sent over a corner from the left that captain Malick Thiaw nodded back across goal from the far post and beyond Flekken inside the upright.

It was a rare moment that inspired a modest cheer and it allowed Jaissle's side to leave the field to some polite applause.

Lewis Miley was given a fitness test at the interval that he failed and Rory Finneran was introduced and the young midfielder made a mistake but swiftly made amends with a tackle.

Wissa broke forward in the 57th minute and played in Nick Woltemade but a tame shot was easily saved.

The visitors made a number changes and then dominated late possession and it was no surprise when Victor Boniface waltzed into the box and easily tucked the ball past Hornicek.

Sean Neave was introduced in the 86th minute and caused some problems but it was Barnes who volleyed over from close range in the final minute.

Hornicek saved from Patrik Schick in added time while a late free-kick was easily collected at the other end and Oliver blew for full-time.

The ground emptied quickly as the victors were awarded their trinket for winning the game as fans and coaching staff turned their thoughts to the visit of Liverpool in eight days.

It would be remarkable if the Strasbourg game on Sunday provided some immediate solutions as the start of the Premier League ominously looms large.

Full match report to follow.

Team: Hornicek, M.Miley (Pivas 80), Hall, Botman, Thiaw, Steur, L.Miley (Finneran 46), Barnes, Elanga, Woltemade (Neave 86), Wissa.
Subs n/u: Harris, Charlton, Sanusi, Johnson.

Goal: Thiaw 44.

BFC: Flekken, Gutierrez (Belocian 70), Bade, Fernandez (Terrier 70), Moreira (Tella 81), Tillman (Doganay 70), Tapsoba, Arthur, Garcia, Maza (Boniface 70), Kofane (Schick 46).
Subs n/u (tbc): Blaswich, Lomb, Hofmann, Oermann, Poku, Vazquez, Alfa-Ruprecht, Hawighorst.

Booked: tbc.

Goals: Maza 1, Boniface 82.

Four NUFC starters began the CL tie in Germany last December - Hall, Thiaw, Barnes, Woltemade. Bayer fielded six starters.

Referee: Michael Oliver.

Crowd: 39,059 with the entire Level 7 closed. Apart from a few words of welcome on the screens - a second screen now in the Strawberry Corner - there was no formal introduction of Jaissle, presumably at his request.

Matthias Jaissle said:

"I was so happy to see the atmosphere right now so I can't even imagine what it will look like against Liverpool when the stadium is full and we get the whole support.

"That will be the message. We need to stick together. With these challenges now, this transitional moment, we need the fans together with the players and the staff."

On Mason Miley having to come off with cramp:

"This is the attitude we need. Really suffering until the tank is empty.

"It's important that there will be something done in the transfer market. I think everyone is aligned on that."

Stats:

Lewis Miley and younger brother Mason played in the same senior Newcastle side for the first time. Lewis had previously shared a pitch for the Magpies with elder sibling, Jamie.

2026/27:
Strasbourg (h)

Newcastle conclude their pre-season preparations against French opposition on Sunday, kicking off at 4pm.

Match ticket holders can also gain admission to the NUFC Women's friendly against Inter Milan Women at 1pm.

Note that Level 7 isn't open.

NB: should the game be drawn after 90 minutes, a penalty shootout will take place.

Hat sellers Football Bobbles will have a stall outside the Trent House pub from Noon, with stocks of the brand-new Drill bucket hat. Card payments accepted.

Team: Joelinton is reported to be injured and will miss the opening of the Premier League season.

Dan Burn has been confirmed as new club captain.

RCSA: Following the close season departure of coach Gary O'Neill to Ipswich Town, his successor Hugo Oliveira has lost all six pre-season fixtures to date. 

The Portuguese-born 47 year-old is no stranger to English football after eight years assisting Marco Silva at Hull City, Watford, Everton and Fulham.

Strasbourg have sold centre forward Julio Enciso to Ipswich and midfielder Rabby Nzingoula to West Bromwich Albion in recent days. That follows midfielder Valentin Barco's switch to partner club Chelsea earlier in this window.

Finishing eighth in Ligue 1 last season, they begin their competitive fixture programme at Marseille on Friday.

Bus: The Matchday Park & Ride X50 Soccerbus will not operate either onSunday.

Metro: The line between South Gosforth and Newcastle Airport is closed in both directions for a nine day period until services recommence on Monday week (24th). 

Bus replacement services will run - details online here

A reminder that Magpie Movers are not valid for friendlies.

Stats:

This is the fifth successive season that Newcastle have rounded off pre-season with a home double header.

2022/23 Atalanta (Italy) won 1-0
2022/23 Athletic Bilbao (Spain) won 2-1
2023/24 Fiorentina (Italy) won 2-0
2023/24 Villarreal (Spain) won 4-0
2024/25 Girona (Spain) won 4-0
2024/25 Brest (France) won 1-0
2025/26 Espanyol (Spain) drew 2-2
2025/26 Atletico Madrid (Spain) lost 0-2
2026/27 Bayer (04) Leverkusen (Germany) lost 1-2

2026/27:
Rams repelled

Newcastle U18s  3  Derby County U18s  1

United's youngsters began their U18 Premier League season with victory at Little Benton on Saturday.

Newcastle trailed at the break after a 28th minute shot from Euan Griffiths struck the crossbar and bounced down before it was bundled into goalkeeper Roman Dowell's net.

The hosts made a change before half time, former West Ham youngster Kyle Healy-Matthews coming on for his debut.

The second half opened up in broadly similar fashion to the first; Newcastle seeing plenty of the ball but their final passes lacking quality.

That changed just when Muawiya Ghanem's low cross in the 59th minute was met by Alfie Hutchison, who directed a left foot shot into the corner of the goal to make it 1-1.

Six minutes later United were ahead, after Alfie Seldon broke into the left side of the Derby area, regaining possession from a deflection and side-footing home.

Victory was then sealed two minutes from the end of normal time, as Sam Alabi's corner kick was finished by Magpies substitute Theo Benjamin.

Team: Dowell, Patterson (Healy-Matthews 39), Goodbrand (Skelton 81) Alabi, Old, Patterson, Ghanem (Ndiweni 74), Koussou (Afumuzor 73), Hutchison, Robinson (Benjamin 82), Seldon.
Sub n/u: Holland.

Booked: Ghanem, Seldon, Alabi.

2026/27:
Toffees eclipse Toon

Newcastle  1  Everton  3

Match report

2026/27:
Albion (h) date set  

Newcastle will begin their Carabao Cup campaign with a Second Round home tie against Championship side West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday August 26th.

It's a 7.45pm kick-off and will be played to a finish on the night, with a penalty shootout if it's a draw on 90 minutes.

This and the rest of the ties will be live on Sky Sports.

Member (and STs not enrolled in cup scheme) ballot opens Mon 17.08.2026 Noon, closes Tue 18.08.2026, Noon.

Ballot winners notified by Wed 19.08.2026, 11.30am, ballot winners seat selection opens Wed 19.08.2026 Noon, closes Fri 21.08.2026, Noon.

ST forwarding/resale opens Fri 21.08.2026, 4pm.
Member Sale opens Mon 24.08.2026, Noon

Prices:
£35 adults, £20 concessions (normal areas)
£40 adults, £25 concessions (1892/Platinum)

The tie comes between United's first two Premier League fixtures, at home to Liverpool the previous Sunday then away at Spurs the following Saturday.

The Baggies will be in Championship action on the same two days, facing Burnley at the Hawthorns the Sunday before travelling to Boro on the Saturday.

Season ticket holders on the Carabao Cup scheme pay £22 or £28 depending on location. Payments were taken on Thursday August 13th. Other ticket sale info is awaited.

Managed by Darlington-born James Morrison, Albion won 4-1 at Rotherham United on Saturday in the First Round.

This is the third time the two sides have met in the League Cup: Albion winning 1-0 on Tyneside back in October 1989 and returning to Gallowgate during October 2003 to register a 2-1 success - Lee Hughes scoring an extra-time winner three minutes after Alan Shearer came off the bench.

Their last visit to SJP ended in a 2-1 Premier League home win behind closed doors in December 2020. Joelinton and Jacob Murphy remain from the 14 players used that day. 

Loan lads:
The borrowers

Odysseas Vlachodimos (Seville):
Rayo Vallecano (h) La Liga, Saturday.

Harrison Ashby (Luton Town):
Reading (a) League One, Saturday.

Alex Murphy (Kaiserslautern):
Karlsruhe (h) Bundesliga 2, Saturday.     

Antonio Cordero (Cadiz):
Celta Vigo II (h) Segunda Division, Saturday.

Cadiz have undergone yet another change of coach in recent days, their fourth appointment in barely a year.

2026/27:
ST downloads available

NUFC are currently emailing 2026/27 season ticket holders to confirm that their digital tickets can now be downloaded by logging on via their supporter accounts.

2026/27:
Liverpool (a) info

One of our readers notes that Newcastle's Premier League visit to Anfield this season takes place at some point on or around Saturday April 10th 2027 - the day that the Grand National horse race will be staged at nearby Aintree.

While the days of moving Liverpool and Everton home games to avoid clashes are over, transport and hotels etc. across merseyside will be adversely affected that weekend.

Liverpool versus Newcastle should be confirmed as part of the live TV amendments on or around February 22nd - with the added complication of falling between the first and second legs of the Champions League Quarter-finals, were the Reds to reach the last eight.

Internationals:
Magpie is a young Lion

Newcastle youngster Charlie Robinson has been named in the England U16 squad for two friendlies later this month.

The attacker is selected for games against Italy on Tuesday 25th August and Thursday 27th August in Florence.

2026/27:
U18 PL Cup draw

Newcastle's U18s will once again participate in the U18 Premier League Cup this season, drawn in Group G with Derby County, Fulham and Spurs.

Match dates are awaited.

2026/27:
U21s break new ground

A new season brings another mixture of first team grounds, training facilities and borrowed venues for Newcastle's U21 side - and some uncharted territory.

Three new stadia appear so far: a Premier League Cup meeting with Peterborough United at the Zeeco Stadium of Stamford in November and a PL2 game against Chelsea in March at the Kings Meadow in Kingston upon Thames.

The third then sees United head to the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham to play West Bromwich Albion in PL2 during April - a venue known more for athletics and now the home of the Baggies' women's side. 

There's some duplication of away venues this season; United's second string facing two trips to the homes of Boreham Wood, Solihull and York where'll they face the nominal home side and also the temporary occupants.

That scenario sees them visit York twice within a week during September for games against City and Leeds.

The U21s kick off by making a National League Cup visit to Tamworth on Tuesday, before successive PL2 home games on the following two Mondays against Spurs and Fulham.

Saturday sees United U18s begin their league campaign, facing Derby County in a 1pm kick-off at Little Benton.

That's the first of three home games on successive Saturdays, with Stoke City and Blackburn Rovers on Tyneside the following two weekends.

As ever, all venues and schedules are subject to change, often at minimal notice - as we've found to our cost....

Friendly:
Jaissle off to a
winning start

Valencia  1  Newcastle  2

Match report

2026/27:
Ticket to ride

2026/27 Magpie Mover tickets are now on sale, allowing public transport use in Tyne & wear on home matchdays from three hours before kick-off until the end of service*

Held at £25 for each of the last four seasons, the price has increased to £35 this time round, with no concessions.

Available to season ticket holders, Magpie+ members are also eligible to purchase them as was the case last season - although pass validity depends on having a match ticket.

* competitive senior games only, no friendlies/U18/U21s.

Update:
Squad updates

Senior players signed (5):
Aladji Bamba, Lukas Hornicek, Ewen Jaouen, Sean Steur, Bazoumana Toure. 

Development players signed (1):
Afner Ca

Academy players signed (3 - all tbc):
Eli Hall, Kyle Healy-Matthews, Kryan Thompson

Senior contracts extended (3):
Harvey Barnes, Mark Gillespie, Fabian Schar

Senior players sold (3):
Anthony Gordon (Barcelona), Sandro Tonali (Spurs), Bruno Guimaraes (Arsenal)

Development squad players sold (2):
Travis Hernes (Groningen), Joe White (Crewe Alexandra)

Senior players loaned (3):
Harrison Ashby (Luton Town), Antonio Cordero (Cadiz), Odysseas Vlachodimos (Seville)

Professional contracts signed (6):
Sam Alabi, Guy Bloomer, Jake Durrant, Henry Johnson, Mason Miley, Kacey Wooster

Scholarship contracts signed (8):
Chukwudi Afumuzor, Theo Benjamin, Roman Dowell, Jayden Kouossu, George Mair, Leon Mukumbira, Alfie Seldon, Lesecond Yeutembip


 

What Else?