Thursday June 18th, 2026

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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 2025/26:

103

.

alt  

 

Update:
Vic off

Newcastle look to have been outmanoeuvred in the transfer market once again by a Premier League rival, following the news that Liverpool are to sign Victor Munoz.

The 22 year-old CA Osasuna winger had been targeted as a replacement for Anthony Gordon, but a public pursuit failed to convince the Spaniard to commit himself to Gallowgate.

Instead, Munoz is destined to be the first arrival at Anfield under fellow countryman Andoni Iraola, after they joined Newcastle in meeting a £34.5m release clause. The player underwent his Liverpool medical in the USA on Wednesday.

The whys and wherefores of this fruitless pursuit will no doubt be dissected (and invented) over the coming days, but this is anything, but a good look for the Magpies as a crucial summer for the club and the manager unfolds.

2026/27:
Fixture Friday

Newcastle's 2026/27 Premier League fixtures will be released at 10am this Friday - inevitably subject to considerable alteration for TV and European commitments of others.

The first fixture round will be on or around Saturday August 22nd, with hostilities ending on Sunday May 30th 2027.

Five midweek fixture rounds will be scheduled, unchanged from 2025/26. Last season's commitment not to schedule games on Christmas Eve looks to have been discarded.

Burnley, West Ham and Wolves are replaced by Coventry City, Hull City and Ipswich Town; Coventry's
CBS Arena becoming the 62nd different PL venue hosting Newcastle.

Sky Sports & TNT Sports hold UK live transmission rights, with their live schedule release dates awaited. 2025/26 opening day TV picks were announced straight away.

Although the Magpies are confined to domestic fixtures in the coming season, the progress of the nine PL clubs who are in the three European competitions will impact on us.

In particular, PL games involving sides in the Europa League (Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, mackems) and Conference League (Brighton) scheduled after their Thursday night adventures will automatically move from the Saturday.

In terms of Cups, United enter the
Carabao Cup in the Second Round (date tbc) which is regionalised. They should learn their opponents on or around Monday August 10th.

The usual FA Cup Third Round ties will take place on or around Saturday January 9th 2027, with the draw for that set to be staged on or around Sunday December 6th.

The Magpies are yet to release details of the home cup ticket schemes for both Carabao Cup and FA Cup ties.

World Cup:
Reborn in the USA?

When and where for our lot in the USA (all times BST)

Find Coral's WC betting markets online here   

Yoane Wissa (DR Congo, Group K):
Wed 17.06.2026 Portugal drew 1-1
The Newcastle forward played the full game in Houston, memorably heading in his side's first half equaliser. That makes him the first current Magpie to score at a WC Final tournament since Aleksander Mitrovic for Serbia in 2018*

(* Mitro had been loaned to Fulham for part of the previous season but there was no purchase obligation and he was officially a Newcastle player for over a month after scoring versus Switzerland before his transfer to Craven Cottage).

Wed 24.06.2026 Colombia (Guadalajara, Mexico) 3am itv
Sun 28.06.2026 Uzbekistan (Atlanta, USA) 12.30am bbc

Dan Burn (England, Group L):

Wed 17.06.2026 Croatia won 4-2
Burn remained on the bench in Dallas as former SJP colleagues Elliot Anderson and Anthony Gordon started.

Tue 23.06.2026 Ghana (Boston, USA) 9pm bbc
Sat 27.06.2026 Panama (New Jersey, USA) 10pm itv

Anthony Elanga (Sweden, Group F):
Mon 15.06.2026 Tunisia won 5-1
A comfortable outing for the Swedes in Monterrey saw Elanga come off the bench in the first minute of added time when it was 4-1. He replaced a former Magpie who had earlier scored his side's second goal.

Sat 20.06.2026 Netherlands (Houston, USA) 6pm bbc
Fri 26.06.2026 Japan (Dallas, USA) 12am bbc

Malick Thiaw, Nick Woltemade (Germany, Group E):
Sun 14.06.2026 Curacao won 7-1
Neither Magpie made it off the bench in Houston.

Sat 20.06.2026 Ivory Coast (Toronto, Canada) 9pm itv
Thu 25.06.2026 Ecuador (New Jersey, USA) 9pm bbc

Bruno Guimaraes
(Brazil, Group C):
Sat 13.06.2026 Morocco drew 1-1
Bruno in New Jersey and provided an assist for Vini Junior's equaliser. He was replaced in the 80th minute.

Sat 20.06.2026 Haiti (Philadelphia, USA) 1.30am itv
Wed 24.06.2026 Scotland (Miami, USA) 11pm bbc


Former Magpies participating in the World Cup include:

Miguel Almiron (Paraguay)
Elliot Anderson (England)
Nabil Bentaleb (Algeria)
Bradley Cross (South Africa)
Anthony Gordon (England)
Grant Hanley (Scotland)
Alexander Isak (Sweden)
Chancel Mbemba (DR Congo)
Mikel Merino (Spain)
Ivan Toney (England)
Chris Wood (New Zealand)

Steve Clarke (Scotland Coach)

Giveaway:
Sock compo
winner

Tyneside-based Football Bobbles are offering three pair bundles of three NUFC socks at a special price, with eight different designs to choose from. Find them online here

We had a bundle to give away and asked whose testimonial match saw both Kevin Keegan and Kenny Dalglish together on the SJP pitch in 1999.

It was of course Peter Beardsley (versus Celtic) and the winning entry was received from Lydia Scott.

Update:
Tino blow

News came from England's USA training camp on Tuesday that Tino Livramento's World Cup had ended without him kicking a ball in anger.

The Newcastle full back returned to the UK after reportedly suffering a calf injury in training, having featured in last week's kickabout against New Zealand in Tampa. 

That was Livramento's first pitch time since mid April, with a thigh issue keeping him out of United's closing five games.

Thoughts of any late call-up for club colleague Lewis Hall were dismissed, Chelsea's Trevoh Chalobah promoted from England's standby list instead.

Update
:
Progress?

Monday brought multiple reports that Newcastle's new main shirt sponsor is to be South African soft drink company KNOX, who already hold training ground naming rights.

It's claimed that the new three year agreement will net the Magpies 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 begins next month and will boost the club's coffers by £6m annually.

* The now-expired three year sponsorship contract with SELA was confirmed by NUFC in June 2023, when no firm details of value or duration were publicly divulged.

The replacement deal for the FUN88 brand was claimed to be worth £25m per year, with no mention of performance-related clauses, meaning that the Magpies banked £75m.

The biggest difference between 2023 and 2026 is of course the fact that the SELA shirts were then set to be displayed in Champions League games and the KNOX ones aren't.

On that basis, it's reasonable to conclude that the £25m notional fee for 2027/28 and 2028/29 is based on United qualifying for the prestige European club competition and that the value of those rights is unchanged since 2023 - certainly from our negotiations.

Update
:
Hammers headhunt recruitment mainstay

Although initially denied by some media outlets, it looks increasingly as if the 15 year career of Steve Nickson at Gallowgate will end with his departure to West Ham.

The 61 year-old moved from Blackburn Rovers to United ahead of the 2011/12 season, switching from a youth recruitment brief to scouting senior players in 2017.

Nickson continued in his role as head of recruitment as Director of Football appointments came and went, but the presence of Andy Howe and his current position as Senior Football Executive looks to have been the trigger that saw him seek alternative employment.

That is set to be as Sporting Director of Championship side West Ham, but it's unclear when he'll depart for E20.   

Incoming:
Mag Ewen - official

Newcastle have confirmed their first senior signing of the close season, completing the transfer of Reims goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen for a claimed £18.5m.

Standing at 6ft 6in, the 20 year-old Parisian flew into Newcastle on Monday, before completing the formalities of his move on Tuesday.
 
A fluent English speaker, Jaouen made 34 appearances last season for the Ligue 2 side, keeping 15 clean sheets.

Winning his first
U21 international cap against Switzerland in November 2025, Ewen began his career with Guingamp. Switching to Reims in 2023, a senior debut followed while on loan at Rodez during 2024.

2026/27:
I got stripes

Newcastle's new home strip has launched, retailing at £85 for adults and lacking a front of shirt sponsor for the first time since 1979.

It's available online from JD Sports here

2026/27:
Club reveal season ticket waiting list response

Following the closure of the NUFC season ticket waiting list, almost 50,000 individuals took up the opportunity to be in with a chance of owning the 250 places available.

Those who registered to join the waiting list should have received emails confirming their place in the queue, with future membership purchases required to remain eligible.


Update:
Staying, going etc.


Squad updates:

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)

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)

2026/27:
Everton (n) confirmed


Newcastle are to visit Edinburgh's Murrayfield Stadium as part  of their pre-season programme, facing Everton.

The Magpies and Toffees meet on Wednesday August 12th at 5.15pm with a
ll ticket sales via Ticketmaster.

As NUFC aren't selling tickets direct, there's no loyalty point requirement and no point will be issued to attendees.

Prices ranged from
£35 to £75 for adults plus booking fees of up to £13 - an incredible uplift in cost compared to the £25 tickets at Celtic last July.

While outrageous, the pricing is little shock to anyone attending the Premier League Summer Series of games featuring Newcastle in the USA during 2023.

That was also handled by Ticketmaster, with the cheapest ticket for United's games against Aston Villa (in Philadelphia) and Chelsea (in Atlanta) £49 when including booking fees.

There has been an inevitable backlash from fans unhappy at paying the equivalent of Champions League ticket prices, the line "from £35" factually correct but grossly misleading.

Although not administering this game (but presumably approving the ticket prices), Newcastle's opportunity to make amends will arise in the form of the home friendlies.

A sensible pricing policy for those games would seem like a small but necessary action after the Lothian shakedown.

The teatime kick-off does mean that it's possible to get back to London Kings Cross via train post-match - which may be handy, given the price of hotels in Edinburgh due to the annual Fringe Festival taking place at the same time.

We're uncertain whether this really is a "dry run" to test the viability of staging future NUFC games at Murrayfield, were SJP to be unavailable due to reconstruction.

Regarding the rest of pre-season, the players will report back around July 13th and include a training camp in the Spanish resort of La Manga.

A pair of home friendlies over the weekend of August 15th/16th are anticipated, with opponents still tbc. 


Unlikely lads:
Comings and goings

SJP old boys on the move recently include:

Tom Allen left Darlington
Tom Allen
now Hebburn Town
Dan Barlaser
left Boro
Rafa Benitez
left Panathinaikos (Manager)
Adam Campbell
left Hartlepool United
John Carver
left Lechia Gdansk (Manager
Ian Cathro
left Estoril (Head Coach)
Ian Cathro
now St.Etienne (Head Coach)
Lee Clark
left Rotherham United (Manager)
Lee Clark
now Hartlepool United (Manager)
Luuk de Jong
left Porto
Damien Duff
now Brentford (Coach)
Martin Dubravka
left Burnley
Kieron Dyer
now Southend United (Manager)
Rob Elliot
left Gateshead (Manager)
Rob Elliot
now Carlisle United (Manager)
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
Steve McClaren
now Rotherham United (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
Matt Ritchie now Bournemouth (Technical Director)
Callum Roberts
left Scunthorpe United
Callum Roberts now Notts County
Allan Saint-Maximin left RC Lens
Allan Saint-Maximin to Charlotte FC
Josh Scott now West Auckland Town
Islam Slimani left Cluj
Dylan Stephenson left Dagenham & Redbridge
Louis Storey
left Gateshead
Louis Storey
now Carlisle United (Coach)
James Tavernier
left Rangers
Kieran Trippier now Wolves
Dan Ward left South Shields
Georginio Wijnaldum left Al-Ettifaq
Mike Williamson now South Shields (Manager)

Update:
KK/KD updates

Kevin Keegan has confirmed that he's suffering from stage four stomach cancer, but responding well to treatment.

Kenny Dalglish has confirmed an unspecified cancer diagnosis, reporting that his treatment is going well.

 






Privacy policy
 

 
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Tickets/Fixtures
Season 2025/26

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

PL home ST limits:
ST left unused, limit is 5
ST sold/transferred limit is 10

SJP seating plan online here  


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 will remain unchanged at £30 for both 2026/27 and 2027/28.

Fixtures:


Fri 19.06.2026 PL fixture release @ 10am.

Mon 13.07.2026 NUFC players return for pre-season.

Wed 12.08.2026 Everton (n)
@ Murrayfield Stadium, 5.15pm. Friendly. Ticket sales via Ticketmaster, not NUFC.

Sat 22.08.2026
Premier League begins.

Tue 01.09.2026 Transfer window closes @ 11pm. 

Fri 01.01.2027 Transfer window opens @ Midnight.

Mon 01.02.2027 Transfer window closes @ 11pm.


Sun 30.05.2027
Premier League ends
.

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).

Round dates tbc

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


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)

 

International Magpies
National Service

2025/26
:
19.07.2026 World Cup Finals end

2026/27:
21.09-09.10.2026*
09.11-17.11.2026
22.03-30.03.2027

* the early September break is replaced by an extended late September/early October in which four internationals will be staged.
 
Coxy's Corner

Whoops, He did it Again...


What's this all about then? Click here  
for a rambling explanation of sorts....
 

On This Day in History
18th June


Born Or Died:

1968 Neil Mouncher born, North East Durham. (1988)

Goalkeeper who appeared briefly as a trialist for Newcastle reserves, debuting in a 4-3 victory at Preston North End in March 1988.

However, no contract offer followed and mackem-supporting Mouncher made his way back to the Northern League, turning out for various clubs including Washington before opting to relocate to New Zealand.

Joining the police, he continued his playing career with Melville United, Ngaruawahia, Whakatane and Waikato - also serving the latter as assistant manager and goalkeeping coach.

1988 Islam Slimani, born Algiers, Algeria.
(2018)

United's attempts to boost their fight against relegation in the January 2018 transfer window saw Aleksandar Mitrovic loaned out to Fulham and fellow striker Slimani loaned in from Leicester City.

The Algerian international made a £28m from Sporting Lisbon in August 2016 as Jamie Vardy's replacement - only for the England forward to remain at the club.

Slimani bagged a brace against Burnley on his Premier League bow for the Foxes, ending the season with seven PL goals and another in the Champions League.

However he struggled for pitch time in the 2017/18 season and four of his five City goals came during League Cup ties.

And sadly he was to have only a limited impact during his time at Gallowgate.

Arriving with a thigh injury, Slimani's debut was delayed for two months and further absences were then caused by ineligibility and suspension issues.

Although not enough to justify retaining him, Islam's cameos from the bench were a factor in lifting the team at a crucial time - with priceless involvements in goals against Huddersfield Town and Arsenal.

The end to Slimani's brief stay at SJP was ultimately determined by poor behaviour in a home defeat to West Bromwich Albion.

TV cameras caught him kick an opponent as a corner was taken: a retrospective three game suspension seeing him sit out United's closing trio of matches.

Returning to Leicester having played just 130 minutes over four games, a loan switch to Turks Fenerbahce came next.

Slimani was more successful on loan at Monaco, netting nine times before the season was suspended due to COVID.

Finally leaving Leicester in early 2021, he subsequently appeared for Lyon (France), Sporting Lisbon (Portugal) again, Brest (France), Anderlecht
(Belgium), Coritiba (Brazil), Mechelen (Belgium), CR Belouizdad (Algeria) and Westerlo (Belgium) on loan.

Joining Romanians
CFR Cluj in September 2025, Islam celebrated his 38th birthday in 2026 in search of yet another club.


 


What Else?

1952 Southern Rhodesia (a) 4-2 (2-0)
Friendly 
G.Robledo 3, Harvey
Scorers tbc
Crowd tbc
Game nine of their gruelling schedule saw United in Salisbury (now Harare, Zimbabwe).

1986 Peter Beardsley scored England's second goal against Paraguay in a 3-0 World Cup victory in Mexico City.

1994 Colombia lost 1-3 to Romania in Los Angeles at the World Cup in front of over 91,000. Tino Asprilla is pictured here 20 months before joining United.

1996 SJP's third and final qualifying game of Euro '96 was a convincing 3-1 victory for France over Bulgaria that ensured their qualification for the second stage of the tournament. 

However just 26,976 fans attended and many of "Les Bleus" spent just hours on Tyneside, flying in and out on day trips from France.

The farcical nature of the ticketing system saw many of the empty seats dumped by French travel agents, who bought them to acquire second stage tickets - only available when bought with first round ties.

France: Lama, Thuram, Lizarazu, Karembeu, Desailly, Blanc, Guérin, Deschamps(c), Dugarry (Loko 70), Zidane (Pedros 62), Djorkaeff.
Goals: Blanc(21), og(Penev(63), Loko(90) 
Bulgaria:
Mihaylov(c), Kremenliev, Ivanov, Tzvetanov, Houbtchev, Iankov (Borimirov 79), Iordanov, Balakov (Donkov 82), Letchkov, Penev, Stoitchkov. 
Goal: Stoitchkov(69)
Ref: Dermot Gallagher (England)

1998 The World Cup continued and without the absent Stephane Guivarc'h, France beat Saudi Arabia 4-0 in the Stade De France.

1999 "Auf Wiedersehen, Prat," as Dietmar Hamann went back on gushing statements about wanting his children to grow up on Tyneside. Arsenal seemed favourites to land the German midfielder but eventually Liverpool claimed his mercenary services.

2000 Just when defender Alessandro Pistone looked like he'd fought his way back into favour, United accepted a bid from Everton. 

£3m was too good an offer to refuse and subsequently proved to be a great piece of business, as the Italian struggled massively at Goodison Park with various fitness issues.

2001 Magpies Chief Executive David Stonehouse confirmed his resignation, citing "personal reasons" for his departure. 

Stonehouse was poached from the mackems after helping put them on a sound financial footing - and also managed to keep his black and white allegiances quiet, mackem Chairman Bob Murray famously claiming at the time that no Mags were on their board.

Stonehouse seemed approachable and a man of integrity so his days at United were always going to be numbered.... 

2003 Steve Caldwell signed a one year deal with United despite better offers from other clubs. The terms were also inferior to those being offered to his colleagues but he opted to stay and fight for a first team place.

Meanwhile, David Beckham's move to Real Madrid seemed to put the mockers on any chance of Ronaldinho moving to Newcastle. In reality, there was never any real possibility of the Brazilian coming to Tyneside. 

More realistic was the move to St. James' of Brett Emerton from Feyenoord. News of a "done deal" from Holland proved to be wrong as Emerton ended up at Ewood Park.

2006 Magpies boss Glenn Roeder was quoted as saying:

"We need to add to the squad. We've already lost one or two players. Alan Shearer has retired, Lee Bowyer and Michael Chopra have gone. That's three players down straight away.

"We won't be signing anybody this week but we're talking to players. I hope we'll have a couple of new faces. Maybe there will be five or six in total."

Roeder added: "It's important for the players we have that they see us bringing in new faces over the coming weeks."

Damian Duff and Oba Martins arrived in July and August, while Antoine Sibierski, Giuseppe Rossi (loan) and Olivier Bernard (free agent) were low-key additions as the transfer window closed until January.

2007 Despite reports that Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund were in pole position to sign David Rozehnal, the defender looked to be closing in on a move to SJP.

The Czech international had recently been voted player of the year at Paris St.Germain.

2009
Numerous media reports claimed that up to four separate parties had satisfied the financial demands in order to be able to see the club's books - and there was also talk that one formal bid had been received.

The size of the bid and identity of that bidder remained unconfirmed never came to light, prompting doubts as to whether they ever existed in the first place.


2011
A third incoming transfer brought a third Frenchman to SJP, Sylvain Marveaux following Demba Ba and Yohan Cabaye.

The 25 year-old midfielder agreed a five year deal after his Rennes deal ended.

2021 Two Newcastle colleagues met at the Euros in St.Petersburg; Martin Dubravka conceding the penalty as Sweden to defeat Slovakia 1-0. Emil Krafth appeared from the bench in the final seconds to protect that lead.

2023 Newcastle's Miguel Almiron found the net for Paraguay in a 2-0 friendly win over Nicaragua in Asuncion.