Huddersfield Town has today confirmed that Championship side Newcastle United will visit the Galpharm Stadium for a pre-season friendly on Tuesday 21st July, kick-off 7.45pm.
Newcastle, who were relegated from the Premier League on the final day of the 2008/09 campaign, are one of two Championship sides who will visit Huddersfield ahead of the new season - with Coventry City already confirmed to visit the Stadium on Saturday July 25th (kick-off 3pm).
Town boss Lee Clark is a former Magpies coach and player and was a teammate of Newcastle's interim manager Alan Shearer at St. James' Park during his two spells at the Club, whereas Town Assistant Manager Terry McDermott, First Team Coach Derek Fazackerley, Performance Coach Steve Black and Development Coach Paul Stephenson have either played or worked for the North East outfit during their careers.
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Town boss Lee Clark during his Newcastle playing days |
The two sides have not met competitively since May 1984, when an own goal and a solitary strike from Graham Cooper gave Town a 2-2 draw at Leeds Road in Division Two.
Manager Clark told the Club's official website that it is important that his first team is tested in the build-up to the 2009/10 League One season:
"We first made contact when Alan (Shearer) was in charge and put the idea of a pre-season friendly to them, but obviously they didn't know which division they would be in at that point. We have been in constant dialogue ever since and I would like to thank the people at Newcastle for giving us this opportunity.
"They may have been relegated to the Championship, but they are still a huge draw because of the support they generate. They represent a tremendous test for my lads at just the right time in terms of our pre-season work.
"It is a step up in the level that we are used to facing - they are a higher quality opposition and they will test us to the maximum. The game will be particularly useful for the fitness level of my team, as well as getting things sorted out both technically and tactically.
"Having a game against Newcastle United is fantastic for both me and my staff as we all have links with the club in different ways, but my thought process was purely on getting the best possible fixtures for Huddersfield in order to prepare our lads for August 8th and this game gives us that opportunity. I am more than happy with how our pre-season schedule has shaped up."
The game will be pay at the turnstiles for unreserved seating in all areas of the Galpharm Stadium, with prices set at £15 for adults, £10 for seniors and full-time students and £5 for under-16s. Admission for wheelchair disabled is priced at £10 with a carer free of charge, whereas ambulant disabled admission is £15 with a carer free of charge. Please note that ambulant disabled supporters will need to get their ticket from the Ticket Office and cannot pay at the turnstile.
Please note that the Fantastic Family Stand will be CLOSED for this game and the Pink Link Stand is NOT available to home supporters. As such, the Club is advising families to sit in the North End of either the Direct Golf UK Stand or the Antich Stand and vocal supporters to sit in the South End of the ground.
Town can also confirm their final game of the 2009/10 pre-season will be against Blue Square National outfut Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground on Saturday August 1st, kick-off 3pm. Ticket prices are yet to be confirmed.
Town's full pre-season schedule to date is as follows:
|
Date |
Opposition |
Venue |
Kick-Off |
|
Sat July 11 |
Gateshead |
A |
3pm |
|
Sat July 11 |
Wakefield FC |
A |
3pm |
|
Wed July 15 |
Corby Town |
A |
7.30pm |
|
Fri July 17 |
AFC Emley |
A |
7pm |
|
Sat July 18 |
Morecambe |
A |
3pm |
|
Tue July 21 |
Newcastle United |
H |
7.45pm |
|
Wed July 22 |
Bradford (Park Avenue) |
A |
7pm |
|
Sat July 25 |
Coventry City |
H |
3pm |
|
Tue July 28 |
Macclesfield Town |
A |
7.30pm |
|
Wed July 29 |
Harrogate Town |
A |
7pm |
|
Sat Aug 1 |
Wrexham |
A |
3pm |
Keep checking htafc.com for all the latest on Town's pre-season build-up!
