Newcastle United will visit New Zealand this summer as part of the Club's pre-season preparations



Newcastle United will visit New Zealand this summer as part of the Club's pre-season preparations for the 2014/15 Barclays Premier League campaign.

The Magpies have been invited to take part in the Football United Tour 2014 in July and will take on Australian A-League sides Sydney FC at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Tuesday, 22ndJuly (kick-off 7:30pm NZST; 8:30am BST) and Wellington Phoenix at the Westpac Stadium in the capital on Saturday, 26th July (kick-off TBC).

There will be additional Barclays Premier League representation with West Ham United, who have New Zealand captain Winston Reid in their ranks. The Hammers will play the same opposition on alternate days in Auckland and Wellington.

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew said: "We are very much looking forward to being part of the Football United Tour and to training and playing at first class facilities in Dunedin and Wellington.

"Football has grown impressively in both New Zealand and Australia in recent years, with some excellent players and teams coming to the fore, so the Wellington Phoenix and Sydney FC fixtures will provide a good test for our players as we prepare them for next season."

Terry Davies, CEO of Dunedin Venues, which will host the Magpies' first game against Sydney FC, said: "It is a great achievement for Forsyth Barr Stadium and Dunedin to have this calibre of football in the city. We're anticipating a huge crowd will enjoy this outstanding match."

Wellington Mayor, Celia Wade-Brown, added: "The Wellington City Council is delighted to work with the Phoenix on bringing this great sporting contest to the capital.

"Our stadium's location is ideally suited to a big match, and the beautiful game will be fully celebrated in a football festival for everybody. This spectacular event will draw football fans from around the country and across the Tasman."

David Dome, general manager of Wellington Phoenix, who will host Newcastle's second fixture, said: "While the action on the pitch will be fantastic for the fans, it is about more than that.

Wellington will be hosting a Festival of Football throughout the day (Saturday, 26th July) in the capital.

"We want to create a weekend packed with entertainment, culture and sport revolving around the theme of football - a real family festival day out offering so much more for the fans and their families.

"We anticipate tickets to the games will sell fast as this is a rare and exciting opportunity for football fans and their families throughout Australasia to be part of."

Confirmed fixtures for the Football United Tour 2014 are as follows:

// Newcastle United v Sydney FC, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, Tuesday 22nd July, 7.30pm NZST

// Wellington Phoenix v West Ham United, Eden Park, Auckland, Wednesday 23rd July, 7.30pm NZST

// Sydney FC v West Ham United and Wellington Phoenix v Newcastle United, Westpac Stadium Wellington, Saturday 26th July. Kick-off times to be confirmed.

Tickets for the Football United Tour 2014 go on sale to existing Wellington Phoenix FC members before reaching public sale.

Tickets for Newcastle United v Sydney FC in Dunedin will be on general sale from Wednesday 21st May via www.ticketdirect.co.nz.

Tickets for the double-header at Westpac Stadium in Wellington will be available from Friday 16th May via www.ticketek.co.nz using the password OZUNITED.

Adult ticket prices start from $59 for general public with child tickets from $16.

For more information, please visit www.wellingtonphoenix.com.



