Newcastle United will play eight pre-season matches ahead of the 2014/15 campaign



Newcastle United have confirmed the Club will play eight pre-season matches ahead of the 2014/15 Barclays Premier League campaign.

As well as travelling to an already-confirmed tour of New Zealand and tournament in Germany, the Magpies will have four fixtures in England - away at Oldham Athletic, Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield Town, and at home to a yet-to-be-announced European club.

Newcastle United managing director, Lee Charnley, said: "We are very pleased to confirm all of our pre-season away matches and to give supporters in this country and overseas as much time as possible to make their own plans.

"As well as providing the players with strong tests at important stages in preparation for next season, we have also balanced our schedule with excellent commercial opportunities as we look to continue showcasing Newcastle United as part of the Barclays Premier League's global success.

"We hope to be able to announce details of our home fixture to take place on 9th or 10th August and also an open day for fans of all ages at St. James' Park shortly."

Magpies manager Alan Pardew added: "Pre-season is a crucial time for any football club so I'm very pleased with the mix of opposition and the training programme the squad will face.

"It's vitally important that the players are fully prepared and get out of the blocks quickly when August comes around so we will be working hard to ensure they get the absolute maximum out of the games we've selected for them."

United will kick-off pre-season at Oldham Athletic's Boundary Park on Tuesday, 15th July (7.30pm kick-off) before travelling to New Zealand for the Football United Tour 2014.

Alan Pardew's side will take on Australian A-League sides Sydney FC at the Forsyth Barr Stadium, in Dunedin, on Tuesday, 22nd July (7.30pm kick-off local time) and Wellington Phoenix at the Westpac Stadium in the capital on Saturday, 26th July (4.30pm kick-off local time).

Upon their return from Down Under, United will travel to Hillsborough to face Championship side Sheffield Wednesday on Wednesday, 30th July (7.45pm kick-off) before a trip to Germany for the Schalke 04 Cup.

The Magpies will have two fixtures in two days at the VELTINS-Arena in Gelsenkirchen, with hosts Schalke 04, La Liga side MÃ¡laga CF and fellow Barclays Premier League club West Ham United also involved across Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd August (fixtures and kick-off times TBC).

United will make the short journey to face Huddersfield Town at the John Smith's Stadium on Tuesday, 5th August (7.45pm kick-off) before a final fixture at home to a European club on either 9th or 10th August (opposition and kick-off time TBC).

Newcastle United's confirmed pre-season fixtures are summarised below:

DATE OPPOSITION KICK-OFF TIME (LOCAL TIME) VENUE Tuesday, 15th July, 2014 Oldham Athletic 7.30pm Boundary Park, Oldham Tuesday, 22nd July, 2014 Sydney FC 7.30pm Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin (NZ) Saturday, 26th July, 2014 Wellington Phoenix 4.30pm Westpac Stadium, Wellington (NZ) Wednesday, 30th July, 2014 Sheffield Wednesday 7.45pm Hillsborough, Sheffield Saturday-Sunday, 2nd-3rd August, 2014 (two fixtures) Schalke 04/Malaga CF/West Ham United TBC VELTINS-Arena, Gelsenkirchen (GER) Tuesday, 5th August, 2014 Huddersfield Town 7.45pm John Smith's Stadium, Huddersfield

TICKETS

DOMESTIC FIXTURES (home and away)

Tickets for all domestic fixtures will be confirmed on www.nufc.co.uk in due course.

NEW ZEALAND

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 $20. For more information, visit www.wellingtonphoenix.com.

GERMANY

Newcastle United tickets for both days of the Schalke 04 Cup at VELTINS-Arena in Gelsenkirchen will go on sale direct from Newcastle United's Box Office shortly. Details will be confirmed in due course at www.nufc.co.uk.