Forty days ago Newcastle United announced (see below) a game against Rayo Vallecano.
The La Liga team is to visit St James’ Park on Saturday 17 December.
The game was scheduled to help Eddie Howe and his players prepare for the return to competitive action, which we now know will be next Tuesday (20 December), after the Bournemouth match was pulled day forward due to NHS strike action.
With seemingly a canny crowd set to turn up on Saturday, for this Rayo Vallecano friendly, the club has issued a warning to fans.
The club’s official ticketing site now states:
‘Due to Royal Mail strikes, any tickets purchased will have to be collected from the NUFC Box Office – we are open 10 am-5 pm Monday to Friday, and from 9 am on matchday.
We would strongly advise collecting in advance of matchday as we expect it to be extremely busy.’
Looking at the official ticketing site, it looks already like a really decent crowd will be there to watch this Rayo Vallecano friendly.
Tickets are still on sale online (£20 adult and £10 concessions) HERE and at present, there are a few hundred tickets on sale in the corner where the Milburn meets the Leazes, so it appears that the rest of the lower bowl is sold out, with the club yet to open up Level 7 and start selling tickets up there.
If you are turning up on Saturday, especially if you are planning to just buy tickets on the day, then it could be well advised to turn up with plenty of time to spare. Getting there before 11 am, buying your tickets, and then heading off to the Strawberry (100+ other public houses also available within walking distance!) sounds like a plan to me.
Newcastle United will host Spanish side Rayo Vallecano in a friendly fixture at St. James’ Park this December as the Premier League schedule pauses for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar
The Magpies will entertain the La Liga outfit at 12.30 pm GMT on Saturday, 17th December, with tickets priced at £20 for adults and £10 for concessions. Tickets will go on sale to all supporters online at book.nufc.co.uk from 10 am GMT on Friday, 4th November.
The match will form a key part of Eddie Howe’s preparations for the resumption of the domestic season following a five-and-a-half-week break in club fixtures to accommodate a winter World Cup.
United’s enforced break will begin following a home clash with Chelsea on Saturday, 12th November, and will end with either a Carabao Cup clash during the week commencing Monday, 19th December, or a Premier League trip to Leicester City on Boxing Day.
While several first-team players could be representing their respective countries in Qatar, those not on international duty will be embarking on a mini pre-season to retain their fitness levels.
The Magpies have already announced a friendly fixture against Saudi Arabian champions Al-Hilal in Riyadh on 8th December as part of a warm-weather training camp, and the match with Rayo Vallecano will provide fans on Tyneside with an ideal chance to watch the team in action before the Premier League returns.
Rayo, who have former United defender Florian Lejeune in their ranks on loan from Alaves, are currently 8th in La Liga, having achieved a 12th-place finish last season.
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