Suffering a bad case of seven weeks itch | OneFootball

How are other Newcastle United fans coping?

It is seven weeks exactly now until the return of proper football.

On Saturday 17 August at 3pm, Eddie Howe’s team will kick-off the Newcastle United Premier League season against Southampton.

The European Championships have acted a bit like moderate pain relief, doing enough at times to take the pain/thought temporarily away.

However, when that quickly wears off, the pain/thought of Newcastle United and the Premier League swiftly returns.

Only the really good stuff, Newcastle United/morphine will properly do the job.

Indeed, it is now only 48 days until the very first Premier League match of the 2024/25 season, Fulham v Man U on the night of Friday 16 August.

So with 41 days since the 2023/24 PL season closed and 48 days until the 2024/25 one kicks off, when we get to Wednesday we will be more than halfway there.

It is times like this that also make me think about the bigger picture, what about those people who have no interest in football, who don’t base/frame their lives around their club’s fixtures each season. Where the summer months are simply to be endured.

An international tournament like these 2024 Euros definitely helps BUT can only go so far to scratch the itch.

Friday brought news that four weeks today we will have a friendly at Hull City, with an official away allocation of 4,500. That coming three weeks before Newcastle United kick off their Premier League season and just ahead of the NUFC squad flying off to Japan for a couple of friendlies.

I suppose this is where another hobby can come in handy in between football seasons, BUT when alcohol is your other hobby, the likes of myself can only indulge to a certain degree. That is, if I want to keep home, family, career intact!

So let’s drink to the return of proper football ASAP, plus the end of this transfer window that is absolutely doing my head in!

Upcoming dates for Newcastle United fans to note:

Sunday 30 June 2024 – The end of the latest NUFC financial year and latest three year PSR period, where allowable losses can’t exceed £105m (some club expenditure doesn’t count towards PSR).

Early July 2024 – The Newcastle United set to return to start pre-season preparations.

Early July 2024 – Release of 2024/25 Newcastle United away shirt/kit

Monday 1 July 2024: Tickets go on sale at 2pm for the friendly at Hull (27 July), initially season ticket holders with 60 loyalty points can buy them, an allocation of 4,500 tickets for NUFC fans.

Friday 5 July 2024 – The Premier League has pledged to reveal details of all August and September live TV matches by this date at the very latest.

Sunday 14 July 2024 – European Championships final.

Sunday 14 July 2024 – Copa America final.

Saturday 27 July 2024 – Hull City v Newcastle United friendly, 2pm kick-off.

Wednesday 31 July 2024 – Urawa Red Diamonds v Newcastle United friendly in Japan, playing at the 62,000 capacity Saitama Stadium, the largest football-specific stadium in Japan.

Early August 2024 – Release of 2024/25 Newcastle United third shirt / kit

Saturday 3 August 2024 – Yokohama F Marinos v Newcastle United friendly at the National Stadium in Toyko.

Weekend of Saturday 10 August – Expected there will be the usual St James’ Park home friendly matches on consecutive days against overseas opposition, once again under the banner of the ‘Sela Cup’, though nothing confirmed as yet.

Saturday 17 August 2024 – Weekend that 2024/25 Premier League season kicks off.

Friday 30 August 2024 – Summer transfer window closes at 11pm.

Wednesday 1 January 2025 – Winter transfer window opens.

Monday 3 February 2025 – Winter transfer window closes at 11pm.

Sunday 25 May 2025 – The final round of 2024/25 Premier League fixtures will be played.