Former players invited to pre-season friendly, and to register for club’s new association
NEWCASTLE United are hoping to welcome a host of former Magpies to the club’s final pre-season friendly against FC Augsburg.
Rafa Benitez’s preparations for the 2018/19 campaign will conclude with a match against the Bundesliga outfit at St James’ Park on Saturday, August 4.
And the club has announced that the match will be used as an inaugural gathering for their newly-formed Former Players Association (FPA).
All players past and present will be recognised and remembered by the group – with support offered wherever and whenever they may need it, as well as maintaining their relationship with Newcastle long term.
It will be led by former Magpies – Paul Watson, Steve Harper, Derek Bell and Archie Gourlay have helped establish the association – and it will represent both current and ex-Newcastle players.
Those former Magpies will work closely with both the club and the Newcastle United Foundation to ensure the connection with former players continues unbroken – and to offer welfare and support services to those who may need it.
United have opened registration for its FPA this week, and the
inaugural gathering of the association will offer ex-players the opportunity to join.
Every former Newcastle player is welcome to attend the club’s final pre-season friendly in order to ensure the FPA gets off to a strong start.
Speaking to the club’s official website, ex-Newcastle goalkeeper Harper said: “It never leaves you, being part of this club, and I think it’s great that the club is looking to establish this community of former players. We want to encourage as many former players as possible to register and hope they will join us in August to support the first team in their preparations for the 2018/19 season.”
The FPA was formally announced at the NUFC Foundation’s 125th-anniversary dinner, which took place at Exhibition Park last November, but it is being officially launched this summer.
Managing director Lee Charnley said: “Newcastle United has been a significant presence in so many players’, and their families’, lives and we hope the Former Players Association can offer those players a long-standing association with the club in recognition of their contribution.