359 MILES BEFORE LUNCHTIME!
Toon fans’ Bournemouth trek for 12.45 kick-off
NEWCASTLE fans have reacted with anger to the decision to switch their match at Bournemouth to a lunchtime kick-off. BT and Sky Sports have announced their live games for the autumn and the Magpies will face the Cherries at 12.45pm on Saturday, November 7.
But the distance between the two clubs — 359 miles — is the longest in the Barclays Premier League and fans travelling more than six hours by road will have to leave Tyneside at 5am to be certain of getting to the ground in time.
There is the option of the 5.59am train from Newcastle, which requires two changes to arrive in Bournemouth at midday. However, a return ticket costs £157.
There is also a morning flight from Newcastle to Southampton that would allow enough time to make the game, although the return flight isn’t until the following day and the cost is about £130.
Jack Fada wrote on Twitter: ‘That is a disgrace, where is the common sense here?’ Craig Longmore said: ‘Inspired decision to move NUFC at Bournemouth to Saturday lunchtime, not like fans haven’t got a long journey’.
Richard Barham wrote: ‘Just goes to show it’s not about supporters any more’.
Lee Robson said: ‘Can fans and NUFC not protest the Bournemouth game time move? Ridiculous disregard for fans. All about the money.’ And Keiran Bowe joked: ‘So are we sorting a coach out and setting off for Bournemouth now.’
Elsewhere, the pick of the autumn live games includes the Manchester, Merseyside and north London derbies, all of which will be screened on Sky Sports.
It means that Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal will be the teams with the most games televised in the first four months of the season — 10 each.
In addition, Liverpool and Tottenham will be shown nine times in the early stages of the season while Manchester City will be shown ‘only’ eight times, the same number of times as Everton.
Leicester made a dramatic escape from relegation last season and only two Premier League games featuring Claudio Ranieri’s new side will be shown live up to the end of November — the lowest in the league.
Promoted sides Bournemouth, Watford and Norwich City will each be shown three times.