"I still watch their games. Sir Bobby was a massive part of the history of that club. My old man who took me there always spoke incredibly highly of him and what he did there.
"When he moved to Newcastle we always followed because of him really.
"I've always known Newcastle from the outside as a massive football city and a club that when things are going well or not, the fans and city stick with the team to drag them forward.
"From the outside it's a club everyone would want to be a part of in regards to having that support."
Howe 'delighted' with Pope dealpublished at 21:27 23 June
21:27 23 June
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe on the signing of goalkeeper Nick Pope from Burnley: "Nick is an exceptional Premier League and international level goalkeeper, so I’m very pleased to be adding strong competition to a very important position.
“There has been a lot of interest in him from other clubs this summer, so I’d like to thank our owners and everyone behind the scenes for getting us ahead of the competition.
“I’m delighted he is joining us as we prepare for the exciting challenge ahead.”
'Great to have Pope on board'published at 21:26 23 June
Draw made for Papa John's Trophy group stagepublished at 12:49 23 June
12:49 23 June
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Rotherham won last season's Papa John's Trophy
The draw has been made for the group stage of this season's Papa John's Trophy, with teams split into northern and southern groups and 16 Premier League under-21 sides again involved.
In the northern section, Everton have been drawn with Harrogate Town, Hartlepool United and Morecambe, while Leeds face Bolton Wanderers, Crewe Alexandra and Tranmere Rovers.
Leicester will face Bradford City, Burton Albion and Sheffield Wednesday, while Liverpool have been drawn with Accrington Stanley, Rochdale and Salford City.
Barnsley, Doncaster Rovers and Lincoln City make up Newcastle's group, with Manchester City taking on Derby County, Grimsby Town and Mansfield Town.
Manchester United have been drawn with Barrow, Carlisle United and Fleetwood Town, leaving Wolves to face Port Vale, Shrewsbury Town and Stockport County.
Transfer news: European giants to rival Newcastle for Ekitikepublished at 07:58 22 June
07:58 22 June
Newcastle United face competition from Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Paris St-Germain for Reims' France Under-20 striker Hugo Ekitike. (L'Equipe - in French), external
However, Ekitike is set to fly back from holiday early to complete a £26.5m move to St James' Park.(Chronicle), external
Meanwhile, the Magpies and Arsenal are keen on 26-year-old Spain midfielder Fabian Ruiz, whose contract with Napoli runs out in 2023. (Corriere dello Sport, via Mail), external
Transfer news: Magpies given chance to bring in Baillypublished at 07:32 20 June
07:32 20 June
Newcastle United have been offered the chance to sign Ivory Coast defender Eric Bailly, 28, from Manchester United. (Mirror), external
The Magpies have also been told they must pay £50m to sign 22-year-old Bayer Leverkusen and France winger Moussa Diaby. (Sun), external
Newcastle and Leeds United have been linked with Burnley's Nathan Collins, but Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester City are expected to make bids for the 21-year-old Republic of Ireland defender this week. (Sun), external
'Banana skin written all over it' - your thoughts on Newcastle's fixturespublished at 17:07 17 June
17:07 17 June
Image source, Getty Images
We asked how you feel about Newcastle's schedule for the new season after the fixture list was released.
Here are some of your thoughts:
Elliot: At home against Forest first? The pessimist in me says that has banana skin written all over it. Having said that, this isn’t the Ashley era we’re under anymore. St James’ will be rocking, flags will be out en masse and the Toon Army will continue how they finished last season! Pleased to see that we don’t start against a team in the top four!
Neil: Reasonable start, especially if we get the signings we want. Admittedly facing City and Liverpool in August will be tricky but sometimes it’s better to play the best teams at the start of the season before they get into their stride.
Alex: Games against the top six are pretty spread out. No month is particularly hard, May might be the toughest but hopefully we'll be high-flying by then.
Gavin: Doesn’t really matter when we play teams. Fact of the matter is we win as many home games as possible, get points in the road against teams around and below us, and try to compete against Liverpool and Manchester City home and away!
How do you feel with next season's fixture list? Have your say here
Break in Premier League of more than six weeks in 2022-23published at 15:03 17 June
15:03 17 June
The 2022-23 season has been adjusted to accommodate the 2022 World Cup, which takes place in the middle of the domestic calendar.
It starts a week earlier than normal - 75 days after the final day of the 2021-22 campaign - and finishes a week later than usual on 28 May.
Fifa, world football's governing body, has already stipulated that players must be released on 14 November for the World Cup.
It means the mid-season break will last more than six weeks.
There will be 16 matchdays before Qatar - five in August, three in September, six in October and two in November.
Image source, BBC Sport
Will Newcastle put an end to Forest's impressive opening-day record?published at 13:20 17 June
13:20 17 June
Newcastle United have only won one of their past eight matches on the opening day of the Premier League season.
However, the Magpies have won their past eight home games against Forest since.
'Players need a break in order to perform'published at 09:52 17 June
09:52 17 June
Image source, Getty Images
Ex-England defender Laura Bassett says players need a proper break in order to perform at a high level.
After a busy post-season international schedule, the domestic 2022-23 season starts just 50 days after Premier League fixtures were released on Thursday.
Bassett says recent international performances have shown that players need a longer break.
She told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily: "It’s tough isn’t it? But over recent years it's something players have had to get used to, rightly or wrongly.
"I just think the clubs are so refined in their processes and their research. The amount of staff that they have now, you really have to give the players as much support as possible.
"But sometimes, as a player, it’s the psychological and mental aspect that you just can’t take away - and underestimate and downplay, to be honest.
"We saw from recent games that it’s tough. These players are human - you can’t forget that. You can’t just roll out performances at such a high level and intensity. Players need a break in order to perform."
How your season finishespublished at 12:08 16 June
12:08 16 June
How your season startspublished at 11:17 16 June
11:17 16 June
Picking out Newcastle's key datespublished at 10:39 16 June
10:39 16 June
Image source, Getty Images
After opening the season against newly promoted Nottingham Forest at home, Newcastle's first away game is at Brighton on 13 August.
Title favourites Manchester City are next up at St James' Park on 20 August, while their closest challengers last season, Liverpool, are due in the North East on 11 February 2023.
Over Christmas, Eddie Howe's side face a trip to Leicester on Boxing Day, a home game with Leeds on New Year's Eve and a long journey to Arsenal on 2 January 2023.
They will close out the season on 28 May 2023 at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea.
Full opening weekend programmepublished at 09:25 16 June
09:25 16 June
Premier League fixtures: Newcastle face Forest in openerpublished at 09:03 16 June
09:03 16 June
Newcastle will host newly promoted Nottingham Forest in their opening game of the 2022-23 Premier League season.
The match will take place on Saturday, 6 August, with the Magpies' first away fixture at Brighton on 13 August.