Martin Atkinson of West Yorkshire takes charge of a Newcastle United match for the 3rd time this season, and the 5th overall, as we travel to the all new Emirates Stadium for the first time to play Arsenal in the Barclays Premiership tomorrow.

Atkinson is just 35 years old but has already made the FIFA list, and refereed the Community Shield in August, confirming his rise to the very top rank of the refereeing pyramid, and has shown himself to be highly competent while not throwing cards around like some of his more obtrusive colleagues.

His 1st United game was our 1-0 FA Cup win over Southampton in February, followed by the 0-0 bore draw at Birmingham in April. He then came to St James’ on the opening day of the campaign to oversee our only home win so far, 2-1 against Wigan, before taking charge of our 1-0 “derby” defeat to Middlesbrough last month as a late replacement for fellow West Yorkshireman Mike Riley.

The draw for the Quarter Finals of the Northumberland Senior Cup took place last night. United’s Reserves will face Whitley Bay, while in the other ties Blyth Spartans face a trip to Bedlington Terriers, Morpeth Town play Prudhoe Town and Ashington will travel to Newcastle Benfield Bay Plastics.

The ties must be played by January 27 2007, and more details will appear here when released by the clubs.

(The draw was originally reported on the club’s Official Site as an away tie for United, but that appears to have been an error…..)

You know when you see a small child jumping up and down and performing daft tricks to try and impress their parents? “Look mam, no hands,” they’ll shout, normally before falling spectacularly off their bike with a crash, writhing around in pain, thinking “I probably shouldn’t have done that.” They never learn though, do they?

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For 87 minutes on Saturday lunchtime, United were as shoddy as at any point over the season. But in the final five minutes, the lads somehow managed to find an ability to pass, shoot and attack and almost grabbed an undeserved victory at the City of Manchester Stadium. Here’s what the rags had to say about it…
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We found an interesting snippet tucked away at the end of the Guardian’s Man City/NUFC match report where they comment on Sir Bobby’s backing of Freddy Shepherd as reported by the Mail on Sunday, but also claim the former United manager was due to meet up with the chairman last week.

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According to today’s Daily Mail underfire Chairman Freddy Shepherd is hoping to launch a full takeover bid of Newcastle United himself by buying out the Hall’s shares. The article also goes on to claim that Shepherd wants to also take the club off the Stock Exchange. Check it out…

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Toon outcast Albert Luque has pleaded with Glenn Roeder to give him a chance to prove himself by handing him a run of 5-6 games.

Luque said:

“I want to be a success here but I need to play games.

“I can play here and do a job for this club but I need matches. I want to play and do well for the fans.

“If I can get a run of five or six games then I promise I will do well here.”

Newcastle could only draw 0-0 with Manchester City at the COMs this afternoon, despite a flurry of late chances to seal all 3 points. Roeder’s side eventually finished the match with 7 midfielders. Make of that what you will!

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Newcastle were drawn at home to Chelsea again in the League Cup, the second time in 3 years the Stamford Bridge outfit has faced us at the Old Gallowgate in the Cup.

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Former number 9 Alan Shearer has pledged his support to underfire duo Freddy Shepherd and Glenn Roeder.

Shearer on the Chairman:

“Under his chairmanship, millions have been ploughed into buying players. He has backed every manager he has had.

“Some of the signings have come off, some haven’t. But he has backed the managers to get it right.

“Now, had he not backed them with hard cash, what would people have said then? He passionately wants to get things right.

“He has appointed top-quality managers with proven track records. I don’t remember anyone complaining about those appointments at the time.

“Kenny Dalglish won titles at Blackburn and Liverpool. Ruud Gullit had won trophies at Chelsea.

“Bobby Robson had won things at every club he had been at around Europe and got us into the Champions League. Graeme Souness had also won trophies at his clubs.”

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