The Magpie Group are organising a Geordie celebration "on the ninth of June" to raise funds for the NUFC Fans’ Food Bank. Guests from across the North East will be in attendance at the Tyneside Irish Centre on the 160th anniversary of the Blaydon Races.
A night of local history, music, football chatter and entertainment will take place on Thursday and all proceeds generated will help the most vulnerable families on Tyneside. The NUFC Fans’ Food Bank raised almost £150,000 throughout the 2021-22 Premier League season, with most of the revenue generated on matchdays by supporters.
With no football scheduled at St James’ Park until July 29, the food bank will suffer a financial void during the off-season. Next week’s event aims to plug the gap by having a mini-festival commemorating different aspects of North East culture.
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A spokesman from the Magpie Group thinks a night combining local heritage with Geordie generosity is the perfect way to spend "Blaydon Races" day.
Shaun told ChronicleLive: “Basically, the idea comes from all of us saying, we celebrate St Patrick's Day more than we celebrate St George's Day and we do nothing at all for Newcastle. We thought it would be great to do a charity night and what better to host one than on the ninth of June.
“George Stephenson was born on the ninth of June and it is the 160th anniversary of the Blaydon Races, so why do we not do something to raise some money for the food bank? Their volunteers do a fantastic job on matchdays but now the season is over, their proceeds dwindle drastically.
“Dan Jackson, author of the best-selling book Northumbrians, will host the event. Chris Waugh and Taylor Payne from The Athletic are also going to do a live Pod on the Tyne where they will take part in a Q&A with Newcastle fans.
“There will be live music for everyone and Gavin Webster, a well-established comedian, is going to close the show. So we’ve got a good line-up of guests for everyone who wants to come along."
Between April 2021 and March 2022, the Trussell Trust - a charity set up to end food banks in the UK - delivered over 100,000 food parcels in the North East. Inflation and rising energy prices means that figure is likely to increase rather than decline.
Bill Corcoran, a volunteer at NUFC Fans’ Food Bank, hailed the support shown by Newcastle United fans in recent years and stressed the importance of events like Thursday’s fundraiser.
“Right now, unfortunately, we need food banks or else some people will starve," he told ChronicleLive. "I wish none of us had to do it and I think one day we won’t but, for now, the contribution of Newcastle fans has been fantastic.
“This event is fantastic because it keeps us at the forefront of people’s minds now the season is over. This is a community that sticks together - it always has done.
“The support we have is humbling. This is a good way to celebrate the ninth of June, the Blaydon Races day. In Newcastle, nobody is ever going to stop looking after each other and that is more important than buildings, art galleries, museums and even bridges.”
Tickets for “Geordie Night” at the Tyneside Irish Centre on Saturday, June 9 are priced at £12.50 and can be bought at: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/geordienight/701546
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