Newsletter

Get your daily update and weekly newsletter by signing up today!

News

Tuesday Update – Newcastle v Preston set for biggest ever St James Park League Cup crowd

7 years ago
Share

Latest update on Tuesday morning suggests St James Park is heading for its biggest ever League Cup crowd with Newcastle v Preston.

There has been confirmation that after the ticket office opened at 10am this (Tuesday) morning, business has once again been brisk and that over 46,000 tickets have now been sold by 11am.

Preston North End are selling tickets to their own supporters until 2pm this afternoon and they have 1,400 contributing to that 46,000+ attendance so far.

This fourth round tie is already guaranteed to be at least the third highest ever in the League Cup and will surely pass the 46,932 that made up the current second ever highest, when West Brom visited in 2003/04.

The current record is the 49,902 who turned up on the 21 January 1976 to see Newcastle beat Tottenham 3-1, sending United to Wembley on the back of a 3-2 aggregate semi-final win.

Below are the five highest of previous seasons, with obviously limitations on crowd figures in certain times, such as the Keegan era before St James Park was extended in 2000.

As you can see, before the policy of not trying in the cups under Mike Ashley was implemented, decent size crowds were common place in the competition, with attendances under Sir Bobby for example of 41,847 and 46,932 turning up against unattractive opposition in third round ties.

Thankfully under Rafa Benitez the policy of not trying in cups has been reversed and we dream of winning tonight and another home draw…

Five biggest previous League Cup crowds at St James Park:

49,902 1975/76 Spurs (Semi-Final)

46,932 2003/04 West Brom (Third Round)

42,153 2004/05 Norwich City (Third Round)

41,847 2000/01 Bradford City (Third Round)

38,055 2004/05 Chelsea (Fourth Round)

Tickets are still on sale today from the St James Park box office to personal callers only, with prices of £20 and £10 for concessions (cheaper £10 and £3 prices ending on Monday).

However, please note that the club have stated that the box office will close at 5pm tonight, almost three hours before kick-off.

We have asked the club for clarification but no response as yet.

You would assume that anybody still in the queue at 5pm will still be sold tickets but as to whether they will keep the ticket office open for people arriving after 5pm, the answer appears to be no. In reality, you would hope that they would change their mind and not turn away any Newcastle fans wanting to buy unsold tickets but who knows.

That problem of course may be solved/answered if St James Park is sold out before 5pm…

(Pre-booked ticket can be collected at the windows at the back of the Gallowgate End from 4pm this afternoon)

(For any Newcastle fans who can’t make the game, it is being televised around the World on these channels)

Share

If you would like to feature on The Mag, submit your article to contribute@themag.co.uk

Have your say

© 2024 The Mag. All Rights Reserved. Design & Build by Mediaworks