NEWCASTLE UNITED PRAISED FOR 'GENEROUS' OFF-FIELD GESTURE AS UNDER-21S REACH CUP FINAL
Newcastle United have been praised for their post-match gesture after beating Ashington in the Northumberland Senior Cup on Thursday evening. The club's under-21 side won 2-1 at Woodhorn Lane to book their place in the final of the competition, before telling Ashington they would not be taking their share of the gate money in a huge financial boost to the non-league outfit.
The generous gesture was warmly received by everyone involved at Ashington, who play their football in the Northern Premier League Division One East. "Following last night's match, NUFC informed us that they would not be taking their share of the gate which was owed to them from the cup tie," the club's X account posted on Friday.
"We would like to extend a big thank you to them for this very generous gesture which shows their ongoing support towards Non-League clubs in the area."
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Newcastle's under-21s may have endured a disappointing campaign in the league this term but have the chance to clinch some silverware when they face Northern League Division One outfit Blyth Town at St. James' Park on Tuesday, 14th May.
Familiar faces such as Jay Turner-Cooke, Lucas De Bolle, and Amadou Diallo featured in the midweek win, while January signing Alfie Harrison emerged from the bench in the closing stages. A crowd of 1447 watched the semi-final on Tyneside, leaving Ashington manager Ian Skinner pleased with the attendance and the evening as a whole, despite the disappointing result for his side.
“It was a magnificent crowd with great support as usual but it didn’t surprise me in the least that the previous highest (attendance) was surpassed," he said. "To be honest, I think they will go away slightly disappointed that we lost the game - but as I walked around the pitch at the end, every supporter had nothing but kind words and positivity for the display that they had just watched by us against a good Newcastle side.”