Whitley Bay to Host Kharkiv Friendly

Northern League side Whitley Bay have confirmed that they are to host Ukranian side Metalist Kharkiv this coming Sunday Night (7pm) at Hillheads. 

The match will be played as a warm-up for Newcastle’s Europa League Last-32 tie on next Thursday (14th February).

Kickoff is at 7pm and the game is open to the public, with admission by paying at the gate: £10 adults and £5 concessions. 

The Ukranian side, who are currently sitting 4th in the Ukranian League table, are on a mid-season break which sees them without a league fixture between December 2nd and March 1st. 

So far, during the winter break, they have beaten the likes of CSKA Moscow 4-2, while also beating off German opposition, Bayern Leverkusen, 2-0. 

Whitley Bay are also in good form, beating Ashington Town 2-1 last Saturday. 

The former FA Vase Winners have a number of Newcastle fans in their ranks, including Paul Chow, Lee Kerr and Paul Robinson, who will all be looking forward to coming up against some international players. 

Despite losing Taison to Shaktar Donetsk for £12m in January, the likes of Cleiton Xavier and Jonathan Cristaldo could cause some problems for the Whitley Bay defence. 

Chairman Paul McIlduff said it was great for the Tyneside club. “They beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 and are due to play Newcastle United so to be playing against them is great for the club. We will be putting a full team out, it’s a big game.”

P.S. For those who intend to the game to ‘scout’, Whitley Bay have requested that spectators don’t turn up with Newcastle flags, shirts and black & white scarves

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