Pools announced their seventh pre-season fixture yesterday, with Kevin Keegan's Newcastle United side coming to the Vic for the second successive year on Saturday July 19.



The game offers a symmetrical look to Pools' centenary year, as Newcastle were the first visitors to the Victoria Ground, as it was then known, back in September 1908.

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Director of Sport Turner described the fixture as "fantastic news" for both fans and players – who will get to test themselves against the Premiership elite.

Last year's pre-season game saw the likes of Michael Owen, Shay Given and Obafemi Martins coming to the Vic and the opening fixture of Newcastle's warm-up matches could see a similar line-up of high-profile players.

Turner said: "Sam Allardyce (former Newcastle manager) brought an unbelievable side down last year. I would like to think it will be the same this year, with it being their first pre-season game.

"Pre-season is not like an FA Cup or League Cup game, but I think it is good to get out on the same pitch as Premiership players.

"It lets our boys see what it is like at the highest level and also brings a bit of reality back to the Premiership players.

"I would also like to think that opposition like that would attract a fair number of supporters."

Pools tried to get Newcastle involved in the club's centenary tournament which takes place the weekend after the game between the two sides.

Rivals Sunderland will be sending a select XI instead, along with Huddersfield Town and Hamilton Academical.

Turner said it was a tough task to arrange pre-season friendlies and revealed Pools had just missed out on having a major European side involved in the tournament.

"We tried to get Newcastle for the tournament but the Premiership clubs have a lot of commitments so we are just pleased we have got them for a friendly instead," said Turner.

"But when you think we have got Sunderland coming down for the tournament, there are two big Premiership clubs coming to the Vic.

"We were very close with two or three of the top European sides, but two of them got into the Champions League and UEFA Cup qualifiers which meant they could not come over.

"It is very difficult to arrange pre-season games because we want to bring the best we can get to Victoria Park. But sometimes for different reasons a lot of big clubs go abroad and take their players away.

"Getting opposition to come all the way up to the North-East is always difficult."