Crap Headline but good news I think.

CHINATOON May 22 2001 Newcastle United will warm up for the new season - with a trip to China and Hong Kong.

A 30-strong party will head east on July 19 for a 10-day tour which will see United play two games in China and one in Hong Kong.

United will kick off the tour by playing South China FC in the Hong Kong Stadium on July 22.

The following day United will fly to the Western Province in China and touch down in Kunming. They will go in against Hung Tap FC in the Kunming Stadium on the evening of July 23.

Then on July 28 they make the three-hour flight to Dalian which is an hour from Beijing where, subject to confirmation, they will play Dalian Shide.

The players have all had their inoculations and the visas have been applied for and everyone is geared up for the 10,000-mile round trip.

The party will include Alan Shearer and Kieron Dyer even though they will not play as they continue their rehabilitation.

United general manager Russell Cushing said today: "The aim of the trip is two-pronged. Firstly it will give us a pre-season work-out.

"And secondly it will give us the chance to promote the name of Newcastle United in Asia."

United are sure to attract huge crowds with the three stadiums in which they will be playing all holding around 80,000 fans.

And millions more will watch the games on TV throughout Asia.

Liverpool and Manchester United are in Asia at the same time and Newcastle are determined not to be left behind.

United themselves have a big following in that part of the world - something which was made abundantly clear on their last trip to the Far East in 1996.

United will return on July 29 - just in time for their friendly at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, August 4.

And the trip will not affect any game United may have in the early stages of the UEFA Cup should they get in through their Fair Play League nomination.

For United have been told that should their name come out of the hat - two teams will be chosen out of 11 nominees - then they will play their first game in the UEFA Cup on August 9.

United have Rob Lee's testimonial with Athletic Bilbao at St James's Park on August 11 with their Premiership season starting seven days later.

United will leave Newcastle on July 19 and arrive in Hong Kong the following day. They will play South China FC in the Hong Kong Stadium on July 22.

The following day United will fly to the Western Province in China and touch down in Kunming. They will go in again Hung Tap FC in the Kunming stadium on the evening of July 23.

Then on July 28 they make the three hour flight to Dalian which is an hour from Beijing where subject to confirmation they will play Dalian Shide.

General manager Russell Cushing said today: "The aim of the trip is two-pronged. First it will give us a tour pre-season work out. And second it will give us the chance to promote the name of Newcastle United in Asia."

West Bromwich Albion were the first British football team to be allowed to visit China - back in 1978.

And West Brom's Geordie-boy and former Newcastle United midfielder John Trewick came up with a quip which was to go around the world.

While surveying the Great Wall of China (pictured) it was pointed out to Trewick that he was standing on the only man-made object on earth which could be seen from the moon.

But Trewick was unimpressed and he left his Chinese hosts mortified by claiming: "Once you've seen one wall you've seen them all."

-- Anonymous, May 22, 2001

Answers

That won't knacker em at all.

-- Anonymous, May 22, 2001

I am living in Hong Kong and heard nothing about Newcastle is coming here in July. The latest news that I got is the trip was cancelled due to Alan Shearer cannot play for the game. Besides, the Hong Kong people here just know the Manure and are not interested in the Toon. I prefer they go to other country rather than Hong Kong as this must be a waste of time if they come here.

For the China tour, not sure whether it has been confimred.

-- Anonymous, May 22, 2001

From ICNewcastle - has YBR lost it finally? :-)

'The fixture will also be of benefit for United, with Robson keen to keep his players in tip-top shape for as long as possible this summer.

'As soon as the China trip fell through, I thought we might as well add a couple of games to our end-of-season programme and the chairman agreed," he added'

-- Anonymous, May 22, 2001

Hmmm not so sure. When I was in Honkers Sampdoria, MIlan, Chelsea, Arse all came. Samp & Milan did all the media stuff, on call for pictures, local kids & gave a good attacking game. Chelsea were in the bar I was working in 'til the ealy hours before the match, Gavin Peacock moaned about the price of beer, Hoddle held court with Gorman and they played the game at 1/2 pace. All good lads I might add but they viewed the trip an end of season bit of fun. Arese were the same but badly behaved, the ginger bloke had a row with a taxi driver outside the bar.

Month's later, Chinese kids were still wearing Samp shirts. The moral of the story, if they go they must work hard, the humidity gives great conitions to really test the fitness & the rewards to the club could be vast.

-- Anonymous, May 22, 2001

As long as we have any new signings in place before they go, I don't care where they go.

Going away without the new signings would be a waste of time and there would be little chance to build the required team spirit.

-- Anonymous, May 22, 2001

Didn't we sign Shearer during our last Far East boogie?

-- Anonymous, May 22, 2001

Jst before, I hope we don't waste our money before this little soire.

-- Anonymous, May 22, 2001