North East Sports Fixures: February's Football, Basketball, Horse Racing and Rugby Union Dates
Your North East sporting calendar for late January and Feburary
BASKETBALL
While the table makes for disappointing reading for Eagles fans, results have been better with competitive games leading to positive and negative results. So, with the season entering the midst of winter, head down the Scotswood Road and give these high-flying athletes your support. Here are two dates for your diary.
NEWCASTLE EAGLES V SHEFFIELD SHARKS
3RD FEBRUARY
Vertu Motors Arena
0191 245 3880
newcastle-eagles.com
RUGBY UNION
The Falcons have given home fans some good times this season, and while their position towards the foot of the Premiership is disappointing there’s no questioning some of the excellent talent on show. Argentine Mateo Carreras is worth the entrance price alone and the league remains tight so each game looks winnable, as their recent success against high-flying Sale testifies. Get yourself down to Kingston Park, it’s a great atmosphere. Premiership games are thin on the ground in February but there’s an interesting European tie to look forward to, and a fundraiser for the much-missed Doddie Weir OBE and his charity My name’5 Doddie.
NEWCASTLE FALCONS V SOUTHERN KNIGHTS
11TH FEBRUARY
Kingston Park
newcastlefalcons.co.uk
FOOTBALL
There’s reason to be cheerful across the North East for our football teams, the Magpies are flying spectacularly high at St James’ Park and the feel-good confidence on and off the pitch is tangible. The League Cup and FA Cup are still up for grabs (this is being printed a day before the third round so I hope we haven’t jinxed it for any of our clubs) and in the league a thoroughly deserved top three position is so far being maintained. All fixtures will be important, but the home fixture against Liverpool looks to be a major part in the season’s jigsaw. The Black Cats of Sunderland are also beginning to purr with recent results taking them into, then out of, the Championship play off places. Meanwhile a short journey down the A19, Middlesbrough fans are positively howling as their team continues its great run of form since Michael Carrick took over the managerial reins. The upcoming ‘derby’ game between the two could well be season defining too. Finally, The Pools are also showing their fans some spirit of late and taking some opportunities, more is needed but we wouldn’t put it past them. Here’s a few fixtures to warm those winter blues.
NEWCASTLE UNITED V WEST HAM UNITED
4TH FEBRUARY
NEWCASTLE UNITED V LIVERPOOL
18TH FEBRUARY
St James’ Park
0344 372 1892
nufc.co.uk
MIDDLESBROUGH V BLACKPOOL
4TH FEBRUARY
MIDDLESBROUGH V QPR
18TH FEBRUARY
Riverside Stadium
01642 929421
mfc.co.uk
SUNDERLAND V READING
11TH FEBRUARY
SUNDERLAND V BRISTOL CITY
18TH FEBRUARY
Stadium of Light
safc.com
HARTLEPOOL V SUTTON UNITED
11TH FEBRUARY
The Suit Direct Stadium
hartlepoolunited.co.uk
HORSE RACING
The final weeks of winter can be fairly tough for racing so it’s hats off to all involved in the sport at this time of year. Flat racing yards will be beginning to dream of the spring ahead and some horses will be racing on Newcastle’s all-weather track. Meanwhile National Hunt Yards will be looking ahead to the big spring festivals at Cheltenham and Aintree as well as some competitive racing in the North East too. The feature race of the month is the excellent Eider Chase at Newcastle on 25th February. These are a few other suggestions if you fancy a day on the turf this winter.
WINTER EVENING
3RD, 9TH, 14TH, 20TH & 23RD FEBRUARY
WINTER AFTERNOON
16TH & 22ND FEBRUARY
THE EIDER CHASE
25TH FEBRUARY
Newcastle Racecourse
newcastle-racecourse.co.uk
WINTER AFTERNOON
23RD FEBRUARY
Sedgefield Racecourse
sedgefield-racecourse.co.uk
