Many Newcastle United fans have been reacting on social media, after the club announced that Everton’s visit to St. James’ Park on December 28 is now sold out.
Tickets went on sale for the festive Toffees showdown earlier this week to members, with a maximum of two per qualifying supporter, and comes as the first game to be effected by the club giving away 10,000 half-season tickets.
The initiative to hand out half-season tickets has worked well from the club’s perspective, as Everton’s trip to the North East is now set to feature our first sold-out crowd of the season.
Attendances at St. James’ Park have been low throughout the campaign, peaked by the club recording our lowest figure for a Premier League game since November 2010, with just 42,303 watching our comeback win over Southampton earlier this month.
Things were pretty bleak back in August, too, when swarms of empty seats were visible as we bowed out of the Carabao Cup on penalties to Leicester City with just 22,727 supporters in attendance.
Where do you stand on the free half-season tickets?
It's great and will get more fans in the ground
There's a reason why so many are staying away
Hordes of fans have not reacted with much glamour to news that Everton’s trip to St. James’ Park will be played out in front of a capacity crowd, though, as many have reacted online by criticising the choice of wording to describe the game as a “sold out” fixture.
The clear unrest among parts of the fanbase will likely be seen on Saturday when we host Crystal Palace, with nearly 6,000 seats still set to be empty.
Here are some of the messages shared…
dont lie to me
— Jay (@Nufcjay1892) December 18, 2019
Given away, joke of a club #nufc
— Stephen (@BLOOD202) December 18, 2019
Questionable use of the word ‘sold’!
— Craig Hunn (@craigyhunn) December 18, 2019
Well the tickets are allocated but to say it’s SOLD out is a stretch given many of them are giveaways.
— Toon Polls (@ToonPolls) December 18, 2019
Sold out is an exaggeration…. given away is a bit more accurate #ashleyout
— The E Wing Paddock (@speedypete68) December 18, 2019
You mean given away surely.
— Rob Watson (@whickhamrobbie) December 18, 2019
Sold out with free season tickets? 🙄😩🤦🏻♂️
— Cloggsy Goodwin (@cloggsy71) December 18, 2019
Is this including 10K tickets given away for nowt as you couldn’t address the real issues that keep boycotting fans away?
— Paul White Photo (@PaulWhitePhoto) December 18, 2019
“Sold” is a bit of a stretch.
— Paul Collingwood (@83Colly) December 18, 2019
Sold out is a bit misleading dont you think, seeing as how you had to give thousands away to achieve it. Bit like calling bruce a coach.
— vic bates (@victorbates) December 18, 2019
In other Newcastle United news, the Toon have been credited with an interest in an £18million man likely set to be sold in January.