News out that we will play Lillestrom at La Manga the week after next when we sit out the FA Cup like normal. Could be a good bit of team bonding too... http://www.themag.co.uk/2016/02/newcastle-set-face-lillestrom-opting-fa-cup/ Newcastle United will play Lillestrom in a friendly on Saturday 20 February, the weekend when FA Cup fifth round matches will be played…for those teams still in the competition. The Norwegian club have confirmed the match which will take place at the La Manga Stadium in Spain. As usual Newcastle opted out of the later rounds of the FA Cup and have an 18 day break after Chelsea on Saturday, next facing Stoke on Wednesday 2 March. No confirmation from the Newcastle end of things but it appears that the club are taking advantage of some warm weather training and will face Lillestrom to give players such as Seydou Doumbia some much needed pitch time with his new team-mates. please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image The Norwegian league runs from March to November due to the prevailing weather conditions and so Lillestrom are well underway in their pre-season preparations. The match has a 3pm Saturday kick-off time which equates to 2pm back in the UK. For those desperate for something to watch, Lillestrom have confirmed that the friendly will be televised in Norway, so no doubt there will be access via the internet on some stream from somewhere and/or at those pubs and clubs who usually show foreign satellite broadcasted games. Newcastle played Lillestrom in the Intertoto Cup in 2006, United victors by 4-1 over the two legs.
So having been knocked out of the FA and the Derby Cups at the first attempt we now go into the 1st round of the European Friendly Cup. If we win this do we get a place in the Europa League.