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Newcastle stars Kieran Trippier and Dan Burn treat young deaf fans with kickabout... before confirming the supporters will be mascots for the Magpies clash with Tottenham

7 months ago 37

By Michael Pavitt

Published: 07:01 BST, 12 April 2024 | Updated: 07:29 BST, 12 April 2024

Newcastle stars Kieran Trippier and Dan Burn have invited young deaf fans to be mascots for their upcoming Premier League clash with Tottenham.

Trippier and Burn confirmed the news with the supporters at the NU Foundation, with the pair joining in with a kickabout.  

'For the Tottenham game you're all going to be mascots,' Burn said. 'So you get to walk out with us in front of the crowd.'


The invitation to be mascots followed Newcastle confirming a special one-off kit for the match with Tottenham on Saturday in the televised lunchtime kick-off.

The kit will be sponsored by the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) in a bid to improve the matchday experience for deaf fans.

Kieran Trippier and Dan Burn joined young deaf Newcastle fans at the NU Foundation

The Newcastle stars joined the supporters in a kickabout ahead of their match with Tottenham

Trippier and Burn confirmed the young supporters will mascots for the Premier League clash

As exclusively revealed by Mail Sport last week, shirt sponsors Sela have donated the front of their shirt to a charity for the clash with Tottenham on Saturday lunchtime. 

The new shirts, which will be worn by fans and mascots who are deaf or have hearing loss at Saturday's match against Tottenham at St James' Park, contain haptic technology, which creates the experience of stadium noise by applying vibrations.

This will allow deaf supporters to sample the atmosphere at St James' Park for the first time.

'To walk out in the [RNID] shirts is special, and we had a good kickabout with the kids as well,' Trippier said.

'The kids were teaching us a goal celebration so watch out for it. I'll probably get a few more before the end of the season,' added Burn.

One of the youngsters said of the occasion: 'I was so happy to see Kieran and Dan, it's the best day of my life.'

Sela have committed to providing the technology for all of Newcastle's future home games.

The Saudi-based events company, who signed a £25million-per-season deal with the Magpies last year, have pledged to donate the sponsorship money from Saturday's match to RNID.

The invitation to be mascots is part of Newcastle's support of the RNID around the match

One young supporter said that meeting Burn and Trippier was the 'best day of my life'

RNID branding will be on display around the stadium and on the big screen to raise awareness of the charity's cause. 

The charity, that aids people across the UK who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus, has welcomed the support of Sela and Newcastle.

'Putting the RNID logo on the shirt is absolutely incredible for us. We're really grateful to Sela and to Newcastle for doing this,' said Teri Devine, RNID Associate Director of Inclusion.

'It's absolutely fantastic that the players take time out to come and meet the kids, and actually get to see the barriers that deaf children face.'

Saturday's match promises to be a key fixture for both teams as they chase European football for next season.

Newcastle players will wear shirts with haptic technology aimed at revolutionising the matchday experience for deaf fans

The haptic technology will provide vibrations for deaf fans so they can take in the atmosphere

Newcastle are unbeaten in their last three matches and currently sit eighth, but just two points behind sixth-placed Manchester United.

Tottenham are eyeing a return to the Champions League, and can take another step towards securing their place in next season's competition with a win on the road.

The fixture at St. James' Park was Newcastle's first under their Saudi Arabian owners in 2021, while the Magpies thrashed Spurs 6-1 last season on route to securing Champions League qualification.

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