A rejig of match day music has unfolded at St James' Park ahead of the clash with Athletic Bilbao
Newcastle United take on Everton at St. James' Park on the final day of the Premier Leagueseason.
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Newcastle United chiefs have dropped Local Hero as the club's walkout song after a request from the dressing room.
The famous Mark Knopfler song "Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero" is still set to be used on match days and in the build-up to games. But United will now walk out to the Blaydon Races as players are keen to come out of the tunnel to the sound of the Geordie faithful singing.
Fans are also being urged by the club to bring their scarves and transform St James' into a sea of black and white ahead of the encounter with Athletic Bilbao in the Champions League.
A statement from Wor Flags read: "Many have noticed a change in the order of songs pre-match at St James’ Park in the last couple of weeks.
"The club have told us the decision to swap Local Hero with the Blaydon Races before kick-off was done primarily at the request of the players and coaching staff, who want to hear the fans singing right at kick-off, which is not possible with Local Hero but is with The Blaydon Races!
"So whilst honouring the tradition of those two songs, the club have swapped them round so that Local Hero plays before the team emerge and The Blaydon Races before kick-off.
"It’s up to us to live up to that request and belt out the Blaydon Races and also carry it into the game. Massive game tomorrow night. Bring your scarf, get it twirling, get behind the lads. Howay Newcastle!"
The song was re-released last year with Knopfler saying: "What I really want to do, more than anything else, is just to thank each and every one for this sterling response. I really had no idea that it was going to be like this. It hit Guy (Fletcher) and I quite early on that we had to extend this piece somehow, to take in the number of people who joined in.
"Before I knew where I was, Pete Townshend had come into my studio armed with a guitar and an amp. And that first Pete power chord... man, I tell you.
"We were in that territory, and it was just fantastic. And it went on from there. Eric (Clapton) came in, played great, just one tasty lick after another. Then Jeff Beck's contribution arrived and that was spellbinding. I think what we've had is an embarrassment of riches, really. The whole thing was a high point."
Watch Newcastle vs Athletic Bilbao on TNT Sports
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