Toon fans will again be out in force for Saturday's FA Cup Third Round clash with Mansfield Town. There will be a healthy attendance at St James' Park for the visit of League Two opposition.
Ticket sales are already hovering around the 35,000-mark, and the Stags will have huge backing on Tyneside, having sold their entire 5,500 allocation - more than 2,000 more than their average home league gate this term.
An added attraction is that skipper Alan Shearer goes into the game just two goals short of breaking Jackie Milburn's all-time United record tally of 200. Big Al is also closing in on another Milburn milestone. For he needs three more FA Cup goals to equal Wor Jackie's club record of 23 in the competition. One difference though ... Milburn picked up THREE FA Cup winners medals in 1951, 1952 and 1955.