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The latest programme article from the chief executive and deputy chairman.

Paul Barber

2023-09-02T06:00:00Z

Chief executive and deputy chairman Paul Barber.

Welcome back to the American Express Stadium for this evening’s visit of Newcastle United.

We extend our welcome to the players, staff, officials and supporters of the Magpies.

It’s certainly been an exciting and challenging start to the new Premier League season. We can be very happy with our performance levels in all three matches so far which have yielded six points and nine goals for Roberto, his staff and our players.

Last weekend’s match against a West Ham United side full of confidence after beating Chelsea at the London Stadium the previous week, and winning the UEFA European Conference League title a couple of months back, didn’t go according to plan despite the team’s very good performance.

But after six full seasons in the Premier League we are all well aware that everything has to come together at the same time in every game at this level in order to stand any chance of securing all three points. It didn’t happen for us last weekend but it’s another game we will learn from.

We also know this evening’s match will be another very tough fixture. Newcastle United’s resurgence under new ownership has already seen the club build an excellent squad and secure a UEFA Champions League place.

In Dan Ashworth and Eddie Howe, Newcastle‘s owners have also invested very well in strong and experienced technical leadership, while Darren Eales, the club’s new CEO, is also highly thought of and similarly experienced.

It has always been very tough to secure a European place of any type in the Premier League and, alongside the traditional big six clubs, Newcastle United’s rebirth means there is now further very serious competition to every club’s ambitions.

So, against such a backdrop, it was no surprise that tonight’s match sold out very quickly. Alongside 3,000 Geordies packing the South Stand and a large live Sky Sports audience, the Amex stage is set for another entertaining match between our two clubs.

Carlos Baleba became our sixth signing of the summer transfer window.

These notes were written just ahead of the close of the transfer window – we had just completed Carlos Baleba’s permanent move as we went to print – and also ahead of our trip to Monaco for the UEFA Europa League draw.

Even without the potential for some exciting last-minute action in the transfer window, it’s been a really significant and historic week for the club, to which our six-person delegation to UEFA’s fabulous draw event in Monaco can certainly attest!

Alongside the UEFA Europa League draw, the launch of our first ever limited-edition European shirt, and another good start to the Premier League season, we’ve been drawn away to Chelsea, a club we know rather well, in the third round of the Carabao Cup.

The confirmed groups for this season's Europa League.

In recent weeks and months, we’ve also attracted a vast amount of very positive global media coverage for our exploits and progress, something we are all very proud of but, I should stress, not in any way getting carried away by. Everyone in the club agrees that staying grounded, humble and focused remains critical to our progress.

We’ve also been at pains to point out that the progress we have made hasn’t been achieved overnight. It’s the result of a very clear vision and careful planning, and by taking numerous difficult (and sometimes unpopular) decisions, supported by many years of long hours and hard work from a lot of people.

Prior to this, a significant group of largely different people, including many fans who’ve now seen the club play at every level, also worked extremely hard for more than a decade to keep the club alive and to fight for the stadium we are once again filling to the brim tonight. In short, it has been, and it continues to be, a huge and wonderful team effort – on and off the pitch.

I’m very proud that our documentary producer Matt Lorenzo and his team, supported by many of our own staff, have captured the journey we’ve all been on so well and that they have been able to record the memories and thoughts of so many of the people that have played such an integral part along the way. It really is a great film.

As I mentioned last week, we are now applying the finishing touches to the documentary – it was very difficult to know when to draw the line! – and we are also starting to discuss where and when we will launch the film, which, judging by my own inbox, is being eagerly awaited by Albion supporters from all over the world!

After today’s match, we look forward to the relative respite of the first international break of the season, before returning to another huge Premier League fixture at Old Trafford, and the start of our first full Women’s Super League season under head coach Melissa Phillips, her staff and a much-changed squad.

Season tickets for our Women’s Super League matches are also selling well, and we hope to see even more Albion fans getting behind the women’s team as their new season unfolds.

In the meantime, however, your support for the men’s team will as always be critical tonight, and again at Old Trafford on our return to Premier League action after the break.

Enjoy the game!