Alan Shearer reacts to 'exclusive' St James' Park announcement - will be unveiled by Newcastle United today

St James' Park will host the world-exclusive first play of a re-release of the iconic Going Home (Local Hero) by Mark Knopfler when Newcastle United face on Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League this afternoon.

Forty-one years after it was first released in 1983, 'Local Hero' has been re-recorded by Knopfler's Guitar Heroes which includes Geordie royalty Sting and Sam Fender, along with an incredible line-up of over 60 musicians including Eric Clapton, Roger Daltrey, Brian May, Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr, Pete Townshend and Ronnie Wood.

Synonymous with matchdays at Newcastle United, the re-recording will raise funds for Teenage Cancer Trust and Teen Cancer America. And Geordies will be able to hear the multi-collaboration for the first time when United take to the pitch ahead of the clash against Wolves. Mark Knopfler and guests will be pitchside to discuss the recording.

A charity auction took place at St James' Park on Friday evening with Newcastle legend Alan Shearer among those present. Reacting on X, Shearer said: "What an honour that was to sit and ask the legend @MarkKnopfler about his incredible career and the new version of Going Home (Local Hero) that’s out on 15th March and all proceeds going to the Teenage Cancer Trust."

Commenting ahead of the re-release, Knopfler said: "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."

The song first debuted in the 1983 film Local Hero and has been Newcastle's walk-out anthem since the early 1990s.

Fans can purchase the ‘Local Hero’ track both in physical format, which will be available on CD, 12” with etched b-side and deluxe CD+BluRay, including sleeve notes by Paul Sexton, and digital formats which include a Dolby Atmos mix.

Net proceeds from the track will be donated to the Teenage Cancer Trust and the US equivalent, Teen Cancer America. For more information on the charity’s work and how to donate, please visit www.teenagecancertrust.org