Newcastle United confirm 'exclusive' St James' Park announcement - will be unveiled v Wolves

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 take on Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

Forty-one years after it was first released in 1983, 'Local Hero' has now been re-recorded by Knopfler's Guitar Heroes which includes Geordie royalty Sting and Sam Fender, along with an incredible lineup 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.

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."

Newcastle defender and lifelong fan Dan Burn added: "Local Hero has been a song that I've listened to all my life and means so much to me on so many levels, whether as a fan or player.

"When I was young my dad used to play Local Hero at breakfast and it instantly made me think of St. James' Park and the excitement of going to games. Whenever I hear the song it has so many memories, from seeing huge wins and European nights under Sir Bobby Robson to now, being able to walk out to the iconic anthem is a 'pinch me' moment every time.

"I know what this song means to people in the region and everybody will be buzzing to hear the version."

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