Newcastle United unveil St James' Park 'exclusive' - already promoted by Alan Shearer

St James' Park hosted the world-exclusive first play of a re-release of the iconic Going Home (Local Hero) by Mark Knopfler before Newcastle United's 3-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

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. The money raised will go to the Teenage Cancer Trust and Teen Cancer America.

Knopfler was at St James' Park on Saturday and took to the pitch ahead of kick-off against Wolves. The new version, which is available to pre-order now ahead of its full release on March 15, was played over the PA system as the players lined up for their pre-match handshake.

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."

A charity auction also 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."