NEWCASTLE THUNDER NAME SQUAD FOR BARROW FRIENDLY

Newcastle Thunder have named a 25-man squad for Sunday’s pre-season friendly against Barrow Raiders as the North East side get the first match minutes of the year under their belts.

Thunder’s first hit out sees a mix of first-team squad members, U18s academy faces and trialists included as preparations for the new Betfred Championship season move up a gear.

Craig Mullen, Gideon Boafo and Alex Foster are amongst the players set to make their Thunder debuts, with 11 of the club’s new permanent signings included in the roster, along with all three of the players who have joined on season long loans.

There are six faces from the academy set-up including Harry Lowery, Ryan Crossley and Tyler Hepple, while university talent Max Flanagan continues his trial with the club.

The first of two friendlies in January, Sunday’s trip to the Furness Peninsular gives Thunder and the Raiders an early opportunity to size each other up, ahead of the Betfred Championship round three clash in mid-February.

Newly-promoted Barrow got their pre-season programme underway last weekend against fellow Championship returnees Workington Town, with the Raiders taking the spoils 24-12.

Newcastle Thunder squad

v Barrow Raiders – 16th January 2022 KO 3pm

FROM

Craig Mullen, Jack Johnson, Jesse Dee, Max Flanagan, Gideon Boafo, Jake Shorrocks, Nathan Wilde, Josh Eaves, Tyler Hepple, Alex Foster, Sam Hallas, Connor Bailey, Ted Chapelhow, Harry Lowery, Ryan Crossley, Pat Moran, Brad Gallagher, Lewis Peachey, Will Groves, Isaac Nokes, Jake Anderson, Ashton Sice, Matty Nicholson, Josh McDermott, Alex Sutton.