Fans inside St James' Park had their eyes drawn to something on the pitch ahead of Newcastle United's Premier League clash with Aston Villa on Saturday evening, as a message appeared strongly suggesting Sam Fender will be back at the stadium next year.
The message, reading 'Proper Massive SF 27', was first seen as NUFC players arrived for the game and quickly did the rounds on social media as fans flooded into the stands and took pictures of it. It comes after Fender fans were put on high alert by a post on Sam's website with the logo SF 27 and a form to fill out for the latest updates.
Defeat on the pitch
While the result was not what any United supporter wanted, as Newcastle slumped to a 0-1 defeat to Aston Villa, there was some excitement for any Sam Fender fans in attendance. Having suffered a 4-1 hammering by Coventry in their first game in three weeks, NUFC were desperate to return to form on home turf in front of a full house at SJP.
However, they ended the night empty handed, thanks to a first half strike from Villa's Johan Manzambi, the very player United came close to signing over the summer. After Wissa fired wide in the 79th minute, Villa should have made it 2-0 not long after and, while they didn't double their lead, they did hold on to make it a miserable return to St James' for Mattias Jaissel's men.
Return to SJP
As anyone in Newcastle will tell you, the atmosphere all around town was at fever pitch when Sam and his band played St James' Park in 2023 and again in 2025. Amid growing speculation he's about to be officially confirmed as a Glastonbury headliner for next summer, it also looks like a return to SJP might well be on the horizon.
The message seen at St James' Park as Harvey Barnes arrives was first spotted pitch side at the Villa match. Sam at SJP in 2027? Yes please!
