Yahoo News Watch as Dan Burn and Kieran Trippier tell youngsters they'll be Newcastle mascots this weekend
Newcastle United stars Dan Burn and Kieran Trippier have met with some of the mascots set to lead NUFC out this weekend on a very special occasion.
The two senior players met mascots who are part of the deaf community ahead of this Saturday's game with Tottenham Hotspur. The game will see the young mascots wearing innovative NUFC replica shirts that have special haptic technology to allow those who are deaf or have hearing loss or tinnitus to experience the famed St James' Park atmosphere.
Both players have worn the captain's armband for Newcastle at times this season, and they met the young fans at the Newcastle United Foundation's city centre HQ to give them the news that they'll be leading the team out. They even took part in a quick kickabout, too.
The youngsters will be wearing the special haptic shirts which have been created in partnership with the RNID charity and shirt sponsor Sela. Sela has donated its front-of-shirt sponsorship rights to the RNID. There will also be RNID branding around the stadium. The special shirts transform the noise of the stadium into real-time touch sensations - using electronic sensory modules that are embedded in the shirt.
This will mean the shirts should reflect how the atmosphere at St James' ebbs and flows during a match. In the video, Dan Burn revealed to the youngsters: “For the Tottenham game you’re all going to be mascots. So you get to walk out with us in front of the crowd.”
He continued: "The kids were teaching us a goal celebration so watch out for it. I’ll probably get a few more before the end of the season." While Kieran Tripper added: “To walk out in the [RNID] shirts is special, and we had a good kickabout with the kids as well."
One of the youngsters said of the occasion: “I was so happy to see Kieran and Dan, it’s the best day of my life.”
RNID associate director of inclusion, Teri Devine, said: “Putting the RNID logo on the shirt is absolutely incredible for us. We’re really grateful to Sela and to Newcastle for doing this. It’s absolutely fantastic that the players take time out to come and meet the kids, and actually get to see the barriers that deaf children face.”
It will be the first time that a hearing loss charity has been promoted on the front of a Premier League club's kit and Sela hope the overall initiative will inspire clubs across the world to build on efforts to improve accessibility.
