Newcastle United co-owners Jamie Reuben and Mehrdad Ghodoussi made a surprise visit to the NUFC Fans Foodbank in the build-up to the club’s game with Arsenal.
The pair left volunteers delighted as they shook hands and thanked them for their work with the charity. The Reuben Foundation has matched every home donation to the food bank since the takeover was completed back in October 2021, and alongside the fans who donate has raised well over £100,000.
That money goes to West End Foodbank and helps to feed those most vulnerable across the city as well as the wider region. Reuben and Ghoudoussi quietly made their way to the food bank stall at Strawberry Corner, both putting money into a volunteer's bucket as well as taking time to chat and pose for photographs.
READ MORE: Jamie Reuben's Newcastle United partnership is hailed as the difference in £100K target
Inevitably, they were swamped by supporters who took a little while to realise who were visiting. The pair once against took time for selfies and were thanked several times for taking the club out of the control of Mike Ashley.
It is the second time Reuben has visited the stall, doing so back in November when Newcastle took on Brentford in Eddie Howe’s first home game. Ghodoussi described Reuben as ‘phenomenal’ for his work with the foodbank.
Bill Corcoran, one of the volunteers, thanked the pair for visiting. Speaking to Chronicle Live while still collecting donations from fans, he said: “Before the game, we’ve been thanking everyone for their donations over the season and Jamie and Mehrdad have been a huge part of the Newcastle United family.
“This is a Newcastle United family. It is what Mehrdad said very early on, it’s ‘our house, we stick together and look after everyone,’ and that is exactly what the food bank is about.
“It’s about leaving nobody behind, taking care of each other and being united in adversity. I believe these people, these owners, get us, so howay the lads! Thanks for everything this season.”
Reuben and Mehrdad's visit finished with a group selfie of several dozen people in front of the food bank stall. Watch the video for more.
