MH17 tragedy: EPL club Newcastle United confirms death of fans in Malaysia Airlines crash

Zee Media Bureau/Hemant Abhishek
London: English Premier League (EPL) club Newcastle United (NUFC) on Friday informed that two of its fans lost their lives on the ill-fated Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 which crashed yesterday in eastern Ukraine. John Alder and Liam Sweeney were travelling to New Zealand to support Newcastle United in the Football United Tour, which will take place next week in Dunedin and Wellington.
The club in a statement said, "It is with great sadness that we learn today the tragic news of the deaths of John Alder and Liam Sweeney, two of the Club`s most loyal supporters, who lost their lives on Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 which crashed on Thursday afternoon in Eastern Ukraine."
NUFC also broke the news on Twitter, "We are deeply saddened to learn that two members of the #NUFC family lost their lives on board Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 yesterday."

We are deeply saddened to learn that two members of the #NUFC family lost their lives on board Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 yesterday.

— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) July 18, 2014

Newcastle United remembered Alder and Sweeney as ardent fans of the club who attended not only the first team games but also the reserve and academy matches.
As a tribute to the departed, the Newcastle United manager and players will sport black armbands for both their games against Sydney FC and Wellington Phoenix in the Football United Tour of New Zealand, the club informed.
And added that arrangements would be made to pay tribute to the two men at the Club`s first Premier League game against Manchester City on Sunday, August 17.
The Kuala Lumpur-bound Malaysia Airlines MH17 jetliner crashed Thursday near the Russian border, with all the 298 passengers and crew members on board reportedly killed. It was believed to have been shot down by a rocket.