Newcastle Jets FC facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Newcastle Jets

Full name	Newcastle United Jets Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Jets
Founded	1 August 1999; 25 years ago (1 August 1999)
Ground	McDonald Jones Stadium
Ground Capacity	33,000
Owner	Maverick Sports Partners
Chairman	Maurice Bisetto
Manager	Mark Milligan
League	A-League Men
2022–23	10th of 12
Home colours

The Newcastle United Jets Football Club, often called Newcastle Jets, is a professional soccer team from Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. They play in the A-League, which is Australia's top soccer competition. The club started in 2000 and was one of only three teams from the old National Soccer League (NSL) to join the new A-League.

The Newcastle Jets have won one A-League championship. They beat their rivals, the Central Coast Mariners, 1–0 in the 2008 A-League Grand Final. In 2009, the Jets played in the AFC Champions League for the first time, reaching the Round of 16. The club plays its home games at McDonald Jones Stadium. There is also a youth team and a women's team that compete in their own leagues.

Club History

Chart of yearly table positions for Newcastle Jets in the NSL & A-League Men

Starting the Team

The Newcastle United club began in 2000. It was formed from the old Newcastle Breakers team. The new club played its home games at what is now McDonald Jones Stadium.

The team did well in the early years. They reached the finals twice and finished second in the league in the 2001–02 season.

The club changed its name to Newcastle United Jets Football Club for the new A-League. This was to create a fresh image and avoid confusion with the English team Newcastle United. The name "Jets" comes from RAAF Base Williamtown, an air force base near Newcastle. The club's logo shows three F/A-18 Hornet jets, which are based there.

Coaching Changes and Early Success

In the early A-League years, the Jets had a few coaches. Richard Money coached in 2005–2006, then Nick Theodorakopoulos took over. After a tough start, Theodorakopoulos was replaced by Gary van Egmond in October 2006.

Under van Egmond, the team improved a lot. They started scoring many goals and attracting large crowds. In February 2007, over 24,000 fans watched their home final against Sydney FC. The Jets were knocked out in the preliminary final by Adelaide after a penalty shootout.

Becoming Champions

For the A-League's third season, some key players left the Jets. However, star striker Joel Griffiths set a new record by scoring 12 goals in the regular season.

The Jets started the season well. They finished second in the league, just behind the Central Coast Mariners. They then played the Mariners in the semi-final. Newcastle won the first game 2–0. The Mariners won the second game 3–0 after extra time, sending them to the Grand Final.

The Jets still made it to their first A-League Grand Final. They beat Queensland Roar 3–2 in extra time in the preliminary final. Joel Griffiths scored a penalty, and Tarek Elrich scored his first A-League goal to secure the win.

On February 24, 2008, the Jets defeated the Central Coast Mariners 1–0 in the 2008 A-League Grand Final. This made them A-League Champions for the first time! Joel Griffiths scored the winning goal early in the second half. Both the Jets and Mariners qualified for the 2009 AFC Champions League.

Playing in Asia

After winning the A-League, the Jets needed new players for the Champions League. They signed players like Nikolai Topor-Stanley and Sasho Petrovski. Their captain, Joel Griffiths, went on a one-year loan to a team in China.

The Jets started the Champions League with a 2–0 loss to Beijing Guoan. But they bounced back, beating Ulsan Hyundai 2–0 at home. They also had a 1–1 draw in Japan against Nagoya Grampus. The Jets eventually qualified for the Round of 16 by beating Ulsan Hyundai 1–0 away from home. However, they were knocked out of the competition after a 6–0 loss to Pohang Steelers from South Korea.

New Coaches and Challenges

After the successful 2007–08 season, many Jets players left. The 2008–09 season was tough, and the team finished last. Coach Gary van Egmond then left the club. Branko Čulina became the new manager in June 2009.

In the 2009–10 season, the Jets made it to the finals. They won their first finals match against Gold Coast in a penalty shootout. However, they lost to Wellington Phoenix in the next round after extra time.

The club faced financial problems in 2010. But businessman Nathan Tinkler bought a majority share, saving the club. New ticket prices were introduced, including free season passes for kids under 15. The club also got new sponsors and hosted a friendly game against LA Galaxy, which included stars like David Beckham. The Jets won that match 2–1.

In October 2011, coach Branko Čulina's contract was ended. Gary van Egmond returned as coach.

A New Era of Players

In April 2012, there was uncertainty about the club's ownership. However, after discussions, Nathan Tinkler remained the owner.

After the 2011–12 season, Gary van Egmond made many changes to the squad. He signed young talents like James Brown and Craig Goodwin. The Jets had a great pre-season, winning all their games.

On September 21, 2012, the Jets signed famous English player Emile Heskey as their special "marquee" player. Heskey wore the number 9 jersey. The Jets started the season well, beating Sydney FC and Central Coast Mariners. However, they finished 8th that season, missing the finals. Gary van Egmond was later replaced as coach in 2014.

Changes and New Ownership

Phil Stubbins became coach in May 2014. The club signed new players, including Joel Griffiths, who had scored the most goals for the club. However, the team had a very tough season, finishing last in 2014–15. In May 2015, the Football Federation Australia (FFA) took over the club's licence because of financial issues.

The FFA then issued a new licence for a team in Newcastle, keeping the Newcastle Jets name and colours. They wanted a fresh start for the club. Scott Miller was appointed head coach in June 2015. In June 2016, a Chinese company called Ledman Group bought the club.

In September 2016, Scott Miller was dismissed. Mark Jones became coach for the 2016–17 season, but the team finished last again.

The Ernie Merrick Years

On May 9, 2017, Ernie Merrick became the new coach. He had won two A-League titles with other teams. Merrick believed the Jets had everything needed for success, including passionate fans.

Merrick's first game was on October 7, 2017, against rivals Central Coast Mariners. Newcastle won 5–1, which was their biggest win ever against the Mariners. The Jets continued their strong form, winning many games. They finished second in the league, qualifying for the AFC Champions League again.

Newcastle played Melbourne City in the semi-final of the A-League finals, winning 2–1. This sent them to their second A-League Grand Final. However, they lost 1–0 to Melbourne Victory in the Grand Final. Two Jets players, Andrew Nabbout and Dimitri Petratos, were chosen to play for Australia in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Before the 2018–19 season, Newcastle signed new players like Matthew Ridenton and Brazilian striker Jair Eduardo. The Jets had their best run ever in the FFA Cup, but were knocked out by Melbourne City.

Recent Years: New Owners and Coaches

After a difficult start to the 2019–20 season, Ernie Merrick was replaced as manager. Carl Robinson became the new head coach in February 2020. The team's results improved under him, but the season was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Robinson later left the club in October 2020.

In January 2021, the club faced more ownership issues. Investors from other A-League clubs temporarily took control. Craig Deans returned as interim manager and was later appointed full-time. However, he resigned in June 2021. Arthur Papas then became manager in June 2021, staying until June 2023.

On June 26, 2023, Rob Stanton was appointed as the new Head Coach for the A-League Men's team.

Maverick Sports Partners Take Over

On June 11, 2024, the Jets announced that Maverick Sports Partners became the new owners of the club. This new ownership, led by Maurice Bissetto, brought stability to the club after several years of uncertainty.

The Jets started their new era in the Australia Cup. They won against Western United and Rockdale Ilinden. They were eventually knocked out by Macarthur in the Round of 16.

Team Colours and Badge

Newcastle United strip (2000–04)

The club's traditional colours are blue and red. These are also the colours of the Newcastle Knights rugby league team. When the Jets joined the A-League, they changed their colours to a gold jersey with navy and red trim. The away jersey was white with gold sleeves.

For the 2009–10 season, the away kit went back to blue and red, like the old Newcastle United strips. In 2011, the club decided to use blue and red again for their main colours. This matched the Newcastle Knights, as both clubs had the same owner.

The club's first logo was simple, with "Newcastle United" in blue and red. When they joined the A-League, a new logo was made for "Newcastle United Jets". The name "Jets" refers to the RAAF Base Williamtown nearby. The logo shows three F/A-18 Hornet jets, which are based at Williamtown.

Home Stadium

Western stand of Newcastle International Sports Centre

The Newcastle Jets play their home games at McDonald Jones Stadium. This stadium is part of the Newcastle International Sports Centre. It can hold 33,000 people. The stadium is also home to the Newcastle Knights rugby league team.

The biggest crowd for a soccer match in Newcastle was 24,338 people. This happened on February 2, 2007, at Ausgrid Stadium (now McDonald Jones Stadium). The stadium has been upgraded to meet international standards. This allows the Jets to host larger games, including potential Grand Finals.

Supporters

Squadron Novocastria during the 2007-08 A-League.

The main active supporter group for the Newcastle Jets was called the Squadron Novocastria. They formed before the first A-League game. The Squadron would stand behind the goals and sing chants like "We go by land and sea." They also started a tradition of singing the chorus of the INXS song "Never Tear Us Apart" before each half. As the team did better, the Squadron grew larger.

In 2014, the Squadron moved to a different part of the stadium to improve active support. Before the 2014–15 season, they almost boycotted their area due to new rules. However, they worked with the club to ensure all fans could join them. In late 2016, a new supporter group, the Newcastle City Legionaries (NCL), was formed. They aimed for a more traditional style of support.

In April 2017, the Squadron announced they would stop active support due to strict rules. They later resumed for the 2017–18 season. However, due to lower attendance and poor team performance, the group eventually dissolved again.

Rivalries

The Newcastle Jets have a strong rivalry with the Central Coast Mariners. This rivalry is known as The F3 Derby. The teams are close geographically, which makes their matches very exciting.

One memorable moment was in the 2007–08 season. The Jets beat the Mariners 2–0 in the first leg of the semi-final. But the Mariners came back to win 3–0 in extra time in the second leg. The Jets then went on to beat the Mariners 1–0 in the 2007/08 A-League Grand Final. Matches between these two teams are always intense and full of action.

Players

First-team squad

No. Position Player 7 MF Eli Adams 9 FW Lachlan Rose 13 FW Clayton Taylor 14 MF Max Burgess 15 DF Aleksandar Šušnjar 17 MF Kosta Grozos (captain) 18 MF Kota Mizunuma 19 FW Alexander Badolato 21 GK Noah James 22 FW Ben Gibson

No. Position Player 23 DF Daniel Wilmering 24 MF Alex Nunes (scholarship) 25 MF Oscar Fryer (scholarship) 28 MF Will Dobson (scholarship) 33 DF Mark Natta 37 MF Lachlan Bayliss 39 DF Thomas Aquilina 44 DF Ben van Dorssen (scholarship) GK James Delianov DF Joe Shaughnessy

Youth Players

No. Position Player 40 GK Jordan Baylis 41 MF Angus Muddle

No. Position Player 45 MF Christian Bracco 60 DF Garang Arou

Players on Loan

Club Staff

Coaching Team Position Staff Manager Mark Milligan Head of Men’s Academy Head of Boy’s youth development Damien Zane Goalkeeping Coach Andrew Goldman Performance Analyst Caleb Wickens Men’s Head Physiotherapist Brandon Lowe Equipment Manager Ezekiel Gentle Rehab Physiotherapist Patrick Cooper Doctor Dr Neil Halpin Women's Head Coach Stephen Hoyle Women's Assistant Coach Vacant Women’s technical advisor Vacant Source: [1]

Club Management Owners Maverick Sports Partners Administrator Director Maurice Bisetto Chief Executive Officer Tain Drinkwater Head of Football Operations Vacant Head of the Men's Academy Damien Zane Chief Operating Officer Nicola Browne Corporate and Player Welfare Manager Jason Hoffman Head of Customer, Community & Membership Matt Star Membership Manager Troy Dibb Head of Media/Digital Tom Logan Commercial Manager Ben Hawes Senior Designer & Photographer Vacant Events Coordinator Vacant

Team Managers

Team Captains

Dates	Name	Notes	Honours (as captain)
2005–2006	Ned Zelic	First club captain
2006–2007	Paul Okon
2007–2009	Jade North		2007–08 A-League Championship
2009–2010	Matt Thompson
2010–2011	Michael Bridges	First captain from another country
2011–2013	Jobe Wheelhouse
2013–2014	Ruben Zadkovich
2014–2015	Kew Jaliens
2015	Taylor Regan
2015–2021	Nigel Boogaard	Longest serving captain
2021–2023	Matthew Jurman	Sole captain in 2021–22, co-captain in 2022–23
2022–2023	Carl Jenkinson	Co-captain in 2022–23
2022–2024	Brandon O'Neill	Co-captain in 2022–23, sole captain from 2023 to 2024
2024–present	Kosta Grozos

Team Records

Season by Season Results

Season	Division	League										FFA/Australia Cup	ACL	Top Goalscorer
		P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts	Pos	Finals			Name	Goals
2000–01	1st (NSL)	30	7	9	14	37	56	–19	30	14th	—	—	—	Buonavoglia, JohnJohn Buonavoglia	7
2001–02		24	10	12	2	33	21	+12	42	2nd	3rd	—	—	Griffiths, JoelJoel Griffiths	9
2002–03		24	10	7	7	37	25	+12	37	4th	6th	—	—	Griffiths, JoelJoel Griffiths	15
2003–04		24	6	6	12	18	33	–15	24	11th	—	—	—	Wheelhouse, JobeJobe Wheelhouse	4
2005–06	1st (A-League)	21	9	4	8	27	29	–2	31	4th	4th	—	—	Miličić, AnteAnte Miličić	7
2006–07		21	8	6	7	32	30	+2	30	3rd	3rd	—	—	Bridge, MarkMark Bridge	8
2007–08		21	9	7	5	25	21	+4	34	2nd	W	—	—	Griffiths, JoelJoel Griffiths	14
2008–09		21	4	6	11	21	39	–18	18	8th	—	—	Round of 16	Griffiths, JoelJoel Griffiths	7
2009–10		27	10	4	13	33	45	–12	34	6th	4th	—	—	Matt Thompson, Michael Bridges	6
2010–11		30	9	8	13	29	33	–4	35	7th	—	—	—	Petrovski, SashoSasho Petrovski	5
2011–12		27	10	5	12	38	41	–3	35	7th	—	—	—	Griffiths, RyanRyan Griffiths, Brockie, JeremyJeremy Brockie	9
2012–13		27	8	7	12	30	45	–15	31	8th	—	—	—	Griffiths, RyanRyan Griffiths, Heskey, EmileEmile Heskey	9
2013–14		27	10	6	11	34	34	0	36	7th	—	—	—	Taggart, AdamAdam Taggart	16
2014–15		27	3	8	16	23	55	–32	17	10th	—	Round of 32	—	Montaño, EdsonEdson Montaño	6
2015–16		27	8	6	13	28	41	–13	30	8th	—	Round of 32	—	Trifunović, MilošMiloš Trifunović	9
2016–17		27	5	7	15	28	53	–25	22	10th	—	Round of 32	—	Nabbout, AndrewAndrew Nabbout	8
2017–18		27	15	5	7	57	37	+20	50	2nd	2nd	Round of 32	—	Nabbout, AndrewAndrew Nabbout, Petratos, DimitriDimitri Petratos	10
2018–19		27	10	5	12	40	36	+4	35	7th	—	Round of 16	Play-off round	O'Donovan, RoyRoy O'Donovan	10
2019–20		26	9	7	10	32	40	–8	34	8th	—	Quarter-final	—	Petratos, DimitriDimitri Petratos	7
2020–21		26	5	6	15	24	38	–14	21	11th	—	—	—	Roy O'Donovan, Roy O'Donovan	7
2021–22		26	8	5	13	45	43	+2	29	9th	—	Play-off round	—	Beka Mikeltadze, Beka Mikeltadze	13
2022–23		26	8	5	13	30	45	–15	29	10th	—	Round of 32	—	Beka Mikeltadze, Beka Mikeltadze	6
2023–24		27	6	10	11	39	47	–8	29	10th	—	Round of 32	—	Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, Apostolos Stamatelopoulos	17
Season	Division	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts	Pos	Finals	FFA/Australia Cup	ACL	Name	Goals
		League												Top scorer

Continental Competitions

AFC Champions League

Season	Round	Date	Result	Team	Venue
2009 AFC Champions League	Group stage	10 March	0–2	Beijing Guoan	Beijing, China
		17 March	2–0	Ulsan Hyundai	Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
		7 April	1–1	Nagoya Grampus Eight	Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
		22 April	0–1	Nagoya Grampus	Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
		6 May	2–1	Beijing Guoan	Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
		20 May	1–0	Ulsan Hyundai	Ulsan, South Korea
	Round of 16	24 June	0–6	Pohang Steelers	Pohang, South Korea
2019 AFC Champions League	Preliminary round 2	12 February	3–1	Persija Jakarta	Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
	Play-off	19 February	1–4	Kashima Antlers	Kashima, Ibaraki, Japan

Team Achievements

National Titles

• A-League Men Championship
  • Winners (1): 2008
  • Runners-up (1): 2018
• A-League Men Premiership
  • Runners-up (2): 2007–08, 2017–18

Emerging Jets Academy

The Emerging Jets program helps young soccer players develop their skills. It is a partnership between Football Australia, Northern New South Wales Football, and the Newcastle Jets. This program offers a clear path for players as young as eight years old to reach the National Youth League, A-League, and W-League.

Since January 2015, the Emerging Jets Program has its own home base at the Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility. This facility is used for training and games.

The program gives young players the chance to improve with good coaching, competitive games, and support. It aims to help talented players and coaches reach their full potential. The goal is also to develop players who can play in the world's biggest leagues and inspire future generations of soccer players.

See also

In Spanish: Newcastle United Jets Football Club para niños

• Newcastle Jets FC W-League
• Newcastle Jets FC Youth