Newcastle Jets FC facts for kids
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| Full name | Newcastle United Jets Football Club | |
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| Nickname(s) | The Jets | |
| Founded | 1 August 1999 | |
| Ground | McDonald Jones Stadium | |
| Capacity | 33,000 | |
| Owner | Maverick Sports Partners | |
| Manager | Robert Stanton | |
| League | A-League Men | |
| 2022–23 | 10th of 12 | |
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The Newcastle United Jets Football Club, often called the 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 the first teams to join the A-League when it began.
The Newcastle Jets have won one A-League championship. This happened in 2008 when they beat their rivals, the Central Coast Mariners, 1–0 in the Grand Final. In 2009, the Jets also played in the AFC Champions League, which is a big competition for Asian clubs. They made it to the Round of 16.
The team plays its home games at McDonald Jones Stadium. The club also has a youth team that plays in the A-League Youth and other competitions. There's also a women's team that competes in the A-League Women.
Contents
History of the Newcastle Jets
How the Jets Started
The Newcastle United club was created in 2000 by a businessman named Con Constantine. It was formed from what was left of an older team called the Newcastle Breakers. The Breakers team had been closed down. The new Newcastle United team started playing at what is now called McDonald Jones Stadium. This was the same stadium where an even older Newcastle team, Newcastle KB United, used to play.
The Newcastle United team did quite well in their early years. They reached the final series twice and finished second in the league in the 2001–02 season.
Becoming the Newcastle Jets
When the new national league, the A-League, began, the club changed its name to the Newcastle United Jets Football Club. They also got a new logo. This was done to create a fresh image and to avoid confusion with the famous English club, Newcastle United. The name "Jets" comes from RAAF Base Williamtown, an air force base near Newcastle. The club's logo even shows three F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets, which are based at Williamtown.
In the early A-League seasons, the Jets had a few different coaches. Richard Money was the coach for the 2005–2006 season. He was later replaced by Nick Theodorakopoulos, but he was also replaced after the team struggled. Gary van Egmond then took over as coach.
The club also signed some interesting players, like Ned Zelic, who was a well-known Australian player. There were even talks about bringing famous English striker Stan Collymore out of retirement for a few games, but it didn't happen.
Under coach Gary van Egmond, the Jets started to play much better. They earned a lot of points and scored many goals. This good performance brought big crowds to their games in Newcastle. One home final against Sydney FC in 2007 had over 24,000 fans!
The Jets were eventually knocked out of the finals by Adelaide in a penalty shootout. This meant they missed out on playing in the Grand Final and a spot in the Asian Champions League that year.
Champions of Australia: 2008
For the third A-League season, some of Newcastle's top players left. But new players joined, including Joel Griffiths' brother, Adam Griffiths, and even a famous Brazilian player named Mario Jardel. Joel Griffiths became the top scorer in the regular season with 12 goals.
The Jets started the season strong, not losing any of their first five matches. They finished the season in second place, just behind the Central Coast Mariners. They then played the Mariners in the semi-final. The Jets won the first game 2–0 at home. However, the Mariners came back to win 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 by beating Queensland Roar 3–2 in extra time. This was a very exciting game with late goals and penalties.
In the 2007–08 A-League Grand Final, the Jets faced their rivals, the Central Coast Mariners. The Jets won 1–0 with a goal from Joel Griffiths early in the second half. This made the Newcastle Jets the A-League Champions for the first time! Both the Jets and Mariners then qualified for the 2009 AFC Champions League.
Playing in Asia: AFC Champions League
To get ready for the AFC Champions League, the Jets signed new players like Nikolai Topor-Stanley. However, the team struggled in the A-League that season and finished last. Key players like Mark Milligan and captain Joel Griffiths left the club. Joel Griffiths went on a one-year loan to a team in China.
Before the Champions League, the Jets quickly signed several new players. These included Dutch striker Donny de Groot, Sasho Petrovski, and defenders Ljubo Miličević and Angelo Costanzo. They also signed former S.S. Lazio forward Fabio Vignaroli.
The Jets started the Champions League by losing 2–0 to Beijing Guoan. But they bounced back with a 2–0 win against Ulsan Hyundai. They also had an exciting 1–1 draw in Japan against Nagoya Grampus. The Jets managed to qualify for the Round of 16 by beating Ulsan Hyundai 1–0 away from home. In the Round of 16, they played against Pohang Steelers and lost 6–0, which ended their run in the competition.
Changes and Challenges
After their championship win, many Jets players left the club. The 2008–09 season was tough, and the team finished last, missing the finals for the first time.
Coach Gary van Egmond left the club, and Branko Čulina became the new manager. In the 2009–10 season, the Jets made it to the finals again. They won their first finals game in a penalty shootout but were knocked out in the next round by Wellington Phoenix.
The club faced financial problems around this time. But then, businessman Nathan Tinkler bought a majority share in the Jets, which saved the club. Tinkler's ownership brought positive changes, like cheaper tickets for fans and new sponsors. The club even played a friendly game against LA Galaxy, which had famous players like David Beckham. The Jets won that game 2–1!
Return of Gary van Egmond
In 2011, coach Branko Čulina's contract was ended, and Gary van Egmond returned as coach. The club also had some issues with player contracts.
In 2012, Nathan Tinkler announced he would give back the club's A-League license because of money problems. However, after talks with the Football Federation Australia (FFA), Tinkler decided to remain the owner.
Gary van Egmond made many changes to the team, bringing in young talented players. In September 2012, the Jets signed famous English player Emile Heskey as their "marquee" player. Heskey wore the number 9 jersey. The Jets started the season well, beating teams like Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory. However, they finished 8th and missed the finals. Van Egmond was later sacked in the next season due to poor results.
New Coaches and Ownership Changes
In 2014, Phil Stubbins became the new coach. The club signed new players, including the Jets' highest-ever goal scorer, Joel Griffiths. However, the team had a very bad season, finishing at the bottom of the table. In May 2015, the Football Federation Australia (FFA) ended the club's license because of unpaid debts.
But the FFA quickly issued a new license for a new team in Newcastle. This new team kept the Newcastle Jets name and colours and continued to play at Hunter Stadium. The FFA wanted a fresh start for the club and appointed Scott Miller as the new head coach.
In 2016, the club was sold to the Ledman Group, a company from China. Later that year, Scott Miller was dismissed, and Mark Jones took over as coach. However, the team finished last again that season.
The Ernie Merrick Era
In May 2017, Ernie Merrick became Newcastle's new coach. He had a lot of experience, having won A-League titles with other teams. Merrick believed the club had everything needed for success, including passionate fans.
Merrick's first game as coach was against rivals Central Coast Mariners. Newcastle won that game 5–1, which was their biggest win ever against the Mariners. The Jets had a fantastic season, winning many games and finishing second in the league. They also made history by winning all three F3 Derby matches against the Mariners that season.
Newcastle played Melbourne City in the semi-final of the A-League finals and won 2–1. This meant the Jets reached their second A-League Grand Final! However, they lost the 2017–18 A-League Grand Final 1–0 to Melbourne Victory. Despite the loss, it was one of the most successful seasons in the club's history. Two Jets players, Andrew Nabbout and Dimitri Petratos, were even chosen to play for Australia in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Recent Years: New Owners and Coaches
After a tough start to the 2019–20 A-League season, Ernie Merrick was sacked. Carl Robinson then became the new head coach. The team's results improved under Robinson, but the season was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Robinson later left the club in 2021.
The club faced more uncertainty when its owner, Martin Lee, stopped putting money into the club. For a while, other A-League clubs helped manage the Jets. Despite this, the club continued to play in the A-League and W-League. Craig Deans took over as full-time coach but later resigned.
In June 2021, Arthur Papas was appointed manager, but he also resigned in 2023. On June 26, 2023, Rob Stanton was announced as the new Head Coach for the A-League Men's team.
In June 2024, the Jets announced that Maverick Sports Partners would become the club's new owners. This brought more stability to the club after several years of changes. The Jets started their new era by playing in the Australia Cup.
Team Colours and Badge
       Newcastle United strip (2000–04)
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The Newcastle Jets' traditional colours are blue and red. These are the same colours worn by the Newcastle Knights rugby league team in the area. When the Jets joined the A-League, they changed their colours to a gold jersey with navy and red trim, and navy blue shorts and socks. This was very different from the old red and blue jerseys.
Over the years, the team's kits have changed. In 2011, the club decided to go back to the blue and red colours, matching the Newcastle Knights. The away kits have also varied, including black and white, and even an emerald green jersey based on an old Newcastle team called KB United. The club's badge features three F/A-18 Hornets, which represent the "Jets" name and the nearby RAAF Base Williamtown.
Home Stadium
The Newcastle Jets play their home games at McDonald Jones Stadium. This stadium is also the home ground for the Newcastle Knights rugby league team. It can hold up to 33,000 people. The stadium is located in the suburb of Broadmeadow.
The biggest crowd for a soccer match in Newcastle was at this stadium on February 2, 2007. Over 24,338 people came to watch the Jets play against Sydney FC. The stadium has been upgraded over the years, including new stands, to allow for even more fans and to meet international standards for big events like the AFC Asian Cup.
Supporters
The main active supporter group for the Newcastle Jets was called the Squadron Novocastria. This group was formed before the very first A-League game. They used to stand behind the goals, but later moved to a seated area in the Eastern Grandstand. They have many chants and traditions, like singing the chorus of the INXS song "Never Tear Us Apart" before games.
As the team played better, the Squadron grew bigger. They even moved to a different part of the stadium to improve active support. In late 2016, a new supporter group called the Newcastle City Legionaries (NCL) was formed. This group aims for a more "traditional" style of support, where anyone can start chants.
In 2017, the Squadron announced they would stop active support due to strict rules. Although they returned for the 2017–18 season, the group later dissolved again due to lower attendance and team performance.
Rivalries
The Newcastle Jets have a strong rivalry with the Central Coast Mariners. This rivalry is known as The F3 Derby because of the highway that connects the two regions. The games between these two teams are often very intense and exciting.
One memorable moment in the rivalry was in the 2007–08 season. The Jets beat the Mariners in the first game of the semi-final, but then lost the second game in extra time. However, the Jets went on to beat the Mariners 1–0 in the 2007/08 A-League Grand Final, becoming champions. These derby matches are always a highlight for fans of both teams.
Players
First-team squad
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Youth Players
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Players on Loan
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Club Staff
Coaching and Support Staff
Source: [1] |
Club Management
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Team Managers Through the Years
Ian Crook (2001–2004)
Richard Money (2005)- Nick Theodorakopoulos (2006)
- Gary van Egmond (2006–2009)
- Branko Culina (2009–2011)
- Craig Deans (Interim, 2011)
- Gary van Egmond (2011–2014)
- Clayton Zane (Interim, 2014)
- Phil Stubbins (2014–2015)
- Scott Miller (2015–2016)
- Mark Jones (2016–2017)
Ernie Merrick (2017–2020)- Craig Deans and
Qiang Li (Interim, 2020) 
Carl Robinson (2020)- Craig Deans (Interim, 2020–2021)
- Craig Deans (2021)
- Arthur Papas (2021–2023)
- Robert Stanton (2023 – Present)
Team Captains
| Dates | Name | Notes | Honours (as captain) |
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| 2005–2006 | Ned Zelic |
First club captain | |
| 2006–2007 | Paul Okon |
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| 2007–2009 | Jade North |
2007–08 A-League Championship | |
| 2009–2010 | Matt Thompson |
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| 2010–2011 | Michael Bridges |
First foreign captain | |
| 2011–2013 | Jobe Wheelhouse |
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| 2013–2014 | Ruben Zadkovich |
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| 2014–2015 |  Kew Jaliens |
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| 2015 | Taylor Regan |
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| 2015–2021 | Nigel Boogaard |
Longest serving captain | |
| 2021–2023 | Matthew Jurman |
Sole captain in 2021–22 season, 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 |
Club Records and Achievements
Season by Season Performance
| Season | Division | League | FFA/Australia Cup |
ACL | Top Goalscorer | ||||||||||
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| 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 | — | — | — | John Buonavoglia |
7 |
| 2001–02 | 24 | 10 | 12 | 2 | 33 | 21 | +12 | 42 | 2nd | 3rd | — | — | Joel Griffiths |
9 | |
| 2002–03 | 24 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 37 | 25 | +12 | 37 | 4th | 6th | — | — | Joel Griffiths |
15 | |
| 2003–04 | 24 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 33 | –15 | 24 | 11th | — | — | — | Jobe Wheelhouse |
4 | |
| 2005–06 | 1st (A-League) |
21 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 27 | 29 | –2 | 31 | 4th | 4th | — | — | Ante Miličić |
7 |
| 2006–07 | 21 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 32 | 30 | +2 | 30 | 3rd | 3rd | — | — | Mark Bridge |
8 | |
| 2007–08 | 21 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 25 | 21 | +4 | 34 | 2nd | W | — | — | Joel Griffiths |
14 | |
| 2008–09 | 21 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 21 | 39 | –18 | 18 | 8th | — | — | Round of 16 | Joel 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 | — | — | — | Sasho Petrovski |
5 | |
| 2011–12 | 27 | 10 | 5 | 12 | 38 | 41 | –3 | 35 | 7th | — | — | — | Ryan Griffiths,  Jeremy Brockie |
9 | |
| 2012–13 | 27 | 8 | 7 | 12 | 30 | 45 | –15 | 31 | 8th | — | — | — | Ryan Griffiths, Emile Heskey |
9 | |
| 2013–14 | 27 | 10 | 6 | 11 | 34 | 34 | 0 | 36 | 7th | — | — | — | Adam Taggart |
16 | |
| 2014–15 | 27 | 3 | 8 | 16 | 23 | 55 | –32 | 17 | 10th | — | Round of 32 | — |  Edson Montaño |
6 | |
| 2015–16 | 27 | 8 | 6 | 13 | 28 | 41 | –13 | 30 | 8th | — | Round of 32 | — |  Miloš Trifunović |
9 | |
| 2016–17 | 27 | 5 | 7 | 15 | 28 | 53 | –25 | 22 | 10th | — | Round of 32 | — | Andrew Nabbout |
8 | |
| 2017–18 | 27 | 15 | 5 | 7 | 57 | 37 | +20 | 50 | 2nd | 2nd | Round of 32 | — | Andrew Nabbout, Dimitri Petratos |
10 | |
| 2018–19 | 27 | 10 | 5 | 12 | 40 | 36 | +4 | 35 | 7th | — | Round of 16 | Play-off round |  Roy O'Donovan |
10 | |
| 2019–20 | 26 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 32 | 40 | –8 | 34 | 8th | — | Quarter-final | — | Dimitri Petratos |
7 | |
| 2020–21 | 26 | 5 | 6 | 15 | 24 | 38 | –14 | 21 | 11th | — | — | — | Roy O'Donovan |
7 | |
| 2021–22 | 26 | 8 | 5 | 13 | 45 | 43 | +2 | 29 | 9th | — | Play-off round | — |  Beka Mikeltadze |
13 | |
| 2022–23 | 26 | 8 | 5 | 13 | 30 | 45 | –15 | 29 | 10th | — | Round of 32 | — | Beka Mikeltadze |
6 | |
| 2023–24 | 27 | 6 | 10 | 11 | 39 | 47 | –8 | 29 | 10th | — | Round of 32 | — | Apostolos Stamatelopoulos |
17 | |
| Season | Division | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | Pos | Finals | FFA/Australia Cup |
ACL | Name | Goals |
| League | Top scorer | ||||||||||||||
| Champions | Runners-up | Third Place |
Continental Competitions
| 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 |
Club Honours
- 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 is a special training program for young soccer players. It's a partnership between Football Australia, Northern New South Wales Football, and the Newcastle Jets club. This program helps players as young as eight years old develop their skills. It guides them all the way to the National Youth League, A-League, and W-League teams.
Since 2015, the Emerging Jets program has its own home base at the Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility. This means the young players have a dedicated place for training and games. The program aims to give talented players and coaches the best chances to reach their full potential. The goal is 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
