Category Archives: Squadron

Squadron

Away Supporters #NewyTourOfDuty Toolkit

Well, it’s finally arrived!!! Across today and tomorrow morning there will be hordes of Jets supporters descending on Newcastle Airport to make the trek up to Brisbane to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the 2008 Grand Final victory as well as to take in what will be a fantastic match. We don’t know exact numbers but it looks likely that several hundred could be making this particular trip which will be a fantastic result.

If you haven’t been on an away trip before, or been to Brisbane before, we have put together a few points here to help you on this particular away trip. One thing that is a constant across any away trip however is to say G’day to fellow Jets supporters (as well as the opposition) and to enjoy yourself. Eat, drink and be Newy 🙂

SOCIAL MEDIA: If you’re taking photos/video, make sure you tag @SquadronNewy and @JetstreamNewy and use the hashtag #NewyTourOfDuty
The Jetstream podcast team will also be in attendance and will be filming some footage across the weekend to post as well, so please feel free to come up and say G’day to them

WEATHER: no getting around it. Its shit, and will probably be that way all weekend. Thunderstorms predicted for gameday, as well as a top of 29 degrees and 71% humidity. Hot, wet and sweaty. Dress appropriately, leave the leather pants at home.

AIRPORT TRANSFERS: You can transfer via private shuttle with Con-x-ion which will meet you at the airport and drop you off directly at your hotel. Price depends on location. Quotes & bookings here https://www.con-x-ion.com/
You can also use public transport from the airport.
You can travel via bus http://translink.com.au/
or via train http://www.airtrain.com.au/

PRE-MATCH: All supporters are invited to The Caxton Hotel, 38 Caxton St, Milton as the pre-match venue from midday. The hotel is ideally located within sight and a short walk to Suncorp Stadium so its the best spot to grab some lunch, and enjoy some beverages prior to kickoff. There is a restaurant with a varied a la-carte menu as well as gameday menu available via the bar which should cover most budgets. The venue advise that u18’s are allowed entry so long as they are accompanied by their parent/guardian. There will be Roar supporters in attendance as well, so please be respectful. Getting ejected from the pub wont be a good start to the day.

TICKETS: The away bay is located in Bay 317. The ticketing agent is Ticketek and you can purchase tickets for the match via this link Be aware that there aren’t very many tickets left so its advised to purchase prior to gameday. If its sold out, buy in the adjacent bay.

GAME: Bring the noise!!! Away games are usually a great atmosphere, so feel free to join in the songs or even start your own. Make sure its a good one though, or there will be good-natured ribbing. We are also advising that to commemorate the Grand Final anniversary everyone wears a gold strip, whether its a retro jersey or new kit.

SECURITY: Be aware that on many previous occasions supporters (home and away) have fallen foul of Suncorp Stadium’s security. If you remember the bad old days of NES or E-Group’s ridiculously overbearing attitudes towards football supporters at Hunter Stadium then you have an idea of what these guys will be like. Don’t give them a reason, there is nothing worse than being ejected from an away game you’ve spent good money to attend.

POSTMATCH: Feel free to return to the Caxton Hotel after the game to wind down with a few more drinks and to watch the #MVCvADL match. If something other than football is on your agenda, we recommend Fortitude Valley which has a number of night spots, or you can try your luck at the Treasury Casino. Be aware that while Brisbane doesnt have Newy’s ridiculous lockout laws, they still stop serving alcohol at 3am in the designated “safe night zones”.

THE NEXT DAY: if you haven’t got a hangover, you didn’t try hard enough. Or you’re under 18, in which case well done. 

We hope everyone has a belting time, and that the Jets win. Safe travels everyone and see you in Brisvegas!!!

NTUA

 

 

News, Squadron

Season 13 Tour of Duty: Brisbane Roar Rd21 24/02/18

After the success of the Tour of Duty to Melbourne last season when over 150 supporters travelled to Victoria, we are again calling on all supporters to join together for an interstate away trip for the 2017/18 season.

When we were looking at which game to attend this season, there was really only one choice once we saw the fixture list. It was pretty easy to decide that the away fixture falling on the 10th anniversary of the Jets maiden Championship was the one everyone needs to attend.

The Newcastle United Jets will take on Brisbane Roar in Round 21 of the A-League on Saturday 24th February, 2018. Kickoff is scheduled for 535pm.

So we are putting the word out for all supporters to make the trip up to Suncorp Stadium for this fixture in a show of support for the boys on the pitch and enjoy some away trip fun with fellow Jets fans. It will also be a massive celebration of the 10 year anniversary of the Jets winning our first A-League Championship. We encourage all supporters to be decked out in gold on gameday.

Away trips are a great way to meet fellow passionate Jets supporters, and also enjoy the travel and game day experience that is so ingrained into the football culture all over the world. And it doesn’t matter if you are single or married, male or female, on your own or bringing your family – all are welcome.

The game being played on a Saturday is ideal for families and those working Mon – Fri as you will be able to travel either Friday night or Saturday morning to the game, and then return home on Sunday.

We advise supporters of the following suggestions when looking to join in this trip.

FLIGHTS: Jetstar currently have the cheapest seats NEW-BRI priced at $75 (each way) however there will be online sales across the airlines in the coming weeks so we will advise to wait to grab your seats. We will advise when these take place via social media.

AIRPORT TRANSFERS: You can transfer via private shuttle with Con-x-ion which will meet you at the airport and drop you off directly at your hotel. Price depends on location. Quotes & bookings here https://www.con-x-ion.com/
You can also use public transport from the airport.
You can travel via bus http://translink.com.au/
or via train http://www.airtrain.com.au/

PRE-MATCH: We will look to confirm the Caxton Hotel as the pre-match venue closer to the season launch. We anticipate pre-match festivities will get underway from midday.

ACCOMMODATION: There are a wide range of options to suit your budget. Backpackers are usually the cheapest option, especially if you are able to get a group together. If you are willing to fork over a little more money, then there are plenty of hotels available. We recommend staying in Fortitude Valley or Brisbane CBD. It’s easy to catch a train to Milton or Roma St Stations which are a short walk from Suncorp Stadium, or a direct bus to Suncorp Stadium.

As the match draws closer we will release more specific details, but for now – make sure you pencil it in your diary and start budgeting for a big weekend.

This will be another fantastic trip, and should be attended by a large number of supporters. So if you can make the trip, please join us in Brisbane in February!!!!

Never Tear Us Apart

The Squadron Football Supporters Club, Inc

Squadron

STATEMENT: The Squadron Withdrawing From Active Support

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The Squadron FSC Inc advise, effective immediately we are ceasing involvement with active support. The FFA’s mandated restrictions & conditions applied to all active groups in the A-League have had a devastating impact on the levels of active support growth at Jets fixtures.

These restrictions included:
• Zero free movement allowed into and out of active support areas
• Dedicated active support area with defined entry/exit points that were manned at all times by security personnel
• Excessive police & security scrutiny & strategies on the active support area over many seasons. We always aimed to work co-operatively & proactively, the response was consistently adversarial and aggressive
• Restricting of active support single game ticket online sales to individual adult tickets only and requirements of capturing private information, making online or ticket window purchases slow and complicated 

We have persevered to make things work within the rules for years, moved locations twice to try to rebuild numbers and have worked with the club on different initiatives. It is clear that the FFA restrictions are insurmountable in keeping officially sanctioned active support alive in Newcastle.

The growth of the NCL group since January in Bay 1 (a General Admission area with no entry restrictions) we believe showed that if the restrictions could be lifted on the Southern Hill, then active support might be able to recover. We were informed that being the “official active support group” meant we had to abide by the FFA mandated conditions or lose status and active support privileges. It’s hoped that by standing aside as an official active support group, an organic growth of unaffiliated groups such as the NCL can continue so that matchday atmosphere is what we had always envisaged – loud and parochial.

As a consequence of ending our involvement in active support, The Squadron will refocus its efforts as a supporters club. This means we will still aim be involved in non-matchday activities:

  • Selling Merchandise to fund…
  • Interstate away tours & organising away game pubs
  • NSW Away Coaches
  • Newyhelps charity drive
  • Promotion of Premier Hotel for prematch and away games
  • Financially supporting newcastlefootball.net supporters forum & website and The Jetstream (podcast, TV and fanzine)
  • Tifo displays at selected games (subject to club agreement)
  • Lobbying the club on behalf of supporters via the Members Advisory Group (subject to club agreement)
  • Lobbying other stakeholders on behalf of supporters via social media & direct communication
  • Communicating relevant information to supporters and public via website and social media channels.
  • Supporting the efforts of other Jets fans to build a strong and vibrant supporter culture in Newcastle.

In the off season, The Squadron will hold an AGM to elect the committee and plan for next seasons non-matchday activities. If you’d like to be involved or have your opinions heard please come along.

We were able to accomplish a great deal in 12 seasons:

  • Two of the biggest tifos in the A-League to date – the Big Gold Banner for the 2008 Grand Final & NEWCASTLE drop down tifo in 2011
  • A fleet of buses in 2008 organised in a few days for supporters to travel to Allianz Stadium for the Grand Final
  • At one stage we were the third largest supporter group in the League
  • Raised $3500 in our first ever Newyhelps charity fundraising drive in 2015, raising money for families staying at Ronald McDonald House to attend Jets games and Sam’s Fund for SUDEP in memory of Squadron member Sam Taylor
  • Successfully lobbying the club and stadium to allow 1.5mx1m banners & flags into the stadium without having to be part of active support
  • Multiple interstate away trips
  • Liaising with away stadiums on behalf of supporters to ensure entry for banners & equipment
  • Countless small, medium and large flags, fence banners and tifo displays over 12 seasons

Lastly, we would like to thank everyone who ever joined in The Squadron, helped out making and deploying tifo, came up with a chant, jumped on the mega, helped out with drumming, waved a flag, served on the committee or simply joined in the chants and songs. Sincerely, thank you. We also thank all those at the club who helped us over the years.

From the glory days in the first four seasons to the rebuilding attempts in the later seasons – it was a hell of a ride.

Never Tear Us Apart