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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