Category Archives: Squadron

News, Squadron

Squadron Statement regarding new FFA Active Support Restrictions

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Fellow Supporters,

Over the last month The Squadron Football Supporters Club (Squadron FSC) has been working hard on how we would choose to react to the restrictions imposed by Football Federation Australia on all active supporters across the A-League. The Squadron FSC has communicated with the Jets that we have significant concerns over the implementation of these restrictions and their effect on the future of active support in Newcastle. The club then kindly negotiated on our behalf new measures for active supporters which fit inside the constraints of the FFA restrictions.

However it is with regret that The Squadron FSC informs you that we can not accept the new restrictions for active support this season. This is a decision we have made after discussion with our Members. In the interests of engaging a wider cross-section of Newcastle supporters on this particular issue, we are looking for feedback from people as to whether they believe these restrictions are necessary, and whether it will impact if you choose to participate in active support in the future if these restrictions remain.

The Newcastle Jets management, The Squadron FSC, Hunter Stadium and Newcastle Police have been working tirelessly together over past seasons putting in place measures to improve and enhance the active support and to make it a more welcoming and inclusive experience at Newcastle Jets games. This included a safe and secure environment for all supporters who wanted to join the active area and this hard work resulted in zero incidents occurring within Bay60, a positive we were looking forward to increase this coming season. Let us make this clear, we had ZERO incidents in Bay60 last season. However these new restrictions will completely negate the work that has been done over many seasons and especially last season.

The Squadron Football Supporters Club wants the best for the Club, the A-League, and Football, however our biggest concern is the Fans and Supporters who we represent. In light of this The Squadron FSC will be vacating the designated active supporter bay for the 2014/15 season, or until such time as these restrictions are removed. This is not an action against the Newcastle Jets, it is however a response to the absurd and overbearing one-size-fits-all FFA restrictions. Should these restrictions be removed, we will return to our place in Bay60.

We will however continue to provide a voice for the fans, by being a link between them and the club. Further to this, we believe that between ourselves and the club we can negotiate, plan and provide an experience on game day that allows for growth of active support, and the general support in Newcastle.
We believe in a free and organic active support, one which can grow and diversify. The new FFA restrictions do not allow this to occur, neither do the Clubs negotiated measures. Through discussion with other fans within the Newcastle Jets supporter base, we have already seen that these measures will reduce and restrict our members and growth.

Our issues with the proposed changes to active support are:

1) Membership only access – The Squadron prided itself on the number of young people becoming involved in the matchday active support in the 2013/14 season. These young people ranged from early to late teens, people that the Squadron considers vital components of the future Newcastle, and more broadly A-League, support. A no-membership, no-access restriction disadvantages this key demographic of our support, now and into the future. Membership-only access also forces people to buy memberships which some younger supporters & parents are not able to afford. Yet more supporters will also be disadvantaged as not everyone able to attend every game due to family, work and local sporting commitments thus negating the benefits of purchasing a membership.

2)No Match-day Purchase of Active tickets – Through having a conversation with stakeholders of the game, i.e. supporters, we have found that the purchase of active tickets on game day was a common occurrence. Supporters being unable to purchase these “walk-up” tickets to our bay will significantly reduce the number of people able to experience our unique style of support for the first time.

3) Restricting movement into Active Support areas – We believe that support, particularly active support, ebbs and flows minute by minute, game by game, season by season. Whether our team is winning or holding onto the game as it draws to a close, putting a run of victories together, or excitement peaks for the season launch or a run to the finals series, the numbers in the active support bays would swell as people wanted to join in and put their voices behind the team. We believe that supporters should be free to do this, and that these new restrictions are placing barriers in front of people wanting to move into the active support area.

4) Price Gouging of fans – Further to restricting the purchase of active bay tickets on match day, it is forcing the pre-purchase of tickets online. The Ticketmaster/Ticketek monopoly on online sales, one company of which the Jets now use, are well known for their absurd price “add-ons”. We believe that by forcing fans to buy online that this incurs extra expense for the purchaser that will further put them off buying active tickets. In the interests of transparency, the Club has proposed that active supporter members would have a “bring a friend option” which would see a $5 reduction of the face value of tickets bought through these sites for active support.

5) The collection and storage of personal information – The Squadron FSC has always maintained a strict self-policing policy. Perpetrators of anti-social behaviour in our Bay have always been easily identified and removed, or encouraged to participate in a positive way. We believe that the bulk collection of everyone in the bay’s personal information is unnecessary and invades their privacy. We believe that those who commit acts of crime, or behave in an inappropriate manner should have details collected as per legal requirements. The Club says that they have “Strict privacy rules surrounding the collection of information”, however it is our belief that if the club is unable to say no to the FFA on these new restrictions, they won’t say no when asked to divulge personal information.

6) Supporters United Australia – We believe that in light of the League wide situation facing active supporters that it would be unfair of us to accept a deal based on the FFA restrictions. We believe that the best way for OUR game to continue to grow is to provide both active support and general support that is free from these restrictions. We also believe that the best way to achieve freedom from these FFA restrictions is to join with our fellow supporters from other clubs in protest against these measures. The overall aim & attitude of football administrators should be to remove barriers and restrictions so as to make it easier for people to migrate into the active support bays when they wish to. Active support is frequently used as a point of difference between our game and the other sporting codes in FFA advertising and public relations, yet it seems the overall attitude is to dilute, restrict and reduce this point of difference rather than work with the various groups on how to best maximise the effects and help grow the unique atmosphere generated by the supporter groups around the league.


We have a unique set of circumstances which affect us as a group, circumstances which are shared by all supporters of our club. These new FFA restrictions are a ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution to be applied across the league and will have a negative effect on active support, due to the individual circumstances with each stadium, supporter group and club. These measures are vehemently opposed by all other active support groups, who we are continuing to liaise with. We believe all supporter groups should be allowed to continue working with their own clubs to continue to implement measures specific to their circumstances without interference. We are willing to have discussion with OUR club to implement such measures, which should not involve FFA restrictions or input.

We appreciate the management team of the Newcastle United Jets, and look forward to working closely with them into the future.

Thank you for your continued support,

The Squadron FSC Committee

News, Squadron

Event: The 12 Pubs of Jardel

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The Squadron and Yellow Fever supporters groups are joining forces on Saturday 22nd March to embark on an epic trek through Newcastle’s fine alehouses prior to and following the game at Hunter Stadium between the Jets and the Phoenix.

This is a chance to meet some fellow football fans from Newcastle and across the dutch, enjoy some prematch tipple (in moderation of course), sing a few songs and generally have a brilliant time and all that.

The timetable is as follows:

11:00am  Customs House

12:00pm  The Brewery

1:00pm  Honeysuckle Hotel

1:30pm    James Squires

2:00pm    Dockyard

2:30pm   The Landing

3:25pm Train Civic to Broadmeadow

3:35pm The Tenzo

5:30pm Match

8:00pm The Premier

9:00pm Sydney Junction

9:30pm The Kent

10:00pm The Northern Star

10:30pm The Exchange

Everyone (over 18) is welcome, however anti-social behaviour wont be tolerated. Its meant to be a fun day out, anyone spoiling it will be asked to leave. There is a great relationship between our two supporter groups, so banter and bevvies are the order of the day not bellends.

If you are coming, please feel free to RSVP on the facebook event page https://www.facebook.com/events/513959625382013/

News, Squadron

Jets Away Support Coaches – F3 DERBY #3

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Bookings are now open for the Round 23 F3 Derby fixture against Central Coast Mariners at Bluetongue Stadium on Saturday 15th March 2014. Kick-off is at 7:45pm. You can purchase your tickets by calling Sid Foggs on 4928 1088 Mon – Fri 9am – 5pm and Sat 9am – 12pm. You can also purchase in person at Sid Foggs Travel, Gallery Level at Stockland Jesmond.

Coaches will depart from Sid Foggs Coaches Depot at Fullerton Cove at 4:30pm. The coaches will then depart Hunter Stadium car park at 5:15pm, Charlestown at 5:25pm, Belmont at 5:35pm and Swansea at 5:45pm.

Please confirm pickup address with Sid Foggs when purchasing your tickets, and be at pickup points 20 minutes before scheduled departure time. Coaches will depart 20 minutes after fulltime for the return trip to Newcastle.

Prices for this trip will be $18 per seat or a special family price of $70 (two adults and two children or one adult and three children). Those paying by credit card will attract a 2% non-refundable fee.

This service is for all Jets supporters and especially for families and younger supporters who want to attend an away game but don’t wish to travel by public transport and want a direct service to the stadium. We have tried to make the costs as cheap as possible for this game in order to get as many supporters as we can to pack out the away bays.

These prices are for return coach travel only and do not include a match ticket. All patrons are strongly advised to purchase their match tickets prior to booking on the coach. Please be advised that smoking and alcohol will not be permitted on board Sid Foggs coaches.

A minimum number of bookings are required to ensure each service goes ahead. Those wishing to use this coach service are urged to purchase their tickets as soon as possible. A decision will be made by 12pm Wednesday March 12th as to whether the minimum number of seats have been sold. If the service is cancelled, customers will be notified and purchases will be refunded (except credit card fees).

The coach service is booked by The Squadron on behalf of all Newcastle Jets supporters with Sid Foggs Coaches. Hunter Sports Group/Newcastle Jets FC have no involvement aside from promoting the service to its Members. Any enquiries for these coach services need to be directed to Sid Foggs Coaches on the above number.

Jets Vs Mariners – Jets Supporters – 15-3-14