With an impressive playing roster at his disposal, Newcastle Jets coach Gary van Egmond is determined to start the ALW season on the right foot.

The former Socceroo, who’s resuming the managing role for 2023/24, will kick off the club’s A-League Women’s campaign with an old-fashioned “road trip” to enable the girls to gel as soon as possible.

Already, Newcastle has recruited Melina Ayres, Cassidy Davis, Alex Huynh, Rebecca Burrows, Gema Simon, Lorena Baumann, Maggie Shaw, Kiara Rochaix, Sophie Hoban, Lara Gooch, Lauren Allan, Claudia Cicco, Izzy Nino and Libby Copus-Brown, with more signings to come.

But, first, the Jets will head north-west this month for a TOUR fuelled by Greater Bank.

They’ll visit primary schools in Gunnedah on Friday 22 September before hosting a Jets:PLAY clinic for 200 boys and girls aged between five and 14 at Geoff Morgan Fields.

On Saturday 23 September, Newcastle will play a friendly against Northern NSW Select at Tamworth’s Scully Park as part of the festivities surrounding the Northern Inland grand finals.

An open training session on Sunday 24 September wraps up proceedings.

“We’re very fortunate having Greater Bank and Whitehaven Coal on board… to help us plan a trip away, which is pretty important for us,” van Egmond said.

“We’ll attend a few schools, meet the kids, then play the following day before a session on the Sunday.

“That will enable us to bond as a group and get to know each other a little bit more.

“And, obviously, we’ll fit in some quality footballing as well.

“It’s a very short pre-season, so we must make sure that we get that time and utilise it to its full advantage.”

Van Egmond admitted he was pleased with how the squad was shaping up.

“We’ve probably got a couple of spots left but, overall, we’re very happy with the recruitment,” he told the Newcastle Weekly.

“Everyone’s looking forward to a good season.

“It’s fantastic to see Gema (Simon) come back and Libby (Copus-Brown) has been over in England for a couple of years now.

“So, I’m delighted they’ve returned to the area, which is what we want.

“I think, from a team perspective, the type of football that we can produce is important so that fans can resonate with it and get excited with it.

“We have some very good, exciting players within our ranks.

“Obviously, Melina (Ayres) is a proven striker in this league, so that’s fantastic.

“The international players will not only add that bit of difference but experience as well.

“I believe it’ll be great… and we’ll get more of an idea of how everything looks as we get closer to the beginning of the season, which is only five weeks away.

“Our first match is against derby rivals Central Coast Mariners at Industree Group Stadium on Saturday 14 October.”

Van Egmond hopes the buoyant mood from his daughter Emily’s efforts in the recent FIFA Women’s World Cup, and that of the Matildas, as well as Newcastle Knights’ surge in the NRL, carries through to the Jets’ ALW squad.

“There’s a real [sporting] buzz around the place at the moment, for a number of reasons,” he said.

“However, if you look at the times that there’s been success with any franchise that’s been within Newcastle, they get well and truly supported by the Novocastrian faithful.

“So, it would be nice to feel that, too.

“We want to try and ensure that we are successful… and that we attract that support as well.

“But, to do it, you must earn it.

“We’re looking forward to working hard and producing the goods on the field.”

For more sports stories:

• Emily van Egmond: Inspiring a new generation
• Simon, Baumann, Shaw join Jets’ ALW ranks
• Knights stalwart Fitzgibbon deserves to leave a winner

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