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Newcastle will transform into a sea of gold on Thursday when the city’s A-League champion Jets are honoured at a civic reception and parade.
In fanfare previously only reserved for the town’s much-loved NRL side the Knights, the Jets will be honoured following their dramatic grand final win over NSW rivals Central Coast in Sydney last night.
Many of the 36,354 fans that travelled to the Sydney Football Stadium will line the streets of the CBD while the town hall will be closed as the city celebrates its inaugural soccer title in a national competition.
Last night, up to 2500 fans waited until close to midnight in drizzling rain to welcome the players home at a local sporting oval.
The team’s arrival was delayed after a police escort was required to help their bus up the F3 freeway.
One-by-one the players were introduced on to a stage to the sounds of wild cheering and chanting.
The biggest applause was reserved for pin-up boy and player-of-the-year favourite Joel Griffiths, grand final goal-scorer Mark Bridge and South Korean import and new heart throb Jin Hyung Song.
Coach Gary van Egmond addressed the excited fans and promised to urge management to retain the core of his young squad, before leading the crowd into the familiar “Newcastle” chant that had resounded throughout the SFS yesterday.
“We’re the youngest team in the A-League as far as average age is concerned and we’re really going to make sure that we keep this nucleus together and we’ll make sure get many, many championships coming this way,” van Egmond said.
“The support tonight down at the SFS, I didn’t even hear the Mariners chants, all I heard was Newcastle.”
Griffiths took the contract discussions one step further asking the crowd: “Should we keep Bridgey or what? Let’s keep Bridgey,” in reference to the apparently Sydney FC-bound striker.
The A-League top scorer and the city’s biggest sporting hero since Knights legend Andrew Johns was full of praise for the loyal fans.
“I moved up here and I thought, what a great place to live,” said Griffiths, a former Sydneysider.
“You guys have made me feel like I’m at home.
“I’ve been here for five years now and dead-set, I’m honestly so proud to say that I’m a bloody Novocastrian.”
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