Newcastle Jets will acknowledge the incredible contribution the Air Force makes within the Hunter Valley community and seek to strengthen its ties to RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force) Base Williamtown when the club hosts Brisbane Roar at Hunter Stadium on Saturday 28 November.
The Hyundai A-League 2015/16 season round 8 match between Scott Miller’s men and John Aloisi’s outfit will be recognised by the Jets as the club’s inaugural RAAF Base Williamtown round, and will feature a number of initiatives and activations on the day to highlight the Jets’ inextricable links to the local base.
Since the Hyundai A-League’s inception, Newcastle Jets branding has featured three F/A-18 Hornets, as well as the use of the name ‘Jets’. Now, with the club trending in the right direction, the Jets have been able to foster a strategic partnership with the organisation that is so central to its identity.
In early October five of the club’s senior players as well as coaching staff ventured to RAAF Base Williamtown to mark the start of the fresh alliance. The group received a special tour of RAAF Base Williamtown, took part in a leadership discussion, and modelled the unique one-off kit that the team will wear when they challenge Roar.
Newcastle Jets Interim Chief Executive Officer Mr David Eland said that the club is now in a position to confirm some of the components that make up the RAAF Base Williamtown round.
“Today the club can confirm that up to 3,000 complimentary tickets are being offered to RAAF Base Williamtown’s military personnel and civilian employees for the match against Brisbane,” Mr Eland said. “This will enable hundreds of families associated with the Air Force who are living in our community to get a taste of the Hyundai A-League and support the Jets.”
“Moreover, our team will take to the field by walking through a guard of honour containing RAAF Base Williamtown staff, with each player accompanied by a child who has family working on base.”
“We have also invited Air Commodore Steve Roberton – a man who has been instrumental in the development of the RAAF Base Williamtown round and who led the leadership discussion with our players and coaches last month – to toss the coin prior to the match.”
“Certainly a key component of our RAAF Base Williamtown round will be the truly unique kit that the team will wear for the game. The jerseys feature F/A-18 Hornets on the front as well as Air Force insignia on the sleeve, plus Newcastle Jets and Hyundai A-League branding,” Eland explained.
With a strong crowd expected for the RAAF Base Williamtown round, Newcastle Jets are encouraging supporters to pre-purchase their tickets for the match, or to consider buying a three match membership ahead of the game to save time and money. This is the only home game for nearly four weeks, so the club encourages people to attend the unique event.
The club’s special RAAF jerseys will be on sale at the fixture, and at the club’s Honeysuckle store which is open Tuesday through Saturday (excluding matchdays).
Further details regarding the club’s RAAF Base Williamtown round will be announced next week.
ABOUT RAAF BASE WILLIAMTOWN:
RAAF Base Williamtown has over 2,000 families living in the Newcastle and Hunter Valley community and is Australia’s main fighter pilot training base. Through its employment of over 3,500 military personnel, civilians, and contractors, RAAF Base Williamtown invests $280 million annually in salaries to people and families based in the Newcastle and the Hunter Valley. Please click here for more information regarding RAAF Base Williamtown.
