With the FIFA World Cup almost upon us, and our own local legend Craig “Skippy” Johnston on the cover of the NW, it’s timely to recognise a few influential football identities in the Hunter.
Of course, there are many people who deserve an acknowledgement, from the administrators to the volunteers, managers to the players.
But, we’ve listed five of the standouts.
Australia, meanwhile, kicks off its campaign against Turkey on 14 June (2pm), followed by showdowns with the United States (5am, 20 June) and Paraguay (noon, 26 June).
MARK MILLIGAN
The Socceroos great, who represented Australia on 80 occasions between 2006 and 2019, has made every post a winner since taking on the head coaching role with the Jets. In just his maiden season, Milligan guided his young Newcastle side, featuring numerous local juniors, to the Australia Cup. Then, for good measure, the Jets qualified for the 2026/27 AFC Champions League Elite and captured the prestigious Premier’s Plate for the first time in front of more than 20,000 fans at McDonald Jones Stadium. Not only has he nurtured confidence in his troops, they’re also playing an exciting brand of football.
TAIN DRINKWATER
Appointed to the Newcastle Jets’ chief executive officer’s position in April 2025, Drinkwater is a force to be reckoned with in footballing circles. The born and bred Lake Macquarie administrator, who started her early career in the Hunter, stepped into the role following a turbulent time for the A-League organisation. But, backed by Maverick Sports Partners, she’s steered the club to a much brighter future in a short space of time. After serving as CEO for Netball NSW and NRLW CEO at the Brisbane Broncos, Drinkwater’s highly-regarded in the sporting world, making her an integral member of the Jets’ team.
JASON HOFFMAN
Although he’s no longer actively involved with the Newcastle Jets, Jason Hoffman’s name remains synonymous with the A-League organisation. In 2023/24, he registered his 300th game in the ALM – 220 with Newcastle, making him the most capped player in the Hunter club’s history. He was also part of the team, which won the 2007/08 championship. After hanging up the boots at the end of 2024, Hoffman took over as manager of corporate and A-League player welfare, re-establishing Newcastle’s Jets in Business initiative. To this day, his legacy at the club – and football in general throughout the region – can’t be underestimated.
EMMA DUNDAS
For Emma Dundas, the footballing world is her oyster. Only 18, the talented midfielder celebrated 50 A-League Women’s appearances for Newcastle in December, a brilliant achievement for someone who only burst onto the scene in 2023/24 while still attending West Wallsend High School. The Barnsley young gun joined the Jets Academy in the under-10s and, 22 months ago, gained selection in the Junior Matildas for the AFC U17 Asian Cup in Indonesia and backed it up with further honours in the national U20 squad. Easily the heir to Cassidy Davis’ throne as the face of the Jets’ ALW moving forward.
PETER HAYNES
Even though Peter Haynes is not directly linked with the Newcastle Jets these days, after a brief stint as a player in 2008 and 2009, his role as the chief executive officer for Northern NSW Football (NNSWF) is extremely important in the scheme of things and the future of the game locally. The association has reached more than 109,000 participants under Haynes’ leadership, the highest in NNSWF history, including 30,000 female participants. On top of that, in excess of 1,600 gifted youngsters are tied to development programs annually, with a further 1,150 regional players taking part in talent pathway initiatives.
For more sports stories:
- Jets shore up playing stocks ahead of big 2026/27 campaign
- Matildas stunned by Mexico in Newcastle
- Local football legend Craig Johnston always in pursuit of excellence
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