Newcastle Jets' Home Ground Faces Criticism Over Playing Surface
The playing surface at Newcastle's No.2 Sportsground has been rated by players as one of the worst in the A-League Women competition. According to the Professional Footballers Australia midseason player pitch and atmosphere ratings released this week, the venue received a concerning score of 2.7 out of five.
Player Feedback Highlights Safety and Performance Concerns
Players expressed significant concerns about the condition of the pitch during the survey. One athlete reported that the surface had noticeable divots and uneven areas, while another stated it caused significant foot pain across the entire team. These issues have raised questions about player welfare and performance quality at the venue.
Matildas legend Michelle Heyman added her voice to the criticism after a match in December, noting the challenges presented by the rugby-oriented field. "The grass is a little bit long, it is a rugby field," Heyman explained. "It was quite hard to continue to pass the ball and keep it going quickly. It was really hard to get under the ball as well and to get a clean shot."
Limited Venue Options Create Ongoing Challenges
The Jets women's team faces limited ground options in the Newcastle region. While McDonald Jones Stadium offers premium facilities with a 30,000-seat capacity, hiring it regularly is not financially viable for the women's team given their smaller attendance numbers. No.2 Sportsground, with its capacity constraints and lack of corporate facilities, presents ongoing challenges for the club.
Jets chief executive Tain Drinkwater acknowledged the issues while expressing commitment to improvement. "We have been actively working with Newcastle council to improve the playing surface and facilities at No.2 Sportsground," Drinkwater stated. "No.2 is an excellent location and is ideally suited to the women's competition, and we are committed to working with the council to ensure the facilities and playing surface for our elite teams are up to a premium standard."
Comparative Ratings Across the League
The PFA survey revealed stark contrasts in pitch quality across A-League Women venues:
- Brisbane's Spencer Park received the lowest rating at 2.5
- Adelaide United's Coopers Stadium ranked highest among regularly used venues with 4.8
- Wellington Phoenix's Sky Stadium achieved a perfect score of five
- Melbourne venues all scored above 4.3, indicating superior playing conditions
These ratings come from a survey methodology that has been conducted since 2009, with away team players assessing pitches, atmosphere, and other match-day aspects to inform industry improvements.
Calls for Improved Sporting Infrastructure
The ongoing issues with No.2 Sportsground have renewed calls for better sporting infrastructure in the Newcastle region. Local sporting bodies and politicians have repeatedly advocated for a boutique stadium with corporate facilities and a capacity of 12,000 to 15,000. Drinkwater has previously suggested that No.2 Sportsground would be the perfect location for such a medium-sized stadium development.
The venue challenges come as the Jets women continue their finals campaign, having recently suffered a 5-1 loss to Wellington at No.2 Sportsground. Despite the difficult home ground conditions, the team remains competitive in the league standings as they prepare for upcoming away fixtures.
