PROMISING Nelson Bay athlete Malia Foster experienced a big thrill during the school holidays when she attended a special girls-only Newcastle Jets Women’s A-League clinic at the club’s home base at McDonald Jones Stadium.
A highlight for 10-year-old Malia was meeting the Jets’ new American recruit Haley Johnson and other members of Head Coach Stephen Hoyle’s 2025-26 squad.
Johnson, 25, is a talented forward who joined the Jets after successful stints with the Milwaukee Panthers Football Club in the United States and Northern Tigers in the National Premier League Women’s NSW competition, where she nabbed 16 goals in 20 matches.
The excited Malia, from St Michael’s Primary School, told News Of The Area that participating in the skills clinic with the women Jets players was a “fun experience and surreal moment.”
“The Jets players were so approachable and nice and offered encouragement to all the girls,” she said.
“They explained the soccer drills so well, and we were able to have chats with them and get autographs which was so cool.”
Kiwi mentor Hoyle has been appointed coach of the Newcastle Women’s A League squad on a two-year deal, with the Jets opening the season with a 2-1 victory over Canberra United.
A medal-winning long jumper, Malia will also represent Port Stephens Athletics Club at this weekend’s Port Hunter Zone Athletics Championships to be staged at Tom Payne Oval in Mallabula.
She’ll be joined by rising 11-year-old long distance runner and age champion Isla Trayeling, who shaved 20 seconds off her personal best time in the 800m and 1500m events at the recent NSW Primary Schools Athletics Championships in Sydney.
By Chris KARAS
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