The two Newcastle Olympic Men’s teams go into the final round of the 2026 NPL competition of Northern NSW Football targeting objectives on the opposite end of their respective points table! The 2025 Minor Premiers in Reserve Grade are within a whisker of retaining their crown. All they need in the final round is a win against Jaffas and for Valentine to have a draw or a loss against Weston! First Grade on the other hand need a win to avoid coming second last and being involved in a play-off to continue in the same competition next season!
Newcastle Olympic Reserve Grade began the season with 7 wins from as many matches! Then their rhythm was broken by the introduction of First Grade players who needed playing minutes! Whilst this is a common event, the majority of these First Grade players were of average ability and most of them are no longer at the club!
Despite this the team turned things round and returned to their winning ways. Just as it looked like they would continue from where they left off, their coach was asked to assist with first grade and their assistant coach went overseas!
The team returned to their winning ways and in the space of seven days won three matches, scoring 15 goals and conceding none! After collecting the scalp of league leaders Valantine Phoenix 3-2 in the last game of the season at Darling St Oval they are now ready to take on Lambton Jaffas. The requirement here is a win and for Valentine to draw or lose their match against Weston!
If both win, Valentine collect the Minor Premiership and Olympic 2nd spot! This will then bring Cooks Hill to Darling St Oval as the first match in the play-offs for the 2026 Grand Final.
Kick off at Arthur Eden Oval at 12:00 pm on Sunday 16th August 2026
Newcastle Olympic First Grade travel to Arthur Eden Oval to secure the 3 points and their position in the NPL competition for next season. Lambton Jaffas are only 1 point ahead of Olympic and they will be seeking to do the same! Charlestown Azzurri have come last and thereby already been relegated. Lambton Jaffas, Newcastle Olympic, Adamstown Rosebud and Kahibah are the four teams who could end up second last which will lead to a play-off for survival or demotion!
To say that Newcastle Olympic First Grade have had a disastrous year would be an understatement. Last week in the 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Valentine, they were poor. If a similar performance is played out at Lambton Jaffas it will be very hard for them to come away with any points. A great deal will be determined by how each team adapts the conditions of the game.
Kick off at Arthur Eden Oval at 2:00 pm on Sunday 16th August 2026.
Source: Tom Tsamouras
