Field of dreams
With staunch work ethic and a Ted Lasso-esque leadership style, it’s not hard to see why Cassidy Davis is a mainstay at the Newcastle Jets.
The veteran midfielder is about to kick off her twelfth successive season with the A-League Women’s side.
And who better to captain the team than the most successful Australian footballer of all time–male or female–who holds the record for the most consecutive games in the top-flight competition.
“It’s always a privilege to re-sign with my home club and pull on the jersey for another season,” Davis told Hunter & Coastal Lifestyle.
“I just love football. Turning up for your hometown, game after game, season after season, is so rewarding. The incredible community support plays a big part in that.”
Heading into the 2024-25 season, there’s a positive air about the club, which entered a new era in June when Maverick Sports Partners inked an ownership deal.
The women’s side will be looking to go even further this season, having narrowly missed a berth in the decider after bowing out in the first leg of the semi-finals against Melbourne City in their last campaign, in which Davis earned Goal of the Year.
That same season, a foot infection ended Davis’ stellar run of 132 consecutive appearances for the Newcastle Jets since her 2013 debut.
Despite this, Davis said it was a positive end to the season and she is confident in her team, the club and its supporters as anticipation builds ahead of the season opener.
“We’ll be looking to build on last year’s performance by playing well consistently,” Davis said.
“The improvement we made last season just goes to show what’s possible in two. We drew awesome crowds last year; we had more than 6,000 [people] at the Maitland semi. It’s an amazing feeling you just want to repeat every day.”
Like Lasso, the fictitious, ever optimistic American-turned-British football coach, Davis knows success starts in the locker room. Her valuable experience and presence on the pitch has undeniably given her the ability to lead with a steady hand.
“I’m a people person, so I get along well with all the girls well,” she said.
“I try to foster an environment in which they feel comfortable coming to me about anything. I’m often the go-to as I think I’m easy to talk to.
“You want good communication on the field but off the field is just as important.”
By all accounts, fans are in for a treat this season.
Davis said the groundswell of community support for women’s football and women’s sport in general had gathered momentum off the back of the World Cup.
“It was huge for us,” she said. “Firstly, going to the World Cup was amazing, seeing everyone get behind the Matildas. We’ve definitely seen the flow-on effects from that. The hype really helped the A-League; we hit a few crowd records, and it helped push the league forward.
“We still have a long way to go; players are still not getting paid what they deserve, but hopefully we can build on that with more sponsorships.”
Read the full story in the Spring Edition of Hunter & Coastal Lifestyle Magazine or subscribe here.
Story by Georgia Osland | Photography by Getty Images.
