New Jets strip: Team in gold, white and blue with new sponsor, Inspiration Paint

The Jets launched their three playing kits for this season on Thursday, all of which will advertise freshly signed corporate partner Inspirations Paint, which has agreed to a one-year deal.

The national franchise, which began trading in Newcastle in 1979 after the merger of five paint stores, will have its logo on the front of the Jets’ white away shirts and the back of the two home jerseys for the A-League and W-League.

Newcastle’s main home strip will be predominantly blue with red-and-gold trim, but there will also be a nostalgic gold version to be worn in three games selected by the club’s members.

Jets chief executive David Eland said the decision to abandon the blue-and-red stripes that were introduced by former owner Nathan Tinkler had been based on overwhelming feedback from the club’s fans, who felt the home kit of the past four seasons too closely resembled that worn by the Knights.

‘‘I’m pleased to say that you’re not going to see the red-and-blue stripes,’’ Eland said. ‘‘They’re gone. We’ve really listened to the members ... we want our own identity, absolutely.

‘‘The feedback is the community is proud of the Newcastle Jets and it’s absolutely crucial that the club has its own identity.’’

 Defender Nigel Boogaard, who is the likely candidate to captain Newcastle this season, said the players had approved their new game-day apparel.

‘‘It’s back to the blue that I remember as a young bloke playing around here, which is great to see,’’ Boogaard said.

‘‘The white, I think everyone loves a white kit.

‘‘And the gold, I think the club will remember the days of glory in the past, so referring back to that gold is a bit of nostalgia for everyone.

‘‘It’s refreshing and obviously a new identity for the club moving forward.’’

Eland said the signing of Inspirations Paint, along with the recent deal struck with Beechwood Homes to be major sponsors of Newcastle’s home shirts, was an indication that the Jets were regaining credibility in the eyes of corporate investors.

 In the past four campaigns, Tinkler effectively sponsored his own teams, first with the conceptual entity Hunter Ports and then with financially troubled Castle Quarry Products. 

‘‘It’s another sign that the business community is getting right behind the restoration of our region’s club, and we certainly hope that this leads to more people getting behind the club as members as we move closer to this season,’’ Eland said.

‘‘To get a brand like Inspirations Paint behind the club is absolutely fantastic.

‘‘They are Australia’s largest and leading network of paint stores, founded here in 1979.

‘‘I think it’s a sign that the community are starting to re-align with their club.’’

Inspirations Paint chief executive Robert Guy said the Jets were a perfect fit for a company that boasts 130 stores across Australia and sells one-sixth of all paint nationwide.

‘‘We wanted to support a football code that reaches Australians everywhere we have a store, from Newcastle to Nerang to Nunawading,’’ Guy said.

 ‘‘Regardless of Inspirations Paint’s national reach, our heritage lies with Newcastle.’’