Valentine appoint rookie to coach men's NPL side in 2025

Garbett coaches the club's under-16s side and was a first-grade assistant to Hughes last year. At just 24, Garbett will take on the top job at Phoenix as his first senior head coaching role. Valentine made the announcement to members via a message on the weekend.

The club had been searching for a replacement for Hughes since late last month, after he told Valentine he was taking on a role elsewhere following this season. He was later confirmed as the Magpies' director of football and men's head coach for 2025. He replaces head coach Michael Bolch, who was unable to take on both jobs.

Hughes, 42, who played professionally in Australia and overseas after starting his career in Newcastle, came to Phoenix in 2020. He has been technical director and a player at the club since, and took over as coach from Darren Sills early in the 2020 campaign.

Valentine had hoped to find a replacement for Hughes to take on both the TD and head coaching positions. The Newcastle Herald understands Jets championship-winning coach Gary van Egmond and Cooks Hill boss Chris Zoricich were among those linked to the dual role.

However, Garbett will rise to the coaching position, while Cas Wright will take over as TD. Wright has been a top-grade assistant and the reserve-grade coach at Valentine in recent seasons. She will also be an assistant to Garbett in first grade next year.

In making the announcement, the club told members that Garbett was "a dedicated Valentine FC member, capable coach, mentor and motivator, and importantly, is well respected and liked within the club".

The club appointed him "after working through a broad range of options".

"Please join the committee in congratulating Cas and Kal on their appointments," the message read. "We are confident that the future is in good hands, and that Cas and Kal will bring a new level of enthusiasm and cohesion to the club, further building on the excellent foundation that has been built over the past few years.

"Over the next couple of weeks we will be working through a player retention process, now that these vital roles have been filled."

Garbett plays for Croudace Bay United in Zone League and was previously with Kahibah in the second division, Northern League One. He has also played first-grade cricket with Cardiff-Boolaroo.

Valentine held Newcastle Olympic to a goalless draw on Sunday in the NPL to sit seventh on 24 points after 18 games.

They are locked in a seven-way battle for the last three spots in the top-five finals behind Lambton Jaffas (46 points) and Broadmeadow Magic (45) in the 22-round regular season. Valentine next play Jaffas on July 27 at home.

Newcastle Olympic claimed their first women's State Cup with a 4-3 penalty shootout win over Charlestown Azzurri in the final on Sunday night.

Goalkeeper Isabella Whitton scored the deciding penalty off the crossbar in the shootout, which came after a goalless battle in regulation time at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility at Speers Point.