Newby’s New Era – Newcastle Eagles
Matt Newby is thrilled to lead a women's basketball program focused on enhancing the sport both on and off the court, following his decision to join the Newcastle Eagles.
The skilled strategist guided the black-clad women to an impressive spot in the 2024 playoff finals after being brought in to bring about change at the Vertu Motors Arena in November.
Newby's energetic tactics, numerous eye-catching player acquisitions, and aggressive style of play quickly made the Eagles one of the most popular teams in the city.
"I always wanted to continue as head coach," he confessed, after club executives approved his appointment that was well-received by the fans.
"I had a great time last season - I knew it would be tough, but I embraced the challenge and went for it."
The transformation from our starting point to reaching the playoff final was truly remarkable. I greatly appreciated the players' commitment to our shared goal and belief in our collective vision.
The Newcastle Eagles play a significant role in the British basketball scene and I am proud to be a member of a team that is deeply rooted in the sporting culture of the North East.
"It felt like the natural choice to remain here and keep going with my work."
A large number of people, often over 700, saw a remarkable comeback during the latter part of an exciting season.
Newcastle put up a tough fight to earn a spot in the playoffs, but the London Lions, who boast a lineup of top players, managed to bring the Eagles' winning streak to an end.
"I really enjoyed having the chance to bring in young women and girls who aspire to be like our senior players, regardless of the outcome of the games," Newby remarked.
Many times last season, we were very close to setting new attendance records, even though the team didn't start off strong.
Achieving success sparks curiosity, which in turn leads to increased investment. And by investment, I don't just mean in money.
An increasing number of individuals are dedicating their attention to women's basketball in the North East, and positive developments occur when there is a strong level of backing.
Newby is putting in a lot of effort to add some new players to the team, in addition to the returning players.
Outside of the playing area, club managers are presenting a variety of appealing options to potential sponsors who are interested in backing one of the area's rapidly growing sports.
"We are pleased to see that women's basketball has become a fundamental part of sports in the North East," stated Paul Blake, the managing director of Newcastle.
Now we are looking for the support of our basketball community and local businesses to rally behind this rapidly expanding franchise.
During the previous season, we had large crowds cheering on our premier female athletes as they competed in thrilling matches on Saturday evenings at the Vertu Motors Arena.
We are excited to see how the progress will unfold in the upcoming campaign.
Now is the perfect moment to support women's basketball and connect with a fan community that is both dedicated and enthusiastic.
With less than 60 days left before the new season begins, Newcastle is increasing their efforts to recruit new players for the summer.
And Coach Newby is aiming to have the main players on his team set before pre-season starts later this month.
"We are currently looking to add new players to our team and we have already started making some progress," he mentioned. "We are in the process of negotiating with potential players to ensure that we can assemble the strongest team possible."
During this season, it can be challenging to figure out the different elements of a bigger picture for every team. It is a difficult task and sometimes it is hard to find the correct pieces.
"It's a work in progress, but we've made a good start."
I am really enjoying my first complete season playing with the Eagles.
The team's pre-season training will begin in the latter part of August, giving us 6-8 weeks to focus on our roster, improve player conditioning, and establish our team's unique style.
"It's a time where you can smooth out any imperfections and there's a chance to make some important changes."
"We are working towards creating something unique at Newcastle Eagles, and the pre-season is the perfect opportunity for us to establish the groundwork for what lies ahead."
You can still purchase season tickets for the 2024/25 women's games at the ticket office for only £80 per individual.
Learn more about potential sponsorships with the Newcastle Eagles women's team by contacting Dan Black, the sales and communications manager, at [email protected].
