Our Club
About Yarra Jets FC
Yarra Jets Football Club is a community-based soccer club located in Melbourne’s inner north within the City of Yarra. Established in 2009, the club was founded to give local residents the opportunity to play football (soccer) and participate in organised sport in an inclusive and welcoming environment.
Run entirely by volunteers and governed by a committee of dedicated members, Yarra Jets has grown rapidly since its inception. From humble beginnings, the club now fields 31 teams and supports around 500 players, including 14 girls’ and women’s teams. In recognition of our commitment to promoting female participation, Yarra Jets was proud to receive a City of Yarra Award for the Promotion of Women in Sport.
Our Mission
Yarra Jets exists to make football accessible, affordable, and enjoyable for everyone in our community. Our key goals are to:
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Promote social inclusion and provide an introduction to soccer and team sports.
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Keep playing costs low to ensure access for as many players as possible.
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Encourage values of discipline, teamwork, listening, good behaviour, and sportsmanship, with a focus on enjoyment and personal growth.
Player fees at Yarra Jets are kept deliberately low—approximately $400 per year for juniors, compared with over $1,000 at many other local clubs. This is made possible thanks to fundraising efforts, generous sponsors such as Rotary, and community grants that support our financial assistance and scholarship programs.
A Volunteer-Driven Club
Our club is powered by volunteers who share a common goal: to provide the best possible football experience for all members. We strive to:
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Share administrative responsibilities fairly across the club community.
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Provide players with quality coaching and opportunities to reach their full potential.
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Maintain an effective balance between coaching investment and affordable player fees.
As with all volunteer-led organisations, balancing commitments can be challenging, but our community’s passion and collaboration ensure the club continues to thrive.
In the Community – The Scholarship Program
Yarra Jets proudly runs a Scholarship Program supporting players from public housing and newly arrived communities in the City of Yarra and nearby areas. Each year, up to 55 players—many from the Horn of Africa, the Middle East, and other conflict-affected regions—receive support to participate in organised team sport.
Many of these players have grown up as refugees in countries such as Kenya and Egypt, where football is central to community life. The opportunity to play, connect, and belong through Yarra Jets provides immense social, emotional, and physical benefits for these young people and their families.
This program is largely funded through grants and sponsorships, and we warmly welcome further assistance from organisations and community members who share our vision of inclusion through sport.
Our People
President: Naomi Paton
Naomi joined Yarra Jets FC in 2022 when her son joined the Under 11 team. What began as a way to support his love of football quickly became a deeper involvement in a club. In 2023, she became a Team Manager, gaining a firsthand appreciation of the dedication required behind the scenes each week. The following year, she was proud to join the Committee, contributing to the broader direction and future of the club.
She’s loved getting to know the incredible and hard working people who make Jets the special place it is. The club mirrors our community — inclusive, respectful and welcoming.
Through her leadership of the committee, she’s particularly focussed on improving day-to-day operations and member experiences, longer-term planning, and building on the legacy of those who have gone before while positioning the club for a strong and sustainable future.
Secretary: Chris Gethen
I volunteered with Yarra Jets FC in 2014 as the Saturday Program co-ordinator when my children started training in the Saturday program. As my children moved to competitive Sunday football I was asked by the President to take on the Yarra Jets website and the membership system, which I am still doing to some extent. During my time at Yarra Jets, I managed my daughter’s team for a few years and the Senior Women’s team for a couple of years while at the same time doing team allocations for the U12 to U18 teams. As a member of the committee since 2018 I have also been performing several roles on game day and behind the scenes as required to keep the club healthy, culminating in me taking on the Club Secretary role in 2026.
Treasurer: Peta Collins
Committee Member: Brendan Cigognini
Brendan joined the club in 2016 when his son started playing and soon became a coach and MiniRoos (U8–U12) Coordinator. He joined the committee in 2018, served as Interim President in 2020–21 and President in 2022–23.
He is passionate about giving back to the community and believes team sport plays an important role in young people’s mental and physical development. Brendan has seen firsthand how a fun, supportive environment at Yarra Jets helped his son progress to elite football in Victoria, and he remains committed to keeping the club inclusive, positive and development-focused.
Committee Member: Tommie Conway
I joined the club in 2016 when my oldest daughter Eva joined the U10G’s team. I took on the role of equipment manager in 2017 and joined the committee as operations lead in 2018, I took up coaching that year also and coached my second daughter’s team (Clody) as an U13 team. I’ve coached the girls for about 5 years and am now the senior women’s coach. This year I intend concentrating on coaching and handing the operations aspects to new committee members and volunteers. I’m very grateful to have been part of the Yarra Jets community over the years and look forward to continuing enjoying being part of a vibrant and positive community club.
Committee Member: Richard Oldfield
As a dedicated member of the Yarra Jets community, I am proud to serve on the club committee for my second year. With two sons actively playing in junior teams, and having contributed as a coach, my connection to the club is both personal and deeply valued.
Currently, I coordinate club referees, working to ensure that all home games are supported with appointed officials. I also serve as the Junior Team Manager Coordinator, assisting team managers and helping maintain strong communication across our junior program.
I have a genuine passion for football and take great pride in being part of a club that champions fairness, inclusion, and encouragement. Being involved with Yarra Jets is incredibly rewarding, and I am committed to supporting its continued growth and positive impact in our community.
Committee Member: Meredith Watson
As a passionate advocate for female participation in sport, I bring dedication and experience to my role as Women's and Girls Strategic Lead on the Yarra Jets committee. My particular focus is on keeping teenage girls engaged with sport which drives my commitment to creating opportunities and pathways for female players at all levels.
My journey with the Yarra Jets began when my daughter joined the U9 team, marking the start of a strong connection with the club and its community. I took on the rewarding challenge of coaching this team for five years, during which I had the privilege of watching the girls grow and develop both as players and individuals.
What truly inspires me is witnessing the pure joy the girls have for playing soccer and observing their unwavering commitment to working hard for their teammates. This experience coaching young players has given me valuable insight into what motivates and engages girls in sport, knowledge I now apply in my strategic role to ensure the Yarra Jets continues to be a welcoming and supportive environment for female players.
Through my leadership in the Women's and Girls portfolio I am committed to building programs and initiatives that will keep girls connected to the beautiful game throughout their teenage years and beyond.
Committee Member: Anna McCallum
My daughter has played withJets since 2021 and I joined the committee in 2025. As a teenager, I benefited from both training and coaching at a community gymnastics club, and I'm keen to grow the leadership opportunities for kids at Yarra Jets. I love the positive and inclusive values of the club and I hope I can build on this and grow our volunteer base.
Committee Member: Kai Chaivannacoopt
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