Newcastle Jets have today announced the signing of Edgeworth FC goalkeeper Jim Fogarty on a short-term contract to provide back up to Jack Duncan.
With Club stalwart Ben Kennedy ruled out for the season with an achilles injury and youth team shot-stopper Pierce Clark currently experiencing a minor ankle complaint 24-year-old Fogarty has been signed to provide cover for the Club’s next two matches against Wellington Phoenix and Melbourne City.
Fogarty – who played for Edgeworth FC in the Westfield FFA Cup and PlayStation 4 National Premier League Finals Series throughout 2016 – will depart for New Zealand tonight ahead of tomorrow afternoon’s match against the Phoenix.
Fogarty is no stranger to the Jets set-up. In 2008 he moved to Newcastle from Coffs Harbour to train with the Club while part of the New South Wales Institute of Sport program. The Edgeworth Eagle has also trained and played for the Club’s youth team in the past.
As a result of Fogarty’s short-term addition to the squad, exciting prospect and Australian U16 youth international Noah James will no longer travel to the land of the long white cloud.
Fogarty has been assigned the number 40 kit for the Club for the next two matches.
“Clayton (Zane) rang me this morning basically as I was getting ready for work and asked me if I wanted to get over there,” Fogarty said of his whirlwind, and perhaps unexpected, invite into the Jets squad.
“I called work and said that I wouldn’t be able to make it in, and they said they had enough staff to cover me and to go for it!”
“I have been keeping fit since the completion of the NPL Finals Series and this is a great opportunity to experience life as a Hyundai A-League player and help out Newcastle Jets, so I am proud to play my part.”