The Coal & Allied Newcastle Knights have today announced the re-signing of club captain Kurt Gidley until the end of 2015.

The announcement comes just 24 hours after interim CEO Troy Palmer launched the “Strength in Numbers Target 10,000″ call for memberships in 2011.

“Yesterday we asked our supporters to make a commitment to the club by purchasing memberships in 2011, today I’m excited to be cementing my commitment to the club for a further four years,” Gidley said.

“I would love to see the whole community make their commitment to us through a Knights membership; we’re entering an exciting era for the club and this will help us build a true fortress at Ausgrid Stadium.”

Gidley has played his 173 first grade games for the Newcastle Knights and his illustrious representative career includes 11 Tests for Australia, ten games for New South Wales, three games for Country and two matches for the NRL All Stars.

“I’m a Newcastle boy, I played my junior football with Wests Newcastle and have followed the Knights since the club’s inception i n 1988.”

“It was always a dream of my brother Matt and I to represent our community by playing for the Knights, and we are lucky enough to have had the opportunity to do so.”

“I believe that the Newcastle Knights are building towards a very exciting future with a team that is capable of bringing the Newcastle and Hunter region its third premiership combined with a prosperous future.”

Head Coach Rick Stone believes that this retention news is the boost the Knights need as they continue their tough away road trip.

“Kurt is an integral part of our club’s community both on and off the field, he is an inspirational captain on the field and I hope that today our members join us by encouraging their friends and family to commit to the Knights,” Stone said.

“Kurt epitomises what is good about the Newcastle Knights and the Hunter region, we are delighted that he is in the position to be a Knight for life by remaining a one c lub player which is rare in the modern game.”

Community Membership Packages are on sale NOW but only from:

Newcastle Knights
Phone – 02 4941 8282, www.newcastleknights.com.au or Knights Kingdom or

PROticket
Phone – 1300 121 012, www.proticket.com.au or any PROticket Agency

For further details contact:
Michelle Smit – Media & Communications Manager on 0458 300 977