This September, 2026, Newcastle Eagles celebrates its ‘pearl’ 30th anniversary season, since becoming Eagles in 1996.
To commemorate this moment in the club’s history and following the official announcement of the retirement of Darius Defoe, who spent his entire professional career at the club over 22 of those seasons, we’ve brought our team photo archive right up to date with every men’s team across the years.
Separately you can look back at our women’s team season by season since it became Eagles in 2018.
1996-97
Back row – left to right: Mark Miller, Charlie Mandt, Michael New, Tom Hancock (head coach), Chris Fite, Neil Hopper, Greg Modzelewski
Front row – left to right: Adam Barnes, Tony Simms, Joel Moore, Jon Paul Heron, Paul Douglas, Anthony Joseph
1997-98
Back row – left to right: Craig Lynch (head coach), Chris Wright, Chris Fite, Scott Wilke, Carl Miller, Mark Boyd, Mark Miller, Brian Calder (assistant coach)
Front row – left to right: Fred Matthews (team manager), Adam Barnes, Rob Phelps, Greg Modzelewski, Andrew Bailey, Peter Scantlebury, Leon McGee
1998-99
Back row – left to right: Craig Lynch (head coach), Corey Jackson, Ralph Blalock, Mark Miller, Carl Miller, Ian Whyte, Chris Fite, Scott Wilke, Brian Calder (assistant coach), Adam Barnes.
Front row – left to right: Fred Matthews (team manager), Greg Modzelewski, Andrew Bailey, Gavin Bethel, Karen Dearden (physio)
1999-00
Back row – left to right: Craig Lynch (head coach), Gavin Bethel, Mark Miller, Ian Whyte, Shahid Perkins, Charles Smith, Greg Falcus (team manager), Brian Calder (assistant coach)
Front row – left to right: Andrew Mavis, John Simpson, Adam Barnes, Stedroy Baker, Chris Webber, Ralph Blalock, Paul Blake (managing director)
2000-01
Back row – left to right: Billy Spragg (assistant coach), Tony Garboletto (head coach), Tony Windless, Mark Miller, Ian Whyte, Donnie Johnson, Andrew Mavis, Paul Blake (managing director)
Front row – left to right: Graeme Dotchin, Brian Ehlers, Steve Ogunjimi, Tamir Berkovitch, TJ Walker
2001-02
Back row – left to right: Pau Blake (managing director), Mark Miller, Jeremy Hyatt, Malcolm Leak, Ian Whyte, Shawn Myers, Steve Pilkington, Tony Garbelotto (head coach), Billy Spragg (assistant coach)
Front row – left to right: TJ Walker, Leroy Manhertz, Steve Ogunjimi, Graeme Dotchin
Not pictured: Fabulous Flournoy
2002-03
Back row – left to right: Greg Falcus (team manager), Niki Arinze, Graeme Dotchin, Andrew Mavis, Charles Smith, Mark Miller, Jeremy Hyatt, Billy Spragg (assistant coach), Jon Paul Heron (assistant coach)
Front row – left to right: Fabulous Flournoy (player-head coach), TJ Walker, Andrew Bridge, Sean Robison
2003-04
Back row – left to right: Billy Spragg (assistant coach), Fabulous Flournoy (player-head coach), Shawn Myers, Maurice Robinson, Jon Palmer, Charles Smith, Jeremy Hyatt, Jon Paul Heron (assistant coach)
Front row – left to right: Grant Gibson, TJ Walker, Marcus Hernande, Andrew Bridge, Greg Falcus (team manager)
2004-05
Back row – left to right: Billy Spragg (assistant coach), Charles Smith, Darius Defoe, Andrew Sullivan, Jeremy Hyatt, Frank Bennett, Rob Forster (physio)
Front row – left to right: Andrew Bridge, TJ Walker, Perry Lawson, Fabulous Flournoy (player-head coach)
2005-06
Back row – left to right: Billy Spragg (assistant coach), Charles Smith, Andrew Bridge, Rudi Perrin, Andrew Sullivan, John Bryant, Darius Defoe, Jeremy Hyatt, Olu Babalola, Swoop the Eagle (mascot)
Front row – left to right: Rob Forster (physio), Dijon Fisher, Perry Lawson, TJ Walker, Fabulous Flournoy (player-head coach), Michael Roberts-Noel, Eric Wilson (team manager)
Not pictured: Nick Ellingsworh-Perez
2006-07
Back row – left to right: Swoop, Olu Babalola, Jeremy Hyatt, Tony Dorsey, Darius Defoe, Andrew Bridge, Tom Sherlock, Billy Spragg (assistant coach), Deborah Bain (physio)
Front row – left to right: Rob Forster (physio), Shawan Robinson, Fabulous Flournoy (player-head coach), Brian McCotter, TJ Walker, Eric Wilson (team manager)
2007-08
Back row – left to right: Charles Smith, Jeremy Hyatt, Richard Midgley, Fabulous Flournoy (player-head coach), Darius Defoe, Lynard Stewart
Front row – left to right: Andrew Bridge, Aaron Nielsen, Will Spragg, Tom Sherlock, Olu Babalola
Not pictured: Bryan Defares, Steve Leven, Billy Spragg (assistant coach), Deborah Bain (physio)
2008-09
Back row – left to right: Billy Spragg (assistant coach), Deborah Bain (physio), Jamie Glen, Sam Attah, Charles Smith, Darius Defoe, Lynard Stewart, Tafari Toney, Trey Moore, Eric Wilson (team manager)
Front row – left to right: Brian McCotter, Aaron Nielsen, Fabulous Flournoy (player-head coach), Andrew Bridge, Will Spragg, Reggie Jackson
2009-10
Back row – left to right: Deborah Bain (physio), Marc Steutel (assistant coach), Jamie Glen, Lynard Stewart, Darius Defoe, Charles Smith, Reggie Jackson, Billy Spragg (assistant coach), Eric Wilson (team manager)
Front row – left to right: Aaron Nielsen, Andrew Bridge, Fabulous Flournoy (player-head coach), Joe Chapman, Will Spragg
Not pictured: Andrew Sullivan
2010-11
Back row – left to right: Dave Forrester (assistant coach), Eric Wilson (team manager), Jamie Glen, Trey Moore, Darius Defoe, Kadiri Richard, Hannah McPheat (physio), Jeff King (assistant coach)
Front row – left to right: Andre Lockhart, Andrew Bridge, Fabulous Flournoy (player-head coach), Aaron Nielsen, Joe Chapman
Not pictured: Reggie Jackson, Drew Lasker
2011-12
Back row – left to right: Eric Wilson (team manager), Jeff King (assistant coach), Ross Wilson, Darius Defoe, Andy Thomson, Charles Smith, Joe Chapman, Dave Forrester (assistant coach), Hannah McPheat (physio)
Front row – left to right: Lamar Morrison, Andrew Bridge, Fabulous Flournoy, Joel Madourie, Paul Gause
2012-13
Back row – left to right: Charles Smith, Theo Turner, Joel Madourie, Kareem Maddox, Darius Defoe
Front row – left to right: Anthony Martin, Damon Huffman, Fabulous Flournoy, Joe Chapman, Eddie Matthew
Not pictured: Joe Ikhimnwin, Dave Forrester (assistant coach), Jeff King (assistant coach), Eric Wilson (team manager)
2013-14
Back row – left to right: Jeff King (assistant coach), Scott Martin, Malik Cooke, Darius Defoe, Charles Smith, Stuart Thomson, Eric Wilson (team manager), Ian MacLeod (assistant coach)
Front row – left to right: Drew Lasker, Fabulous Flournoy (player-head coach), Paul Gause, Eddie Matthew
Not pictured: Dave Forrester (assistant coach)
2014-15
Back row – left to right: Dave Forrester (assistant coach), Sarah Rushton (sports therapist), Jeff King (assistant coach), Charles Smith, Scott Martin, Andy Thomson, Darius Defoe, Eddie Matthew, Vicky Percy (physio), Ian MacLeod (assistant coach), Eric Wilson (team manager), Dave Halfacre (assistant team manager)
Front row – left to right: Rahmon Fletcher, Drew Lasker, Fabulous Flournoy (player-head coach), Stuart Thomson, Andre Jones
Not pictured: Ricky Taylor
2015-16
Back row – left to right: Ian MacLeod (assistant coach), Eric Wilson (team manager), Joe Chapman, Stuart Thomson, Darius Defoe, Andy Thomson, Scott Martin, Jeff King (assistant coach)
Front row – left to right: Rahmon Fletcher, Danny Horta, Fabulous Flournoy (player-head coach), Drew Lasker, Charles Smith
Not pictured: Dave Forrester (assistant coach), Dave Halfacre (assistant team manager)
2016-17
Back row – left to right: Jeff King (assistant coach), Dave Halfacre (assistant team manager), Orlan Jackman, Darius Defoe, Christian Behrens, Scott Martin, Eric Wilson (team manager)
Front row – left to right: Deondre Parks, Danny Horta, Fabulous Flournoy (player-head coach), Drew Lasker, Rahmon Fletcher
Not pictured: Dave Forrester (assistant coach), Ian MacLeod (assistant coach)
2017-18
Back row – left to right: Terry Martin, Jure Gunjina, Darius Defoe, Zarko Jukic, Kai Williams
Front row – left to right: Drew Lasker, Jaysean Paige, Fabulous Flournoy (player-head coach), Saah Nimley, AJ Basi
Not pictured: Dave Forrester (assistant coach), Ian MacLeod (assistant coach), Jeff King (assistant coach), Eric Wilson (team manager), Dave Halfacre (assistant team manager), Jamal Williams (signed in season)
2018-19
Back row – left to right: Jamal Williams, Kai Williams, Darius Defoe, Victor Moses, Ahmad Thomas (released in season), Kyle Williams
Front row – left to right: Drew Lasker, Rahmon Fletcher, Fabulous Flournoy (player-head coach), Themba Yabantu, Eddie Matthew
Not pictured: Jeremy Smith (signed in season), Dave Forrester (assistant coach), Ian Macleod (assistant coach), Eric Wilson (team manager), Dave Halfacre (assistant team manager)
2019-20
Back row – left to right: Ian Macleod (head coach), Sauveur Kande, Mike Morsell, Sade Aded-Hussein, CJ Gettys (signed in season), Will Saunders (signed in season), Nick Schlitzer, Eddie Matthew, Eric Wilson (team manager)
Front row – left to right: Themba Yabantu, Rahmon Fletcher, Darius Defoe, Drew Lasker, Rodney Glasgow Jr
Not pictured: Dave Forrester (assistant coach), Dave Halfacre (assistant team manager), John Mitchell (released in season)
2020-21
Back row – left to right: Eric Wilson (team manager), Rex Pflueger, Louis Sayers, Justin Gordon, Evan Maxwell, Shore Adenekan, Eddie Matthew, Ian MacLeod (head coach)
Front row – left to right: Cortez Edwards, Darius Defoe, Rahmon Fletcher, Drew Lasker, Themba Yabantu.
Not pictured: Sean Murphy
2021-22
Back row – left to right: Gary Stronach (assistant coach), Leila Benyahia (strength and conditioning), Jack Burgess (assistant coach), Brandon Peel, Daniel Johnson-Thompson, Duke Shelton, Darius Defoe, Justin Gordon, Corey Johnson, Kyle Williams, Ian Macleod (head coach), Eric Wilson (team manager).
Front row – left to right: Sauveur Kande, Sam Mamuini, Rahmon Fletcher, Wesley Person Jr, Themba Yabantu, Louis Sayers.
Not pictured: Terrel Vinson (released in-season).
2022-23
Back row – left to right: Gary Stronach (assistant coach), Marc Steutel (head coach), Josh Moore, Hasahn French, Darius Defoe, Jermel Kennedy, Justin Gordon, Kyle Johnson, Eric Wilson (team manager) Anthony Reed (strength and conditioning coach)
Front row – left to right: Sam Manuini, Ben Mockford, David Cohn, Javion Hamlet, Denzel Ubiaro.
Not pictured: Donovan Johnson (released in-season), Duke Shelton (released in-season), Justin Everett (released in-season), Katie Stienlet (sports therapist),Vicky Percy (physio)
2023-24
Back row – left to right: Tom Lishman (sports psychologist), Adam Hall (assistant coach), Eric Wilson (team manager), Scott Spencer, Sauveur Kande, Malcolm Delpeche, Will Neighbour, Tajh Green, Devin Whitfield, Marc Steutel (head coach), Gary Stronach (assistant coach), Vicky Percy (physio).
Front row – left to right: Jordan Johnson, Sam Mamuini, Darius Defoe, Ricky McGill, Josh Ward-Hibbert, Larry Austin Jr.
Not pictured: Dr. Graeme Wilkes (team doctor), Spencer Hind (strength and conditioning coach).
2024-25
Back row – left to right: Rob Wark (sports therapist), Eric Wilson (team manager) Marc Steutel (head coach), Cole Long, Will Neighbour, De’Sean Allen-Eikens, Sam Mamuini (performance analyst), Tom Lishman (sports psychologist).
Front row – left to right: Trey Pulliam, Mike Okauru, Darius Defoe, Josh Ward-Hibbert, Seneca Knight, Sauveur Kande.
Not pictured: Chris Ferriter (strength and conditioning coach), Will Davis (strength and conditioning coach), Christian James (released in-season), Jared Bynum (released in-season), Jaelin Lleweellyn (released in-season), Jordan Spencer (released in-season), Rob Tatham (team doctor), Shaun Malone (team volunteer)
2025-26
Back row – left to right: Marc Steutel (head coach), Roberto Fois (assistant coach), Tom Lishman (sports psychologist), Deion Hammond, Cole Long, Emannuel Kanwei, Josh Ward-Hibbert, Gus Okafor, Maceo Jack, Eric Wilson (team manager), Rob Wark (sports therapist), Shaun Malone (team volunteer).
Front row – left to right: Sauveur Kande, Terrell Burden Jr, Darius Defoe, Ray’Sean Taylor, Mitch Clarke.
Not pictured: Brett Reed (released in-season), Caleb Huffman (released in-season), Chris Ferriter (strength and conditioning coach), Darren Finnegan (lead physio and head of medical), Jack Gentle (team doctor), Malcolm Smith (released in-season), Marco Anthony (released in-season), Sam Mamuini.
