Joe Oliver opens up on release from Newcastle United, working for the club’s Foundation and life at Hebburn Town.
Joe Oliver is thriving on and off the pitch as he continues to impress with Hebburn Town FC and revels in his coaching role with Newcastle United Foundation.
Just three years have passed since the former Magpies academy defender was released by his boyhood club after featuring alongside the likes of Matty Longstaff, Elliot Anderson and Jamie Miley during his time in the United youth ranks. For some, release from the club they love can bring a craving for distance and separation. For Oliver, the bond was strong enough for him to seek to continue involvement with the Magpies in a new and unexpected role.
Joe Oliver and Jake Charles celebrate after the latter scored in Hebburn Town's draw at Brackley Town (photo Tyler Lopes)placeholder image
Joe Oliver and Jake Charles celebrate after the latter scored in Hebburn Town's draw at Brackley Town (photo Tyler Lopes) | Tyler Lopes
His on-field career has continued with a two-year spell with Blyth Spartans before he joined Hebburn Town in the summer of 2025 and played a part in the Hornets shock Northern Premier League Premier Division title win during his first season at the Trustmark Group Stadium. Professionally and personally, Oliver has taken great strides and he revealed the support Newcastle gave him before and after he became part of their academy alumni group ‘Next Phase of Play’ has helped him as he continues to venture into a new chapter in his life.
He told The Gazette: “I think I’ve moved on. I know lads are different and they want want to get as far away from the club as possible and step away. But for me, I wanted to be involved with the club because it’s exciting what is going on behind the scenes. There are so many projects and I want to be involved because there is massive pride in being involved with the club I love.
“I was supported after my release and it’s something I spoke to Steve Harper about. There are things in place to help with Plan Bs and things outside of football. If you don’t get a club, things are in place to support you outside of football and that’s a massive step forwards.”
Oliver remains part of the club he grew up supporting in his role as a community coach with the Newcastle United Foundation as he works with schools and local groups in a role that he believes took him out of his comfort zone and helped him grow.
He explained: “I work at the foundation as a community coach so, day-to-day, I work in schools doing PE and on the evenings it’s football sessions, it could be disability sessions. I massively enjoy it, and it’s not something I’d get into, but it was a step out of my comfort zone and it’s something I love doing.”
‘We all gel together’ - Joe Oliver on Hebburn Town
Hebburn Town defender Joe Oliver (photo Tyler Lopes)placeholder image
Hebburn Town defender Joe Oliver (photo Tyler Lopes) | Tyler Lopes
Oliver will turn his focus back towards his on-field duties this weekend when Hebburn host King’s Lynn Town and look to extend their unbeaten run to a fifth National League North game. The versatile full-back praised the Hornets management team for the ‘atmosphere and environment’ they have put in place as they have taken the club to its highest ever level within the football pyramid.
“It’s the most I’ve enjoyed my football, probably ever, he admitted. “That comes from the group we have got, the management team we have got and the team they have built with the atmosphere and environment. We all gel together as one.”
‘Elliot was always the one’
Elliot Anderson #8 of England runs with the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between England and Congo DR at Atlanta Stadium on July 01, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)placeholder image
Elliot Anderson #8 of England runs with the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between England and Congo DR at Atlanta Stadium on July 01, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As Oliver looks to make an impression in Hebburn’s first season in step two, one of his former academy team-mates is hoping to make a big impact with Premier League giants Manchester City after making a £116m move to the Etihad Stadium this summer. There was great frustration and sadness when Newcastle’s battle with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability regulations played a role in Elliot Anderson’s departure to Nottingham Forest during the summer of 2024. Since then, the Whitley Bay-born midfielder has gone on to establish himself as a key cog in Thomas Tuchel’s England side and was part of the Three Lions squad that reached the semi-final of this summer’s World Cup finals.
A potential move to City was played out in the background of the tournament before Anderson completed a big money switch to become the eight-time Premier League champions’ all-time record signing last month before making his debut in their 2-1 home win against Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon. Oliver admitted Anderson always stood out during his time in the Magpies academy - but revealed his surprise over his new deep-lying midfield role after he broke into United’s senior squad as an attacking midfielder.
“Elliot was always the one, he always excelled no matter what he was doing,” explained the Hebburn defender. “I think when he went up to the first-team, he proved a massive point to everyone else because he went up there and didn’t come back and that’s a tough thing to do.
“He was always involved in the England and Scotland setups as a youngster so you knew he had a chance - but I didn’t see that coming in his current role because he was always a winger or a number ten. So seeing him in a holding role and controlling the game is a bit of a surprise but that’s why he is such a good player, he can do anything you ask of him and that’s why he is worth so much money really.”
Former Newcastle United academy players wishing to join the ‘Next Phase of Play’ group are asked to contact Academy Safeguarding Manager Julie Smith at julie.smith@nufc.co.uk.
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