Accrington Stanley Match Day Programme

www.newport-county.co.uk 3rd August 2013 Newport County v Accrington Stanley 3

Inside Your MatchdayProgramme Saturday 3rd August 2013

Accrington StanleySky Bet League 2

CONTENTS

Edinburgh

Commercially SpeakingBusiness ClubPhotos: Reading XIOver George Street BridgeA Game Of Two Halves2012/13: Our Full Playing RecordPhotos: Aston Villa U21Pitch In!Club NewsPlayer SponsorshipGround RegulationsPhotos: Pegasus Juniors

OPTA StatsWelsh Football Looking UpTicket OfficeOn The March: Brighton & Hove AlbionMy 15 Minutes: Gary NorthwoodToday’s The DayTake Two125 Years of The Football League - In NumbersEver Present - The Football League at 125On The March: Northampton Town2012/13 League Table & Player StatsSpytty The Dog’s Kidz KornerSky Bet League 2 Results GridWelcome to Rodney Parade... Accrington StanleyToday’s Squads & Officials

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Page 7

2013/14 FixturesYour full run down of our season’s fixtures, including all the key dates for the Capital One Cup, FA Cup with Budweiser and Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

Page 37

Ex-ExilesEditor Ian Hopkins looks at the fortunes of some of the players who have left us during the past 12 months.

Pages 83-161

25 Years Back to The Football LeagueAll of our special edition content charting County’s rise back to the Football League along the past 25 years.

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www.newport-county.co.uk 3rd August 2013 Newport County v Accrington Stanley 5/newportcountyafc @newportcounty4 Newport County v Accrington Stanley 3rd August 2013

EDINBURGHEDINBURGH

4 Newport County v Accrington Stanley 3rd August 2013

EDINBURGH

NEWPORT COUNTY AFCRodney ParadeNewportSouth WalesNP19 0UU

Main Office 01633 670690Email [email protected] Office 01633 674990Club Store 01633 674959

General Office Hours Monday - Friday 10.00 - 17.00Match Days Midweek 09.00 - 19.45Weekend 11.00 - 15.00

ClubOfficialsChairman Les ScaddingDirectors Les Scadding, Howard GreenhafNon-Executive Directors Tony Pring, Dave RobertsFinancial Director Jackie TuttonChief Executive Dave BoddyCommercial Manager James WattsOffice Administration Colette Phillips, Phil BurgessCustomer Liaison Officer Jordan RoyalCompany Secretary John AllisonFootball Secretary Mike EverettHonorary President David HandoSafeguarding Manager Dave RobertsChild Protection Officer Lisa Savage

Director of Football Tim HarrisManager Justin EdinburghAssistant Manager Jimmy DackCoach Wayne HatswellGoalkeeping Coach Ryan MackernessPhysiotherapist Wayne JonesClub Doctors Kartik Hariharan, Huw PullenKit Manager Andrew HartTeam Assistant Bobby MorrisChief Scout Geoff SealAcademy Director Glyn JonesAcademy Administrator John White

Announcer Tim ThravesWebsite Darren WilliamsPhotography Sam Shingler, Kevin Barnes, Julian DaviesVideo Glyn Neale, Steve HortoniRadio Tim Thraves, Charlie Brown

Club Shop Mick WhiteProgramme Shop Duncan Jardine, Neil Evans

Club Chaplain Rev Keith Beardmore

Programme brought to you by Kevin Barnes, Dave Butcher, Alan Coombs, Ashley Crowden, Colin Everett, Ian Hopkins, Duncan Jardine, Paul Reeves, Dave Smalldon, Ceri Stennett, Mike Tasker, Phil Tanner, Andrew Taylor, Richard Taylor, Ade Williams, Darren Williams

GGood afternoon and welcome to Rodney Parade for

today’s game against Accrington Stanley. I would like to extend a special welcome to James Beattie, his staff, players and everyone connected with the club.

Well the day we have been waiting for is finally here - out first game back in the Football League. I have to say I’m really happy with the way our pre-season went. The players came back in good shape and have worked hard to be match fit and ready for today. Whilst pre-season games are useful it is the competitive league matches that every manager and player waits for and it is finally here. We had a good result against Aston Villa last Sunday in beating them 5-2. I was certainly not happy with our first half performance and made that clear in my half time team talk. The team took that on board and went out and won the game.

It’s certainly not been easy to select the team today as I have twenty one players

who all expected to start, although I would rather have that than a team which selects itself.

James Bittner has signed a one month contract with us but we have not yet managed to finalise the signing of Ryan Jackson yet. Hopefully that will go through shortly. Today is a massive day in this club’s history. Please get behind the lads on the pitch and be that twelfth man. Your support really does make so much difference and it has been fantastic since I joined. Hopefully you will be leaving tonight with three points won and smiles on your faces.

Enjoy the match.

Justin

“I’m really happy with the way our pre-season went. The players came back in good shape and have worked hard to be matchfitandreadyfor today.”

CLUB HONOURS

Football League Third Division South Champions 1939Conference NationalPlay-off winners 2013Conference SouthChampions 2010Southern League Midland DivisionChampions 1995, runners-up 1999Hellenic LeagueChampions 1990

Welsh CupWinners 1980, runners-up 1963, 1987FA TrophyRunners-up 2012FAW Premier CupWinners 2008, Runners-up 2003, 2007


Football League 2

FIXTURES

2013/14 FIXTURE LISTAUGUST 2013Sat 3rd 15:00 Accrington Stanley (H)Sat 10th 15:00 Northampton Town (A)Sat 17th 15:00 Bristol Rovers (H)Sat 24th 15:00 Dagenham & Redbridge (A)Sat 31st 15:00 Scunthorpe United (A)

SEPTEMBER 2013Sat 7th 15:00 MansfieldTown(H)Sat 14th 15:00 Morecambe (H)Sat 21st 15:00 Exeter City (A)Sat 28th 15:00 Torquay United (H)

OCTOBER 2013Sat 5th 15:00 Bury (A)Sat 12th 15:00 Rochdale (A)Sat 19th 15:00 York City (H)Tue 22nd 19:45 Plymouth Argyle (A)Sat 26th 15:00 Southend United (H)

NOVEMBER 2013Sat 2nd 15:00 Fleetwood Town (A)Fri 15th 19:45 Hartlepool United (H)Sat 23rd 15:00 Cheltenham Town (A)Tue 26th 19:45 Oxford United (A)Fri 29th 19:45 Chesterfield(H)

DECEMBER 2013Sat 14th 15:00 Portsmouth (A)Sat 21st 15:00 AFC Wimbledon (H)Thu 26th 15:00 Wycombe Wanderers (A)Sat 29th 15:00 Burton Albion (A)

JANUARY 2014Wed 1st 15:00 Oxford United (H)Sat 4th 15:00 Northampton Town (H)Sat 11th 15:00 Accrington Stanley (A)Sat 18th 15:00 Dagenham & Redbridge (H)Sat 25th 15:00 Bristol Rovers (A)Tue 28th 19:45 Plymouth Argyle (H)Fri 31st 19:45 Southend United (A)

FEBRUARY 2014Fri 7th 19:45 Fleetwood Town (H)Sat 15th 15:00 Hartlepool United (A)Sat 22nd 15:00 Cheltenham Town (H)

MARCH 2014Sat 1st 15:00 Scunthorpe United (H)Sat 8th 15:00 Mansfield Town (A)Tue 11th 19:45 Morecambe (A)Sat 15th 15:00 Exeter City (H)Sat 22nd 15:00 Torquay United (A)Tue 25th 19:45 Bury (H)Sat 29th 15:00 Portsmouth (H)

APRIL 2014Sat 5th 15:00 Chesterfield (A)Sat 12th 15:00 Wycombe Wanderers (H)Fri 18th 19:45 AFC Wimbledon (A)Mon 21st 15:00 Burton Albion (H)Sat 26th 15:00 York City (A)

MAY 2014Sat 3th 15:00 Rochdale (H)

Capital One CupTue 6th 19:45 Brighton & Hove Albion (A) Round 1w/c 26th Aug Round 2w/c 23rd Sep Round 3w/c 28th Oct Round 4w/c 16th Dec Round 5w/c 6th Jan Semi Final Leg 1w/c 20th Jan Semi Final Leg 2Sun 2nd Mar Final (@Wembley)

FA Cup with BudweiserSat 9th Nov Round 1Sat 7th Dec Round 2Sat 4th Jan Round 3Sat 25th Jan Round 4Sat 15th Feb Round 5Sat 8th Mar Round 612th-13th Mar Semi Final (@ Wembley)Sat 17th May Final (@ Wembley)

Johnstone’s Paint Trophyw/c 2nd Sep Round 1 (Bye)w/c 7th Oct Round 2w/c 11th Nov Area Quarter Finalw/c 9th Dec Area Semi Finalw/c 6th Jan Area Final Leg 1w/c 20th Jan Area Final Leg 2Sun 30th Mar Final (@ Wembley)

Go to www.skybet.com/newportto claim your free £10

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@skybet18+. New customers only. Terms and conditions apply. Gamble responsibly. For more info, visit www.gambleaware.co.uk or for confidential advice and support call the GamCare HelpLine on 0808 8020 133.

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CommerciallySpeaking

COMMERCIALLY SPEAKING

Today’s Match Sponsors

We welcome O’Brien and Partners as today’s Match Sponsor for today’s very important and significant game with Accrington Stanley at Rodney Parade.O’Brien and Partners have been great supporters of the club in recent times and are the clubs official accountants. We hope that the staff and guests enjoy their day at Newport County AFC today.

Match Ball SponsorsWe welcome GMB as match ball sponsor today and we welcome Jon Phillips and Nick Hughes from their Cardiff Office. Once again we would like to thank GMB for their ongoing support of Newport County AFC and we

hope that they enjoy the day with County getting the right result.

Today’s Match MascotsThe grand honour of leading the team out today in this historic fixture back in the Football League goes to Kian Jeffries and Alexander John Edwards.

Kian is 8 years old and currently attends Lliswerry Primary School. His favourite County player is our Captain Marvel, David Pipe and Kian can often be heard comparing himself to his idol while practicing his football skills. Kian has been a regular attendee of Spencer Boys Club Youth Academy but will be signing for local side Riverside Rovers for the fourth coming season where he is looking to improve his game and parade his skills. Good luck Kian and we hope you and your family enjoy your day.

Alexander today celebrates his 9th birthday and attends Eveswell Junior School. Alex is a keen footballer playing for Villa Dino’s and along with Newport County AFC he supports Arsenal and Barcelona. Alex lists his favourite Newport County AFC player as Christian Jolley.

Newport County FestivalOn July 21st we held our first ever Newport County AFC Festival at Rodney Parade, in conjunction with local businessman Iffy Harris. The day was a tremendous success with over 3,000 people turning out in the sun and enjoying a mixture of community activity and music. We will now look at putting on a similar type of event next summer.

“”

Main Sponsor Official Automotive Partner Technical Sportswear Partner

Official Financial Services Partner Official Media PartnerOfficial

Hotel PartnerOfficial

Radio Partner

NewportCountyAFCOfficialPartners2013/14


BUSINESS CLUB

BUSINESS CLUB

For further information on the Business Club, please contact

John Williams 07976 403498Alan Coombs 07500 749079

Business Club Members

A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SPONSOR AND SUPPORT NEWPORT COUNTY IN OUR FIRST SEASON BACK IN THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE, MEET LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE AND WATCH MATCHES IN COMFORT!

The Newport County Business Club was formed during the summer months with the aim of: • involving local businesses and organisations in our local football club • establishing close links between these business partners and our football club • enabling such like-minded people who are passionate about our football club to meet and network at matches in a comfortable environment. • financially supporting Newport County AFC

The cost of membership for the season is £1000

The good news is that eleven companies have now signed up as members.

The Business Club also represents a great opportunity for supporting Newport County whilst at the same time promoting their company or institution. Club members will be able to enjoy matches in the comfort of their own private box and also have access to the first class Bisley lounge. In addition to a reserved seat in the Bisley stand and a match day programme, club members will have an advertising opportunity in the Bisley Lounge.

Our business club members will from time to time be featured on our business page and today we begin with Hughes Forrest Builders Merchants.

Hughes Forrest Builder’s Merchants have been trading in Newport for just over 80 years. Formerly known as Hughes Forrest & Evans they originally traded from Screw Packet Lane on the River Usk before relocating, in 1970, to Bolt Street in Pill. The Bolt Street Yard is still the head office and home to their kitchen and bathroom showrooms.

In 1998 Hughes Forrest expanded for the first time, taking over Blackwood Building Supplies in Pontllanfraith which proved a huge success. So much so, that in 2007 a decision was taken to relocate to larger premises. The relocation of the Blackwood business was a million pound project and involved turning a former manufacturing unit on the Newbridge Road Industrial Estate into a builders merchants. Further expansion took place with the purchase of Harrison’s Builder’s Yard, Ebbw Vale in 2004. This third piece in the Hughes Forrest jigsaw helped cover the requirements of our builders across the Gwent area. The Company has recently opened a new branch in Cardiff.

Newport County Business Club would like to thank Hughes Forrest and particularly director Richard Brian for their great support. Please feel free to call in at Bolt Street or at www.hughesforrest.com to see how they can help your building projects.

Tuesday 23rd JulySpytty Park, Newport (Tony Gilbert Testimonial)

County 3 (2)Zebroski (2), Minshull

Reading XI 3 (1)Ugwu, D’Ath, Murumbedzi

Team Stephens, Jackson, Hughes, Flynn, Worley, Yakubu, Willmott, Chapman, Zebroski, Washington, DobleSubs Pipe, James, Porter, Minshull, Crow, Anthony, Sandell, Jolley

Att: 765 (Away: 5)

Newport County AFCSavings Account

Enjoy a competitive rate of interest on your savings whilst

also financially benefitingNewport County AFC, with anAffinity Instant Account from

Monmouthshire Building Society.To find out more, pick up a leaflet

today or simply visit any of ourbranches or call us on

01633 844 330More information available at

www.monbs.com/newportcountyPlease refer to the product leaflet for

full terms and conditions.

Head Office: Monmouthshire House, John Frost Square, Newport, South Wales, NP20 1PX. Telephone: 01633 844444 Fax: 01633 844445

www.monbs.comYou must maintain the appropriate minimum balance in your account at all times. If your balance drops below the minimum, the accountmust be closed. The interest rate is variable. Withdrawals are subject to branch and agency limits. Full terms and conditions are available

on request. Monmouthshire Building Society is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial ConductAuthority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Registration Number: 206052.

Newport County Program Advert April 2013.qxp 04/04/2013 14:54 Page 1

NEW BOYS#25

JAMIESTEPHENS

GOALKEEPER


OVER GEORGE STREET BRIDGE

OVER GEORGE STREET BRIDGEwith Phil Tanner

Back in the eighties my job consisted mostly of listening to English-language radio broadcasts from the other side of the Iron Curtain to monitor

propaganda trends, pick up snippets of economic information and, I guess, help our own government keep tabs on Brits who were happy to give interviews while visiting the Eastern bloc. One staple ingredient was an odd station called Radio Peace and Progress, “the voice of Soviet public opinion”. (Yeah, right.) I never listened to the East German equivalent, but I’d have bet my last Ostmark that international friendship was top of their agenda too.

The irony of this whole Cold War thing was, of course, that the people running the countries which trumpeted international friendship the loudest were terrified of the very idea. Or at least terrified of it when expressed spontaneously. And what greater opportunities are there to express spontaneity than via supporting your team? (That said, at the England-NZ cricket game in Cardiff this summer the way corporatisation has strangled crowd spontaneity was horrifying. It’s not just the Communists!)I wasn’t one of the 200 County supporters who made the pioneering trip to Eastern Europe in 1981, but hats off to them. Quite apart from the stresses and strains of spending a couple of days under scrutiny - they couldn’t stay in Jena itself and were bussed in from Erfurt, about 40 miles away - coaches, ferries and motorways in 1981 offered, well, only 1981 standards of comfort. I guess people were just tougher in those days, but it’s a daunting enough weekend round trip by road even in 2013.

Stating the blindingly obvious, but if East Germany was generally grey 32 years ago, and it certainly looks it in the photo of County supporters’ coaches, it must have seemed all the more so in March as opposed to July. But as we rolled over the often beautiful countryside in the later stages of this year’s journey - forget Belgium, that’s a simple race to get out of the country, mostly on dead-straight motorways screened by trees so you can’t see Belgium and it can’t hear you - it struck me that the 1981 fields would have been just as green in summer. There’s a small sign at the point where you cross what used to be the international frontier. You struggle to get your head round the idea that as recently as 25 years ago, people could be shot for trying to cross it. Now, blink and you miss it. The same goes for crossing from France into Belgium, Belgium into Holland and Holland into Germany. I’m pretty well travelled but I’d never crossed a border by road before. It was a revelation that these days within the EU it’s no different from, say, crossing from Newport to Cardiff just past Castleton.

You will have read loads about the friendly reception we received. It could not have been warmer and was exactly what the 1981-era relations were theoretically all about. Rematch please? You bet. Being allowed a beer while watching will regrettably still be off the agenda, but please can our catering organise some of those long bratwurst sausages in dinky little bread rolls?

CZJ’s problem with the floodlight towers being condemned prompted thoughts of how staying at Spytty Park could ultimately have jeopardised County’s progress. A Carl Zeiss supporter explained that the club can still play in its current league without lights - demolition started a week after our game - but can’t get licensed for promotion. In a division of only 16 teams, I suppose there are few if any midweek games. Reportedly there aren’t any immediate plans for new lights, and of course it might well interfere with training.

The Wimaria Stadio where our game was played wouldn’t have been a long-term option as it has never had lights, safe or otherwise. SC 1903 Weimar play two rungs down in a much more local league, and you wouldn’t fancy the completely open terraces on a wet day either. That said, while It’s a bit harsh on our 1981 trip veterans that the game had to be switched, as a first-time tourist the chance to visit a second town just added to my enjoyment.

CZJ supporters are lobbying hard for a good outcome, and the morning of our game offered an opportunity with the local mayor addressing an election rally on the main square which included a guest appearance by the mayor of Berlin. Fans were there in numbers and it looked like the Jena leader was encouraged to keep discussion of his little local difficulty on the other side of the road before he joined the main event. One of the Berlin party’s bodyguards, watching the crowd intently while the crowd watched his man, was an absolute dead ringer for David Pipe. I thought about taking a photo to prove it, but some things you still don’t quite dare do. Even in 2013 and with the sun shining.

*Mon-Sat, 7am-6pm

2 hours

FREE parking*

YESfor 2 hours at Kingsway Centre Car Park!*

Untitled-1 1 22/07/2013 16:23


A GAME OF TWO HALVES

A GAME OF TWO HALVESwith Colin Everett

Hereweareatlastafteratwenty-fiveyearwait–back in the promised land of the Football League. We need to look forward, not back, and achieve

closure on our triumphant exit from the pyramid that is non-league football, after an exile of many years of relativeobscurity.ThisisthefirstandfinalarticleIwillallow myself to look back on our moment of relief and glory (and the last one the editor will allow I’m sure) as we cast off our non-league status.

As an exile in Wrexham I will have had a very different experience and perspective of the first all-Welsh play-off final at the New Wembley back in May. Unlike the County fans who travelled in large groups from South Wales, by road or rail, I had to secrete myself amongst the massed Wrexham fans, as though a lone conspirator, until safely arriving at Wembley where I could break out from my chrysalis and join the throngs of black and amber admirals. On my downward journey I did feel like a very obvious to spot Wally (but in amber not in red) in a travel game of spot the odd one out. As it was the Wrexham fans welcomed me as one of their own, and the novelty factor was not an un-enjoyable experience.

I was always supremely confident that County would win through such was our run of impressive form coming out of the regular league season and through the two knife-edge play-off semi-final legs with Grimsby. It was going to be our year. I saw first-hand the build-up to the big day in the local press and amongst work colleagues for the red foe. They were also supremely confident after two years of play-off experience and given their impressive record against us over the past three seasons. Their self-confidence could have got to me, but I continued to argue against the tide of local opinion that our team balance, composure, endurance and above all speed in attack, would wear out the aging legs of a Wrexham team with a higher average age on the big and energy sapping stage that is Wembley. And so it proved.

Throughout history God-fearing ‘civilised’ nations believed that God was on their side in the field of battle. Whether in the Hundred Years War between England and France or the now popularised via television Wars of the Roses this was the case. In cross continental wars such as the Crusades different Gods were believed to be supporting their side as the ‘extra man’. So it seemed back in May when both Welsh sides were confident that destiny was on their side. The big match had so much significance on many levels, and had an importance and symbolism which only those close to the two clubs and the meaning on a return from the ‘exile’ of the non-league could appreciate.

As is often the case on a weekend the rail timetable was disrupted by engineering works and re-routing of trains on a scale that it seemed easier to reach main land Europe than North London. A two hour drive to connect with the excellent express service from commuter-belt Warwick Parkway direct into Wembley Stadium station at the foot of Wembley Way was the best choice. Apart from a father and son clad in Amber at Warwick the train from Birmingham was jam packed with the ‘Gogs’ of the North. Although football has changed for the better and, as you get older you hope you are less of an attraction to the hooligan element, stepping onto a red train was still a little intimidating. The friendship of football was the order of the day and a few familiar faces, and new acquaintances, made the journey an enjoyable one. At least on the return the train was largely empty of Dragons’ fans; most having fled the battle scene on the first available train whilst we had celebrated long after the final whistle under the Wembley Arch.

I both respect and admire Wrexham as a club. They, like us, are very much a community club with a large and faithful following. They too have had some lean years and after the takeover by the Supporters’ Trust are desperate to return to the Football League. The mutual respect, which extended beyond a shared nationhood, was evident on the day. It was the match that everyone, and no-one, wanted. Whilst Wales would be guaranteed of having a third professional club in the league structure, Wales would also be guaranteed a Welsh casualty ‘of war’. Strangely, Wrexham fans seemed to under-estimate us and the ‘under-dog’ if not ‘undeserving’ status we had seemed to attract, despite a roaring first half to the season, gave them a false sense of supremacy. We had expected a tight game where the big moments would determine the outcome and whilst Wrexham were wasteful when the chances came, County were clinical.

The defeated Wrexham now have a big rebuilding job to do to compete for a fourth year for promotion out of the highly competitive and unpredictable Conference Premier, having lost some key players during the pre-season period.

The contrast is marked. We are celebrating our return with a League 125th anniversary specially selected match with our visitors being founder members Accrington Stanley, whilst Wrexham face old non-league friends and new arrivals including Aldershot, starting their league campaign a week after ourselves at home to Conference newcomers, Welling United. At least our Northern cousins can welcome back their greatest local rivals Chester to give their season some edge. Pinch yourself; it all starts for real today. THE CREDIT CARD THAT SUPPORTS THE SUPPORTERS

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Date KO Opponents Comp Res Att (Away) Pos Starting XI Subs OG Referee

AugustSat 11 15:00 Mansfield Town A W 4-3 2,924 (357) 3 Pidgeley Pipe James1 Yakubu1 Sandell Porter Thomson Evans O’Connor1 Crow Louis1 Hughes Minshull Charles Harris Perry - C. KavanaghTue 14 19:45 Nuneaton Town H W 4-0 2,646 (69) 1 Pidgeley Pipe James Yakubu Sandell Porter Thomson Evans1 O’Connor2 Crow Louis1 Hughes Flynn Charles Harris Perry - B. HuxtableSat 18 15:00 Lincoln City H W 2-1 3,022 (71) 1 Pidgeley Pipe James Yakubu Sandell Porter Thomson Evans O’Connor2 Crow Louis Hughes Harris Flynn Charles Perry - L. SwabeySat 25 15:00 Braintree Town A W 2-1 611 (130) 1 Pidgeley Pipe James Yakubu1 Sandell Porter1 Flynn Thomson O’Connor Crow Louis Hughes Harris Evans Charles Perry - D. TreleavenTue 28 19:45 Hereford United H W 2-0 4,365 (589) 1 Pidgeley Pipe James Yakubu Sandell1 Porter Flynn Evans O’Connor1 Crow Louis Hughes Thomson Harris Charles Perry - G. Horwood

SeptemberSat 1 13:00 Wrexham A L 0-2 3,820 (341) 1 Pidgeley Pipe James Yakubu Sandell Porter Flynn Thomson O’Connor Louis Charles Hughes Minshull Harris Evans Perry - W. BarrattTue 4 19:45 Dartford A L 1-2 1,446 (155) 3 Pidgeley Pipe James Yakubu Sandell Porter Thomson Flynn O’Connor1 Crow Louis Hughes Swallow Harris Evans Perry - M. BullSat 8 15:00 Stockport County H D 0-0 2,306 (201) 4 Pidgeley Pipe Hughes James Sandell Porter Evans Flynn O’Connor Crow Louis Minshull Swallow Thomson Harris Perry - C. BreakspearSat 15 16:15 Barrow A W 3-0 802 (65) 1 Pidgeley Pipe James Yakubu Sandell Porter Minshull Evans1 Flynn O’Connor Crow2 Hughes Swallow Harris Louis Perry - B. TonerSat 22 15:00 Southport H W 2-1 2,802 (71) 1 Pidgeley Pipe Hughes Yakubu Sandell Porter Minshull Evans Flynn O’Connor1 Crow Swallow1 Thomson Harris Louis Perry - A. BromleyTue 25 19:45 AFC Telford United A W 4-2 1,503 (243) 1 Pidgeley Pipe James Yakubu1 Sandell1 Porter Minshull Evans O’Connor1 Crow Louis Hughes Swallow Thomson Flynn Perry 1 K. JohnsonSat 29 15:00 Grimsby Town H D 0-0 2,968 (319) 2 Pidgeley Pipe James Yakubu Sandell Porter Minshull Thomson O’Connor Crow Louis Hughes Swallow Harris Flynn Perry - C. Knowles

OctoberSat 6 15:00 Tamworth A W 2-1 1,201 (400) 1 Pidgeley Pipe James Yakubu1 Sandell Porter Minshull Swallow Thomson O’Connor1 Crow Hughes Flynn Louis Charles Perry - N. KinseleyTue 9 19:45 EbbsfleetUnited H W 1-0 2,453 (11) 1 Pidgeley Pipe James Yakubu1 Sandell Porter Minshull Swallow Thomson O’Connor Crow Hughes Flynn Louis Charles Perry - P. BankesSat 13 12:30 Macclesfield Town A D 1-1 1,544 (140) 1 Pidgeley Pipe James1 Yakubu Sandell Porter Swallow Thomson Flynn O’Connor Louis Hughes Minshull Harris Charles Perry - D. HandleySat 20 15:00 Yate Town A D 3-3 1,190 (800) - Pidgeley Porter James1 Minshull Sandell Thomson Evans Flynn Swallow O’Connor1 Louis1 Charles Harris Fielden Jones Patten Perry - M. BullTue 23 19:45 Yate Town H L 1-3 1,463 (132) - Pidgeley Pipe James Minshull Sandell Porter Thomson Evans Swallow O’Connor1 Louis Hughes Charles Harris Flynn Fielden Patten Perry - P. ReesSat 27 15:00 Woking H L 2-3 2,088 (115) 1 Pidgeley Hughes Porter James Sandell1 Minshull Thomson Evans Swallow O’Connor Crow Harris Flynn1 Louis Washington Perry - B. Huxtable

NovemberTue 6 19:45 Cambridge United H W 6-2 1,787 (87) 1 Pidgeley Pipe James Yakubu Sandell1 Porter Minshull1 Flynn1 Swallow O’Connor2 Smith1 Thomson Evans Louis Washington Perry - R. WhittonFri 9 19:45 Alfreton Town A L 3-4 663 (80) 1 Pidgeley Pipe James Yakubu Sandell Porter Minshull Flynn Swallow O’Connor2 Smith1 Thomson Evans Louis Washington Perry - W. BarrattSat 17 15:00 Hyde H L 1-3 2,096 (37) 2 Julian Pipe Hughes James Sandell Porter Minshull Evans Jolley1 O’Connor Smith Swallow Thomson Flynn Washington Pidgeley - L. SwabeySat 24 15:00 Welling United A L 0-2 441 (80) - Julian James Yakubu Sandell Anthony Porter Minshull Swallow Jolley O’Connor Smith Harris Evans Flynn Washington Pidgeley - C. Powell

DecemberSat 1 12:30 Gateshead H W 3-1 1,473 (11) 1 Julian Pipe James Yakubu Sandell Porter Evans Flynn Jolley2 O’Connor Smith1 Anthony Minshull Swallow Washington Pidgeley - R. MartinSat 8 15:00 Kidderminster Harriers A L 2-3 1,951 (360) 3 Julian Pipe James Yakubu Sandell Porter Evans1 Flynn Jolley O’Connor Smith1 Anthony Minshull Swallow Washington Pidgeley - N. KinseleyTue 11 19:45 Luton Town H W 5-2 2,247 (211) 1 Julian Pipe James Yakubu Sandell1 Porter Evans Flynn Jolley3 O’Connor1 Smith Hughes Minshull Swallow Charles Pidgeley - R. WhittonWed 26 13:00 Forest Green Rovers A W 2-1 2,332 (1,029) 2 Julian Pipe Hughes James Yakubu Porter Evans Flynn O’Connor Smith Washington Anthony Minshull Swallow1 Charles1 Pidgeley - W. Barratt

JanuaryTue 1 15:00 Forest Green Rovers H L 0-5 2,787 (214) 3 Julian James Yakubu Sandell Anthony Porter Evans Flynn O’Connor Swallow Smith Hughes Minshull Charles Washington Pidgeley - G. HorwoodFri 4 19:45 Wrexham H D 1-1 3,627 (421) 3 Julian Pipe James Yakubu Sandell Porter1 Evans Flynn O’Connor Charles Smith Hughes Minshull Swallow Crow Pidgeley - K. EvansSat 12 15:00 Lincoln City A W 4-2 1,970 (126) 2 Julian Pipe Hughes James Sandell Porter Evans Flynn O’Connor2 Jolley Willmott2 Anthony Minshull Swallow Crow Pidgeley - D. HandleySat 19 15:00 Barrow H L 0-2 2,107 (8) 2 Julian Pipe Hughes James Sandell Minshull Evans Flynn O’Connor Jolley Willmott Swallow Yakubu Crow Washington Pidgeley - L. Swabey

FebruarySat 9 15:00 Tamworth H D 2-2 1,712 (TBC) 5 Pidgeley Pipe Yakubu Sandell Anthony1 Minshull Flynn Donnelly1 Crow Jolley Willmott James Swallow W. Evans Washington Julian - K. JohnsonTue 12 19:45 MansfieldTown H W 2-0 1,902 (90) 4 Pidgeley Pipe James Yakubu Sandell1 Anthony Minshull Flynn Donnelly Crow Jolley1 Thomson Willmott W. Evans Washington Julian - C. BreakspearSat 16 15:00 Woking A W 3-1 2,116 (257) 4 Pidgeley Pipe James Yakubu Sandell Anthony1 Minshull2 Flynn Donnelly Crow Jolley Thomson Willmott W. Evans Washington Julian - W. BarrattSat 23 15:00 AFC Telford United H W 2-1 1,761 (43) 3 Pidgeley Pipe James Yakubu Sandell Anthony Minshull Flynn Donnelly Crow2 Jolley1 Hughes Thomson Willmott Griffiths Julian - L. Swabey

MarchSat 2 15:00 Hyde A W 1-0 640 (180) 4 Pidgeley Pipe James Yakubu Sandell Anthony Minshull Flynn Donnelly Crow Jolley1 Hughes Thomson Willmott Griffiths Julian - G. HorwoodTue 5 19:45 Hereford United A W 3-2 2,519 (1,162) 3 Pidgeley Pipe James Yakubu Sandell Anthony Minshull2 Flynn Crow Jolley Griffiths Hughes Thomson Willmott1 Donnelly Julian - R. WhittonSat 9 15:00 Ebbsfleet United A D 1-1 808 (120) 4 Pidgeley Pipe James Yakubu Sandell Anthony Minshull1 Flynn Donnelly Jolley Griffiths Hughes Thomson Willmott O’Connor Julian - C. BreakspearTue 19 19:45 Kidderminster Harriers H L 1-2 2,652 (258) 4 Pidgeley Pipe James Yakubu Sandell1 Anthony Minshull Flynn Donnelly O’Connor Jolley Hughes Thomson Willmott Griffiths Julian - N. KinseleySat 23 15:00 Stockport County A L 0-1 3,154 (252) 4 Pidgeley Hughes Yakubu Sandell Anthony Boateng Minshull Thomson Donnelly O’Connor Jolley Willmott W. Evans Washington Griffiths Julian - W. BarrattTue 26 19:45 Southport A W 2-0 606 (73) 4 Pidgeley Pipe Hughes James Sandell Anthony Minshull Donnelly W. Evans O’Connor1 Jolley1 Boateng Willmott Washington Griffiths Julian - S. StockbridgeThu 28 19:45 Gateshead A D 0-0 227 (75) 4 Pidgeley Pipe Hughes James Sandell Anthony Minshull Donnelly W. Evans O’Connor Jolley Willmott Gilbey Washington Griffiths Julian - D. FordSat 30 15:00 Dartford H D 0-0 2,111 (119) 4 Pidgeley Pipe Hughes James Sandell Anthony Minshull Donnelly Gilbey O’Connor Willmott Yakubu Jolley W. Evans Griffiths Julian - G. Horwood

AprilMon 1 15:00 Nuneaton Town A W 2-1 1,068 (276) 3 Pidgeley Pipe Hughes Yakubu Sandell Anthony Minshull Donnelly W. Evans O’Connor Jolley James Willmott1 Gilbey Griffiths Julian 1 D. HandleyFri 5 19:45 Cambridge United A D 0-0 2,012 (130) 4 Pidgeley Pipe Hughes James Yakubu Anthony Minshull Willmott Donnelly O’Connor Jolley Gilbey W. Evans Washington Griffiths Julian - R. WhittonTue 9 19:45 Braintree Town H W 1-0 1,864 (8) 4 Pidgeley Pipe Hughes Yakubu Anthony Willmott Minshull Donnelly O’Connor Jolley Washington1 Flynn Gilbey W. Evans Griffiths Julian - C. BreakspearThu 11 19:45 MacclesfieldTown H W 4-1 1,606 (25) 3 Pidgeley Hughes James Sandell1 Anthony Boateng Minshull Gilbey Jolley1 Willmott2 Griffiths Harris Flynn W. Evans O’Connor Julian - B. HuxtableSat 13 15:00 Alfreton Town H W 2-0 2,168 (71) 3 Pidgeley Pipe Hughes James Yakubu Sandell Flynn Gilbey Jolley1 Willmott Washington Anthony1 Donnelly O’Connor Griffiths Julian - K. JohnsonTue 16 19:45 Luton Town A D 2-2 5,125 (123) 3 Pidgeley Pipe Hughes James Sandell Anthony Minshull Donnelly O’Connor Willmott Washington Flynn Jolley2 W. Evans Crow Julian - M. BullSat 20 17:15 Grimsby Town A L 0-3 4,555 (73) 3 Julian Hughes James Anthony Boateng Flynn Donnelly Gilbey Willmott Washington Griffiths Swallow Harris W. Evans Crow Pidgeley - D. FordWed 24 19:45 Grimsby Town A P/O SF W 1-0 5,414 - Pidgeley Pipe James Yakubu1 Sandell Anthony Minshull Flynn Gilbey Crow Jolley Hughes Willmott Donnelly Washington Julian - G. HorwoodSun 28 16:30 Grimsby Town H P/O SF W 1-0 6,615 - Pidgeley Pipe James Yakubu Sandell Anthony Minshull Flynn Gilbey Crow Jolley1 Hughes Willmott Donnelly O’Connor Julian - N. KinseleyMaySun 5 15:00 Wrexham N P/O F W 2-0 16,346 - Pidgeley Pipe James Yakubu Sandell Anthony Minshull Flynn Gilbey Crow Jolley1 Hughes Willmott Donnelly O’Connor1 Julian - M. Bull

Goalscorers in bold with number of goals behind their name (e.g. Harris1)Cards indicated by and behind players’ namesSubstitutions indicated by colours corresponding to replacement player

Season 2012/13Our Full Playing Record

SEASON 2012/13 SEASON 2012/13

Sunday 28th JulyRodney Parade, Newport (Pre-season friendly)

County 5 (1)Jolley (2), Hughes, Minshull (2)

Aston Villa U21 (2)Grealish, O’Brien

Team Stephens, Pipe, Sandell, Anthony, James, Yakubu, Porter, Minshull, Chapman, Crow, JolleySubs Bittner, Hughes, Jackson, Zebroski

Att: 2,984 (Away: 400)

/newportcountyafc @newportcounty24 Newport County v Accrington Stanley 3rd August 2013

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CLUB NEWS

CLUBNEWSColinRoutley–MemorialGame

With it being a time of celebration, let’s not also forget some of those who have played a key role in the success and development of the club, but sadly are no longer with us. One such person was Colin Routley, who took on the role of Club Secretary, amongst other duties, when the club reformed in 1989. Colin was a true fan, known and well respected by fellow supporters, both before and after the club reformed. Colin is survived with the County by his daughter Karen, and son Mark, and both would be really pleased for supporters to attend a memorial match which is being held tomorrow, Sunday 4th August 2013, at Newport Civil Service, between the host team and a Newport County AFC side. Please attend and support this worthwhile cause which is in aid of our Academy.

Season2012/13–PresentationAwards EveningAfter such a magnificent season, it was always going to be difficult to pick the winners of the various club awards, but these were presented to the recipients as shown below, in Baramber,

withIan Hopkins

following Tony Gilbert’s testimonial game with Reading. As well as engraved Club Shields, which were to presented Tony Gilbert in appreciation of 38 years dedicated service and to Justin Edinburgh in appreciation of a magnificent season, and a cheque for £2,000 presented to Club Chairman, Les Scadding from the Subscription Draw, the main player award winners were:

Supporters’ Club AwardsYoung Player of the Year Connor WashingtonAway Player of the Year Lee MinshullPlayer of the Year Lee Minshull

Newport County AFC Club AwardsThe Doc Heffernan Shield for Young Player of the Year Andrew HughesThe Derek Williams Memorial Trophy for Goal of the Season Andy SandellThe Tom Gardner Trophy for Top Scorer Aaron O’ConnorThe Reg Parsons Trophy for most appearances Tony JamesThe Brian Toms President’s Cup for Players’ Player of the Year Andy SandellThe Patrons’ Cup for the Newport County AFC Player of the Year David Pipe

Welcome–TimLaneNewport County AFC are delighted to announce that Tim Lane is joining the club in September in the new position of Full Time Football Secretary and Media Officer, leaving his key post with the FAW. We are sure that Tim will add massive value to the club in this post with his wealth of experience – welcome to the family, Tim.

Adendum (p.49 My 15 Minutes)Neville Chamberlain played in season 1894/95, made 41 appearances and scored 13 goals.


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GROUND REGULATIONS

Notice: Entry to the Ground is expressly subject to acceptance by the visitor of these Ground Regulations and the rules and regulations of FIFA, UEFA, The Football Association and The Football League in respect of the relevant competition. The Ground Regulations incorporate the Club’s Customer Charter (if any). Entry to the Ground shall constitute acceptance of the Ground Regulations.

“Ground” means this football stadium and all locations owned, occupied or utilised by the Club.

“Club” means this football club.

“Match” means any association football match (or any part or aspect of such a match) taking place at the Ground.

“Material” means any audio, visual or audio-visual material or any information or data.

“Football Authorities” means The Football League, Premier League, Football Association, the Football Association of Wales, FIFA, UEFA and any other relevant governing body of association football

1 Notwithstanding possession of any ticket the Club, any police officer or authorised steward may refuse entry to (or eject from) the Ground any person:1.1 that fails (or in the Club’s reasonable opinion is likely to fail) to comply with these Ground Regulations or any reasonable instruction issued by a police officer or authorised steward; and/or1.2 whose presence within the Ground is, or could (in the Club’s reasonable opinion), constitute a source of danger, nuisance or annoyance to any other person.

2 On no account will admission be granted to a person who is the subject of a current Banning Order under the Football Spectators Act 1989 (as amended) or has been convicted of ticket touting offences under the Criminal Justice and Public Order 1994 (as amended).

3 The Club excludes to the maximum extent permitted by law any liability for loss, injury or damage to persons/property in or around the Ground.

4 No guarantees can be given by the Club that a Match will take place at a particular time or on a particular date and the Club reserves the right to reschedule the Match without notice and without any liability whatsoever.

5 In the event of the postponement or abandonment of the Match, refunds (if any) will be made in accordance with the Club’s Customer Charter. The Club will have no further liability whatsoever, including (but not limited to) any indirect or consequential loss or damage, such as (but not limited to) loss of enjoyment or travel costs.

6 All persons seeking entrance to the Ground acknowledge the Club’s right to search any person entering the Ground and to refuse entry to or eject from the Ground any person refusing to submit to such a search.

7 The following articles must not be brought within the Ground - knives, fireworks, smoke canisters, air-horns, flares, weapons, dangerous or hazardous items, laser devices, bottles, glass vessels, cans, poles and any article that might be used as a weapon and/or compromise public safety. Any person in possession of such items will be refused entry to the Ground.

8 Further, you may not bring into the Ground any sponsorship, promotional or marketing materials save in respect of official club merchandise and/

YOUR SAFETY AT RODNEY PARADEGround Regulations

or other football related clothing worn in good faith nor may you offer (either free or for sale by any person) any goods (including literature) of any nature without the express written approval of the Management.

9 The use of threatening behaviour, foul or abusive language is strictly forbidden and will result in arrest and/or ejection from the Ground. The Club may impose a ban for one or more Matches.

10 Racial, homophobic or discriminatory abuse, chanting or harassment is strictly forbidden and will result in arrest and/or ejection from the Ground. The Club may impose a ban for one or more Matches.

11 The following acts are offences under the Football (Offences) Act 1991 (as amended):11.1 The throwing of any object within the Ground without lawful authority or excuse.11.2 The chanting of anything of an indecent or racialist nature. 11.3 The entry onto the playing area or any adjacent area to which spectators are not generally admitted without lawful authority or excuse.Conviction may result in a Banning Order being made.

12 All persons entering the Ground may only occupy the seat allocated to them by their ticket and must not move from any one part of the Ground to another without the express permission or instruction of any steward, officer of the Club and/or any police officer.

13 Nobody may stand in any seating area whilst play is in progress. Persistent standing in seated areas whilst play is in progress is strictly forbidden and may result in ejection from the Ground.

14 The obstruction of gangways, access ways, exits and entrances, stairways and like places is strictly forbidden. Nobody entering the Ground shall be permitted to climb any structures within the Ground.

15 Football League stadia are smoke-free and smoking is not permitted inside the Ground.

16 Mobile telephones and other mobile devices are permitted within the Ground PROVIDED THAT (i) they are used for personal and private use only (which, for the avoidance of doubt and by way of example only, shall not include the capturing, logging, recording, transmitting, playing, issuing, showing, or any other communication of any Material for any commercial purposes); and (2) no Material that is captured by a mobile telephone or other mobile device may be published or otherwise made available to any third parties including, without limitation, via social networking sites.

17 Under the Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc) Act 1985 (as amended), the following are offences for which a person can be arrested by a police officer and conviction could result in a Banning Order being made:17.1 Attempting to enter the Ground or being inside the Ground whilst drunk;17.2 Being in possession of any intoxicating liquor, or bottle, can or other portable container and which could cause damage or personal injury, when entering the Ground or in a public area of the Ground from which the event can be directly viewed.

18 Any individual who has entered any part of the Ground designated for the use of any group of supporters to which he does not belong may be ejected from the Ground either for the purposes of his own safety or for any other reason.

19 Save as set out in paragraph 16 above, no person (other than a person who holds an appropriate licence) may capture, log,

record, transmit, play, issue, show or otherwise communicate (by digital or other means) any Material in relation to the Match, any players or other persons present in the Ground and/or the Ground, nor may they bring into the Ground or use within the Ground (or provide to, facilitate or otherwise assist another person to use within the Ground) any equipment or technology which is capable of capturing, logging, recording, transmitting, playing, issuing, showing or otherwise communicating (by digital or other means) any such Material. Copyright, database rights and any other intellectual property rights in any unauthorised recording or transmission is assigned (by way of present assignment of future rights) to the Club and The Football League. You further agree (if and whenever required to do so by the Club and/or The Football League) to promptly execute all instruments and do all things necessary to vest the right, title and interest in such rights to the Club and The Football League absolutely and with full title guarantee.

20 No goods (including literature) of any nature may be offered either free or for sale by any person within the Ground without the express written permission of the Club.

21 Tickets are not transferable and may not be offered for sale without the prior written permission of the Club. Any tickets that are transferred are transferred subject to these Ground Regulations. Any tickets offered for sale may be confiscated by any steward, officer of the Club or any police officer. The Club reserves the right to refuse admission to or eject from the Ground, any person who has transferred his/her ticket in contravention of the relevant ticket terms and conditions (and/or the holder of any ticket that has been transferred in contravention of the relevant ticket terms and conditions.) Tickets remain the property of the Club at all times.

22 CCTV cameras are in use around and in the Ground and the Club may itself use or pass to the police or any Football Authority or other clubs, any recordings for use in any proceedings.

23 At all times whilst present in the Ground, persons must comply with any and all instructions of any steward or officer of the Club and/or any police officer. Failure to comply with any instruction may lead to immediate ejection from the Ground.

24 By entering the Ground, all persons are acknowledging that photographic images and/or video recordings (and/or stills taken from video recordings) may be taken of them and may also be used, by way of example and without limitation, in televised coverage of the game or by or on behalf of the Club or any Football Authority (or their commercial partners) for marketing, training or promotional purposes. Entry into the Ground is confirmation that all persons have consented to such use of their image. If these images should feature an individual prominently the Club will make reasonable efforts to gain the consent of that person before publishing such images, however, if this is not possible, then entry into the Ground shall be deemed consent unless the Club is notified in writing to the contrary. 25 Further to paragraph 24, if such person is under 18 years of age, the parent, guardian, or responsible adult who is accompanying them into the Ground shall be deemed to have provided consent on their behalf.

26 Refused entry to (or ejection from) the Ground may lead to further action by the Club including, but not limited to, the withdrawal of any season ticket (without reimbursement), Club Membership andotherbenefits.

Published by The Football League Limited – June 2013.

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Thursday 25th JulyOld School Lane, Hereford (Pre-season friendly)

Pegasus Juniors 0 (0)County 2 (0)Washington (2 (pen))

Team Christie, Jackson, Redman, Yakubu, Hughes, Behaldeen, Holmes, Jones, Crow, Washington, DobleSubs Stephens, Simoto, Worley, Victory, Brooks, Wood

Att: 100 (Away: 40)

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EX-EXILES

Wellit’sfinallyhere-anewand expectorant season with Newport County AFC

following our well-documented return to the promised land of the Football League. For many football fans (this scribe included), the void between the closing of one season and the commencing of the next is an exciting time as the new squad takes shape. Lots of (mostly false - thankfully) rumours circulate, random sightings of ‘the next best County thing’ (or not) are published and emotively discussed via various social and electronic media.

Players have arrived - Messrs Chapman, Stephens, Worley, Zebroski, Jackson and Bittner to date – some slip through the net, but also some (sadly in some cases) depart, some quietly, some perhaps not so, but either way, it is what keeps the time ticking by until we reach today - 3.00pm on the first Saturday of a shiny new Football Season.

Last season for Newport County AFC will go down, arguably, as the most important in the club’s 100-years (and counting) history, with the majority of the squad who contributed to our success having pledged their allegiance to the cause for the coming term.

In the first of a regular article in this year’s matchday programme, we focus on ex-players, love them or loath them, starting with those who played a part, albeit big or small, in our 2012/13 campaign. So lets go through the squad, from back to front, and look at thirteen players who are now plying their trade elsewhere, but all who played a part in us taking our place back in the Football League.

Alan JulianLeague: Played 10(1 sub), Won 4, Drew 1, Lost 5 Goals For 18 Goals Against 22 Points 13 (from 33 max)Cup: Played 1, Won 0, Drew 0, Lost 1 Goals For 0 Goals Against 2

Signed in pre-season as our Number 1, Alan was unfortunate to collect an injury in his first outing at Undy Athletic that was to keep him out of contention until his return for the home loss to Hyde (1-3). His injury had resulted in the signing of Lenny Pidgeley, initially on a short-term contract, but who would go on to claim the undisputed No 1 as the season played out. Despite a

lengthy career in the Football League, Alan was often the target for some discontented fans during our mid-season dip in form.

Following his release, he has now signed for our former Conference Premier rivals, Princes Park-based Dartford FC during the summer break. Alan has featured consistently during pre-season for the Darts, and looks set to start as their No 1 for the coming season.

Michael BoatengLeague: Played 3, Won 1, Drew 0, Lost 2 GF 4 GA 5 Points 3 (9 max)Cup: Played 1, Won 0, Drew 0, Lost 1 GF 0 GA 2

Signed towards the end of the Season after returning to Sutton United, Michael proved to be something of a bit-part player during his time with us, making only three appearances, despite some promise with his strong and athletic displays. After being told his services were not going to be required in the Football League with us, Michael has been difficult to track down with Wkipedia reporting him being currently unattached.

Lee EvansLeague: Played 18(5), Won 13, Drew 2, Lost 8 GF 53 GA 41 Points 41 (69 max)Cup: Played 2(1), Won 0, Drew 1, Lost 2 GF 4 GA 8

Local boy made good. The Gaffer raised a few eyebrows at the FA Trophy final the previous season when handing Lee a starting role, but that decision, as with most Justin makes, can never be doubted following an assured display on the hallowed turf, our second home now maybe? Bought by Dean Saunders for (the then Championship side), swapping Amber for the Old Gold of Wolverhampton Wanderers in the January transfer window, reported as part of their development set up, it appears from pre-season that Lee is now rapidly making strides towards the first XI with some assured displays we grew to recognise from his days with his beloved County.

Season 2013/14 saw Lee really establish himself within the engine room of our early season side, where his combative displays, coupled with his range of passing, skill and determination made him an obvious target as time would tell. His goals

EXEX

ILES

Ian Hopkins looks at the contribution of some of last season’s players who are no longer with us.

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EX-EXILESEX-EXILES

away to Barrow and Kidderminster Harriers demonstrated his powerful shot and just one part of his all-round game that brought the Wolves to his door! A key part of our promotion who with Flynn and Anthony are part of the local Holy Trinity that got us back to the promised land. Scorer of three goals during his short season at the Club.

Jake Thomson League: Played 12(10), Won 13, Drew 3, Lost 6 GF 44 GA 29 Points 42 (66 max)Cup: Played 2, Won 0, Drew 1, Lost 1 GF 4 GA 6

I think it is probably fair to say that despite featuring in 24 games for us (without scoring) during the last season, County fans never really saw the best of Jake, although the record shows we were hard to beat with him in the team. A talented passer and play maker without question, it was perhaps the strong competition for places in the engine room of our side was the catalyst for his loan spell mid-term to Lincoln City, for his perceived negative body language when not selected and in true modern day footballer tradition, the occasional Twitter rant to boot. Our away defeat (0-1) to Stockport County in March was the last time we saw Jake in Amber.

Another reported as presently unattached but surely with a CV that boasts Southampton, Exeter City and Forest Green Rovers amongst your former employers, together with experience internationally, it would not be right for Jake not to find a new club soon.

Scott DonnellyLeague - Played 17(3), Won 11, Drew 6, Lost 3 GF 27 GA 16 Points 39 (60 max)

To many, Scott was an inspired signing for us, providing that added little bit of experience, guile and competition to a squad that was getting stretched at the time of his signing. Scoring his only goal for us within minutes of his debut at home to Tamworth (has there been a quicker debut goal for a County player?), Scott played his last game for us, coming on for Michael Flynn towards the end of the Wembley play-off final. With the game goalless, it was well set up for Scott to show his range of passing and creativity….and the rest? Well, the rest is history!Some were perhaps surprised that Scott was not retained for the upcoming campaign, with his Football League pedigree, and the options that he provided when signing in January from Farnborough Town, where he was on a rolling contract. Another player too good to be without a club.

Alex Gilbey League - Played 6(1), Won 5, Drew 1, Lost 1 GF 10 GA 4 Points 16 (21 max)

With Lee Evans departed to Wolves, Justin Edinburgh moved quickly to get the services of Alex from Colchester United, from the heart of the Gaffer’s Essex backyard and as with Evans, show his trust in youth. The talented teen showed why he is thought of very highly with some composed and precocious displays with belied his tender years, culminating in a display at Wembley where he more than held his own in the midfield battle with the much-feted Keates and Harris.Now back at his parent club, Alex has forced his way into the first team reckoning off the back of his performances for County, featuring consistently in the U’s first team friendlies and the season ahead looks a promising one for the well-thought of County loanee.

Ryan CharlesLeague: Played 2(9), Won 7, Drew 2, Lost 2 GF 20 GA 17 Points 23 (33 max)Cup: Played 0(2), Won 0, Drew 1, Lost 1 GF 4 GA 6

Retained from the squad who salvaged us from relegation the previous year and the FA Trophy Final at Wembley. As with Louis and Thomson, perhaps we never saw the best from Ryan at this club, but cannot be doubted that he seemed to enjoy his football and time at the club. His goal away to Forest Green Rovers on Boxing Day, cutting in from the right flank with a trick or two, and unleashing a low, powerful left footer which hit the net before most observers had even seen it leave his foot, will no doubt go down as his golden moment in Amber. Released in February 2013 by Justin, Ryan first of all appeared briefly for Hemel Hempstead, before making his way back West to make a handful of appearances for mid-table Bath City in the Blue Square Bet Conference South. Has now returned to a previous club, Hitchin Town, the Hertfordshire-based club, appearing in the Southern League Premier Division for the coming campaign.

Will Evans League: Played 3(3), Won 3, Drew 1, Lost 2 GF 5 GA 5 Points 10 (18 max)

Released prior to the Wembley run-in, Will only made a handful of appearances without really imposing himself in the team following his switch from local rivals Hereford United in early 2013. Perhaps his best appearance in an Amber shirt was in the assured display in midfield away at

Southport in our 2-0 win in March. Will has now joined a number of Ex-Exiles (along with Jamie Collins, Chris Todd, Craig McAllister, Ramone Rose and Yemi Odubade), together with rumoured one-time County target, Stuart Fleetwood, in Hampshire at ambitious Eastleigh FC of the Conference South for the coming season. Records from their website suggest he has settled in to his new home being a regular starter in their pre-season friendlies.

Ben Swallow League: Played 7(13), Won 8, Drew 4, Lost 8 GF 36 GA 37 Points 28 (60 max)Cup: Played 3, Won 0, Drew 1, Lost 2 Goals For 4 Goals Against 8

A diminutive, elusive and tricky winger who, often used as a substitute during the season to try to change the shape and options in a game, and someone would lead the chart for us for attempting ‘step-overs’ for the season for sure. Considered by many unlucky not to have been given a chance in the Football League, Ben nonetheless showed glimpses of what he was capable of, with some mazy runs, and an eye for goal, as demonstrated perhaps best in the 2-1 home win against Southport, with a sublime left footed pile driver than may well have reached George Street Bridge had the net not stopped the rocket in its tracks. Has appeared on trial with our Sky Bet League Two rivals, East London-based Dagenham and Redbridge on trial in the summer, appearing in 2 pre-season matches for the Daggers against Dartford and Thurrock, but it appears has not been offered any contract. Ben is a player who would benefit from a solid run in the team at a good club, to build confidence and his undoubted talent.

Jefferson LouisLeague: Played 11(6), Won 10, Drew 3, Lost 4 GF 33 GA 21 Points 33 (51 max)Cup: Played 2, Won 0, Drew 1, Lost 1 Goals For 4 Goals Against 6

Signing a journeyman striker, tagged with the ‘more clubs than Jack Nicklaus’ handle, was always going to prove to be interesting at least, and Jefferson certainly proved to be that. Talented, frustrating, enigmatic - three words which could readily be applied to Jefferson during his time with us – and I am sure there are fans in both camps who may have some perhaps more colourful words of their own! Most famed in County colours for his single-handed attempt to out-do Ronnie Rosenthal’s legendary miss for Liverpool (against

Aston Villa if memory serves) – his misses at Wrexham and Hereford at Rodney Parade being the standout contenders.

True to his record, Jefferson was gone by mid November 2012, having got just three goals for the club, first on loan to Whitehawk FC in Sussex, and then with little more than a month passing, moving north to Northamptonshire side Brackley Town in the Blue Square Bet Conference North, where he scored 7 goals in 24 appearances. Louis has moved again during this pre-season, this time to Isthmian Premier London borough team, Hendon FC, who also boast another one-time ex-exile, Tony Taggart, in their ranks for the coming season.

Michael SmithLeague: Played 9(0), Won 4, Drew 1, Lost 4 GF 23 GA 22 Points 13 (27 max)Cup: Played 1, Won 0, Drew 0, Lost 1 Goals For 0 Goals Against 2

Signed on loan from his parent club Charlton Athletic, target man Michael proved a useful addition to the squad for the key period pre and post Xmas and New Year, and with Jefferson Louis on his way out of the club. A tall, strong player, with useful feet and deceptively quick, Michael scored 4 goals during his short time at the club. After returning to Charlton, Michael had another loan spell, this time at League One outfit, Colchester United, where he bagged one goal in an 8-game loan spell. It appears Michael has not featured for Charlton in their first team friendlies this year to date.

Jake Harris League: Played 0(4), Won 2, Drew 0, Lost 2 GF 7 GA 5 Points 6 (12 max)Cup: Played 0(3), Won 0, Drew 1, Lost 2 Goals For 4 Goals Against 8

For many, the saddest departure of the summer. Jake found himself, despite his relatively young years, as one of our longest serving players last season, with many fans often clamouring for him to be included in the starting line up when results were not going for us, or for him to add to his ‘supersub’ status when on the bench and we needed a lifeline! Described as a natural goalscorer and finisher by the Gaffer.

RhysGriffithsLeague: Played 4(6), Won 6, Drew 2, Lost 2 GF 15 GA 10 Points 20 (30 max)

Target man Rhys’ arrival at County was perhaps a little too late in many ways, as there had often been speculation over the years following his goal scoring exploits at WPL level that we were interested in him. Following a decision to take a sabbatical from his career in the fire service, he made his way to Rodney Parade in early 2013, following a fairly unsuccessful stint down in the West Country at Plymouth Argyle. Never really forced his way into the side, especially when we moved from a 4-3-3 to more of a 3-5-2 formation. Released in the summer, and has returned for a third stint west along the M4 to ambitious Port Talbot Town, managed by ex-County favourite, Scott Young, back in his old stomping ground of the WPL for next season.

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Has there ever been a better time to be a fan of Welsh Club Football? Certainly if you are a Newport County fan, then

this is what you have all been waiting for. A return to the Football League and a setup, bothonandoffthefield,thatgivestheloyalfans great hope for the future.

Manager Justin Edinburgh has pulled-together a squad and staff that has got the job done in returning to the Football League and now fans from all-over Wales will wait to see if the side can, not only hold their own in the division, but push-on to even greater heights.

So here comes my confession - I am a fifty-three year old from Cardiff who was always a Bluebird’s fan because of my dad’s allegiance to the mighty side of the immediate post-war years and early 50’s. However, like so many from ‘down the road’, County was always my second team. Despite the hard times of the 70’s and 80’s, it was still great to visit

WELSH FOOTBALL

LOOKING UPby Ceri Stennett

WELSH FOOTBALL WELSH FOOTBALL

Somerton Park for matches and see so many familiar players in the amber and black – or even those sky blue and white stripes for a short while!

I was lucky enough to have know the great Cyril Rogers and remember his tireless work for the club, and wearing my football historian’s hat - was lucky enough to spend some time with Billy Lucas in his retirement - talking about his playing and management days. During my time with the FAW I also worked alongside David (Dai) Williams. He did everything for this club - player, coach, manager, kit-man, mini-bus driver. What a hero.

County always was, and I hope always will be, a friendly club with some good, honest people at its core. I also have more than a few friends here now - your new secretary, Tim Lane - is someone I have known and worked with for fifteen years. A true fan of football and a Man of Gwent, he will be a tireless worker in the pursuit of your footballing dreams. In the club shop, Duncan Jardine is another who I am glad to call a friend for what seems to have been a lifelong passion in collecting football programmes.

On the field, I see a former Wales representative in David Pipe. I well remember him from his time with the Wales Youth and Under 21 sides whilst a Coventry City player and I saw him gain his one and only Wales cap against the USA in San Jose in May 2003 when he came off the bench to replace John Oster for the last twenty minutes in a 2-0 defeat.

Along the M4, a new world is awaiting Cardiff City as they step back into the top flight for the first time in half a century. I can only wonder what it will be like as the season twists and turns. How I wish I was back as a thirteen year old watching my heroes compete with Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City and all.

Time for another confession: Ninian Park will always be my Cardiff City home, but time moves-on and what a fine stadium they now have in which to perform. People say

that there are no fairy-tale endings in sport, but surely this has been one for Cardiff and in particular, City and Wales legend Craig Bellamy. In my time working with the Wales team as Press Officer (1998-2011) there was never anyone who came close to having the commitment to the team that he showed. The same has gone for his time with his hometown club and this season will be a fitting reward for him for again and again going through the pain barrier for his team.

With Cardiff in the Premier League, it means Swansea City will no longer be our sole representatives. Their story is truly a ‘Roy of the Rovers’ one and last season, not only did they more than cement their place, they added silverware to the boardroom and a slot in Europe representing England! My, how we Welsh are ‘chipping-away’ at the English game. And what a good captain they have in Ashley Williams, perhaps the most consistent Wales player of the last three or four years in my opinion.

Up north, it was a roller coaster season for fans of Wrexham, with some real high points – and one crushing low point that I am sure I will not need to remind you about!. Their

Wembley FA Trophy win was a fitting reward for a team that has been at the heart and soul of Welsh Football for ever. It would be a hard man who would begrudge them a chance back in the Football League at the end of this season. If ever a club had a hero, in Wrexham’s case you might not find him on the pitch, but in the secretary’s office you will find Geraint Parry who has served the club under any number of chairmen and has always conducted himself impeccably. To me, Geraint Parry is Wrexham Football Club.

Finally, on this whistle-stop tour of Wales, the Welsh Premier League. Whether you are a fan of it or not - we need this league, because it helps to give our domestic game an identity. There is room enough for all and Welsh Football always has been a broad church.

So, in that vein, we should also wish Merthyr and Colwyn Bay all the best for their respective campaigns. Don’t forget Women’s Football too. It’s the fastest growing sport in the world and if you have never been to a match - then you should.

So, as you flick through this programme for the game with Accrington Stanley, spare a thought for the thousands of other Welsh Club fans doing exactly the same at home or away. All the hopes and dreams are

there today as we embark on a new adventure. This is a family - at times dysfunctional - but a family none the less. Let’s hope for as much success as we can for our own team, but remembering the bigger picture too.


BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBIONv Newport County AFC (Capital One Cup Round One)Tuesday 6th August 2013, KO 19:45, Amex Stadium, Brighton

ALL TICKET - No tickets issued on the dayAdult £12Senior (65+), U16’s £6

Initial allocation of 657 tickets in the South Stand Blocks S1B and S1C

Ambulant Disabled and Wheelchair Users should be charged at the relevant age range and are entitled to a companion ticket if in receipt of Medium to High Disability Living Allowance. For any disability or access enquiries please contact Brighton and Hove Albion Customer Service Team on 0845 873 0251

www.newport-county.co.uk | 01633674990

TICKETS

TICKETOFFICENewport County AFC v

BRISTOL ROVERSSaturday 17th August 2013, KO 15:00, Rodney Parade

Bristol Rovers make the short trip across the Severn Bridge for our first local derby in the Football League. John Ward’s side will provide a good test of our season’s aspirations, having finished 14th last season and being among the favourites for promotion this season.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

OUR NEXT HOME GAMETICKET OFFICEOPENING HOURSMonday to Friday 09.00 - 17.00Saturday 09.00 - 13.00

MATCHDAY PURCHASEBisley Stand tickets from 09.00Terrace tickets from 13.00 (18.00 weekdays)

TICKET PRICES 2013/14BISLEY STAND ADVANCE MATCHDAYAdult £18 £20SeniorCitizens £14 £16Students £14 £16Under 16 £9 £9Under 12 £6 £6Under 6 FREE FREE

HAZELL TERRACE ADVANCE MATCHDAYAdult £16 £18SeniorCitizens £12 £14Students £12 £14Under 16 £6 £6Under 12 £6 £6Under 6 FREE FREE

NORTH TERRACE ADVANCE MATCHDAYAdult £15 £17SeniorCitizens £11 £13Students £11 £13Under 16 £5 £5Under 12 £5 £5Under 6 FREE FREE

NORTHAMPTON TOWNv Newport County AFCSaturday 10th August 2013, KO 15:00, Sixfields Stadium, Northampton

TICKETS ISSUED ON THE DAY - WE WILL NOT BE SELLING TICKETS IN ADVANCE.

Adult £22 Senior (65+) £18 U18 £18 U7 (with adult) FREE

A £2.00 discount per ticket is available for advance purchases via NTFC OnlineEmail [email protected] call 01604 683777

Allocation of 900 tickets for away fans situated in the South Stand

UPCOMING AWAY GAMES

www.newport-county.co.uk 3rd August 2013 Newport County v Accrington Stanley 473rd August 2013 Newport County v Accrington Stanley 47

ON THE MARCH

After a break of 26 years, we return to League Cup this coming Tuesday night (6th August 2013), after being handed aglamouranddifficulttieawaytoBrighton&HoveAlbion,

whomadeitasfarastheChampionshipplay-offsemifinalslastseason. Gus Poyet’s protracted dismissal during the summer has lead to an all-new Spanish coaching team being appointed and perhaps County will have the merest squeak as Senor Garcia searches for his optimum combinations in this early season clash.

TICKETS The game is all-ticket, with no sales of tickets on the day of the game. Brighton have adjusted their price structure accordingly, and this has been set at just £12 Adults and £6 Concessions. Contact the RP ticket office for more ticket information, or see the TicketOffice section of this programme.

TRAVEL County supporters have a number of travel options to get to the match. The stadium is located at the suburb of Falmer, on the outskirts of Brighton, close to the University of Sussex.

By Car (Postcode for SatNav - BN1 9BL)Head towards London on the M4, continuing until the M25 interchange at Junction 4B (M25 Southbound / Gatwick Airport signs). Leave the M25 at junction 7 then take right-hand lane, and then join the M23 motorway. At the end of the M23, continue onto the A23, heading towards Brighton. At the roundabout, which is the junction with the A27, take the A27 towards Lewes. After around four miles you will se the stadium on your right hand side. Leave at the A27 taking the slip road signposted Falmer (B2123). At the top of the slip road, turn right, crossing back over the A27 and the entrance to the stadium is down on the right. There is no parking at the stadium for away fans (although coaches and minibuses will be allowed to park providing that they have been pre-booked with the Club) and there is a large no parking zone in force around the area of the stadium on match days.

NOTE For those travelling by car please refer to the extensive information about park and ride options on the Brighton website / club / the AMEX / away fans, or also refer to the Football Ground Guide.

By CoachWe have details of two options for supporters travelling by Coach.

Newport County Supporters ClubPick-Up Details PricesLysaghts Institute 14.00 £20 Adults(Castle Bingo no pick up) £18 ConcessionRoyal Oak 14.10 £17 Junior

Bookings can be made by contacting Jeff Challingsworth on 01633 270609 or Bob Herrin 01633 274440 or in person in the Snelling Lounge at Rodney Parade at home matches

Clarence ClubThe Clarence Club is situated on Chepstow Road, opposite The Dodger and next to the garage. Pre-match pubs are always arranged in or near the town of the fixture.

Contact the organisers, Andrew Witt on 07827 573611 or Brian Collins on 07803 762578 for times and bookings. Fare £20, all are most welcome, and highly recommended I must say.

By RailUnfortunately it is not possible to make same day returns for midweek matches from Falmer – Newport due to the evening kick off, so unless an overnight stay is planned, this is not an option for this game.

THE VENUE The American Express (AMEX) Community Stadium

It’s the thick end of 50 years since we last visited Brighton for a Fourth Division match and to say the hosts facilities have improved is an understatement. The AMEX is without doubt one of the finest stadia in the country, with the spectators match day experience and the natural contours of the landscape integral to the design. The ground opened in 2011 at a cost of £93 million (or equivalent to about 40 x Spytty Park’s…!!).

The stadium capacity is 30,250 all seated and all with totally unobstructed views. County fans have been allocated the South Stand, which is single tiered behind one goal. As previously mentioned no tickets are sold on the day of the game so if you haven’t got one yet this must be done as soon as possible.

As the ground is in Falmer, on the outskirts of Brighton, pubs (which are very limited) are generally home support only. Lewes is a possible alternative being only a few miles east by road or rail, and to be fair to it there are numerous pubs in the town. There are alcoholic drinks served in the stadium concourses, including the away sections, and visiting supporters reviews of the food, drink and service at The Amex are mostly extremely favourable – and anyway, how could one not enjoy this, win or lose? So come and support the boys in our first away game back as a Football League club, albeit in a cup competion!

AMBER ARMY ON THE MARCH with Dave Butcher

Brighton & Hove Albion Tuesday 6th AugustCapital One Cup Round 1

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MY 15 MINUTES

OK, so tell us a little about yourselfMy name is Gary Northwood, I am (a very young looking) 43-years old. I live on Cardiff Road and have two lovely kids, Chloe (8) and Josh (13). For my sins I also support Leeds United, and work at Tata Steel in Port Talbot as a Crane and Forklift Instructor.

So, when did you start supporting the County?I moved to Newport back in 1984 from Hemel Hempstead, and as I was always interested in football, the local team was always on the agenda, especially as a lot of my mates in the school were County fans too.

WhatwasthefirstCountygameyouattendedandwhat do you remember about it?You know, I have absolutely no idea, it is all a bit of a blur (blame the beer), but I can remember being really impressed with Neville Chamberlain who was playing and was absolute lightening I thought, with quick feet and a trick or two! (Neville Chamberlain played xx games for us between xx and yy, scoring zz goals).

What is your favourite away ground visited?It would have to be Wembley now, it is our second home now after all….! My memories of our two visits will stay with me for ever. And the best County game seen?There is only one now really, isn’t there – has to be Halesowen away in……nah! The Play-off Final victory against Wrexham of course. When we scored those goals I thought life could not get any better, seeing grown men cry and hug…..not me, I applauded respectfully and stayed true to my manliness!!! You would have seen lots of players then in the 30 years you have supported the club, but who was your favourite and why?For me, it would have to Gary Warren. I always felt he gave 100% and gave everything for the whole game and demanded his team did the same. As much as I was pleased for him with his move to Inverness CT, I wondered if he (and other true players with Amber in the Blood like Sam Foley) actually

MY 15MINUTESMEET THE AMBER ARMY

with Ian Hopkins

wished they were still at the club to have been part of the special moments last season and this of course.

And the worst players?There have been a few, of course, but to be honest, as a true fan, I think you should support whoever pulls on the shirt. As long as they are giving their all that is all you can really ask. You have to accept that they are not the best players in the world, as they would be playing for Barcelona, Real or Leeds (!!) if they were, but to me, our players are the best, and true fans should always believe that.

Do you have a County matchday routine?Not really, although I always have to make sure I have my badge on.

What is your overall view on our promotion season now that the dust has settled?Obviously I am over the moon that we finished third and went up via the Play Off’s, but there is a little bit of me that thinks we should have won the league outright. We lost some silly games and throw away some leads at times, and some of the refereeing decisions I think attributed to some of this. But hey! It is all water under now, so let’s just sit back and enjoy the ride ahead.

Andfinally,yourhopesandwishesfortheCountyforthis coming Season?Obviously, I want the best and go into the Season full of ambition. Relegation would be a disaster but not gonna happen for sure, mid table would of course be OK, and anything above that would be a bonus. Personally I think it will be mid-table, but who knows, like last year, if we start well, confidence builds and we keep the key players fit, who knows? I think this team has the talent, belief and togetherness – I don’t think I have seen a tighter group of players in any other season, as best demonstrated on the streets of Jena a few weeks back….what a night!!!

Thanks Gary, enjoy the Season.


TODAY’S THE DAY

TODAY’S DAYthe

I can’t get massively worked up about pre-season friendlies - recent trip to Germany excepted, of course! It’s a way of easing yourself back in as a

spectator, but there’s just no getting away from the fact the result doesn’t really matter. Mostly you just hope a key player won’t pick up an injury. However, our early start this season means we have to dip into the records offriendliestofindagameonthisprecisedateinthepost-1989 relaunch archive. Even then in some seasons it’sabittooearlytofindone.Ifonlytoday’sgamehadbeen held over for Monday night TV, we’d have had the unbelievablesymmetryofthefirstgamebackintheFootball League falling on the exact anniversary of NewportAFC’sfirsteverfriendlyatKidlington.

What did surprise me was that the pre-1989 Newport County never started a league season this early, even in the era before floodlights. The earliest ever start seems to have been almost a week later than today, on 9 August 1969 when York City won 2-1 at Somerton Park. (As a piece of utterly useless trivia even by my standards, as that game kicked off the police were being summoned to the scene of the first Manson murders in Los Angeles.)

Back to games played on 3 August. Newport AFC’s first ever game on today’s date was a midweek friendly at Ton Pentre in 1994. Excitement was building ahead of the return to Newport after the High Court case and we’d already played four games - a 7-2 win at Aberbargoed, a 7-3 loss at Merthyr (!), a 3-1 win over Ebbw Vale at Abergavenny and just the night before, a 1-1 draw at Ellwood in the Forest of Dean.

Ton, known as the Bulldogs, had in common with us that they had opted out of joining the League of Wales in its inaugural season, taking the longer-term view that they’d rather see how it went and only then go for promotion. They achieved this in time for the league’s second season and then finished third in their first shot at the title. The reward was a poisoned chalice if ever there was one - a place in the dreaded Intertoto Cup. Hindsight’s a wonderful thing, but who ever could have thought it was a good idea to play a tournament at that level in group stages in the middle of summer? It reportedly caused the financial ruin of Ebbw Vale FC a few seasons further down the line even after it had become a straight knockout. By the time our friendly at Ynys Park came round, Ton’s Euro adventure was long

over after defeats to teams from Holland, Hungary, Portugal and Denmark, with their home ties played at Cardiff RFC’s ground.

Our line-up was Jon Roberts, Mark Evans, Mark Spencer, David Cole, Phil Coyne, Mark Price, Mike Pengelly, Darren Porretta, Kyle Charles, Chris Townsend and Paul Sugrue, with Jayson Hoskins coming on for Mark Price and Mark’s brother Jason replacing Charles. We lost 1-2, with 200 attending.

It’s a sobering thought that while there are several household names there from the Newport annals - and at least a couple who are current County supporters - there also some good players of whom no-one much under 30 will have a clear memory.

Mark Evans was a more than half-decent attacking right back who had joined us during the second season in exile at Meadow Park in Gloucester. My inner anorak has a vague idea that he was at UWIC. Mark was the older brother of winger Richard Evans, who was with us more recently and moved on to Bath City after failing to impress Dean Holdsworth. Mark failed to make the cut to start the Midland Division championship season, as (surprisingly) did Chris Townsend, who scored our goal in this 2-1 defeat to Ton Pentre, from the spot.

Townsend was a journeyman striker from the Valleys who first appeared for County ahead of the 1985-86 season after being released by Cardiff City. He never made a League appearance, but went on to score prolifically in non-league for clubs including Gloucester City, whose excellent “Tiger Roar” website archive has him down as a club legend: “If they were to build houses on what becomes of the site of Meadow Park then Townsend Close would be one of the names that appears on the map.”

Chris’s stats at Gloucester after signing for a record fee of £10,000 from Cheltenham included 31 goals in 31 games in 1988-89. The Tigers almost doubled their money when he moved to Dorchester, and Bath City also paid a five-figure fee for his services before he became one of a contingent of players bussed up from Wales on matchdays to play for Chesham Town, including Dai Webley.

I remember Chris as a striker who did very little in possession outside the box but was absolutely deadly within it, very quick over a short distance and with the crucial knack of getting a high proportion of his goal efforts on target. It’s borne out by one of our best ever goals-per-game ratios of 17 from 26 league starts in 1993-94, which was to be his only season in amber.

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TAKE TWO

TAKE TWOSky Bet League 2 reviewwith Mike Tasker

It’s taken us 25 years, but now we’re back! The fourth tier of English football might have changed its name to League Two but

for many of us it feels like we have returned home. Of the 23 other teams who made up the old Division Four in 1987-88 when we were last here, only 5 are in League Two this season; Rochdale, Exeter, Torquay, Hartlepool and Scunthorpe. We’ve previously faced most of the other League Two sides on a regular basis over the years with the exception of Dagenham & Redbridge whose ascent to the Football League bypassed us in the 1990s. Cheltenham and Burton are names from our non-league years and Wycombe Wanderers were opponents in our first Conference season in 1988-89.

Gillingham (pictured below) were League Two champions last season and they were automatically promoted with Port Vale and Rotherham United. Michael Flynn was denied a chance to play against his former employers, Bradford City, who were promoted via the Play Offs after finishing the regular season in seventh place. Bradford beat our first league away opponents, Northampton in the Play-Off Final at Wembley, whilst Burton and Cheltenham both finished the season above Bradford but failed to progress in the Play-Offs. Last season the relegation issue went right down to the last day with eight clubs fighting for their survival. Aldershot


TAKE TWOTAKE TWO

Town and Barnet were the two teams who ended up being relegated with 48 and 51 points respectively and not even Edgar Davids involvement could save Barnet who have now moved from Underhill to their training Ground The Hive.

The big news in League Two this summer has been the arrival of Portsmouth just four seasons after

being relegated from the Premier League. Portsmouth have not played at this level since 1980 when they gained promotion alongside County, Huddersfield Town and Bradford City and they have been installed as favourites for the title by the bookies. Their supporters are also upbeat following a few terrible seasons and over 10,000 season tickets have been sold for the Fratton Park side.

Portsmouth were promoted from the old Division Three in 1983, the same year that County narrowly missed out on promotion. From that point on, our two clubs have travelled different paths with Portsmouth reaching the top tier on several occasions and also two FA Cup Finals whilst County went in the other direction. Portsmouth’s recent success was built on debt, with various foreign owners being involved and unfortunately for Pompey fans, the debts caught up with them prompting their tumble down the leagues.

The good news is that the Portsmouth Supporters Trust have now gained control of the club and Fratton Park which means that Pompey fans can view the future with some optimism, despite the fact that they have fallen to League Two.

The bookies have installed Portsmouth as favourites for the League Two title with one prominent

company pricing Portsmouth at 9/2. The other odds for the title are as follows: 6/1 Fleetwood, 7/1 Chesterfield, 14/1 Bristol Rovers, 16/1 Scunthorpe, Oxford, Northampton, 20/1 Southend, Cheltenham, Hartlepool, 25/1 Burton, Mansfield, Rochdale, Wycombe, Plymouth, 33/1 Exeter, York, Bury, 40/1 Torquay, Newport County, Wimbledon, 66/1 Morecambe, Accrington, Dagenham & Redbridge.

Bristol Rovers Manager John Ward has stated that the new Financial Fair Play rules may hinder Rovers’ start to the

season. Rovers have Ryan Brunt, Jim Paterson and Fabian Broghammer all out with long term injuries and Ward is restricted in bringing in replacements because League Two clubs are not allowed to spend more than 55% of their turnover on player’s wages.

MansfieldTownhaveincreasedthecapacity of Field Mill to 9,186. The Conference Champions, whose future

at their traditional home has been in doubt in recent years, have secured the relevant safety certificates which means that the Stadium’s capacity has increased by 1,000 from last season. Field Mill will still operate as a three sided ground with the side where the substitutes benches are located remaining closed.

Northampton Town, who County visit next Saturday, have received Football League approval to share

theirSixfieldsStadiumwithLeagueOnesideCoventry City. The two clubs have agreed a deal for the Sky Blues to play home fixtures in Northampton for the next three years as a

result of their dispute with the Ricoh Arena landlords. There is understandably much discontent in Coventry about this move, but there have also been some negative comments from Northampton fans about the move.

Cobblers Chairman David Cardoza has defended their decision to welcome Coventry to Sixfields stating that all of the extra costs would be borne by the Sky Blues, whilst it was an opportunity for Northampton to make extra income. Meanwhile, Northampton have secured a £12m loan from Northampton Borough Council to fund expansion to Sixfields which would see the stadium’s capacity increase by 2,000 to approximately 10,000.

Cardoza has revealed that Northampton have reduced their wage budget for this season but still expects it to be amongst the highest seven budgets in League Two. Cardoza said that two of last season’s highest earners – Clarke Carlisle and Adebayo Akinfenwa had left the club, so the reduction might not have such an impact because those two players did not appear regularly for the Cobblers last season.

Southend United manager Phil Brown has had to deal with a rather turbulent summer since his arrival at Roots

Hall. Brown replaced Paul Sturrock in March. Southend survived a High Court Winding-up order for debts owed to HMRC whilst they were also in the news when Michael Timlin was jailed for perverting the course

of justice in relation to speeding offences. Timlin was out of contract following the end of last season, but Southend stood by their man as the Court case unfolded. As well as losing Timlin, Southend have lost five other players since the end of the season including the experienced former Millwall striker Neil Harris.

Brown has been keen to bring in some replacements with a defeat to Braintree Town in July highlighting the deficiencies in his squad. Brown announced the signing of former Colchester defender Ben Coker two weeks ago as he continued to build his squad prior to the start of the season.

All in all, it promises to be a very exciting League Two campaign this season.

Latest League 2 Odds courtesy of Sky Bet, correct as of 31st July 2013

Portsmouth 5/1Fleetwood Town 7/1Chesterfield 15/2Scunthorpe United 16/1Bristol Rovers 16/1Cheltenham Town 20/1Northampton Town 22/1Hartlepool United 22/1Oxford United 22/1Rochdale 25/1Burton Albion 25/1Southend United 25/1Mansfield Town 28/1Plymouth Argyle 33/1Wycombe Wanderers 33/1Bury 40/1Exeter City 40/1York City 40/1Newport County 50/1Torquay United 66/1AFC Wimbledon 80/1Dagenham & Redbridge 100/1Accrington Stanley 100/1Morecambe 100/1

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Finance example is based on MINI Select Agreement for the model stated: MINI One with a contract mileage of 32,000 and an excess mileage charge of 3.00 pence (per mile). *On theroad cash price is based on manufacturer’s recommended retail price and includes 3 year MINI Dealer Warranty, MINI Emergency Service, 12 months’ road fund licence, vehicle firstregistration fee, delivery, number plates and VAT. ^^Option to purchase fee (£10.00) and optional final payment payable at the end of the agreement if you decide to purchase thevehicle. Excess mileage charges and vehicle condition charges may be payable if you return the vehicle. Vehicles must be registered by 30 September 2013. Prices are correct at timeof publication July 2013 and are subject to change without notice. Retail customers only. Finance is subject to status and available to over 18's in the UK only (excluding The ChannelIslands or Isle of Man). Guarantees and indemnities may be required. We can arrange finance for you. We are not an independent financial advisor. We can introduce you to a limitednumber of lenders to assist with your purchase, who may pay us for introducing you to them. Advertised finance is provided by MINI Financial Services (MINI FS) Bartley Way, Hook,Hampshire RG27 9UF. We commonly, but not exclusively, introduce customers to MINI Financial Services. This introduction does not amount to independent financial advice.

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125 YEARS IN NUMBERS

125 Years of The Football League - In NumbersAs our fixture today against Accrington Stanley was chosen as one of the commerative fixtures, it is interesting to look at some information provided by the Football League from the archive of its first 125 years – so for the statistician’s amongst you - enjoy!

177,164 Total number of matches played in The Football League

91,223 Number of Home wins (52%)

41,470 Number of Away wins (23%)

44,471 Number of Drawn matches (25%)

28,169 Number of 1-0 and 0-1 scorelines (16%)

25,653 2-1 (14%) 20,415 1-1 (12%) 20,407 2-0 (12%) 12,550 0-0 (7%)

154 the most played fixture (between Aston Villa and Everton) closely followed by

146 Arsenal v Manchester United and Everton v Liverpool fixtures

136 Hartlepool United v Rochdale - most played current Football League fixture

Number of Goals Scored in all Football League matches 514,333 Number of Goals Scored by Home Clubs 317,260 (62%)

Number of Goals Scored by Away Clubs 197,073 (38%)

39,352 Number of Players that have appeared in Football League matches

508 Players called Smith (most popular)

384 Jones 298 Brown 266 Williams 228 Taylor

3,316 Number of Players who have only made a single Football League appearance

220 Number of different ground where Football League matches have taken place

2,336 Most games at Preston North End’s Deepdale

2,304 Turf Moor, Burnley 2,281 Gigg Lane, Bury

Number of Stadio still in use today from the first season 3 (Deepdale, Turf Moor, Anfield - used by Everton)

Total number of spectators through turnstiles in all Football League matches

2,192,000,000 Total Number of clubs that have played in the Football League 136

To find out more about the 125th anniversary of The Football League visit FL125.co.uk for feature articles, stats and photo galleries, or search for #FL125 on Twitter.

EVER PRESENT

EVER PRESENTThe Football League at 125

In 2013 The Football League celebrates 125 years since its inception

as the world’s original league football competition. What began as a simple idea by a Perthshire-born draper has become a much loved part of our nation’s sporting heritage and the template for leagues the world over.

It all began with a letter, written on 2nd March, 1888, by the club secretary of Aston Villa – and Father of the League - William McGregor. His idea was simple in its inception, yet it would transform not only the English game, but football across the globe.

McGregor and his contemporaries had tired of football’s development being stifled by the lack of a coherent and organised fixture list. The predominance of cup football had meant that clubs could easily lose fixtures at relatively short

notice and it was even common for clubs to cancel matches, or field scratch teams, because they had been offered more lucrative fixtures elsewhere. Villa themselves had once had to endure five consecutive blank Saturdays.

So the Perthshire-born draper wrote to his own club, as well as Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Preston North End and West Bromwich Albion. “I beg to tender the following suggestion,” he wrote, “that ten or twelve of the most prominent clubs in England combine to arrange home-and-away fixtures each season.”

Following meetings in London’s Fleet Street and Manchester, The Football League was formed with Accrington, Burnley, Derby County, Everton, Notts County, Stoke and Wolverhampton Wanderers making up the rest of the 12 Founder Members.

Saturday afternoon at 3pm would never be the same again.

It was a creation of industrial Lancashire and the Midlands, where the freshly-introduced concept of professionalism was strongest. It would be another five years before the first London team, Woolwich Arsenal, joined. At the same time, so did Liverpool – who replaced Bootle – and Newcastle United.

It was football, but not quite as we came to know it. The matches were officiated by umpires, one provided by each club. The referee stood on the touchline, much as the fourth official does today, and would only become involved if the umpires could not agree.

There were no shirt numbers and goal-line technology did not even stretch to the provision of nets. Incredibly, the first season also kicked off without agreement on


EVER PRESENT EVER PRESENT

how many points should be awarded for a win. Two points for victory and one for a draw were only agreed upon by the time the season was two months old.

By then there was little doubt as to who would win the title. The Preston North End side of 1888/89 is still known today as the ‘Invincibles’ and it would be more than a century before its feats would be repeated by Arsenal’s 2003/04 title winners. Preston won 18 and drew four of their 22 fixtures and gave their name to the Invincibles Lounge at Deepdale, one of three of the original grounds that have survived to the modern age – the others being Turf Moor and Anfield, then the home of Everton.

By 1892 there were penalty kicks and a Second Division. There was even crowd trouble with The League’s Management Committee discussing the issue of stones and mud being thrown at referees. When the man putting up the scoreboard at the ‘reserve derby’ between Newcastle and Sunderland indicated that the home team were losing 7-1 at St James’ Park in the real thing, he was attacked. It did no good, Sunderland scored twice more.

Football has always reflected its society. When the First World War broke out, the League initially carried on as men fell on the banks of the Marne defending Paris.

Public criticism of football’s war effort, or lack of it, would lead to the formation of the

‘Footballers’ Battalion in late 1914. Players, club officials, referees and fans would go on to fight side by side in the Middlesex 17th and 23rd regiments including stars of the day like Frank Buckley, Walter Tull and Vivian Woodward. More than 1,000 of its members would lose their lives, including many in the Battalion’s heroic action at Delville Wood on the Somme, where The Football League’s memorial to their sacrifice now stands.

The decade that followed transformed football into the game we recognise today. By 1928, Arsenal and Chelsea had become the first teams to play in numbered shirts. There were four divisions, although the bottom two were regional and would remain so until 1958.

The professional game had come to regions throughout the nation, to Exeter, Durham and Wales. In 1922, there were five Welsh clubs, including Newport, Aberdare, Merthyr and Swansea. Two years later, Cardiff were denied winning the league on goal average.

It was an age of the first star footballers. George Camsell scored 59 goals for Middlesbrough in 1926/27. Dixie Dean bettered it by one the following season. Hughie Gallacher, who became known as The King of Tyneside, took Newcastle to their last top-flight title in 1927. Gallacher earned £500 a year, the equivalent of £25,000 now. Decent money at he time, although the maximum wage would remain until it was

abolished in 1961 when it stood at £20 per week – £388 these days.

In 1927, the game between Arsenal and Sheffield United became the first to be broadcast on the radio. The Radio Times published a picture of a pitch, divided into eight grids so the audience could follow the commentary.

There was increasing money in the game. The first football pools coupons were sold outside Old Trafford. Arsenal paid Bolton £10,000 for David Jack, their brilliant inside forward. The negotiations were conducted by Herbert Chapman, who got the Bolton directors drunk while he haggled the price down. Jack was worth £500,000 in today’s terms.

Chapman was the first star manager, a template for Bill Shankly and Sir Matt Busby. A biography of him entitled Football Emperor neatly encapsulates his style. He managed Huddersfield Town to the title twice and then moved on Arsenal. He was the first man to employ a tactics board to explain his ideas to his footballers. “The day of haphazard football has gone,” Chapman announced. He brought a gramophone into the home dressing room at Highbury to provide motivational music.

The music was, however, becoming darker. When war broke out, this time The Football League did not try to carry on regardless. It knew what was coming. Old Trafford was flattened during the Manchester Blitz of 1941.

Harry Goslin, the captain of Bolton, took his entire side to the local drill hall to enlist. They fought at Dunkirk, at El Alamein and Monte Cassino. All bar one returned to Burnden Park.

The years afterwards saw The Football League at its zenith. Britain was still subject to rationing and post-war shortages and football was, for many, the great escape. A crowd of 83,360 at Old Trafford watched Manchester United play Arsenal in 1948 and in the following season 41 million went through the turnstiles, an all-time record.

These were very different times. Denis Compton, who played in the 1950 FA Cup final for Arsenal and the Oval Test for England against the West Indies, advertised Brylcreem. Stanley Matthews endorsed Craven A cigarettes, though he did not go so far as to actually smoke them.

There were casualties. The pride of having a Football League club ran deep and when Accrington Stanley resigned from the league in 1961, the whole town felt the shame. The return of league football to Accrington in 2006 made national headlines. Gateshead were refused re-election despite never having finished bottom of what was now the Fourth Division. When Sunderland’s proud boast of never having been relegated from the First Division evaporated in 1958, the city’s ‘football pink’ sportspaper was printed on white paper to signify it had gone white with shock.

In more modern times there has been plenty of debate as to whether the Premier League is the best in the world, but in an era of Football Special trains, the introduction of three points for a win, hooliganism and falling attendances, it was a claim The Football League could make with some confidence. Between 1977 and 1984, only once did an English team fail to win club football’s greatest prize, the European Cup.

However, what followed would be The League’s greatest ever challenge. In 1992 its top division broke away to form the Premier League. The beautiful championship trophy ‘The Lady’ that was first presented to Everton 101 years before would never again be presented to the top club in the land.

It was not in fact the end, but a new beginning. Fears of the death of league football below the top flight were greatly exaggerated. The start of the new Millennium would see crowds at their highest levels for 50 years. The newly re-branded Football League Championship became the fourth highest attended league in Europe after overtaking Italy’s Serie A.

Undoubtedly, The Football League Play-Offs, which would go on to be copied by other leagues and sports across the globe, have played their part by keeping the season more competitive, for more clubs, for longer. Few will forget classic Play-Off Finals like

those between Bolton and Reading in 1995, Charlton and Sunderland in 1998 and Gillingham and Manchester City in 1999 and with its prize of promotion to the Premier League at stake, the Championship Play-Off Final is now the single richest match in the football world.

The Football League has come very far since William McGregor sat down to write his letter and he would doubtless take great pride from its continued role at the heart of our national sport.

Its 72 clubs form the largest body of professional clubs in European football and no other country has a league system below its top tier to match its breadth, popularity and economic pulling power. League clubs employ more than 2,000 professional players and have 8,000 schoolboy and apprentice players on their books. Every weekend 300,000-400,000 spectators attend matches, helping clubs generate more than £650 million of income every year. Clubs also engage with one and a half million people through their community programmes, extending football’s impact beyond the 90 minutes.

It is an epic story, with epic characters and an anniversary celebration for everyone that loves the game to share.

To find out more about the 125th anniversary of The Football League visit FL125.co.uk for feature articles, stats and photo galleries, or search for #FL125 on Twitter.

F L 1 2 5 . C O . U K # F L 1 2 5

V O T E F O RO U R G R E A T E S T

AD-242x165-FL-125 Years Vote.indd 1 27/07/2013 13:37


ON THE MARCH

AMBER ARMY ON THE MARCH with Dave Butcher

Northampton Town Saturday 10th AugustSky Bet League 2

OurfirstawaygameinthishistoricreturntotheFootballLeaguetakesplaceatSixfields,thehomeofNorthampton Town next Saturday. County last played

The Cobblers at their old County Ground in November 1987 when Dean Holtham scored our goal in a 2-1 FA Cup R1 defeat.

Just like today’s game, next Saturday is going to be a treasured moment, and if your in two minds about going just remember there’s only ever going to be one first away game back in the league – unless of course we get relegated or go bust (or both) and get promoted again. Hmmm…enough of that!

TRAVEL County supporters have a number of travel options to get to the match.

By Car (Postcode for SatNav - NN5 5QA)There are a number of route options by car but the two most likely are M4 to Junction 15 and then via A roads cross country, or taking the longer M5 – M42 – M6 – M1 option.

From the West Join M4 and head towards London, leaving at Junction 15 for A419, before (in 3 mles) joining A420 (Oxford). Before Oxford turn left onto the A34 for Kidlington / Bicester. Before Bicester join M40 bearing left to head north. Leave M40 at Junction 10 for A43 which by – passes Brackley then Towcester.

At intersection with M1 take the A5123 then A5076 before bearing right for the ground. 132 miles

Via the Midlands Mostly motorway. Head to midlands via A449, A40, M50, M5 then M42 before leaving at Junction 7 to join M6. Take M6 eastbound for M1 and head south, leaving at Junction 16. Take the A4500 for Northampton until the signs for the ground on the right. 150 miles

By CoachWe have details of two options for supporters travelling by Coach.

NEWPORT COUNTY AFC2013/14 HOME AND AWAY SHIRTS

ON SALE NOWFROM THE CLUB SHOP

£34.95

SHOP OPENING HOURSMonday - Friday 9.00am - 5.00pmSaturday 9.00am - 1.00pmSunday CLOSEDMatchdays 9.00am until 30minsafterfinalwhistle

STOCKING A RANGE OF COUNTY REPLICA SHIRTS, ACCESSORIES AND OTHER MERCHANDISE

main sponsor technicalsportswearpartner

NEWPORT COUNTY AFCRodneyParade,Newport,NP190UU 3rd August 2013 Newport County v Accrington Stanley 67

Newport County Supporters Club

Pick-Up Details PricesLysaghts Institute 10.00 £18 Adults(Castle Bingo 10.10 £16 ConcessionRoyal Oak 10.20 £15 Junior

Bookings can be made by contacting Jeff Challingsworth on 01633 270609 or Bob Herrin 01633 274440 or in person in the Snelling Lounge at Rodney Parade at home matches

Clarence Club

The Clarence Club is situated on Chepstow Road, opposite The Dodger and next to the garage. Pre-match pubs are always arranged in or near the town of the fixture.

Contact the organisers, Andrew Witt on 07827 573611 or Brian Collins on 07803 762578 for times and bookings. Fare £18, all are most welcome.

By RailJust like driving there are a couple of options with the route. It’s certainly quicker through Birmingam. However GroupSave tickets are possible for the Newport – London leg of the second option. As always though it is advised to buy tickets in advance and consult the National Rail website for guidance.

Option 1Outward ReturnNewport 08.39 Northampton 18.16Bristol Parkway 08.59 Birmingham New St 19.17 09.09 19.30Birmingham New St 10.25 Newport 21.09 10.54Northampton 11.54

Option 2Outward ReturnNewport 08.09 Northampton 18.50Paddington 10.02 Euston 19.45Euston 10.49 Paddington 20.45Northampton 11.41 Newport 22.46

THE VENUE Sixfields StadiumThe layout is fairly simple. One large main grandstand with a capacity of 4000, and three smaller stands with the away end holding about 800. It does not have pay at the turnstiles though., just like Rodney Parade


2012/13 STATS

LEAGUE TABLEFinal - 20 April 2013

HOME AWAYPld W D L F A W D L F A GD Pts Last 6

C Mansfield Town 46 17 3 3 53 17 13 2 8 39 35 +40 95 W W L W W L2 Kidderminster Harriers 46 15 4 4 49 22 13 5 5 33 18 +42 93 W W W W W DP Newport County 46 13 5 5 43 27 12 5 6 42 33 +25 85 L D W W W D4 Grimsby Town 46 13 5 5 42 19 10 9 4 28 19 +32 83 W W D W D W5 Wrexham 46 11 9 3 45 24 11 5 7 29 21 +29 80 L D L W L W6 Hereford United 46 9 6 8 37 33 10 7 6 36 30 +10 70 W L D W W W7 Luton Town 46 10 7 6 43 26 8 6 9 27 36 +8 67 W W D D W L8 Dartford 46 12 4 7 41 26 7 5 11 26 37 +4 66 L W W D L W9 Braintree Town 46 9 5 9 32 40 10 4 9 31 32 -9 66 W D W D L W

10 Forest Green Rovers 46 8 6 9 33 24 10 5 8 30 25 +14 65 L L L L L D11 Macclesfield Town 46 10 6 7 29 28 7 6 10 36 42 -5 63 W L L L L L12 Woking 46 13 3 7 47 34 5 5 13 26 47 -8 62 L L W W L D13 Alfreton Town 46 9 5 9 41 39 7 7 9 28 35 -5 60 W L W W L W14 Cambridge United 46 9 7 7 33 30 6 7 10 35 39 -1 59 L W L D D D15 Nuneaton Town 46 8 9 6 29 25 6 6 11 26 38 -8 57 W W W D L W16 Lincoln City 46 9 5 9 34 36 6 6 11 32 37 -7 56 W W L L D W17 Gateshead 46 9 9 5 35 22 4 7 12 23 39 -3 55 W D D L W L18 Hyde 46 9 5 9 35 31 7 2 14 28 44 -12 55 L L W L D W19 Tamworth 46 9 4 10 25 27 6 6 11 30 42 -14 55 W D L L W L20 Southport 46 7 4 12 32 44 7 8 8 40 42 -14 54 L W D W L DR Stockport County 46 8 2 13 34 39 5 9 9 23 37 -19 50 L D L W L DR Barrow 46 5 7 11 20 35 6 6 11 25 48 -38 46 L L L L D DR Ebbsfleet United 46 5 11 7 31 37 3 4 16 24 52 -34 39 L L D L L DR AFC Telford United 46 2 9 12 22 42 4 8 11 30 37 -27 35 L W L D L L

Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Yellow Red1 Alan Julian * 10 (1) 0 0 0 1 0 11 (1) 0 0 02 David Pipe 44 0 1 0 0 0 45 0 8 13 Andrew Hughes 18 (8) 0 0 (1) 0 0 0 18 (9) 0 1 04 Max Porter 26 1 2 0 1 0 29 1 2 05 Tony James 44 2 2 1 1 0 47 3 2 06 Ismail Yakubu 38 (1) 6 0 0 1 0 39 (1) 5 7 07 Aaron O’Connor 36 (5) 19 2 2 1 0 39 (5) 21 2 08 Lee Minshull 31 (7) 6 2 0 1 0 34 (7) 6 7 09 Danny Crow 23 (5) 3 0 0 0 0 23 (5) 3 2 0

10 Jefferson Louis * 11 (6) 2 2 1 0 0 13 (6) 3 1 011 Ryan Charles * 2 (8) 0 0 (2) 0 0 0 2 (10) 1 2 012 Ben Swallow * 7 (13) 2 2 0 1 0 10 (13) 2 1 013 Andy Sandell 45 9 2 0 1 0 48 9 10 014 Jake Thomson * 12 (10) 0 2 0 0 0 14 (10) 0 3 015 Jake Harris * 0 (5) 0 0 (2) 0 0 0 0 (7) 0 0 016 Lee Evans * 18 (4) 3 2 0 0 0 20 (4) 3 6 017 Michael Flynn 31 (10) 2 1 0 0 0 32 (10) 2 3 020 Michael Smith * 9 4 0 0 1 0 10 4 0 021 Byron Anthony 22 (2) 3 0 0 1 0 23 (2) 3 1 022 Joe Perry * 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 023 Christian Jolley 25 (2) 16 0 0 1 0 26 (2) 17 2 024 Robbie Willmott 10 (11) 6 0 0 0 0 10 (11) 6 2 025 Conor Washington 5 (10) 1 0 0 0 0 5 (10) 1 0 026 Scott Donnelly * 16 (4) 1 0 0 0 0 16 (4) 1 1 027 Rhys Griffiths* 4 (6) 0 0 0 0 0 4 (6) 0 0 028 Michael Boateng * 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 030 Alex Gilbey * 7 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 7 (1) 0 2 034 Will Evans * 3 (3) 0 0 0 0 0 3 (3) 0 1 040 Lenny Pidgeley 39 0 2 0 0 0 41 0 1 0

* No longer with the club

TOTAL CARDSAPPEARANCES5 May 2013

Safe handling, stylish, efficient and goes forward with pace.Sounds like the ideal team.The new Golf. From £16,495. (Bargain fee.)There’s never been a car like the Golf. And there’s never been a Golf like the new Golf. To discover

all the new features and innovations, which extend across the range, call us for a test drive.

Model shown includes metallic paint: £17,020. Automatic Distance Control is standard on SE and GT. *Payable within first

payment. †Payable with optional final payment. Further charges may be payable if vehicle is returned. Indemnities may be required. Subject to

status. Available to over 18s. Terms and conditions apply. Retail sales only. Volkswagen Finance, Freepost VWFS. Offer available on orders before

September 30th, 2013. Subject to availability. Offers are not available in conjunction with any other offer and may be varied or withdrawn at any

time. Certain vehicles excluded. Ask for details. Standard EU Test figures for comparative purposes and may not reflect

real driving results. Official fuel consumption in mpg (litre/100km) for the new Golf range: urban 41.5 (6.8) – 61.4 (4.6); extra urban 62.8 (4.5) – 85.6 (3.3); combined 53.3 (5.3) – 74.3 (3.8). CO2 emissions 123 – 99g/km.

Sinclair Volkswagen (Newport)Corporation Road, Newport, NP19 0HE.Telephone: 01633 730810.www.sinclair.volkswagen.co.uk

Solutions representative example based on 10,000 miles per annum for a Golf S 1.2 85PS 3-door with metallic paint.

Duration 3 years Optional final payment £6,547.50 Amount of credit £12,064.60

35 monthly payments £205.00 Option to purchase fee††† £60.00 Total amount payable £18,737.90

Customer deposit £4,955.40 Excess mileage (per mile) 4.40p APR 6.3% APR

Acceptance fee†† £125.00 Retail cash price £17,020.00 Rate of interest 5.7% Fixed

www.newport-county.co.uk/newportcountyafc @newportcounty70 Newport County v Accrington Stanley 3rd August 2013 3rd August 2013 Newport County v Accrington Stanley 71

Hello Young Exiles and welcome to your very own section of our Matchday Programme. I hope you are all enjoying your summer, and like me, you are glad there are a few Newport County AFC matches coming up before you have to get back to school.

Having my own page allows me to have a bit more fun and interaction with all our young supporters, but to do this, I need you to join in. I am going to use the side of my kennel as a new messageboard, so if you or someone close have birthday’s coming up, or you want to publicise an event or some new – anything – write to me on the address below in good time and I may be able to include it in my future Kidz Korner.

Enjoy the game everyone and lets get behind the team today!

Spytty The Dog

KIDZ KORNER KIDZ KORNER

KIDZ KORNER

SPYTTY THE DOG

County Squad MathsBy using our squad numbers for the players shown, can you complete the sum below to come up with the missing player? (Answer is shown at the bottom of the next page)

+HUGHES

-JAMES

=CROW

Amber WordsearchFind the names of our opponents in League Two this season in the grid below. Team names, as shown in the list, will go across, down or diagonally, both forwards and backwards but there is one team missing, so can you find out who that is?

The missing football team is ..........................................................................................................

Spytty's County AnagramSpytty just loves his County players, but he keeps getting the letters all mixed up, so can you help Spytty and unravel the letters of the County players names below? (To help you Spytty has given you the number of letters in their first and last names.)

Answers at the bottom of the page

LENS LADY DAN (4, 7) _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ _ _ _

PIE DAD VIP (5, 4) _ _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _

HI CJ LOST LINER RAY (9, 6) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ _ _

C M D F L T U E B M O C Y W T

H O R L O R P X M K C P O I BE R O E O D L E I F S N A M LL E F E P A Y T V K E L C B ST C X T E G M E J S L O E L NE A O W L E O R P D A O P E O

N M N O T N U O P C D P R D TH B O O R H T I C N H E O O PA E T D A A H R E T C L H N MM Z R Y H M I H M S O T T G AY A U Q R O T U L J R R N Y H

R G B A N U C F L J C A U O TU H T U O M S T R O P H C R RB R I S T O L R O V E R S K O

D L E I F R E T S E H C X A N

ACCRINGTONBRISTOL ROVERS

BURTONBURY

CHELTENHAMCHESTERFIELD

DAGENHAMEXETER

FLEETWOODHARTLEPOOLMANSFIELD

MORECAMBENORTHAMPTON

OXFORDPLYMOUTH

PORTSMOUTHROCHDALE

SCUNTHORPESOUTHENDTORQUAY

WIMBLEDONWYCOMBE

YORK

Spytty's Mystery MateAt our home games this year, Spytty will be photographed with his young County fans, and one lucky fan will be circled each match in a photography, so if that is you, simply take your programme along to the Club Shop after the game to collect your prize of a £25 gift voucher to be spent in the store on County merchandise.

So keep a look out for Spytty with one of our club photographers today!

Spytty's Kennel Message Board

If you would like your message printed on my kennel in a future programme, please send your request via email to

[email protected] title your E-Mail ‘Spytty Kennel’, and provide the

details and programme your want your message included in please.

Lloyd Hopkins, aged 15 on 11th August

Answers: County Squad Math: Adam Chapman 7 (Crow 9 + Hughes 3 – James 5), Spytty’s County Anagram: Andy Sandell, David Pipe, Christian Jolley

+ - =CROW HUGHES JAMES


It is a warm welcome today to our visitors from Lancashire, Accrington Stanley FC, who, like ourselves - ‘Wouldn’t Die’!

Written in the Stars?After 125 years of the Football League and 25 years since Newport County played in the Football League, our first match back in the big time could only have been against ACCRINGTON STANLEY, one of the most iconic names in football, a fellow ‘phoenix’ club and whose predecessors, Accrington FC, were founder members of the Football League. Who says scripts aren’t written in heaven?!

STANLEY NEWSLate AdditionsStanley boss James Beattie (right), the former Southampton, Rangers, Stoke, Everton and England striker, has been busily adding to his squad in the last fortnight, with recent recruits including midfielder Josh Windass – son of much travelled Dean – from Huddersfild Town and 31 year-old Danny Webber from Sheffield United. Front runner Webber is particularly excited about the Stanley switch, commenting: ‘I playedwithJamesBeattieatSheffieldUnited.He’safriendof mine and that’s where the contact came from. I have been out of football since leaving Leeds United in May 2012, and it’s ideal for me to come back in, get some form and enjoy my football.’

The Twelfth ManStanley midfielder WillHatfield is convinced that the club’s late season surge to safety last term (Reds eventually finished in 18th place) owed much to the support from the Crown Ground faithful: ‘The more support we get for the club it’s

ACCRINGTON STANLEY

Welcome to Rodney Parade...

Accrington Stanleywith Phil Tanner & Richard Taylor

better for everyone. Obviously it is for us as players anyway because it gives us that real buzz when we walk onto the pitch on a Saturday or a Tuesday night if there’s a big crowd. The support was really good towards the end of last season and I think we got the points on the board that we needed. When you can hear the crowd getting behind you it’s fantastic, and we can repay them by scoring goals and winning games.’

Impressive Pre-seasonThe appointment of Beattie as manager seems to have been a popular one among players and supporters alike, with Hatfield impressed with the structure and organisation of pre- season. ‘Itwasstrangeatfirstbutwe’regettingusedto it now. It’s been very smooth. He’s taken it in his stride and he’s very much the same. He commanded that respect as a player anyway. But as the gaffer you give him a lot more respect. He hasn’t demanded to be called gaffer but I think everybody’s giving him that respect in calling him that. He has that respect around the club.’ Hatfield added that their summer schedule - which included a training camp in Portugal – has been impressive. ‘Pre-season has been very good. There’s been a lot of football in training. We’ve been doing the running as well but there’s been a lot of football, which is good.’ Indeed, the five day training camp in the Iberian Peninsula was the first overseas trip in the club’s history, with Beattie himself stating: ‘It’s sent out a bit of a statement of intent from the club, the board and the players that we mean business. The lads couldn’t believe it when we sent the text messageout.Iknowit’sthefirsttime[teenagegoalkeeper]Andrew Dawber’s been on an aeroplane!’

Accrington Stanley3/5

22/1030/8

25/124/8

8/14/10

14/1226/11

11/318/4

1/211/1

5/419/10

22/310/8

21/914/2

29/1223/11

2/1126/12

AFC Wim

bledon12/10

5/421/9

22/222/3

11/326/11

25/131/8

28/114/12

26/418/4

5/1026/10

29/1216/11

8/224/8

26/1211/1

10/88/3

Bristol Rovers28/1

30/1121/2

16/111/1

26/1011/3

11/15/10

21/93/5

29/325/1

31/88/2

8/321/12

21/410/8

21/312/4

19/1024/8

Burton Albion1/3

15/323/11

24/811/1

27/415/2

1/225/1

19/426/11

2/1129/12

26/127/9

5/414/9

10/828/9

12/1022/10

25/314/12

Bury17/8

23/1115/2

18/131/8

3/822/3

5/411/3

26/1122/10

12/105/10

14/124/1

18/426/4

8/326/12

21/92/11

1/229/12

Cheltenham Tow

n18/1

28/926/11

3/81/3

4/13/5

26/1218/4

14/1229/12

22/1023/11

1/214/9

17/87/9

19/1025/3

5/415/3

15/22/11

Chesterfield7/9

14/91/2

19/1011/1

10/829/12

19/43/5

26/1228/9

25/35/4

26/1115/3

14/121/3

25/12/11

24/815/2

23/1122/10

Dagenham

& Redbridge

25/31/1

14/916/11

28/921/4

12/107/9

11/18/2

1/315/3

24/826/4

29/322/2

12/426/10

25/128/1

21/1230/11

10/8

Exeter City29/3

17/83/8

26/1030/11

12/421/12

8/322/3

12/104/1

18/121/9

11/328/1

5/108/2

22/226/4

16/1121/4

1/131/8

Fleetwood Tow

n1/1

1/325/3

17/814/9

21/1212/10

3/828/9

18/123/11

12/42/11

15/230/11

4/115/3

29/322/10

26/47/9

21/41/2

Hartlepool U

nited14/9

22/1015/3

21/121/1

29/312/4

2/113/5

24/825/3

21/415/2

23/1128/9

19/1030/11

11/11/2

10/81/3

7/925/1

Mansfield Tow

n21/12

29/312/10

1/128/1

21/422/3

31/810/8

22/25/10

30/118/3

21/916/11

26/1024/8

12/411/1

8/226/4

25/111/3

Morecam

be FC26/10

19/1014/12

8/23/5

28/15/10

21/924/8

26/1229/12

5/411/3

22/322/2

31/825/1

16/1118/4

8/310/8

11/126/11

New

port County AFC3/8

21/1217/8

21/425/3

22/229/11

18/115/3

7/215/11

7/914/9

4/11/1

28/129/3

3/51/3

1/228/9

12/419/10

Northam

pton Town

30/1125/3

1/312/4

29/326/10

1/119/10

14/916/11

22/215/3

28/910/8

3/58/2

21/428/1

7/925/1

24/821/12

11/1

Oxford U

nited26/4

1/22/11

8/310/8

11/321/9

14/1222/10

5/422/3

15/223/11

26/1112/10

26/1211/1

31/829/12

5/1025/1

24/818/4

Plymouth Argyle

28/921/4

7/930/11

21/1225/1

29/323/11

25/310/8

26/41/2

1/322/10

2/1112/4

12/1024/8

15/311/1

1/114/9

15/2

Portsmouth

4/115/2

19/411/3

19/108/3

31/826/12

2/1121/9

5/418/1

17/814/11

29/123/8

3/55/10

23/1126/11

1/222/10

22/3

Rochdale AFC15/3

2/1129/12

4/17/9

26/417/8

1/223/11

14/123/8

26/1215/2

12/1022/10

1/318/1

25/326/11

18/414/9

28/95/4

Scunthorpe United

16/1118/1

4/122/3

12/45/10

8/217/8

19/1028/1

26/103/8

21/1231/8

8/321/4

21/922/2

1/111/3

30/1129/3

3/5

Southend United

21/412/4

27/93/5

15/330/11

18/122/10

15/218/10

4/11/11

7/91/2

17/825/3

3/81/1

20/1213/9

29/31/3

23/11

Torquay United

22/23/8

26/1228/1

8/221/9

16/1118/4

29/128/3

31/819/10

4/122/3

18/117/8

26/1126/10

11/35/4

14/123/5

5/10

Wycom

be Wanderers

8/24/1

26/45/10

26/1016/11

22/25/4

26/1129/12

8/317/8

3/826/12

18/418/1

11/328/1

22/314/12

31/812/10

21/9

York City12/4

7/918/1

29/321/4

8/228/1

4/11/3

26/1017/8

14/91/1

26/43/8

21/1216/11

28/930/11

13/1022/2

25/315/3

RESULTS GRID

SKY BET LEAGUE 2 RESULTS GRIDSEASO

N 2013/14

/newportcountyafc @newportcounty www.newport-county.co.uk76 Newport County v Accrington Stanley 3rd August 2013 3rd August 2013 Newport County v Accrington Stanley 77

ACCRINGTON STANLEYACCRINGTON STANLEY

ON THE STANLEY WEB ‘Let’s do this. Conquer Wales for God, Harry and St George!!!’ ‘Alvin the Chipmunk’ obviously looking forward to his trip across the border; he goes on to add a link to the hymn ‘Jerusalem’.

‘Only the 2nd ever club automatically relegated from the Football League. Never thought I’d see them back after what happened the year after, but South Wales’ football is the best it’s been that I knowof.Thefirstoftwohistoricopeninggamesforpolarreasons.Anyway, it looks as though they have a choice of covered and uncovered away allocation, so may be worth taking your sun tan lotion and saving £3.’‘Chewbacca’ has obviously read of the recent heat wave at Costa del Casnewydd!

‘Who will go up automatically, which four will contest the play-offs and who falls through the trap door? My four-penny worth:Top three: Portsmouth,Chesterfield,Burton.Play-offs: Stanley, Hartlepool, Oxford, Cheltenham.Bottom two: Wimbledon, Newport.’

‘Bottom two: Wycombe, Newport.’

‘Bottom two: Newport, Southend.’‘Div 3 North’, ‘Chubbyman’ and ‘Cashman’ offer their predictions for the season …… cheers lads!

‘Really excited and expectant of a great season coming up. Makings of a good squad with an astute management team.’

‘Stanley are going to be a force to be reckoned with this season.’

‘Nevermindtheplay-offs,automaticpromotionisadefinitepossibility. Let’s hope.’‘Outback Ozzy’, ‘Smobile’ and our friend ‘Chubbyman’ exude optimism ahead of today’s big kick-off.

MILLENNIUMStanley this century

Season League Position Average Att2000-01 Northern Premier: PD 9 4752001-02 Northern Premier: PD 6 5172002-03 Northern Premier: PD 1 (prom) 1,1332003-04 Conference 10 17962004-05 Conference Premier 10 1,5072005-06 Conference Premier 1 (prom) 1,8942006-07 League Two 20 2,6602007-08 League Two 17 1,6332008-09 League Two 16 1,4132009-10 League Two 15 1,9802010-11 League Two 5 (p/offs) 1,8672011-12 League Two 14 1,7842012-13 League Two 18 1,674

Key Stanley Dates

1876 Accrington FC is formed.

1888 Accrington FC become one of the original 12 member clubs of the Football League, finishing 7oth in the inaugural season.

1893 The club resign from the Football League rather than take their place in Division 2 after being relegated.

1896 Accrington FC fold following a 12-0 defeat to Darwen in the Lancashire Senior League. Stanley Villa FC, who were formed five years earlier at the Stanley Arms, change their name to Accrington Stanley.

1921 Accrington Stanley are elected to Division 3 (North), and, in four decades, never achieve promotion, with a best-ever finish of 2nd in 1955 and 1958.

1960 Stanley are relegated to Division 4.

1962 The club resign from the Football League in March, with a letter to League secretary, Alan Hardaker citing severe financial difficulties.

1966 Stanley resign from the Lancashire Combination League with overwhelmingly large debts and cease to exist.

1968 The present club come into being, following a meeting at Bold Street Working Men’s’ Club and are elected to the Lancashire Combination. With previous home Peel Park unavailable, the Crown Ground is acquired. A home match with Nelson is played at Peel Park in 1,973 before a crowd of 708, but a permanent return to the iconic site is ruled out in 1975.

1978 Stanley mark two join the newly formed Cheshire League, winning the Second Division three years later .before gaining promotion to the North West Counties League in 1983.

1986 The upwardly mobile club enter the Northern Premier League First Division, with floodlights now installed at Crown Meadow. Four years later, following the demise of John Aldridge’s old club, South Liverpool, our visitors are promoted to the Premier Division.

2000 The club celebrate the turn of the millennium with promotion back to the Northern Premier League under the management of John Coleman.

2003 Just one step away from a return to ‘the big time’ as Stanley are promoted to the Conference.

2006 Emotional scenes in the town, with which County fans will readily identify, as Accrington Stanley FC return to the Football League after winning the Conference by 11 points. Five years on they achieve a best finish of 5th but lose out on promotion to Stevenage in the play-off semi-final.

AccringtonStanley–Whoarethey???

Population: 35,203

District: Hyndburn

County: Lancashire

Region: North West

Distance from Newport: 213 miles by road

FAMOUS SONS OF ACCRINGTONSky Sports cricket commentator and former England opening batsmen of the mid 1970s, David Lloyd, 66, is a big Stanley fan, having played a few matches for the club in the 1960s. In a 2009 interview with the ‘Accrington Observer, he stated: ‘I love football and always have … I can’t afford to buy the club but I wouldlikesomeinvolvementandperhapsraisetheprofileofAccrington Stanley. The town needs a football club and I want to help make sure they have one.’ Last week, while commentating on the Worcestershire v Somerset Twenty20 game, he spoke of his excitement ahead of the new season, with the club’s signings leaving him very optimistic.

Astrologer ‘Mystic Meg, aka Margaret Lake, 71. Former lead vocalist with ‘Yes’, Jon Anderson, 68. One time Manchester United

right back, Mike Duxbury, 53. Ex-England opening batsman, Graeme Fowler, 56.

Other Famed Links to the TownAccrington Pals One well-known association the town has is with the ‘Accrington Pals’, the nickname given to the smallest home town battalion of volunteers formed to fight in World War One. On The Pals’ first day of action, in the battle of the Somme In 1916, 235 men were killed and a further 350 wounded — more than half of the battalion — within half an hour. In all, 865 Accrington men were killed during World War I. All of these names are recorded on a war memorial, an imposing white stone cenotaph, standing in Oak Hill Park in the south of the town.

That Milk Advert! For people of a certain age, the first association with Accrington Stanley came with a 1980s advert by the Milk Marketing Board, featuring two boys in replica Liverpool tops discussing Ian Rush:Boy 1: And he (Ian Rush) said if I didn’t drink lots of milk, when I grow up, I’ll only be good enough to play for Accrington Stanley.Boy 2: Accrington Stanley? Who are they?Boy 1: Exactly!

Stanley Ultras The name given to a group of fans formed in 2004, whose mission statement reads: ‘Stanley Ultras are a group of like-minded fans dedicated to their role of twelfth man, adding colour, noise and support levels … our pride and passion is second to none.’

THE COUNTY CONNECTIONPast MatchesThis afternoon is the first meeting between the reformed clubs; though the paths of the original outfits rarely crossed given that for much of their existences they operated in the parallel worlds of Division 3 South and North.But, for two seasons, as the 1950s drew to a close, the towns of Newport and Accrington briefly became aware of each other’s existence with the advent of lower League national football. County’s red-haired ex paratrooper centre forward, Ken McPherson, now 86, would perhaps number Stanley among his favourite opponents in that he scored in three of our four encounters with the Lancashire side, including one in the 2-1 Division 3 victory in September 1958. Honours though ended even in these original encounters, with Accrington recording a 3-1 victory at Somerton in April 1960 en route to relegation to Division 4.

The full record is:Season League Home Away1958-59 Division 3 2-1 (8,891) 2-2 (10,284)1959-60 Division 3 1-3 (3,314) 0-0 (2,202)

Past PlayersA few players have represented both County and Stanley, but mostly in the inter war period, meaning that not too many of those present this afternoon will be able to assess their merits!

Goalkeeper Jimmy Maidment (left) played for Newport between 1924 and 1930 and only missed ten Football League games in that period, even managing to score four penalties for good measure! Despite his Sunderland birthplace, he had a County connection in that his uncle, Billy

Charlton, signed for the club six months earlier, making the pair the first uncle and nephew to play in the same County team. Jimmy ended his career with Accrington, whom he joined in 1933, and was briefly a team mate at Somerton of Aberaman born midfielder Vince Davies, who scored eight goals in 31 appearances in the 1930-31 campaign but left for Stanley when County were voted out of the League at the end of that season. He probably lived to regret that particular career choice as we returned to the League the following season, while he failed to make the first team at Peel Park!

Then there is Billy Clark, a Newport born centre half who joined his home town club from Charlton Athletic in 1932, only to become a target of the ‘boo boys’ – as author and some time programme contributor Tony Ambrosen terms them in his ‘Ironsides: A Lifetime in the League’ – before departing for Aldershot two years later eventually finding his way to Accrington for the 1938-39 Division 3 (North) campaign. He returned, briefly, to Somerton Park in the Football League South in 1945 before ending his career with Ebbw Vale.

Lanarkshire-born wing half Billy Lennox played for Stanley (along with Jimmy Maidment) in their record 8-0 victory over New Brighton in the 1933-34 campaign, having broken his nose in his County debut against Swansea Town a season earlier.

ON THE PITCH 2013-14 F A Att.06 July Nelson (Fr.) A 4 – 2 30109 July AFC Darwen (Fr.) A 4 – 0 TBC 13 July Altrincham (Fr.) A 3 – 2 36717 July: Everton (Fr.) H 1 - 4 3,64220 July: Tranmere Rovers (Fr.) H 1 – 1 42523 July: Oldham Athletic (Fr.) H 1 – 1 84127 July: Barrow (Fr.) A 0 – 2 33330 July: Stalybridge Celtic (Fr.) A 2 – 2 TBC03 Aug: Newport County A06 Aug: Middlesbrough (League Cup R1) A10 Aug: Portsmouth H17 Aug: Bury A24 Aug: Cheltenham Town H30 Aug: Burton Albion H07 Sep: Chesterfield A14 Sep: Hartlepool United A

Scorers in Friendlies: Murphy 3, Gray 2, Naismith 2, Windass 2, Clark 1, Gibson 1, Hatfield 1, McCartan 1, Miller 1, Savitt 1, Carver 1

AT A GLANCEYear Reformed: 1968Ground: The Store First Stadium, Crown Ground, Livingstone Road, Accrington, Lancashire, BB5 5BXCapacity: 5,057 (2,000 seated)Colours: Red & White.Change Colours: White & BlackThird Colours: Blue & YellowChairman: Peter MarsdenManager: James BeattieAssistant Manager: Paul StephensonFirst Team Coach: Paul LodgeRecord Attendance: 4,368 v Colchester United, FA Cup Round 3, 2002-2003Record Win: 10-1 v Lincoln United, Northern Premier League, Division 1, 1999-2000Record Defeat: 1-9 v Runcorn, FA Cup, second qualifying round replay 1985-1986Best League Position: 5th, League Two, 2010-2011Best in FA Cup: Round 3, 2002-2003

/newportcountyafc @newportcounty www.newport-county.co.uk78 Newport County v Accrington Stanley 3rd August 2013 3rd August 2013 Newport County v Accrington Stanley 79

ACCRINGTON STANLEY ACCRINGTON STANLEY

Accrington Stanley Squad1 Ian DunbavinGoalkeeper (Age 33)A first team regular in goal since his arrival back in 2006, the shot-stopper began his career at Liverpool alongside the likes of Steven Gerrard before joining Shrewsbury Town. Spells at York City, Halifax Town and Scarborough followed before he was recruited to the Stanley cause for the club’s first season back in the Football League. Was ‘in the best form of my career’ last season, only to have his campaign ended by a shoulder injury in November, but will be hoping to return to first team action this afternoon.

2 Peter MurphyDefender (Age 23)One of Stanley’s longest serving players, having signed his first professional deal in the summer of 2008 after coming through the youth ranks. Has appeared in most outfield positions, with 2011-12 a watershed season when he topped 40 appearances.

3 Michael LiddleDefender (Age 23)First came to Accrington on a month’s emergency loan from Sunderland in February 2012, playing a dozen games. The left-footed defender, capped five times by The Republic of Ireland at Under 21 level, made his debut for the Black Cats in 2009-10 and subsequently spent time on loan at Carlisle United, Leyton Orient and Gateshead. Rejoined Stanley for an undisclosed fee last summer and made 36 league appearances.

4 Luke JoyceMidfielder (Age 26)Club captain. A product of Wigan Athletic’s youth system, he made one first team appearance for the Latics in the FA Cup before moving to Carlisle United, first on loan and then permanently. After time on loan at non-league sides Barrow and our 2011-2012 FA Trophy Quarter Final opponents, Northwich Victoria, he joined Stanley on a free in the summer of 2009. Has missed just five games in the last two seasons.

5 Tom AldredDefender (Age 22)Centre back signed until the end of 2012-13 after training with the club in January following his release by Colchester United, then extending his deal to 2015 this summer. The Bolton-born player started his career at Carlisle United before moving south to sign for Watford. Has represented Scotland at Under 19 level having had a brief loan spell with Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

6 Dean WinnardDefender (Age 23)Former youth and reserve team captain at Blackburn Rovers who joined Stanley following his release from Ewood Park in the summer of 2009. At first played mostly at left back, and has since played regularly in either full back position. Nearing 200 appearances for Stanley.

7 Shay McCartanForward (Age 19)Another summer signing, the young striker signed a one-year deal after his release by Burnley, who brought him over from youth football in Northern Ireland. Ended last season in the Conference Premier on loan at Hyde, scoring one goal in 16 appearances.

10WillHatfieldMidfielder (Age 21)Midfielder who first arrived on loan from Leeds United in October 2011, coming through the ranks at Elland Road after choosing football over cricket as a youngster. He gained first team experience on loan at our 2012 FA Trophy Final conquerors York City, as well as a brief spell with AFC Halifax Town, before signing a permanent deal with Stanley. Scored six in 34 games last season, including four against AFC Fylde in the FA Cup.

12 George MillerMidfielder Age 21Highly rated midfielder who joined this afternoon’s visitors on a free transfer following his release by boyhood club Preston North End at the end of 2011-2012, when somewhat controversial manager Graham Westley let 21 players go! He had been at Deepdale from the age of eight, captaining the youth and reserve teams in his time there. He refers to himself as ‘a goal scoring midfielder who likes to keep things simple.’

14 Luke ClarkDefender (Age 19)Another player originally with Preston North End, the defender or midfielder earned a reputation for long-range goals and free kicks and played in the first team at the age of 17. He started his career at Everton on his native Merseyside, but moved to Lancashire to continue his development. Signed a two-year contract at Stanley in the summer of 2012 and made six appearances last term.

16 Nicky HuntDefender (Age 29)Right back, who signed on loan from Rotherham United in January, playing 11 games before joining permanently in June. He first came to prominence with Bolton Wanderers, where he won 11 England Under 21 caps and made 128 appearances, though he has also played for Bristol City and Preston North End as well as loan spells with Birmingham City and Derby County.

17 James GrayForward (Age 21)A one time Middlesbrough youth team striker who joined on a free transfer following a trial period in the summer of 2012 and signed a year’s extension in May. A former Northern Ireland Under 21 international, he played on loan in the Conference Premier with both Darlington and Kettering Town two seasons ago.

18 Marcus CarverForward (Age 19)A product of Stanley’s youth system, he came to prominence with his form in the youth team in 2011-12. As a result, he agreed his first professional contract in the summer of 2012 and spent the first three months of last season on loan at Northern Premier League outfit Marine.

19 Laurence WilsonDefender (Age 26)Originally a graduate of the Everton Academy set up, the former Chester and Morecambe full back or midfield player joined Accrington on a free transfer in last January’s transfer window. The ex England Under 19 international made over 100 appearances at both the Deva Stadium and the Globe Arena before moving to Rotherham United, whom he left by mutual consent in November last year.

20 Josh WindassMidfielder (Age 19)The son of much-travelled former Hull City forward, Dean, who played in the Premier League for ‘Tigers’ past his 40th birthday, he agreed a one year deal from HuddersfieldTown last week. He is clearly delighted to put pen to paper with Stanley, commenting; ‘I have been playing youth team football, which is all pass and move and nice stuff, but at this level, it’s all competitive and you have to win.’

22 Andrew DawberGoalkeeper (Age 18)Wigan-born product of the Accrington centre of excellence and academy, who made his Football League debut as a second half injury time substitute against Plymouth Argyle last December.

25 Rob AtkinsonDefender (Age 26)A former Accrington loanee, he has returned to the Crown Ground on a permanent basis after being released by Fleetwood Town. The centre-back, who has agreed a two-year deal, played 13 times for Stanley on loan last term. He began his career with Darlington and had loan spells at Scarborough, AFC Halifax Town and Grimsby Town before joining our play-off semi-final opponents of four months ago permanently and topping 80 games earning two England ‘C’ caps in the process.

ONE TO WATCH

9 Danny WebberForward (Age 31)One time Manchester United trainee, whose subsequent clubs included Watford, SheffieldUnited and Portsmouth. Spent three months on loan at Doncaster Rovers from Leeds United, but failed to make a first team appearance for Brian Flynn’s side and linked up with Stanley in pre season, agreeing a one –year deal with our visitors last week.

Manager

James Beattie(Age 35)Joined Stanley as a player last season, taking over the managerial reins in May when Leam Richardson left to become assistant to former Accrington manager Paul Cook at Chesterfield. James won 10 caps as a striker for England in a long career which included spells with home town club Blackburn Rovers, Southampton, Everton, Glasgow Rangers, Sheffield United and Stoke City, He was still in good scoring form last season with seven for Stanley in 27 games in all competitions taking his overall senior record to 130 goals in 443 games, though has yet to register himself with a squad number this term.

He is assisted by Paul Stephenson, 45, a former midfielder with Newcastle United, Millwall, Brentford, York City and Hartlepool United, who was previously number two to Lee Clark at Huddersfield Town, and first team coach, Paul Lodge, 52, who played in the top five divisions with Everton, Bolton Wanderers, Preston North End, Port Vale, Stockport County, Barrow and Southport.

Accrington StanleyNewport County AFC

Saturday 3rd August 2013Sky Bet League 2MATCH SQUADS

Lenny PidgeleyDavid PipeAndrew HughesMax PorterTony JamesIsmail YakubuAdam ChapmanLee MinshullDanny CrowAaron O’ConnorChris ZebroskiRobbie WillmottAndy SandellConor WashingtonMichael FlynnRyan JacksonByron AnthonyHarry WorleyChristian JolleyJamie StephensJames Bittner

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Ian DunbavinPeter MurphyMichael LiddleLuke JoyceTom AldredDean WinnardShay McCartanDanny WebberWill HatfieldGeorge MillerLuke ClarkeNicky HuntJames GrayMarcus CarverLaurence WilsonJosh WindassAndrew DawberRob Atkinson

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Manager Justin Edinburgh Shirts Amber Shorts Amber Manager James Beattie Shirts Red Shorts White

Saturday 3rd August 2013

Bury v ChesterfieldCheltenham Town v Burton Albion

Exeter City v Bristol RoversFleetwood Town v Dagenham & RedbridgeNewport County v Accrington Stanley

Portsmouth v Oxford UnitedRochdale v Hartlepool United

Scunthorpe United v Mansfield TownSouthend United v Plymouth Argyle

Torquay United v AFC WimbledonWycombe Wanderers v Morecambe

York City v Northampton Town

Saturday 10th August 2013

Accrington Stanley v PortsmouthAFC Wimbledon v Wycombe Wanderers

Bristol Rovers v Scunthorpe UnitedBurton Albion v Rochdale

Chesterfield v Cheltenham TownDagenham & Redbridge v York City

Hartlepool United v Southend UnitedMansfield Town v Exeter City

Morecambe v Torquay UnitedNorthampton Town v Newport County

Oxford United v BuryPlymouth Argyle v Fleetwood Town

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Today’s Mascots

Kian JeffriesAlexander John Edwards

Today’s Sponsors

Match SponsorsO’Brien & Partners

Match Ball SponsorsGMB

Today’sMatchOfficials

Referee Darren Drysdale

Assistants Marvyn Amphlett, Neil Radford

Fourth Official Adam Matthews


F L Wangler FCOptom

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T Miller BSc, MCOptom

E J Shackson BSc, MCOptom

282 Chepstow Road, Newport. NP19 8NN ☎ 01633 273684

3 Victoria Terrace, Newbridge. NP11 4ET ☎ 01495 244922

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS

1912. 1989. Two years central to the history of our football club, clearly highlighted to anyone who studies the modern day crest of Newport County AFC. Add to those the year of 2013 – a

return to the Football League, the start of a new chapter in our story and mission accomplished for that small band of loyal supporters who brought football back to the (then) town of

Newport 25 years ago. The fall and rise of our club has obviously been well documented, but today is a day of celebration as we take our place back in the Football League after a fantastic

roller coaster of a season of Conference football during Season 2012/13.

In a series of special articles, underpinned by stories, interviews and photographs that will no doubt stir the memories, we welcome you to our special celebration of our journey over the past 25 years, from Moreton-in-Marsh, back to our Somerton Park home in Newport, exiled

again to Gloucester, our time at Spytty Park back in our City before arriving at our Rodney Parade base today.

The following 80 pages chronologically recall all the seasons, grounds, managers and chairman that have all played a key part in helping Justin, his assistants and the current squad bring

league football back to Newport. These have all been produced thanks to a number of special fans who have given their time willingly and freely and also delved deeply into their personal

archives and ‘grey matter’ to produce this fantastic account of this period in our club history.

On behalf of everyone associated with Newport County AFC, I hope you enjoy this special edition section of our programme and the articles that follow, and to those who made it

happen, I am humbled by your dedication and commitment.

Ian HopkinsProgramme Editor

25 YEARS BACK TO THEFOOTBALL LEAGUE

Season-by-Seasonwith Ade Williams

1989/90 0841990/91 0881991/92 0901992/93 0941993/94 0961994/95 1001995/96 1021996/97 1041997/98 1061998/99 1081999/00 1122000/01 1142001/02 1162002/03 1182003/04 1202004/05 1222005/06 1242006/07 1262007/08 1282008/09 1302009/10 1322010/11 1342011/12 1362012/13 140

Our Groundswith Colin Evertt

London Road, Moreton 087Somerton Park, Newport 093Meadow Park, Gloucester 099

Spytty Park, Newport 111Rodney Parade, Newport 139

Look Back In Amberwith Andrew Taylor

From The Boardroom 143From The Dugout 150


1989/90

T hedayhadfinallyarrived;Saturday the 5th of August 1989 was here at last, bringing

with it considerable anticipation and much excitement. After a frantic summer of meetings, plans and highly commendable action, gallantNewportAFCfinallytooktoafootballfieldfortheveryfirsttime. The picturesque setting was the rural Oxfordshire location of Kidlington, as the newly assembled Exiles completed the enamoured reincarnation of the doomed Newport County Association Football Club.

The spearhead was to be the venerable John Relish; an Ironsides legend who had astounded both supporters and sceptics alike by recruiting a team brimming with experience and quality in record time. Quite how he had persuaded players that had received secure offers elsewhere to sign for a club that bore no history, no staff and no ground is another matter entirely; goalkeeper Bird, defenders Pratt, Painter and Spink, midfielders Vassallo, Parselle and Preece, strikers Lilygreen and Evans, complete with the highly respected Graham Rogers as his playing assistant. Indeed, when the Exiles trotted out at sunny Kidlington, the phoenix had well and truly risen from the ashes.

That rather low-key looking friendly produced a resounding 4-0 success; and by the time AFC played their first game in the Principality from whence they were scandalously excluded, at Caerleon’s Cold Bath Road just a week later, Messrs Stanton, Richards and Foley had been added to the rapidly expanding playing pool. The likes of Willis, Mallender, Herritty, Rowberry and Jarvis would soon climb aboard too, ameliorating the squad further.

When the real business began on August 19th, Norman Parselle proudly led the Exiles out at our unfamiliar new home for their official baptism in front of 595 rapturous supporters; an army of devotees who had not given a second thought about making the gruelling 150-mile round trip from Newport. The leafy London Road ground at Moreton-in-Marsh, nestled deep in the tranquil North Gloucestershire countryside, was a strange albeit rather enthralling setting; with skipper Parselle creating a massive slice of history by drilling home the infant club’s first ever competitive goal, as AFC saw off their

charmingly named visitors, Pegasus Juniors by that solitary strike.

In a league than generally perceived three-figure attendances as wishful thinking, AFC were a big fish with home crowds in excess of 300 to 400 and an away following to match. That alone was remarkable bearing in mind the travelling entailed; indeed had the team been quite rightfully playing at the now redundant Somerton Park, you could have quadrupled those figures for sure. After a few early hiccups, the Exiles quickly adjusted to their surroundings and began to sweep unerringly towards the division’s summit; indulging in an exciting tussle with Abingdon United for the championship crown. In the Welsh Cup, Stroud were beaten, now more familiarly known as Forest Green Rovers of course; whilst Brecon Corries were likewise dispatched in a ‘home’ fixture played at Gloucester City’s Meadow Park. The draw for Round Three brought great excitement as the new name of Newport AFC followed old foes Cardiff City out of the velvet bag. On a poignant, October evening at Ninian Park, you would never have guessed there were five divisions separating the two sides as Cardiff flattered their way to an inauspicious 1-0 success; the heroic Exiles being roared on throughout by a fanatical 1,500 travelling fans. There was a consensus of feeling abound that night that Newport AFC had truly arrived.

Excluded from the FA Cup, the Hellenic League Cup rose in importance and AFC steadfastly swept all before them. As the Exiles raced towards a league and cup double, a semi-final tie with our new best friends Moreton attracted an impressive 675 crowd as AFC overcame their landlords by two goals to one. Before the final could be contested however, there was the small matter of a championship to contend with and a ‘winner-takes-all’ showdown tantalisingly loomed away at Abingdon on May 2nd.

A 1-1 draw between the two sides just a fortnight earlier meant this was anything but a foregone conclusion. Rello’s Newport however put in a scintillating display to coast to a cogent 3-1 success; a Lilygreen brace and

another from Jarvis sparking a pitch invasion amidst manic celebrations from 300 delirious AFC supporters as the title was clinched in style. Amongst the many highlights of an historic campaign stood the 8-0 routing of Ruislip Park in February, when veteran Brian Preece had climbed off the bench during a downpour to audaciously score not only our goal of the season, but a strike that many still believe is up there alongside the best we’ve ever scored.

Five days later, the two foes clashed once again to contest the League Cup Final; held neutrally at Almondsbury’s Oaklands Park. The pretty little stadium could barely cope with the level of interest as 1,780 turned up, most of which had crossed the Severn Bridge decked in amber. A frantic 120 minutes of intense combat couldn’t separate the teams locked firmly together at a goal apiece, but Abingdon’s vociferous objections to Moreton hosting the replay meant the two clubs would have to wait almost four months for the decider to take place, at Hounslow in Middlesex.

It mattered little, Abingdon were merely delaying the inevitable and on August 30th 1990, left-back Robbie Painter’s late strike finally secured an historic, inaugural season league and cup double. The dream had most certainly become a reality!

1989/90

1989/90Hellenic League Premier Division (1st)


Hellenic League Pld W D L F A GD Pts1

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Newport AFC 34 23 6 5 71 28 43 75

Shortwood United 34 20 7 7 81 39 42 67Abingdon United 34 20 7 7 66 33 33 67Sharpness 34 16 9 9 76 59 17 57Fairford Town 34 17 6 11 59 42 17 57Bicester Town 34 15 11 8 43 30 13 56Almondsbury Picksons 34 15 9 10 60 41 19 54Kintbury Rangers 34 14 8 12 37 45 -8 50Pegasus Juniors 34 14 6 14 47 62 -15 48Swindon Athletic 34 12 11 11 48 36 12 47Rayners Lane 34 12 6 16 43 45 -2 42Headington Amateurs 34 9 14 11 43 44 -1 41Moreton Town 34 11 8 15 55 65 -10 41Wantage Town 34 10 10 14 52 58 -6 40Didcot Town 34 11 6 17 54 48 6 39Bishops Cleeve 34 7 9 18 33 61 -28 30

Supermarine 34 6 5 23 25 72 -47 23Ruislip Park 34 2 6 26 32 117 -85 12

TOP SCORERSTOP SCORERSChris Lilygreen 28

Dave Jarvis 22

Brian Preece 7


LONDON ROAD

OUR GROUNDS

LONDON ROADLocation Moreton-in-MarshUsed 1989 - 1990Capacity 3,000Record Attendance 658(v. Moreton Town 24/03/1990)

Like an abandoned child the reformed Newport AFC had nowhere to go back in

1989. Someone had to take us in after our ‘parents’, the Football Association of Wales and the then Newport Borough Council, had turned their backs on us. The Gloucestershire Football Association and the Hellenic League came to our rescue and Moreton Town Football Club became our new ‘family’.

Sent into exile we had to find a new home on English soil as near to Newport as possible. We were a brand new club with no history, credibility or money, and we were hardly inundated with open-handed offers from within the football community. If you had drawn a circle on a map with ideal locations pinpointed within its circumference it would not have extended as far as the Cotswolds in North Gloucestershire. ‘Needs must’ as the saying goes and we had a new home with a host club also in the new league we had secured a place within. No-one in Newport had ever heard of the Hellenic League and in the days before Satnav there was a

flurry of map-buying for the loyal army of fans to route-plan their first journey into this brave new football world.

Moreton-in-Marsh sat in the shadow of Stow-on-the-Wold and the other well-known Cotswold’s towns famed for scones and clotted cream and all things quintessential. Off the main square you would turn into London Road, a modest road that hardly deserved its auspicious name and was not paved with gold, and meandered down until you came to the ‘stadium’. The London Road home of our new landlords and Hellenic League ‘rivals’ was a true introduction to the world of pyramid football; it was a simple slightly sloping pitch with a traditional white fence surround, old fashioned deep goals and small pylon floodlights that could have lit a pub car park or railway siding as much as a football pitch. There was a single stand that barely extended half of the length of the pitch, a must viewing point in the depths of the winter with no other cover, affectionately known as the ‘cow shed’. Apart from the small and friendly

clubhouse, changing rooms and car park that was the sum total of this sporting arena.

None of the above is written to deride the lower levels of the non-league football pyramid. On the contrary Moreton-in-Marsh was the birthplace of new hopes and dreams and from the middle of this idyllic corner of chocolate box England the new club took its first steps on the long road back to the Football League. Just like the Israelites, the exiled County had to start with small beginnings. The 1989-90 season saw us win the Hellenic League and Cup double and make a temporary return to our spiritual home of Somerton Park. We have fond memories of that first season plying our game on a pitch of daisies and buttercups with John Relish in the dugout and a team of true heroic Newportonians wearing a new amber strip.


1990/91


1990/91Southern League Midland Division (7th)

Newport AFC’s loyal army of volunteers and supporters could barely wait for Monday

the 13th of August 1990 to swing by;aftermuchlegalwranglingandconsiderable heartache, the Exiles were rightly returning to the town whose name they proudly bore. The team arrived home to a heroes welcome at our spiritual Somerton Parkabode;triumphantlyholdingaloft the gigantic Hellenic League championship shield that had been gloriously procured under the most trying of circumstances during that inaugural season spent banished in a Gloucestershire exile.

How wonderfully apt it was that the Exiles’ opponents on such an historic and celebratory occasion should be our good friends and allies, Moreton Town FC; without whom indeed. Newport AFC’s genteel chairman, the gracious Mr. Hando, the man whose very association with the fledgling club had provided it with the credibility it had so desperately craved, announced that the VP lounge at Somerton would be renamed ‘The Moreton Lounge’ in honour of the club who had rescued us in our awful plight to find a temporary home. A rather handsome wall-plaque denoting this gesture was subsequently unveiled.

It was all incredibly fitting considering that without both the eloquent Mr. Hando and indeed our good chums at Moreton Town, it is extremely doubtful whether Newport AFC would ever have progressed past the stage of being a wonderful pipe dream. Such rebirths of failed clubs were certainly not the norm back then that they appear to be today, in that respect alone, Newport were something of pioneers in the modern game; the brave club who created the modern template of such phoenix clubs nowadays.A huge, fervently expectant crowd of 2,354 bellowed their own seal of approval and welcomed AFC back into familiar surroundings; whilst just five days later, the Exiles officially kicked off the new season, now elevated into the Beazer Homes [Southern] League [Midland Division], with a sprightly 2-0 success gleaned away at the now sadly defunct Leicester United. The effervescent boss John Relish had strengthened his troops with the acquisitions of Mason, Collicutt, Reynolds, Ellis, Doughty and a certain Mark Price; a midfield dynamo who would go to become a stalwart and set the new club’s appearance record.

Sadly though, the first four home games were all lost as the large, four-figure crowds being attracted to Somerton Park seemed to adversely affect the

Exiles, whilst considerably raising the game of their excited opponents. A bumper 2,271 fervent souls had witnessed the first home league game as Redditch United pilfered a 1-0 win; whilst crowds in excess of 1,500 were present for the trio of defeats that quickly followed.

For teams operating at this lowly level, it seemed that playing at the ramshackle former league venue was akin to appearing at Wembley Stadium itself! A Racing Club Warwick player that was found wandering around the now decrepit, empty stadium after a game, staring for what seemed like an age into his surroundings, best summed this up. When approached

and questioned, he replied that he was merely “trying to take it all in as I might never get the chance to play somewhere like this again.”In respect of this, Newport AFC’s first half of the season was inconsistently patchy at best; although a club record victory was established with a thumping 9-0 win away at Pontlottyn Blast in the Welsh Cup. Former Newport County player, the ever-willing Steve Sherlock arrived, as did the classy Kenny Stroud briefly, along with later acquisitions in the shape of Prew, Griffiths and Porretta. Later in the season, bustling striker Phil Green was added to the plethora of ex-Ironsides as the Exiles finished the league campaign strongly, boasting 12 victories from their final 18 games; something that ultimately delivered a rather healthy and indeed very respectable seventh-placed finish.

In the Welsh Cup, Rello’s Newport went one better than the previous year by dispatching not only poor, hapless Pontlottyn, but also Pembroke Borough and Cardiff Corries with relative ease; interest was swiftly ended however when North Walians and fellow ‘rebel club’ Colwyn Bay came to Somerton and subsequently pinched the tie with a solitary strike. With AFC once more excluded from the FA Cup, the FA Trophy and the curiously named Larchimage Windows Cup were entered; both of which were ended somewhat prematurely by Stroud and Worcester City respectively.

After a campaign of respectability and solid consolidation, it was hoped that Newport AFC could push on once again the following season, up onto that next rung of the ladder. Sadly for the Exiles however, we hadn’t heard the last of the incredulous Mr. Evans at the Welsh FA. Indeed in a year when an episode of BBC’s ‘Casualty’ was filmed at Somerton Park, resilient little AFC would soon find they had become political casualties themselves once again!

1990/91

1990/91 Pld W D L F A GD Pts1

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Stourbridge 42 28 6 8 80 48 32 90

Corby Town 42 27 4 11 99 48 51 85Hednesford Town 42 25 7 10 79 47 32 82Tamworth 42 25 5 12 84 45 39 80Nuneaton Borough 42 21 11 10 74 51 23 70Barry Town 42 20 7 15 61 48 13 67Newport AFC 42 19 6 17 54 46 8 63King’s Lynn 42 17 9 16 53 62 -9 60Grantham Town 42 17 7 18 62 56 6 58Redditch United 42 16 10 16 66 75 -9 58Hinckley Town 42 16 9 17 72 68 4 57Sutton Coldfield Town 42 15 11 16 56 65 -9 56Bedworth United 42 15 9 18 57 73 -16 54Bilston Town 42 14 9 19 69 79 -10 51Leicester United 42 14 10 18 65 77 -12 51Racing Club Warwick 42 12 13 17 56 65 -9 49Bridgnorth Town 42 13 9 20 62 74 -12 48Stroud 42 11 14 17 51 64 -13 47Dudley Town 42 11 13 18 48 73 -25 46Alvechurch 42 10 8 24 54 92 -38 38

Willenhall Town 42 10 10 22 58 69 -11 37Spalding United 42 8 9 25 35 70 -35 33

Nuneaton Borough 4 points deductedNuneaton Borough 4 points deductedNuneaton Borough 4 points deductedNuneaton Borough 4 points deductedLeicester United 1 point deductedLeicester United 1 point deductedLeicester United 1 point deductedLeicester United 1 point deductedWillenhall Town 3 points deductedWillenhall Town 3 points deductedWillenhall Town 3 points deductedWillenhall Town 3 points deducted


Mark Price 10

Steve Doughty 8



1991/92 1991/92

AFC’s 1991/92 campaign in the Beazer Homes League[MidlandDivision]

promised much, but sadly delivered rather little as the off-pitch legal wranglesengulfingthecluboncemore inevitably began to have a detrimental effect concerning matters happening on the pitch. The Exiles, through no fault of their own, were thrown into a period of on-fieldinconsistencyandrelativeunderachievement as it soon became clear that this would be the last ever season at Somerton Park. Newport AFC was to be ostracised and forced into a fatuous and grossly unfair exile once more.

Despite that huge black cloud lingering over the club, the season had begun rather optimistically with the AFC star continuing to rise. High calibre Football League sides such as Reading and Swansea City were happy to visit for pre-season games, as were Yeovil Town and our friends from Moreton Town once again.

Five out of the first nine league matches were won, including a brace of 5-0 victories at Redditch United and at home to Racing Club Warwick; with only one of those nine games culminating in defeat. Ex-Swansea midfielder Phil Williams was a new face in the team amidst considerable

squad reconstruction, along with further newbies in Bray and Hewitt, as boss John Relish bid a fond farewell to several 1989/90 troopers such as Parselle, Painter, Bird and Pratt.

September saw another exciting capture; that of mercurial winger Paul Sanderson, a player who had starred for the old club and had earned the distinction of scoring the Ironsides’ last ever goal. One of his team mates from that doomed Vauxhall Conference year of 1988/89 was Dai Withers, another returnee to the club; whilst other notable acquisitions arrived in the form of Kilgour, John, Towler and defensive lynch-pin Phil Coyne. Towards the end of the campaign, former County player-manager John Lewis likewise returned to the club in a player only capacity.

In the FA Trophy, Bideford were easily swept aside, as were Saltash during an amazing 5-4 encounter at Somerton that had supporters wistfully recalling that remarkable final game Newport County had played, when Kidderminster Harriers had won a topsy-turvy Club

Call Cup encounter by an unfeasible six goals to five. An excellent away win at Stroud extended the run and elevated the Exiles into the Round One Proper for the first time; alas that was as far as we would progress after a fruitless trip to Aylesbury United saw AFC unluckily defeated by the odd goal in five.

It was the Welsh Cup that provided one of the season’s real highlights; the final time Newport’s name would grace the ancient competition in the twentieth century. After comfortably seeing off Bridgend Town in Round Two, it was shades of ’89 as AFC drew Cardiff City away

in Round Three once again. Another 1,000-strong, partisan Newport following screamed the doughty Exiles on at Ninian Park, but the monsoon-like conditions spoiled what had threatened to be an exciting contest; Cardiff progressing via a generous 3-0 score-line with a certain Carl Dale amongst their scorers. Had Sanderson’s terrific

header not cannoned back off the crossbar on the stroke of half-time, it could have been a very different story on a treacherous surface more suited to aquaplaning.The Barclays Services Cup threw up a tasty derby encounter with the Exiles forced to lock horns with Barry Town; sadly it was Barry who narrowly triumphed on this occasion despite a rousing Newport comeback in the second leg at Jenner Park.

The team’s form in the league invariably hit a sticky patch around November time, one that they would never quite recover from as just one measly win in ten outings was recorded; albeit that sole success being a rather handsome 5-1 spanking of Hinckley Town. With cup interests now extinguished for another year, the season all but fizzled out from this point on unfortunately, but there was still one last big occasion looming on the horizon.

Saturday the 20th of April 1992 was a date that would go down in annuls of Newport history whatever its outcome; it was the sobering day when AFC entertained rivals Barry Town in the Beazer League. Somerton Park, already ravaged by a vicious fire that had destroyed the old Greyhound Stand, was now on the demolition list and Newport AFC were already acutely aware that they were to be hounded into the ignominy of vindictive exile once more.

Barry’s visit heralded the last-ever competitive match at the famous old ground that had served senior football in Newport for some eighty years. An incredible sad, almost sombre occasion was given the fitting finale it merited when Jason Prew’s fine strike ensured that AFC won the stadium’s final game of note, in front of over a thousand spectators.

Life would never be the same again.


2

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Solihull Borough 42 29 10 3 92 40 52 97

Hednesford Town 42 26 13 3 81 37 44 91

Sutton Coldfield Town 42 21 11 10 71 51 20 74Barry Town 42 21 6 15 88 56 32 69Bedworth United 42 16 15 11 67 63 4 63Nuneaton Borough 42 17 11 14 68 53 15 62Tamworth 42 16 12 14 66 52 14 60Rushden Town 42 16 12 14 69 63 6 60Stourbridge 42 17 8 17 85 62 23 59Newport AFC 42 15 13 14 72 60 12 58Yate Town 42 14 15 13 65 64 1 57Bilston Town 42 15 10 17 56 67 -11 55Grantham Town 42 11 17 14 59 55 4 50King’s Lynn 42 13 11 18 61 68 -7 50Hinckley Town 42 14 8 20 61 87 -26 50Leicester United 42 12 13 17 61 74 -13 49Bridgnorth Town 42 12 12 18 61 74 -13 48Racing Club Warwick 42 11 14 17 45 61 -16 47Stroud 42 14 4 24 66 88 -22 46Redditch United 42 12 8 22 52 92 -40 44

Alvechurch 42 11 10 21 54 88 -34 43Dudley Town 42 8 9 25 41 92 -51 33

TOP SCORERSTOP SCORERSWill Foley 27

Chris Lilygreen 13

Mark Price 12


Somerton Park was often viewed as a relic of the past by visiting fans as stadia elsewhere adapted and grew, and new out of town stadia became the trend, but to us it was a loveable and welcoming home evoking the feeling of comfort when you visit the house of an old family member. The grand stand was never grand, the railway end had no terrace, the main bank with the best view had no cover and the toilets behind it had no roof like a Victorian station’s gentleman’s iron-wrought urinal, but it was our ground and we cherished it. The Council, with no certainty of our future and with emerging plans for a new multi-sports complex at Spytty, sold the stadium for social housing and the only turnstile you will see today is the nameplate for this innocuous estate which stands on hallowed ground. Teams . Rest in peace, Somerton Park.

SOMERTON PARK

OUR GROUNDS

SOMERTON PARKLocation NewportUsed 1990 - 1992Capacity 8,000Record Attendance 2,271 (v. Redditch United 22/08/1990)

Following an all-conquering firstseasonbackinfootballwe had the icing on our

firstbirthdaycake-areturntoSomerton Park, Newport, the spiritual home of our former club and Newport’s footballing history. The old club in its latter cash-strapped years had re-sold the stadium to the then Newport Borough Council and it was the Council we needed to befriend once again. The long-term future of the aging stadium was uncertain but having proved the Council wrong, as one of our doubters, AFC were given a reprieve.

In truth, Somerton Park had never been in rude health and even in the glory years under Colin Addison and Len Ashurst had generally been regarded as one of the poorest Football League stadia along with The Shay in Halifax, Spotlands in Rochdale, and the homes of other clubs who had flirted with the old re-election drop zone of the then Fourth Division. To us it was Paradise Regained and an army of volunteers enthusiastically gave up many hours of their summer months of 1990 cleaning, painting and restoring, such that the vibrant

orange hue of the re-dressed stadium reflected the sun with all the self-confidence and happiness of a precocious child.

The crowds flooded back, with 2,271 for the opening league match, and we now had the additional income streams of bar takings and food sales which are the life-blood of non-league clubs. The new club had re-established a good quality match day programme and even had its own fanzine, Never Say Dai, such was the buzz around town of seeing the Exiles run out onto the pitch to the vibes of Thin Lizzy’s The Boys Are Back in Town. The club had a decent first two seasons in The Beazer Homes (Southern League) Midland Division but the clouds were again gathering over the innocents of AFC, and our restraint of trade dispute with the Football Association of Wales who tried to force the club to enter the new League of Wales to bolster its ranks along with the other seven ‘rebel’ clubs of south, north and mid Wales, led to a second period of banishment. The Prodigal Son, three years old, was a nomad once again.



1992/93

Regardless of whether it was the old Newport Countyorthefledgling

Newport AFC, life never appeared to be straight forward or simple for Newport’s senior football side;andwithSomertonParknow occupying a lofty perch on the council’s demolition list, work had already begun on the construction of a new stadium for the town less than a mile away as the crowfliesatSpyttyPark.

Thanks to the cursory sagacity of the governing

body responsible for the ‘well being’ of football here in Wales however, Newport AFC would not only be banished from using that stadium, they would also be once again ostracised from the borough itself and forced into exile once more; all for the heinous crime of refusing to cease with ambition and join the

Ray Pulis also hooked up.In the league, AFC roared out of the blocks and into the ascendancy with four successive victories; fuelling optimism that a promotion campaign could be on the cards. Sadly, prolonged interest in the various cup competitions would inevitably take their toll and place league aspirations onto the back burner, as from late August, only one of the next twelve fixtures would be a league match.

Welcomed into the FA Cup for the first time in their new guise, AFC kicked off by winning at Dawlish in a late August Preliminary Round; before dispatching Forest Green Rovers, Worcester City and Clevedon Town from the competition. Indeed that latter tie had taken some three games to determine a victor, adding further to our heavily congested fixture list.

Nevertheless, that commendable run took the Exiles to within a hair’s breadth of the First Round (Proper); unfortunately a home tie with Sutton United from one division higher proved a step too far, with the Surrey outfit triumphing 4-1 at Meadow Park in the Fourth Round (Qualifying) match. In the FA Trophy, Weymouth succumbed after a replay and were quickly followed by Trowbridge Town as Newport continued to excel in the cups.

The quirk of the draw brought Sutton United back to Meadow Park for the Third Round (Qualifying) and they repeated the earlier lesson dished out in the FA Cup, with a 2-1 success that extinguished our hopes.

Whilst these lengthy cup marathons were being played out, AFC also found time to squeeze in an additional five games in both the Barclays Services and Gloucestershire Senior Cups; with our new landlords ending our

involvement in both. Bearing all this in mind, the league form simply had to suffer as a result and suffer it did; as Newport invariably found themselves falling victim to another mid-season slump in form, as the endurance marathon of a fixture list began to have its obvious effect on the side.

The ramifications of which were far more severe this time around as come late February, popular

1992/93

newly evamped ‘League of Wales.’Gloucester City were happy to step in and offer the Exiles refuge at their Meadow Park ground, just as Moreton Town had kindly done so two years earlier. Despite the off-field troubles, it was business as usual for AFC and John Relish; who was busily assembling our strongest, most impressive squad to date.

The playing pool for ‘92/3 boasted a talented bunch of players offering a wealth of experience. Former County legends Linden Jones, Nigel Vaughan and Steve Lowndes arrived to bolster an ambitious Exiles side, as did goalkeeper Mark Kendall briefly. Other acquisitions included Brown, Pengelly, another Jones in right-sided midfielder Shane, along with front-runners Chiverton and Charles. The ex-Ironsides reunion was extended further when former County apprentice

manager John Relish stunned supporters by resigning his position; feeling he had taken Newport AFC as far as he felt possible. His trusted assistant Graham Rogers stepped up to the helm and results initially took a turn for the better, with seven victories gleaned from a 12-match run. Sadly the damage had already been done and the Exiles had to content themselves with a fifth-placed finish that was our highest to date; albeit leaving a lingering feeling of possible underachievement given the fine squad we possessed that season.

That wasn’t quite that however; on a warm, sunny Thursday evening on the 22nd of June 1993, long after the campaign had been wrapped up, a poignant last match was staged back in Newport at the now derelict and somewhat forlorn looking Somerton Park; as countless County legends of yesteryear returned to mark the ‘grand old lady’s’ last ever game. A lugubrious albeit celebratory occasion was marked in entertaining style as over 2,500 spectators witnessed the present Newport team share eight goals against a team representing ‘Newport Past.’ Life would certainly never be the same again and the much-maligned ‘grand old lady’ would be sorely missing from our lives from hereon.


Eston Chiverton 14

Kyle Charles 8


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Nuneaton Borough 42 29 5 8 102 45 57 92

Gresley Rovers 42 27 6 9 94 55 39 87

Rushden & Diamonds 42 25 10 7 85 41 44 85Barri 42 26 5 11 82 49 33 83Newport AFC 42 23 8 11 73 58 15 77Bedworth United 42 22 8 12 72 55 17 74Stourbridge 42 17 9 16 93 79 14 60Sutton Coldfield Town 42 17 9 16 82 78 4 60Redditch United 42 18 6 18 75 79 -4 60Tamworth 42 16 11 15 65 51 14 59Weston super Mare 42 17 7 18 79 86 -7 58Leicester United 42 16 9 17 67 67 0 57Grantham Town 42 16 9 17 60 73 -13 57Bilston Town 42 15 10 17 74 69 5 55Evesham United 42 15 8 19 67 83 -16 53Bridgnorth Town 42 15 7 20 61 68 -7 52Dudley Town 42 14 8 20 60 75 -15 50Yate Town 42 15 5 22 63 81 -18 50Forest Green Rovers 42 12 6 24 61 97 -36 42Hinckley Town 42 9 11 22 56 89 -33 38

King’s Lynn 42 10 6 26 45 90 -45 36

Racing Club Warwick 42 3 7 32 40 88 -48 16

Hinckley Town 1 point deductedHinckley Town 1 point deductedHinckley Town 1 point deducted



1993/94

The season of ‘93/4 would prove to be Newport AFC’s thirdandfinalyearspent

inexile;andasecondsuccessive season spent plying our trade at Gloucester City’s Meadow Park ground. Unfortu-nately, playing in exile had long since ceased to be a novelty and crowds had inevitably began to be adversely affected by the long, expensive trekkingfromNewport;so much so, the Exiles recorded their two lowest ever attendances during this campaign.

Despite fielding a decent side, our average crowd figures for ‘home’ games had withered to the 200 to 300 mark; whilst a midweek Dr. Martens Cup fixture with Stourbridge attracted a mere 79 hardy souls! That record low attendance for a first

team fixture was embarrassingly beaten just five months later when

On the playing side of things, Graham Rogers looked to improve on the previous year’s fifth-placed finish by strengthening his squad with the likes of Dowd, Spencer, Cole, Evans and a certain Jason Donovan all arriving, along with experienced centre-forward Stewart Phillips. Ex-County apprentice Chris Townsend was soon added to the striking op-tions, whilst before the season was out, the prolific former Martyr Dai Webley was to rock up and instantly become a fans favourite.

As with the previous season, AFC sprang out of the traps like a whip-pet; starting with three wins and a draw in the opening four games; alas though, after that encouraging start,

Armitage in early-March, Newport finished the campaign in tremendous style with 13 wins from the final 14 matches. Indeed, the side ended the season with nine successive victories that delivered an excellent fourth-placed finish and put something shiny into the trophy cabinet. Nest-ling amongst that fine run of form was a 5-0 drubbing dished out to Leicester United and a 5-1 away win at Bilston Town, as AFC hit rampant form. Both those results were simply dwarfed by the visit to local rivals Forest Green Rovers on the 23rd of April however, as Newport com-pletely ran riot whilst thrashing their hosts by an astonishing 8-3 scoreline.

As previously alluded to, manager Graham Rogers did round off an extremely satisfying campaign by placing something nice onto the sideboard, when the Exiles defeated landlords Gloucester City by a soli-tary goal in the final of the Glouces-tershire Senior Cup; Chris Townsend’s penalty clinching the club’s first silverware since that inaugural season double.

That, along with the club’s highest ever league finish, not to mention the sweet taste of court justice over the stubborn FAW, all went towards making our last season spent in exile a most satisfying campaign indeed. Plucky little Newport AFC had shifted the monkey from their backs and could hardly wait for ‘94/5 to begin now.

1993/94

only 68 paying spectators witnessed a home friendly match versus a Guernsey XI. From a financial point of view, the club couldn’t get back to playing in Newport quickly enough. Add those dwindling crowd figures to the expensive, long-running court battles with the Welsh FA, and there can be little doubt that the harshest of enforced exiles hampered AFC’s progress somewhat considerably indeed. Therefore it is with great credit that the club stuck so ardu-ously to their beliefs and cause, when they could have been laudably excused for throwing in the towel and buckling to Mr. Evans’ demands.

That they didn’t, not even when financial suicide appeared most likely speaks volumes about where our dedicated board members and volunteers envisaged our club in the years to come. This final year spent in exile was to be a celebratory campaign in that Newport AFC would finally succeed in that laborious legal battle and earn the right to return home once more; only this time for good.

only one of the next nine matches in league and cup were won. Included in this poor run was a nightmare FA Cup replay, when Trowbridge Town came to Meadow Park and com-prehensively routed the Exiles by five goals to nil, in the First Round (Qualifying).

This bad sequence also accounted for two other cup competitions by way of the FA Trophy and Dr. Martens League Cup. Havant Town were beaten 1-0 in the Trophy, before Weston-super-Mare dumped us out

by a 2-0 scoreline in only Round Two (Qualifying); while Stourbridge’s 3-1 success at Meadow Park in the League Cup rendered a 2-1 AFC victory in the second leg somewhat meaningless. It was only mid-October and all that AFC had to play for was the irrelevant Gloucester-shire Senior Cup.

The previous two seasons had seen a Newport slump in form once the frosty pitches had appeared; the team somehow managed to buck that trend this time around with a fine spell of winter form that saw AFC beaten only once

in 13 league outings; and just twice in 19 as the Exiles began to rise steadily up the table.

Following a narrow reverse at


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Rushden & Diamonds 42 29 11 2 109 37 72 98

VS Rugby 42 28 8 6 98 41 57 92

Weston super Mare 42 27 10 5 94 39 55 91Newport AFC 42 26 9 7 84 37 47 87Clevedon Town 42 24 10 8 75 46 29 82Redditch United 42 19 11 12 79 62 17 68Tamworth 42 19 7 16 82 68 14 64Bilston Town 42 16 10 16 65 73 -8 58Stourbridge 42 17 6 19 71 75 -4 57Evesham United 42 16 8 18 50 60 -10 56Grantham Town 42 16 6 20 77 73 4 54Bridgnorth Town 42 15 6 21 56 68 -12 51Racing Club Warwick 42 13 12 17 53 66 -13 51Dudley Town 42 13 10 19 64 61 3 49Forest Green Rovers 42 12 12 18 61 84 -23 48Sutton Coldfield Town 42 12 8 22 53 75 -22 44Bedworth United 42 12 7 23 62 81 -19 43Hinckley Town 42 11 10 21 44 71 -27 43Leicester United 42 11 9 22 34 73 -39 42King’s Lynn 42 9 11 22 47 72 -25 38

Yate Town 42 10 6 26 48 86 -38 36

Armitage ’90 42 8 11 23 45 103 -58 35


As with our first hosts The Tigers of Gloucester were also rivals and it was a strange sight to see AFC change into their away strip, at ‘home’, when we played City. Whilst Moreton Town are no more and London Road is now the home of a development club Moreton Rangers, City have survived their trials and tribulations and themselves now groundshare, with Cheltenham Town, and are a middling team in the Conference North. Meadow Park was on low ground and the older fans who occupied its terraces will remember that it often smelt damp. Near to the historic docks, serviced by the River Severn, the stadium fell victim to the disastrous floods of 2007. The river which had been the life-blood of the City in the industrial revolution burst its banks and swamped the ground and all around. Meadow Park has never been used since.

MEADOW PARK

OUR GROUNDS

MEADOW PARKLocation GloucesterUsed 1992 - 1994Capacity 4,500Record Attendance 810(v. Sutton United 24/10/1992)

In 1992 Newport AFC, now in deadlock with The Football Association of Wales

over our refusal to enter the reconstructed Welsh league so that we could stay in the English pyramid and achieve our goal of Football League status, were again banished to a life of exile. The club, now established at a recognisable level of the Beazer Homes League were taken far more seriously by their peers and Gloucester City became our new landlords.

The Club was back in the West Country but at least Meadow Park, Gloucester was a ‘proper’ non-league stadium and, above all, was nearer than Moreton-in-Marsh. As with our exile in the Cotswolds some fans travelled independently by car and some by supporters’ coaches. The driving fraternity soon became familiar with the Gloucester ‘loop’ – over the Severn Bridge and northward up the M5 going, and down the winding A48 to Chepstow coming back home after the game to avoid paying the toll to re-enter Wales.

Meadow Park was a rather characterless stadium but did have good facilities. Modern and with ample car parking, we had a large covered stand next to the clubhouse on the one side of the ground and a covered low terrace the full length of the opposite side. One advantage of Meadow Park was the two steep terraces behind either goal which brought you close to the pitch and gave a great view of the goal AFC were attacking. It was the ‘done thing’ then at grounds without segregation for the fans to swop ends at half-time so that they could stand behind the goal their team was attacking, out of optimism that this was the goal to be breached by the ball.

It was hard to generate much of an atmosphere at Meadow Park as it was so open. With crowds being hard to attract given the travelling distance and the level of football on offer, after the first three years of reformation and home-coming, these years were some of the hardest financially and the dream of the Football League felt to non-believers like Fool’s Gold.

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1994/95Southern League Midland Division (1st)

1994/95

A fteraturbulentfirstfiveyears,Newport AFC were at last able to put football politics

to bed, leaving themselves shackle-free to concentrate solelyontheinfantoutfit’sprogression. Justice, as well as common sense had prevailed in the law courts and the club was joyously returning home once more. Fifth and fourth-placedfinishesinthepasttwo seasons had lain down a seriousmarker;surelywithAFC now free of all the legal wrangling and the oblivion of exile, there would be no stopping us. Season 1994/5 would certainly not disappoint, as a second glorious homecoming was marked in a style truly befittingasNewportAFCroared to the Beazer Homes[Southern]League[MidlandDivision]titleofchampions.

Lynn; and that fine start continued unabated with AFC winning 6-0 at Odd Down in the FA Cup Preliminary Round, and 6-2 at Forest Green Rovers, all within the six manic days that followed. Newport had hit an unfeasible eight goals at The Lawn just four months prior; no doubt the Nailsworth club were beginning to loathe the sight of amber, as the Exiles returned to dish out yet another unmerciful spanking. Another radical change for ‘94/5 saw the team’s traditional black shorts make way for a rather resplendent all-amber playing strip; a shade of amber as rich as any we’ve donned over the years.

Stalwart defender Linden Jones had played a clutch of games the previous year as a makeshift centre-forward, surprisingly making a

to be free of major cup interest so early on, promotion was the number one aim and Cheltenham Town promptly removed the holders from the Gloucestershire Senior Cup. Forest Green were beaten in the Dr. Martens League Cup, AFC taking it distinctly easier on their rivals by ‘only’ winning 3-0 at The Lawn on this occasion; before Cheltenham reared their heads once more to cease all Newport interest in that competition too.

The league form continued to be rather good however, Hinckley Town and Sutton Coldfield Town were resoundingly thrashed 5-1 and 5-0 respectively, whilst beleaguered Forest Green Rovers and Ilkeston Town received comprehensive beatings when visiting Spytty; the latter thanks to a rousing comeback amidst a 5-2 thriller in which the avaricious Ceri Williams nabbed four goals.

As the year drew to a close, rampant Newport AFC were slap-bang in the middle of a marvellous run of 14 consecutive league victories, setting a new club record in the process that still stands today; there would be no stopping the Exiles now. Graham Rogers’ team strode majestically on to clinch the league title on the back of regular four-figure crowds; the studious boss proudly emulating his predecessor John Relish by delivering a prized championship trophy to the fledgling club. It’s quite true what they say; there really is no place like home!

1994/95

The ‘Newport Stadium’ at Spytty Park had been built by the Borough Council at a cost of £1.6m two years previously; and at long last, in the summer of 1994, the nomadic Exiles were finally permitted to move into their new home that was situated less than a mile from the old Somerton Park. The 1970s Thin Lizzy anthem “The Boys Are Back in Town” blasted appropriately from the PA system as AFC hosted Redditch United on a balmy Tuesday evening, on the 23rd of August. A huge, buoyant crowd of 2,475 supporters rapturously welcomed their returning heroes back in the fold for a night of high celebration; one which was given the performance it warranted as AFC duly trounced their bewildered visitors by four goals to nil.

The team had actually begun the new campaign some three days earlier with a draw away at Kings

rather good fist of it. So it was no real surprise when he began the new campaign in that self same position, partnered by an excellent new signing in the nimble ex-County winger, Ceri Williams. Manager Graham Rogers’ incomings were minimal this time around, as a settled squad looked primed and ready to take Newport up another level; the only other notable acquisitions being forward Craig Evans and midfielder Mark Tucker.

In the FA Cup, both Melksham and Barnstaple were beaten, before Trowbridge Town inflicted further sorrow onto the Exiles by dispatching

us from the competition for the second successive year following a three-match marathon. The FA Trophy conjured up an intriguing tie in the First Round (Qualifying), a contest that attracted nationwide media attention as well as the reporters from Sky TV; Newport AFC would host another phoenix club in the guise of the newly formed Aldershot Town.

The meeting of what was in all sense and purposes two ex-Football League clubs attracted another hefty 2,144 patrons to Spytty Park,

although alas, it was the Hampshire side that left with the bragging rights following a resounding 3-1 success.

For once though, it was no bad thing


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Newport AFC 42 29 8 5 106 39 67 95

Ilkeston Town 42 25 6 11 101 75 26 81

Tamworth 42 24 8 10 98 70 28 80Moor Green 42 23 8 11 105 63 42 77Briddnorth Town 42 22 10 10 75 49 26 76Buckingham Town 42 20 14 8 55 37 18 74Nuneaton Borough 42 19 11 12 76 55 21 68Rothwell Town 42 19 7 16 71 71 0 64King’s Lynn 42 18 8 16 76 64 12 62Racing Club Warwick 42 17 11 14 68 63 5 62Dudley Town 42 17 10 15 65 69 -4 61Bilston Town 42 17 8 17 73 64 9 59Bedworth United 42 17 7 18 64 68 -4 58Evesham United 42 14 10 18 57 56 1 52Hinckley Town 42 14 10 18 61 76 -15 52Stourbridge 42 15 7 20 59 77 -18 52Sutton Coldfield Town 42 12 10 20 62 72 -10 46Forest Green Rovers 42 11 13 18 56 76 -20 46Redditch United 42 8 14 20 47 64 -17 38Leicester United 42 10 8 24 51 99 -48 38

Grantham Town 42 8 9 25 55 93 -38 33

Armitage ’90 42 2 5 35 35 116 -81 11


1995/96Southern League Premier Division (14th)

1995/96 1995/96

The impending ‘95/96 campaign was an exciting chance for

Newport AFC to test themselves at their highest level of football thus far. Now competing in the Beazer Homes League Premier Division, the Exiles hoped to consolidate and impress amongst a strong set-up

that was now just one rung below the National Conference League. It wouldn’t be easy, the standard was far greater than anything the Exiles had previously encountered, but hopes were highnonethelessafteraterrificchampionship-winning season.

saw AFC drop into the bottom half of the table for the first time. It was a position that Rogers’ side would not recover from and only five of the final 21 games resulted in victory for the jaded Exiles; the club having to satisfy itself with a reasonable, albeit highly unspectacular 14th placed finish.

The league campaign wasn’t without its highlights though; a 5-1 mauling of Sudbury was garnished, while VS Rugby likewise left Spytty on the wrong end of a quintet of home goals following a 5-2 humdinger. A narrow 1-0 success at Penydarren Park in April saw Newport snaffle a satisfying three points from their closest rivals, who until recently had been a Conference side themselves. It ensured AFC remained unbeaten against the Martyrs after meeting their neighbours in three competitions over the course of the season, an incredulous six hard-fought matches in all.

AFC had dispatched lowly Brockenhurst from the First Round (Qualifying) of the FA Cup courtesy of a comprehensive 5-0 scoreline, before hooking up with Merthyr in the very next round. Almost 2,000 witnessed an enthralling battle at Spytty as the two foes fought out a highly entertaining 3-3 draw; with ex-Martyr Ceri Williams amongst the scorers for the hosts. The replay just two days later saw Linden Jones grab a glorious winner for the jubilant visitors as AFC progressed by the odd goal in three. However Newport fans could be forgiven for experiencing feelings of déjà vu in the Third Round (Qualifying) when we followed Trowbridge out of the hat. Incredibly for the third successive

year, Trowbridge halted our hopes in the competition by defeating the Exiles 2-0, completing a hat-trick of FA Cup KOs.More eyebrows were raised in the Dr. Martens Cup, as AFC sailed all the way to Round Four after unbelievably meeting Merthyr yet again; in Round One this time. The Exiles heaped yet more misery onto their rivals with a narrow 2-1 home success, before cruising past Forest Green Rovers courtesy of a 4-2 away victory at a venue that was quickly becoming Newport’s favourite hunting ground.

Waterlooville were disposed of by the narrowest of margins in Round Three, before Salisbury City came to Spytty in the fourth round and returned home as happy 2-1 victors; an act for which the smarting Exiles gained immediate revenge by winning a league encounter back at Salisbury just 48 hours later.

That previous campaign would be a hard to follow and an ageing squad was causing manager Graham Rogers to furry his brow; just how much longer could he depend upon the veteran legs of wily old pros such as Lowndes, Vaughan and Linden Jones? On the recruitment front, Brown and Hall arrived, as did the returning Dai Webley after a season away; whilst stalwart ex-Ironsides forward Steve Mardenborough was added to the ranks later in the season.

Newport often started well and once again, they kicked off the campaign at a glorious canter; continuing where they had left off the previous year by winning all five of their opening league games; proudly topping the early table. This included a trio of impressive away victories gained at VS Rugby, Dorchester and Cambridge City. Sadly, only three of the next 16 were won thereafter as the Exiles returned to earth with the heftiest of bumps; indeed a club record 1-6 thrashing at Stafford Rangers in early January

In the FA Trophy, Newport thankfully avoided both Merthyr and our cup nemesis Trowbridge, as Fleet Town and Grays Athletic were seen off in tight matches in Qualifying Rounds Two and Three respectively. A fine 1-0 success at Chelmsford City in Round One (Proper) extended the Trophy run, before Carshalton Athletic halted our interest for another year by defeating the Exiles 2-1 in Round Two.

The cups had been admirably contested, but the true ramifications of the disappointing dip in league form resulted in surprising news come May. At the season’s end, manager Graham Rogers resigned his position after, just like John Relish before him, feeling that he had taken the Exiles as far as he felt possible.

The end of an era and the beginning of a fresh one was ultimately heralded by that departure and for the first time since the club’s inception back in June of 1989, Newport AFC would have to continue their journey without the two

honourable men who had boldly began the AFC dream.

One thing was for certain; both would prove tough acts to follow.


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Rushden & Diamonds 42 29 7 6 99 41 58 94

Halesowen Town 42 27 11 4 70 36 34 92Cheltenham Town 42 21 11 10 76 57 19 74Gloucester City 42 21 8 13 65 47 18 71Gresley Rovers 42 20 10 12 70 58 12 70Worcester City 42 19 12 11 61 43 18 69Merthyr Tydfil 42 19 6 17 67 59 8 63Hastings Town 42 16 13 13 68 56 12 61Crawley Town 42 15 13 14 57 56 1 58Sudbury Town 42 15 10 17 60 62 -2 55Gravesend & Northfleet 42 15 10 17 60 62 -2 55Chelmsford City 42 13 16 13 46 53 -7 55Dorchester Town 42 15 8 19 62 57 5 53Newport AFC 42 13 13 16 53 59 -6 52Salisbury City 42 14 10 18 57 69 -12 52Burton Albion 42 13 12 17 55 56 -1 51Atherstone United 42 12 12 18 58 75 -17 48Baldock Town 42 11 14 17 51 56 -5 47Cambridge City 42 12 10 20 56 68 -12 46

Stafford Rangers 42 11 10 21 53 87 -34 43Ilkeston Town 42 11 4 27 58 90 -32 37

VS Rugby 42 5 10 27 37 92 -55 25

TOP SCORERSTOP SCORERSDavid Webley 18

Mark Tucker 16

Linden Jones 7


1996/97Southern League Premier Division (21st)

1996/97 1996/97

With the dependable Graham Rogers having now tendered his resignation

as Newport AFC manager, it was boldly into new territory for the Exiles for the ‘96/7 season. For thefirsttimesinceourrebirth,an‘outsider’ would be entrusted with the task of steering the good ship Newport towards the promised land. There had been a school of thought that the position might have remained in-house so to speak,withmidfieldveteranNigel Vaughan taking the tiller;whileothersrumouredto have applied for the job included the ex-Forest and England International Neil Webb amongst others. However, that outsider was soon unveiled as being the former Aston Villa, Blackburn and Hereford full-back Chris Price.

The flat-cap wearing Price had been a fine, experienced

player in his day, but sadly was a

the bringing together of Newport AFC and Chris Price was one such unfortunate instance.

The league campaign didn’t begin with the flourish seen in previous years; but even so, when the Exiles won one, drew two and lost just one of their opening four matches, there was no hint of the carnage that lay ahead. Four out of the next six fixtures were then lost with only two meagre points gained, although a brief upturn in league results in and around the festive period did lift the Exiles temporarily to a comfortable, mid-table position.

The audible sighs of relief were somewhat short-lived however, when after Salisbury were beaten 3-1 at Spytty Park in the first game of the new year, AFC embarked upon a wretched run that saw the team

win only three of the final 18 games. More crucially, nine of those matches were lost as Newport fell like a stone to 21st in the table, resulting in a swift relegation back to the regional divisions from whence they had triumphantly come just two years earlier.

With only three games remaining, AFC’s fate was still very much in their own hands, but despite a creditable point gleaned in a battling goalless draw away at second-placed Cheltenham Town, the Exiles ultimately disappointed by meekly surrendering 0-1 and

0-2 respectively at home to Gresley Rovers and Hastings; thus effectively sealing their own fate.

Amongst others, veterans Lowndes, Vaughan and Linden Jones said “Adios” to the Exiles during the ‘96/7, with a mass influx of players arriving in the opposite direction. The likes of Nicholls, Burton, Street, Misbah, Truman, Jordan, Pick, Bellingham, Bartlett, Wring, Quarterly, Channing and John Relish’s son Lee all arrived; as did better known ex-Football League players in Mark Aizlewood, Derek Brazil, Ian Benbow and Chris Honor. All sadly failed to arrest the

slide however in what turned out to be an instantly forgettable campaign.

In the First Round (Qualifying) of the FA Cup, Mangotsfield were decisively beaten by five goals to two; however Bath City reversed that scoreline


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Gresley Rovers 42 25 10 7 75 40 35 85

Cheltenham Town 42 21 11 10 76 44 32 74Gloucester City 42 21 10 11 81 56 25 73Halesowen Town 42 21 10 11 77 54 23 73King’s Lynn 42 20 8 14 65 61 4 68Burton Albion 42 18 12 12 70 53 17 66Nuneaton Borough 42 19 9 14 61 52 9 66Sittingbourne 42 19 7 16 76 65 11 64Merthyr Tydfil 42 17 9 16 69 61 8 60Worcester City 42 15 14 13 52 50 2 59Atherstone United 42 15 13 14 57 66 -9 58Salisbury City 42 15 13 14 57 66 -9 58Sudbury Town 42 16 7 19 72 72 0 55Gravesend & Northfleet 42 16 7 19 63 73 -10 55Dorchester Town 42 14 9 19 62 66 -4 51Hastings Town 42 12 15 15 49 60 -11 51Crawley Town 42 13 8 21 49 67 -18 47Cambridge City 42 11 13 18 57 65 -8 46Ashford Town (Kent) 42 9 18 15 53 79 -26 45

Baldock Town 42 11 8 23 52 90 -38 41Newport AFC 42 9 13 20 40 60 -20 40

Chelmsford City 42 6 14 22 49 70 -21 32

novice in managerial terms, so it was a rather brave appointment when all’s said and done. “Fortune favours the brave” as the saying goes; well fortune forgot all about Newport AFC in July 1996, as barely anything went right for the unfortunate Price.

A season in which most expected the Exiles to kick on and improve on the previous year’s 14th-placed finish sadly delivered nothing but the grimmest of relegation battles, in which hapless AFC succumbed without barely a whimper; the first time the new club had suffered such an ignominious fate.

To solely lie the blame at Mr. Price’s door seems a tad harsh; to lay that blame instead at the feet of the directors who appointed him seems equally as churlish. It was worth remembering in these tough times just what those same said directors had done for the well-being of senior football in Newport. Some marriages for whatever reason just don’t seem to gel or work; and sadly,

and dumped Newport out in the very next round; at least it wasn’t Trowbridge though, small mercies and all that malarkey!

In the Dr. Martens League Cup, a 2-1 home victory over an impressive Cheltenham side offered faint hope; but a 5-0 hammering in the away leg quickly put paid to that. The Exiles fared slightly better in the FA Trophy, where Cambridge City were well beaten by four goals to one in a home replay. The cups inevitably tended to mirror the league malaise in ‘96/7 though, and St. Leonards of Stamcroft saw off the AFC challenge thereafter with a solitary strike proving sufficient in the First Round (Proper).

The Gwent Senior was entered and subsequently won for the first time by AFC during this campaign; it barely registered though in a season of bitter regret and universal disappointment. Unlike the eyebrow-raising Rogers resignation of the previous May, it was no surprise whatsoever when the beleaguered Chris Price fell on his sword and quit his position shortly after the season’s end.

TOP SCORERSTOP SCORERSPaul Burton 13

Lee Brown 12

Andy Evans 10


1997/98Southern League Southern Division (7th)

1997/98 1997/98

It was a case of ‘back to the drawing board’ for the Exiles in season 1997/8, as Newport

AFC once again sought to acquire themselvesanewmanager;just as they had done so twelve months previously when the-then appointment of the doomed Chris Price had resulted in the unwanted ignominy of relegation.

Despite that big set-back, the club approached ‘97/8 in optimistic fashion, looking towards hauling themselves back out of the Beazer League [Midland Division] at the very first attempt and repairing the damage forthwith. That new manager was announced as the former Cinderford

Town boss, Tim Harris; an affable man who was extremely

well respected in non-league circles, having performed minor miracles on

three of the next six matches were subsequently lost. The Exiles swiftly put that blip behind them though

and 12 of the following 18 games were resoundingly won, including a long overdue 5-1 thrashing meted out to Trowbridge Town when our former cup nemesis visited Spytty Park in October.The consistency the team was now displaying had Newport AFC hovering promisingly around the top five positions for much of the season; even occupying that prized second promotion berth for the best part of a six-week period around December time.

However, Rome wasn’t built in a day and the Exiles’ league form tailed off somewhat

towards the business end of the season, as seven defeats in the final 12 games would consign a rapidly improving team to an albeit satisfying seventh-placed finish; truth be known, amidst such major reconstruction and changes at the helm, it was in all probability a year too early for AFC to consider promotion. That said, the rebuild was thankfully well and truly underway, with solid foundations having been successfully laid.

Regarding the domestic cups, relegation had forced AFC back into the FA Cup’s Preliminary Round and Maidenhead United were seen off at that stage; however an unlucky 2-3 reverse away at Taunton Town in the

First Round (Qualifying) ended our interest prematurely, as was rather annoyingly becoming something of the norm in this competition.

The FA Trophy campaign had likewise ended before it had even began when Corby Town eliminated Newport at the very first hurdle; whilst the side barely fared any better in the Dr. Martens League Cup, finally disposing of Witney Town over two legs before succumbing to a Second Round replay at home to our former landlords Gloucester City.

It mattered little in the grand scheme of things; that alarming slide of twelve months previous had been arrested with parity somewhat restored. The current league campaign strongly suggested that Newport AFC would be a force to be reckoned with in the season that was to follow.

Supporters therefore had every right to feel extremely upbeat and optimistic, maybe even fervently excited about 1998/9 and what it might bring. The Exiles would surely build upon the sterling work undertaken during Tim Harris’ first season and mount a serious promotion challenge; nothing less would suffice now it seemed, a serious marker had been laid down.

a shoestring budget at The Causeway Ground.

Once briefly on Newport County’s books as a young goalkeeper back in the 1970s, the cerebral Harris had served his coaching apprenticeship with Gloucester City and the Midlands-based side Alvechurch, before transforming the unfancied Cinderford Town from Gloucestershire County League to lofty Southern League status; having indulged in some heroic FA Cup exploits along the way.

The studious boss immediately set to work on steadying the ship and repairing the damage by recruiting a plethora of new faces for the task that lay ahead; Chesters, Crouch, Hill, Preedy, Hunts Danny and Dave, Thomas and another goalkeeper Hards all arrived at Spytty Park.

A further new acquisition was prolific striker Karl Bayliss, an all-action and courageous performer who would

go on to earn legendary cult-status amongst the passionate Newport faithful. A youngster named Michael

Flynn began to break through from the academy and appear occasionally in the side as well; an extremely talented midfield player who would go to enjoy a highly successful Football League career thanks to the careful tutoring and guidance of Harris. Whatever happened to him I wonder?!With such an influx of new players, it was obviously going to take time for the new boss to mould a settled side, but with the top two in this league gaining promotion, expectations nevertheless were rather high. AFC fuelled those hopes by dashing out of the starting blocks with three successive league victories; but supporters were soon handed a sharp dose of reality when


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Weymouth 42 32 2 8 107 48 59 98

Chelmsford City 42 29 8 5 86 39 47 95Bashley 42 29 4 9 101 59 42 91Newport IOW 42 25 9 8 72 34 38 84Fisher Athletic 42 25 5 12 87 50 37 80Margate 42 23 8 11 71 42 29 77Newport AFC 42 21 6 15 83 65 18 69Witney Town 42 20 9 13 74 58 16 69Clevedon Town 42 20 7 15 57 55 2 67Waterlooville 42 17 7 18 69 64 5 58Dartford 42 17 7 18 60 60 0 58Havant Town 42 13 14 15 65 70 -5 53Fleet Town 42 16 5 21 63 83 -20 53Tonbridge Angels 42 14 10 18 49 55 -6 52Trowbridge Town 42 14 6 22 55 69 -14 48Erith & Belvedere 42 11 13 18 47 68 -21 46Fareham Town 42 12 9 21 75 87 -12 45Cirencester Town 42 12 7 23 63 88 -25 43Weston super Mare 42 12 5 25 49 86 -37 41Baldock Town 42 10 5 27 53 81 -28 35

Cinderford Town 42 6 5 31 40 112 -72 23

Yate Town 42 5 7 30 44 97 -53 22

TOP SCORERSTOP SCORERSPaul Evans 24

Karl Bayliss 16

Derek Brazil, Simon Truman 8


1998/99Southern League Midland Division (2nd)

1998/99 1998/99

The aftermath of the impending 1998/9 campaign marked the ten-year anniversary of

NewportAFC’sbeing;acampaignthat would eventually prove to be theExiles’finaleverinitscurrentguise. A poll conducted amongst supporters towards the season’s climax decided that the club would revert back to its famous former name of ‘Newport County AFC.’ It was incrediblyfittingthereforethatthebravelittleoutfitthathadalreadybecome renowned as stubborn fightersduringtheirinauguraldecade, overcoming many a daunting obstacle, should sign off on a great high by earning a glorious promotion backtotheSouthern[Dr.Martens]League Premier Division.

Spookily, the team entered the new season with a bold new strip of black and amber that harked back to the founding years of Newport County; how charmingly appropriate considering those circumstances that would soon arise come the name change at the season’s finale. Tim Harris’ new signings during this final AFC year included Grantley Dicks, elder brother of Premiership star Julian, along with Cooper, Jackson, Robison, Marshall and Lima; not to mention the late season

acquisition of the prolific Carl Dale in March, a signing which proved to be the catalyst that finally clinched that much sought after promotion berth. Poignantly, a tenacious and talented youngster named Nathan Davies also made his first-team bow during 1998/9.

A year that would end on the greatest of highs began rather excitingly too, when Premiership outfit Coventry City became the first club from the country’s most elite division to visit Spytty Park; a very strong Sky Blues team narrowly defeating a battling AFC side by just three goals to one during a prestigious pre season friendly. The real business kicked off in late August with Sutton Coldfield Town’s visit to South Wales, a game in which striker Karl Bayliss confirmed his hero status amongst the AFC faithful with a wonderful hat-trick

during a 4-0 rout.

A draw away at Redditch United, quickly followed by a 1-3 defeat at Stamford soon had excited supporters’ feet firmly back on terra firma however, as the Exiles returned to earth with a sudden jolt. With the great benefit of hindsight, it was to prove no bad thing to suffer an early kick up the proverbial backside, as Newport swiftly dusted themselves down and proceeded to win three and draw one of their next four league games; just as the domestic cups reared their meddling heads to interrupt the momentum.

The FA Cup was swiftly removed from our fixture calendar however, when Weston-super-Mare beat the Exiles by a solitary goal in a dour replay during the Preliminary Round tie. League form then took a predictably inconsistent turn around early October with an equal brace of games won and lost, soon to be followed by an early exit from the FA Trophy as well when AFC were surprisingly well beaten by four goals to two at home to the visiting Heybridge Swifts.

Once again it was to prove a blessing in disguise as Newport began to focus solely

on achieving some much needed league consistency. Bilston Town were well thrashed 5-0 at Spytty, while AFC then ran riot away at Bloxwich, winning 6-0 as the team embarked upon a run of eight victories, two draws and just one loss over the next 11 league matches. Progress was also made in the Dr. Martens Cup during this time, with the Exiles beating Harris’ old team Cinderford over two legs in Round One; before comfortably gaining revenge over Weston for that earlier FA Cup defeat by dispatching them 2-0 in the next round. Alas, a late January defeat at home to Bashley in Round Three ended all major cup interest for another year, subsequently allowing Newport to concentrate fully on a promotion bid that two recent away defeats was threatening to fatally disrupt.

Thankfully, with the Gwent Senior Cup already nestling comfortably on the sideboard, 11 out of the final 16 matches were duly won as the Exiles clinched promotion with a successful runners-up spot to Clevedon Town; after the commanding 4-1 home victory over Solihull Borough, with two games to spare. A fine run-in of form saw Karl Bayliss amazingly score hat-tricks both home and away against Harris’ old employers Cinderford Town.

Over a thousand supporters roared the team on to a thrilling 3-2 victory over Moor Green at Spytty Park on the final day of the season, in a game surrounded by a carnival atmosphere that not only became a joyous promotion celebration, but also a fine and wonderfully fitting way of drawing to a close an historic and momentous decade of Newport football.

The club that had staunchly refused to allow the name of Newport County to disappear and die forever would never again play a match as Newport AFC; with the end of a never-to-be-forgotten era being heralded in a manner truly befitting the efforts of one plucky little football club.


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Clevedon Town 42 28 8 6 83 35 48 92

Newport AFC 42 26 7 9 92 51 41 85

Redditch United 42 22 12 8 81 45 36 78Hinckley United 42 20 12 10 58 40 18 72Stafford Rangers 42 21 8 13 92 60 32 71Bilston Town 42 20 11 11 79 69 10 71Solihull Borough 42 19 12 11 76 53 23 69Moor Green 42 20 7 15 71 61 10 67Blakenall 42 17 14 11 65 54 11 65Shepshed Dynamo 42 17 12 13 62 54 8 63Sutton Coldfield Town 42 17 8 17 46 57 -11 59Stourbridge 42 16 10 16 60 55 5 58Evesham United 42 16 9 17 63 63 0 57Wisbech Town 42 16 9 17 59 66 -7 57Weston super Mare 42 15 10 17 59 56 3 55Bedworth United 42 15 9 18 63 52 11 54Cinderford Town 42 13 8 21 61 74 -13 47Stamford 42 13 7 22 60 75 -15 46Paget Rangers 42 11 12 19 49 58 -9 45VS Rugby 42 12 9 21 53 74 -21 45

Racing Club Warwick 42 5 8 29 38 93 -55 23

Bloxwich Town 42 1 2 39 26 151 -125 5

Redditch United 3 points deductedRedditch United 3 points deductedRedditch United 3 points deductedRedditch United 3 points deducted

TOP SCORERSTOP SCORERSKarl Bayliss 31

Lee Brown 15

Bradley Thomas 8


Spytty had developed over the years. The title of Newport International Sports Village had been amusing in the early days when there was more undeveloped land than facilities in the vicinity, but the additions of the tennis centre, new pool, crucially the velodrome and most recently the Football Association of Wales’ prestigious development centre gave credibility to the title. Inside the ground we had developed and then covered the ‘shed’, a great and atmospheric pitch-side terrace, replaced the floodlights, added a very distant ‘away end’ terrace, built a new shop and office complex to replace the old portacabin shop and, most crucially, through the initiative of fans, built BarAmber, the social club which changed the matchday experience and brought in new revenue. The Programme Shop portacabin remained as a reminder of the roots of our supporter-fanatic led new maturing club.

SPYTTY PARK

OUR GROUNDS

SPYTTY PARKFollowing High Court

victory over the Football Association of Wales, a

long and costly exercise, the Exiles returned to their home town triumphant. Somerton Park was no more and another new beginning was required. With one eye on our return the Council had developed the new Newport Stadium as a multi-purpose sports arena with a grandstand, perimeter access and terracing, and facilities up to standard for non-league football.

The Club had its fourth home in five years. We were hardly scaling the property ladder, and again a tenant – this time of the Council and not a peer football club – but at least the Club was back home. Newport Stadium, known as Spytty Park and the ‘inspiration’ of the variation of the nickname Spit the Dog for our eccentric mascot, was a new experience. As with many smaller non-league stadia everything was crammed into and under the grandstand. Reaching the small uncovered terrace on the opposite side of the pitch was an endurance test in itself, accessed by a long walk behind the school-like perimeter fence

from either end of the stadium. The difference was the presence of the athletics track and behind the goal features such as the jumps and nets, creating a huge oval which distanced the crowd from the pitch and made behind-the-goal viewing an impossibility. It was a vacuous space and generating any atmosphere was a challenge.

The first season back was a major success; with 95 points on the board we strolled the Midland Division and were promoted, as champions, to the Southern League Premiership. In the early years of our 18 year tenure at Spytty we were relegated, re-promoted and then, in 2004, elevated to the new Conference South as the higher end of the non-league pyramid was restructured. The wonder-season of 2009-10 was the highlight of these years of hard labour with promotion to the highest level of the non-league game being a first farewell to the stadium no-one ever loved but had become our life-saver. We needed something bigger, better and more like a football stadium.

Location NewportUsed 1994 - 2012, 2013Capacity 5,058Record Attendance 4,616 (v. Swansea City 11/11/2006)



1999/00 1999/00

It felt like normal service had been resumed in the lead up to the1999/0season;the‘County’

wereback,fillinganaching,ten-yearchasm in the hearts of older sup-porters who had quite never gotten over the loss of the Ironsides in 1989. That name change back to our famous former moniker, complete with a familiar new amber strip sporting the classic Newport ‘Terra Marique’ crest wasn’t the only cause ofexcitement;therewasgreathypesurrounding this exciting Exiles team on their return to Southern League [Dr.Martens]Premierfootball,withmany tipping the team to challenge for promotion again.

The pre-season programme only heightened that expectation further as Tim Harris’ side proved more than a match for the likes of Stoke City and Swansea City, whilst the Herefordshire Senior Cup was won in County’s first appearance in the invitation final since the regular contests of the 1980s and before; Carl Dale’s goal being enough to defeat Hereford United on their own back lawn. When the real business eventually got underway, the team

began in extremely fine fettle indeed; Newport not tasting defeat until the twelfth match in the league follow-ing an opening run of five wins and six draws. Clevedon, who had been promoted last season with Newport as champions were hammered 5-0 at Spytty Park, whilst away victories at Grantham Town and Salisbury City proved the Exiles could travel nicely too.

Sadly, that 4-2 defeat in league match number-twelve at Weymouth proved something of a reality check; County winning just one of their next nine in the aftermath that followed before a superb 5-2 Boxing day success at neighbours Merthyr Tydfil halted the slide somewhat. Striker Dale was scor-ing goals for fun in this first-half of the campaign; the crowd favourite notching 18 in league and cup by the turn of the year alone. Sadly both his, and indeed the team’s prowess would level off come the second part of the campaign

as County hovered permanently around the seventh-place they eventually finished. As a newly-promoted side however, that represented a terrific first year back at this level, even if it hadn’t quite matched the unrealistic hype and expectation that had been heaped upon them during the summer.

New additions to the squad for this final season of the Millennium included

the hugely experienced Gary Smart, still an expert mid-field performer even in his mid-thirties. He was joined by the likes of Bale, Jackson, Kemp, Mainwaring, Thorne, Eaton and Jordan; whilst the veteran Shaun Chapple became the first player for whom the new club had actually paid a transfer fee. Later in the season, further reinforcements would arrive in the form of Darren Ryan and Garry Shephard; two players who would go onto have quite a future impact at the club over the next few seasons.

So whilst the league cam-paign did not disappoint; let’s be honest, talk of an im-

mediate, second successive promotion had always been a tad unrealistic, the same could not be said about the cup competitions unfortunately. For as long as the name ‘Newport County’ has been lurking in football, the next disaster has never been too far away; and it was in the FA Cup that disaster befell the Exiles in this final year of the century. A drab, uninspiring home draw with Wim-borne Town in Round Two (Qualifying) was rectified during an exciting replay in Dorset, when Dale grabbed a super hat-trick to earn Newport a 3-2 victory.

Up next was lowly Burgess Hill Town at Spytty, a name most supporters had barely heard of let alone actually rec-ognised. It is entirely possible the team felt similarly; County putting in their most wretched display of the season as the minnows left South Wales with a thoroughly deserved 2-1 success, roared on throughout by their noisy, absolutely delighted band of supporters. If there is one thing the County has always done in style, it’s cup catastrophes; so a rather fine tradition continued there.

In the FA Trophy, the Exiles fared a little better; sailing to Round Three before losing a dour replay at home to Bedford following a goalless draw away in the first game. Yeading and Bashley had both been accounted for by the same 2-1 scoreline in the two rounds previous, whilst the Dr. Martens Cup campaign had ended before it had barely begun; County losing 2-1 away to Tiverton Town at the very first hurdle.

In a year when a cheeky chappy named ‘Spytty-the-Dog’ first appeared, a second piece of silverware was placed onto the mantelpiece in May, as the Gwent Senior Cup was lifted once again; Newport thrashing Caldicot Town by seven goals to nil, before fur-ther wins against Caerleon and Trede-gar Town in the final ensured that the name of ‘Newport County AFC’ would be etched onto the trophy for the first time since the 1970s. Lastly, no aeroplanes ever did fall out of the sky on New Year’s Day 2000; no computers crashed and nobody’s mobile phone blew up.

Millennium bug my eye!


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Boston United 42 27 11 4 102 39 63 92

Burton Albion 42 23 9 10 73 43 30 78Margate 42 23 8 11 64 43 21 77Bath City 42 19 15 8 70 49 21 72King’s Lynn 42 19 14 9 59 43 16 71Tamworth 42 20 10 12 80 51 29 70Newport County 42 16 18 8 67 50 17 66Clevedon Town 42 18 9 15 52 52 0 63Ilkeston Town 42 16 12 14 77 69 8 60Weymouth 42 14 16 12 60 51 9 58Halesowen Town 42 14 14 14 52 54 -2 56Crawley Town 42 15 8 19 68 82 -14 53Havant & Waterlooville 42 13 13 16 63 68 -5 52Cambridge City 42 14 10 18 52 66 -14 52Worcester City 42 13 11 18 60 66 -6 50Salisbury City 42 14 8 20 70 84 -14 50Merthyr Tydfil 42 13 9 20 51 63 -12 48Dorchester Town 42 10 17 15 56 65 -9 47

Grantham Town 42 14 5 23 63 76 -13 47Gloucester City 42 8 14 20 40 82 -42 38

Rothwell Town 42 5 14 23 48 85 -37 29

Atherstone United 42 5 13 24 30 76 -46 28

TOP SCORERSTOP SCORERSCarl Dale 23

Lee Brown 11

Danny Hill 9



2000/01 2000/01

T hefirstfullseasonofthenew millennium began with a pre-season programme

that attracted the likes of Millwall andSwindonTowntoSpyttyPark;although the marquee friendly was without doubt the game against the Manchester United U19s, which provoked local interest aplenty, not least with those notnormallyaffiliatedwiththeExiles. The County side did themselves proud too, recording afine3-1victoryagainsttheprospective stars of tomorrow thankstofinestrikesfromJames, Thorne and Eaton.

Midfielder Matt Rose was the stand out name amongst the new signings for this campaign, as Newport looked to build upon their impressive seventh-placed finish last time out. Manager Tim Harris would invariably show a lot of faith in the younger players

coming through at the club this year,

hosts. Not many inside the pretty little ground gave the Exiles a prayer at that point.

Come the interval, a solitary goal pulled back appeared to be no more than irrelevant consolation as the beleaguered Welsh side trooped off 1-4 down. What followed in the second period can only be described as pure pandemonium as 1-4 became 2-4, which in turn quickly became 2-5 to the hosts, it

was all over now surely? Don’t you believe a word of it! The mother of all comebacks was completed in astonishing fashion as predictably unpredictable County ran in a stunning 6-5 victory with Garry Shepherd nabbing a hat-trick. “Unbelievable Jeff!” would have done this one a terrible disservice.

It was only one game and just three points though lest we forget; although it proceeded to give County the spur to go unbeaten in their next seven league matches, a spell that included Boxing Day revenge over Merthyr; and

another thriller on New Year’s Day when they shared eight goals with Worcester City at St Georges Lane. Sadly the team’s Achilles Heel of mad inconsistency was never lurking too far away and despite some unforgettable encounters during 2000/01, the club had to satisfy

itself with a tenth-placed finish that didn’t quite match the efforts of the previous campaign, this despite the prolific 28-goal haul of avaricious striker Shepherd.

In the FA Trophy, Newport began with successive 2-1 victories in Rounds One and Two, accounting for Bedford Town and Slough Town respectively; before a Third Round reverse at St Albans City halted the march, a contest in which the Exiles were considered unlucky to have been beaten by the slender 0-1 score-line. County fared best of all in the Dr. Martens League Cup, a terrific run taking the side to within a whisker of the final itself.

The run began with another win over Merthyr, the two foes locking horns in a third competition this season; before Severnside rivals Bath City were thrashed 5-0 at Spytty in Round Two. Next up was Mangotsfield United before Bashley were dispatched at the Quarter-final stage, both by the same 2-0 score-line.

The Semi-final paired County with Worcester City, with Newport being afforded home advantage. Sadly, various postponements saw the tie eventually switched to Worcester’s ground in order to get it played; where the two teams fought out an epic battle that eventually saw the Blues triumph 5-3. In two games between the sides at that ground this year, the pair had provided an amazing 16 goals. It was that sort of season really.

whilst one such player not quite so youthful anymore would be playing his final campaign, veteran forward Carl Dale; a cult hero who would go out in style having struck up a lethal combination with the equally formidable Garry Shepherd.

County didn’t begin as brightly as the previous year; the first three matches were all drawn before a convincing brace of victories had supporters dreaming of promotion once more. A 3-1 success at Halesowen Town was followed up by a 5-0 demolition of Dorchester Town, in which new boy Rose nabbed a brace to register his fourth goal in only five matches for his new club.

Sadly a 0-4 thumping at Salisbury City in the next fixture swiftly curtailed that brief upturn of joy; a resounding beating that signalled a poor run of seven defeats in eight games. This included an embarrassing 0-4 home defeat against neighbours Merthyr Tydfil in the FA Cup, misfiring County exiting

the competition at the very first hurdle.

All that pre-season hope and optimism had well and truly evaporated now, as reality invariably set in; Newport were sitting an inglorious 20th in the league table, were out of the FA cup, and yet we were still a fortnight away from chucking pennies at a badly assembled ‘Guy Fawkes.’ The rot ended with a 3-2 away success at

Kings Lynn, followed by a game at Cambridge City’s Milton Road that is still spoke about in awe today. The travelling supporters had heads collectively in hands after 35 minutes; County trailing 0-4 after receiving what can only be described as corporal punishment from the


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Margate 42 28 7 7 75 27 48 91

Burton Albion 42 25 13 4 76 36 40 88King’s Lynn 42 18 11 13 67 58 9 65Welling United 42 17 13 12 59 55 4 64Weymouth 42 17 12 13 69 51 18 63Havant & Waterlooville 42 18 9 15 66 54 12 63Stafford Rangers 42 18 9 15 70 59 11 63Worcester City 42 18 8 16 52 53 -1 62Moor Green 42 18 8 16 50 53 -3 62Newport County 42 17 10 15 70 61 9 61Crawley Town 42 17 10 15 61 54 7 61Tamworth 42 17 8 17 58 55 3 59Salisbury City 42 17 8 17 64 69 -5 59Ilkeston Town 42 16 11 15 51 61 -10 59Bath City 42 15 13 14 67 68 -1 58Cambridge City 42 13 11 18 56 59 -3 50Folkestone Invicta 42 14 6 22 49 74 -25 48Merthyr Tydfil 42 11 13 18 49 62 -13 46

Clevedon Town 42 11 7 24 61 74 -13 40Fisher Athletic 42 12 6 24 51 85 -34 42

Dorchester Town 42 10 8 24 40 71 -31 38

Halesowen Town 42 8 13 21 47 69 -22 37


2001/02 2001/02

Regardless of what else occurred during the 2001/02 campaign, it would forever

be remembered as ‘The Blackpool Year;’aseasonwhenourperennialFA Cup underachievers reached the FirstRound[Proper]fortheveryfirsttime in their current guise, almost springing a huge shock in the process whilst gracing the live screens of Sky TV to boot. Heady times indeed and a sequence of events that had been quite unprecedented in the 12 years sincereforming;forthefirsttimetheExiles captured National headlines and countless attention, as older supporters were given a tantalising glimpse of the big time once again.

The run began with an innocuous draw away at Swindon Supermarine in the Second Round [Qualifying], before a 3-1 replay success back at Spytty Park sent the Exiles on their way. Little known Andover were up next and a successful trip south saw Newport record an emphatic 4-0 victory to reach the final qualifying round, where they found themselves paired with Conference outfit Woking, themselves famous cup giant killers. Around 800 noisy Welsh fans made the trip to Kingfield, as the team stubbornly chiselled out a fine goalless draw to bring them back to South Wales.

The following Monday night, Spytty Park was a cauldron of noise as

1,431 passionate voices provided County’s first four-figure attendance this decade. The team put in a scintillating performance to match; two superb Darren Ryan goals and a Martin Paul header propelling the Exiles into the First Round [Proper] where they followed the famous name of Blackpool out of the velvet bag. A thousand-strong Amber Army contingent simply packed the away terrace at Bloomfield Road against Steve McMahon’s Third Division side; where only a late penalty conceded by Jason Perry prevented County recording a famous scalp, having proudly led 2-1 at that point thanks to an ‘oggie’ and a Billy Clark goal.

The replay back at Spytty provided a then record crowd of 3,721; where gutsy Newport led again thanks to Matt Rose’s clinical first-half header. Alas, amidst the torrential rainfall the Tangerines eventually showed their class by running out 4-1 victors, but not before the Exiles had taken them to extra time and given them an almighty second scare.

Despite the huge number of cup games in 2001/2, it was also an excellent league campaign from the Exiles; the club recording their highest finish yet in the Southern League [Dr.

Martens] Premier Division of fifth. New recruits had included the likes of veterans Jeff Eckhardt and the aforementioned pair of Clark and Perry, while the likes of strikers Justin Richards and Lee Phillips would enjoy loan spells with the club. One could argue I suppose that the team might have seriously challenged for promotion had they not had to contend with an unfeasible marathon of some 22 cup fixtures.

County also entered the FAW Premier Cup for the first time during this campaign, thanks to their ranking as the top-placed exiled non-league club. The Group Stage saw them pitted against Carmarthen Town and Cwmbran Town, where the Exiles progressed after recording a double

over the Crows, whilst winning once and drawing once against Carmarthen. The Third Round paired them with Swansea City and for the second time this season, Newport County were shown live on TV; this time terrestrially courtesy of BBCWales.

Sadly, an incredibly strong Swans side proved too mighty a foe for the Exiles on this occasion; the league outfit winning rather comfortably at a cold Spytty Park by three goals to nil. In the FA Trophy, a fine 3-2 success at Twerton Park saw Bath City off in Round One; an entertaining score-line that was repeated in Round Two, this time at Walton & Hersham. There would be no further progress in this competition however, following a 0-2 away loss at Hampton & Richmond that abruptly ended all Newport interest come Round Three.

Any attempt at the Dr. Martens [League] Cup ended as soon as it had began; County losing 1-3 at home to Bath City in a competition they would have designated their least important during this hectic campaign.

The Gwent Senior Cup was won again though, the Exiles rattling five goals past plucky Albion Rovers before seeing Tredegar Town off by a solitary strike. A 3-1 Semi-final victory at nearby Chepstow Town earned the youthful County team a final berth, played against RTB Ebbw Vale at Caldicot’s Jubilee Way ground, where the Exiles ran out comfortable 4-1 winners to lift something shiny.

The club had broken fresh ground during 2001/2 for sure; a highest-ever league finish and an epic FA Cup adventure meant hopes were sky-high for the season that would follow. Sadly, as we know all too well, nothing tends to run quite that smoothly where the County is concerned; indeed, times both stormy and exciting lay in wait ahead.



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Kettering Town 42 27 6 9 80 41 39 87

Tamworth 42 24 13 5 81 41 40 85Havant & Waterlooville 42 22 9 11 74 50 24 75Crawley Town 42 21 10 11 67 48 19 73Newport County 42 19 9 14 61 48 13 66Tiverton Town 42 17 10 15 70 63 7 61Moor Green 42 18 7 17 64 62 2 61Worcester City 42 16 12 14 65 54 11 60Stafford Rangers 42 17 9 16 70 62 8 60Ilkeston Town 42 14 16 12 58 61 -3 58Weymouth 42 15 11 16 59 67 -8 56Hinckley United 42 14 13 15 64 62 2 55Folkeston Invicta 42 14 12 16 51 61 -10 54Cambridge City 42 12 16 14 60 70 -10 52Welling United 42 13 12 17 69 66 3 51Hednesford Town 42 15 6 21 59 70 -11 51Bath City 42 13 11 18 56 65 -9 50Chelmsford City 42 13 11 18 63 75 -12 50

Newport IOW 42 12 12 18 38 61 -23 48King’s Lynn 42 11 13 18 44 57 -13 46

Merthyr Tydfil 42 12 8 22 53 71 -18 44

Salisbury City 42 6 8 28 36 87 -51 26

TOP SCORERSTOP SCORERSMartin Paul 17

Scott Walker 11

Matthew Rose 10



2002/03 2002/03

Therewereafew‘firsts’achievedduring the 2002/03 season. It wouldbethefirsttimeCounty

had beaten a Football League club in acompetitivefixturesincetheir1989

risefromtheashes;itwouldalsobethefirsttimetheclubhadreachedacupfinalinwhich League clubs took part. Sadly, it was also a season in which affable boss Tim Harris, the man who had restored the club to the Southern League Premier Division following the catastrophes of 1997, not to mention achiev-ing an epic FA Cup adventure, would fall on his sword and resign his position as manager.

The campaign had begun brilliantly; County racing out of the starting blocks like Usain Bolt and winning all three of their opening fixtures. A 3-1 opening day success at Cam-bridge City was followed up by successive 3-0 home victories over Weymouth and Ilkeston Town. New centre-forward Neil Davis had three in three and

case of a team not troubling either end of the table.

Despite that FA Cup shambles against the minnows of Team Bath, it was in the cups that Newport County had their finest moments during 2002/03; most notably in the FAW Premier Cup. The Group stages saw the Exiles pitted against Connahs Quay Nomads, TNS and Bangor City, with County drawing both games against the former, both winning and losing against TNS, before drawing with Bangor at home. That meant a long midweek trek to North Wales to face the Citizens on their own turf, with County having to avoid defeat to ensure qualification for the knockout stages.

Things weren’t exactly going accord-ing to plan either at Farrar Road, the South Walians deservedly trailing for much of the match until Garry Shepherd popped up five minutes

from time to level and put lucky Newport through. The draw for the Quarter-final produced a repeat of the previous year’s fixture at this stage, sending league outfit Swansea City to Spytty Park.

Amidst the backdrop of another live TV broadcast, the Exiles put in a shift to be proud of, beating league opposition competitively for the first time. Once again Shepherd was the hero, his brace of goals past former County YTS lad Roger Freestone prov-ing sufficient along with a smartly taken effort from midfielder Ryan Ashington.

That earned County a juicy Semi-final tie at home to their old nemesis

Cardiff City; a match that would deliver another league scalp, just like bus-ses really, you wait ages for one then two come along at once. This time the two sides proved im-possible to separate over 120 gruelling, albeit goal-less minutes, thus forcing the teams to endure the lottery of a penalty shoot-out. After they’d finally located the penalty spot, Tom Jordan, son of leg-endary striker Joe, rattled the base of a post for City, while youngster Richard French dispatched his kick into the net with an air of authority to send Spytty Park wild. County had

reached the final where they would travel to the Racecourse to take on Wrexham.

The Robins had just clinched promo-

Newport County AFC proudly led the early league table. What could pos-sibly go wrong?

It’s fair to say that supporters’ heads weren’t in the clouds for too long, as all five of the next quintet of fixtures were lost before a 3-1 win over Chippenham Town served to represent County’s only success in ten league matches. That great start had become a wretched one in no time. There was also an embarrassing FA Cup debacle during this period, when the then unknown students from Team Bath came to Spytty and won at a canter; dispatching hapless Newport out of the cup by three goals to nil.

Always an honorable man, boss Tim Harris announced his resignation in November with former Welsh International, the Newport-born Peter Nicholas being named as his successor. The league form however never really recovered with County spending the rest of the season hovering between eighth and twelve place, before ultimately settling on a finishing position of tenth; a classic

tion to the Football League’s third tier, scoring goals for fun in the process whilst playing champagne football. Recent visitors to the Race-course such as Carlisle had seen five goals whacked past them, so what hope little Southern League County? As it was it was no hope whatsoever; Wrexham’s potent forward line of Carlos Edwards, Lee Trundle and Andy Morrell made mincemeat of Newport from the off, racing into a command-ing 4-0 half-time lead that could have been double figures on another day. Against an extremely talented side on the crest of a wave, the Exiles didn’t stand an earthly.

Credit to them then for refusing to throw in the towel, limiting the ram-pant hosts to just two second-half strikes before Shepherd scored the goal of the game with five minutes remaining; bending the ball into the top corner from the angle of the penalty area quite majestically. Much better sides than County had been thrashed there of late, so despite the 6-1 score-line, County could hold their heads high and savour the mo-ment of reaching the final on live TV again. This at a time when the three Welsh league clubs tended to take this competition seriously too.

The Dr. Martens [League] Cup by contrast saw an ignominious second round defeat at lowly Sutton Cold-field Town, County losing by two goals to one after beating Clevedon Town 2-0 in Round One. In the FA Trophy, the Exiles reached Round Three before slipping to defeat at Worcester City courtesy of the odd goal in five. Epsom & Ewell had been beaten 2-1 in the previous round, the stage at which County had entered.


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Tamworth 42 26 10 6 73 32 41 88

Stafford Rangers 42 21 12 9 76 40 36 75Dover Athletic 42 19 14 9 42 35 7 71Tiverton Town 42 19 12 11 60 43 17 69Chippenham Town 42 17 17 8 59 37 22 68Worcester City 42 18 13 11 60 39 21 67Crawley Town 42 17 13 12 64 51 13 64Havant & Waterlooville 42 15 15 12 67 64 3 60Chelmsford City 42 15 12 15 65 63 2 57Newport County 42 15 11 16 53 52 1 56Hednesford Town 42 14 13 15 59 60 -1 55Moor Green 42 13 14 15 49 58 -9 53Hinckley United 42 12 16 14 61 64 -3 52Bath City 42 13 13 16 50 61 -11 52Welling United 42 13 12 17 55 58 -3 51Grantham Town 42 14 9 19 59 65 -6 51Weymouth 42 12 15 15 44 62 -18 51Cambridge City 42 13 10 19 54 56 -2 49

Halesowen Town 42 12 13 17 52 63 -11 49Hastings United 42 10 13 19 44 57 -13 43

Ilkeston Town 42 10 10 22 54 92 -38 40

Folkestone Invicta 42 7 7 28 57 105 -48 28



2003/04 2003/04

The 2003/04 campaign began with a heavily decorated Chinese International turning

out for County during their pre-season programme. Former Crystal

Palace, Dundee and Cardiff City star Fan Zhiyi impressed sufficientlytoensurebossPeter Nicholas offered him a contract. Sadly, the talented player had to hotfoot it back to China rather sharply on account ofhisGrandfatherbeingill;hedid however promise to return the moment the old chap took a turn for the better. We can only assume the poor bloke is still very poorly as not sight nor sound has been heard of Zhiyi since. We wish his Granddad well though!

All joking aside, this was a gravely important season for County; whichever teams finished in the top half [top 12] of the Southern League [Dr. Martens] Premier this year would qualify for the newly formed ‘Conference South’ league for next season. So despite these being

steamed into April and entered the crucial business end of the campaign; supporters by this point seriously doubted that this side of ours could achieve the necessary placing. Finishing below the half-way marker was to all sense and purposes a relegation, as the club would then be two divisions below the National Conference instead of one. It was that important.

Thankfully the turning point was a crucial match at Dorchester Town’s Avenue Stadium on the 24th of April,

when two Sam Bowen goals turned a deficit into a huge victory; one that a relieved County never looked back on. Indeed two nights later, a side decimated by injuries went to runaway leaders and newly-crowned Champions Crawley and recorded a sensational 2-1 victory, thanks to goals from Ashley Williams and that man Bowen again; thus ensuring the Exiles finished in seventh spot, some four points clear of the 13th place cut-off.

County’s FAW Premier Cup campaign saw the side

knocked out in a home Quarter-final by Cardiff City, who took revenge for the previous year’s KO with a slender 0-1 success. Newport had negotiated a group involving Connah’s Quay Nomads, Rhyl and Afan Lido to reach that stage. In the FA Cup, the Port came storming back from two goals

down to record an excellent 3-2 win over bankrolled Weymouth, Steve Claridge et al. Sadly, that sterling effort counted for absolutely nothing in the Third Round [Qualifying] when little-fancied Mangotsfield United came to Spytty Park and thoroughly embarrassed hapless County with a 3-6 result in which Aussie striker David Seal ran riot. Shades of Team Bath the year before indeed.

The club’s stab at FA Trophy glory barely warrants a mention; County falling at the very first hurdle when they lost 0-1 away at another side aided by a wealthy benefactor, this time Hornchurch. Likewise the Dr. Martens [League] Cup, where the Exiles began at the Third Round stage; a home tie with Chippenham Town providing another crushing cup defeat when the Bluebirds ran out 0-4 winners before barely 400 beleaguered spectators at Spytty.

The lesser important Gwent Senior Cup was won again however, County beating Newport YMCA at Caldicot Town’s ground by a solitary strike from Bowen. En route to that final, the Exiles had defeated Croesyceiliog 3-0 and Tillery FC by three goals to two.

transitional times, it was absolutely imperative Newport made that end of season cut; nothing else would suffice.

Alas the team got off to the most woeful of starts; none of the first ten league games were won as Nicholas’ new-look side underachieved rather dismally. There were new faces galore too; former Welsh cap Gary Lloyd being amongst a plethora of arrivals that included Terry Evans, Steve Williams, Gareth Phillips, Andrew Mumford and prolific striker Mark Dickeson; the latter not lasting too long however due to an unfortunate early injury that ultimately finished his career.

Later acquisitions would include former Millwall and Watford star Jamie Moralee and bustling forward Sam Bowen, as County struggled to find that all important winning formula. Finally, a 4-1 success away at Hinckley United ended the malaise in the 11th fixture, Jeff Eckhardt scoring twice during a victory that lifted County off the foot of the table

they had been so manfully propping up. Five of the next six league games were won too, as the team at last began to find a bit of form; this included a sensational display at Worcester City where a brace of goals apiece from Neil Davis and John Phillips helped crush the unsuspecting hosts 5-1. That timely recovery saw County head into the New Year in ninth position, nestled nicely amongst the qualifying spots for the new Conference feeder league.

Sadly, from hereon inconsistency began to seep in alarmingly; such as when Worcester came to Spytty Park and extracted full revenge for that earlier hammering by pummelling the County 0-4. The team slipped worryingly to 14th position as we


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Crawley Town 42 25 9 8 77 43 34 84

Weymouth 42 20 12 10 76 47 29 72Stafford Rangers 42 19 11 12 55 43 12 68Nuneaton Borough 42 17 15 10 65 49 16 66Worcester City 42 18 9 15 71 50 21 63Hinckley United 42 15 14 13 55 46 9 59Newport County 42 15 14 13 52 50 2 59Cambridge City 42 14 15 13 54 53 1 57Welling United 42 16 8 18 56 58 -2 56Weston super Mare 42 14 13 15 52 52 0 55Eastbourne Borough 42 14 13 15 48 56 -8 55Havant & Waterlooville 42 15 10 17 59 70 -11 55Moor Green 42 14 12 16 42 54 -12 54

Merthyr Tydfil 42 13 14 15 60 66 -6 53Tiverton Town 42 12 15 15 63 64 -1 51Bath City 42 13 12 17 49 57 -8 51Dorchester Town 42 14 9 19 56 59 -3 51Chelmsford City 42 11 16 15 46 53 -7 49

Dover Athletic 42 12 13 17 50 59 -9 49Hednesford Town 42 12 12 18 56 69 -13 48

Chippenham Town 42 10 17 15 51 63 -12 47

Grantham Town 42 10 15 17 45 67 -22 45 TOP SCORERSTOP SCORERSGary Lloyd, John Phillips 8

Neil Davis 7

Garry Shephard, Raith Plant 6


2004/05Conference South (18th)

2004/05 2004/05

A new season and a new league beckoned for Newport County AFC, the Exiles now part of

the inaugural Conference South set-up. Summer additions to the playing squad appeared to be initially exciting;goalkeeperRogerFreestonereturned to club along with another former Swan in Jonathan Coates. Former Cardiff City stars Scott Young, Jason Bowen and Kevin Aherne-Evans were fellow new arrivals, along with the likes of Carl Wilson-Dennis and defender Lee Phillips. Sadly, as with Mark Dickeson a year earlier, a serious injury would soon curtail Young’s playing career after a promising start in the amber shroud.

The opening day fixture saw the Exiles go down to a solitary-goal defeat away at Havant & Waterlooville; the scorer of which was a certain Dean

Holdsworth, who we’ll surely be hearing more about later. County

stated two wins in fourteen didn’t make for pleasant reading, County ending the month of January in 18th position and out of every meaningful cup competition. The likes of Cortez Belle and Antonio Corbiseiro arrived to try and stem the tide, as did Chad Bond on loan. Results barely improved though and come April, a Newport side that sat 20th in the 22-team table looked in real danger of losing their Conference South berth at the very first attempt.

That they didn’t was helped somewhat by Bishop’s Stortford coming to Spytty and resting their entire team for an FA Trophy Semi-final which was to duly follow. Grateful County duly whacked six

goals past Martin Hayes’ team of kids but still worryingly conceded three!

A 5-0 away win at an even more hapless Redbridge, who were rooted to the foot of the table was another mitigating factor as a mightily relieved Newport somehow clawed their way up to 18th and just about avoided the dreaded drop. However the need for massive improvement next time around was clearly evident.

As previously alluded to, the quest for cup glory in 2004/05 is perhaps best forgotten. A dreadful display at Tiverton Town in the FA Cup still bears horrible scars as the Exiles suffered a 1-4 thrashing at the final qualifying hurdle. The misfiring team had somehow managed to negotiate their way past Corsham Town and North Leigh (after a replay) to reach that last stumbling block before the big Football League clubs got involved; County squandering their chance of a whopping payday in quite kamikaze fashion.The FAW Premier Cup saw no big Quarter-final

clash with one of the League’s Welsh representatives this time around; County failing to get past the opening stage for the first time following a showing on live TV at Caernarfon Town that must still

bounced straight back though and recorded a brace of home victories over Weymouth [2-0] and Welling United [4-1]; fuelling supporters’ expectation for a rosy season ahead. Sadly, how terribly misguided we were, only one of the nine matches were actually won which prompted the September sacking of manager Peter Nicholas.

Following a brief internship where Youth Academy boss Glyn Jones held the trusty tiller, another former Welsh International in John Cornforth was announced as the new boss, a marriage which for whatever reason was doomed to fail. Undefeated in his first five league and cup games, it wasn’t a bad start at all; from thereon however, a poor run set in and goalkeeper Freestone left the club only four months after triumphantly returning. There were stormy waters ahead.Three horrendous cup defeats and a wretched run in the league that

cause folk nightmares. The Exiles’ meek 0-1 surrender that night was about as horrendously bad as anything this supporter remembers.

In the FA Trophy, further calamity lay in wait; Kettering Town came to Spytty Park in Round One and subsequently walloped the hosts by a morale-sapping four goals to nil. With the Dr. Martens [League] Cup having been left behind with the Southern League Newport County had escaped from last year, the curiously named National Conference Cup was entered; a competition that would seemingly disappear from the radar almost as quickly as it had been thought up.

Surprisingly, Newport appeared to be doing rather well in this; a 2-0 win away at Weymouth in Round One was unexpected, but not nearly as unexpected as the 1-0 success at Dorchester Town that followed in Round Two. Next up was a third successive tie on the road, this time against old Severnside rivals Forest Green Rovers, now a National Conference side. County put in a decent shift there too, the Exiles very unlucky to lose 3-4 in extra-time after pushing the hosts all the way.

Lastly, the Gwent Senior Cup was lifted once again; although it hardly registered in a season that supporters couldn’t forget about quickly enough; indeed if this had been a school report card, it would surely have said … “Needs to do much, much better!”


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Grays Athletic 42 30 8 4 118 31 87 98

Cambridge City 42 23 6 13 60 44 16 75Thurrock 42 21 6 15 61 56 5 69Lewes 42 18 11 13 73 64 9 65Eastbourne Borough 42 18 10 14 65 47 18 64

Basingstoke Town 42 19 6 17 57 52 5 63Weymouth 42 17 11 14 62 59 3 62Dorchester Town 42 17 11 14 77 81 -4 62Bognor Regis Town 42 17 9 16 70 65 5 60Bishop’s Stortford 42 17 8 17 70 66 4 59Weston super Mare 42 15 13 14 55 60 -5 58Hayes 42 15 11 16 55 57 -2 56Havant & Waterlooville 42 16 7 19 64 69 -5 55St Albans City 42 16 6 20 64 76 -12 54Sutton United 42 14 11 17 60 71 -11 53Welling United 42 15 7 20 64 68 -4 52Hornchurch 42 17 10 15 71 63 8 51Newport County 42 13 11 18 56 61 -5 50Carshalton Atheltic 42 13 9 20 44 72 -28 48Maidenhead United 42 12 10 20 54 81 -27 46

Margate 42 12 8 22 54 75 -21 34Redbridge 42 11 3 28 50 86 -36 33

Hornchurch and Margate each 10 points deductedHornchurch and Margate each 10 points deductedHornchurch and Margate each 10 points deductedHornchurch and Margate each 10 points deductedHornchurch and Margate each 10 points deductedHornchurch and Margate each 10 points deductedHornchurch and Margate each 10 points deducted

Redbridge 3 points deductedRedbridge 3 points deducted



2005/06 2005/06

The 2005/06 season would provide much of the same painful malaise that

supporters had experienced a year earlier;moreabjectstruggleastheExilesflatteredtodeceivefor much of the campaign. There washoweverasparklingfinaletothe year which had the relieved County faithful dubbing it … “The Great Escape Mk II.”

Manager John Cornforth’s team exhibited decent form during the pre-season programme, carrying this over into the opening league match in which fellow strugglers Carshalton Athletic were comprehensively trounced 4-1 at Spytty Park; leaving the patrons to ponder the possibility that a corner had at last been turned. Unfortunately it hadn’t; indeed following a midweek draw at Maidenhead United, the next eleven games in a row were all lost as Newport’s form took a terrifying nosedive. Following that near miss last time out, this underachieving side were racing headlong towards certain relegation at the speed of an out of

out for. The effervescent forward was a cult hero and crowd favourite almost from the very off.

The losing streak was finally halted when Bognor Regis Town were beaten 1-0; although such was the damage already inflicted, County remained in the bottom three for the next four solid months. A 0-4 walloping at Weymouth on the 4th of March was not only the season’s low point, it also proved to be the turning point. That hammering left County rock-bottom of the league, some ten points adrift of safety with just ten games remaining.

A third and equally crucial signing was made when ultra-consistent centre-back John Brough arrived and was immediatey appointed skipper; like the two previously mentioned Beadle acquisitions, this would be the catalyst to Newport County AFC performing an amazing, almost Lazarus-style resurrection from the dead, to somehow unfeasibly haul themselves to safety.

A point away at Bognor was followed by four successive victories as the Exiles simply tore-up the formbook. Another hard-earned point at Welling United was proceeded by a game at promotion-chasing Histon that

personified the new-found belief Beadle had instilled. Two goals down and looking mortally wounded, County staged a fight-back that stunned even their own supporters; the team rattled in three goals without reply including an absolute scorcher from Gary Fisken that nearly tore the net from its poor, unsuspecting stanchion.

If anybody had still harboured any lingering doubts, then that performance alone completely banished them. When Newport went to Cambridge City in the penultimate league game, an astonishing leap to safety was assured with a game still to spare when

control express train, make no bones about it.

An FA Cup nightmare at Chippenham Town saw a woeful County well and truly leathered by four goals to nil and the board simply had to act; and act rather decisively they did. The manager was relieved of his duties in late September with Academy boss Glyn Jones once again asked to keep a temporary hold of the reigns. Within a few weeks, Clevedon Town manager Peter Beadle was unveiled as the man chosen to arrest what was threatening to become a slide of some terminal proportion.

Despite being initially unable to stem the tide, the former Spurs and Bristol Rovers forward brought a new injection of verve and relish to the club; whilst his first signing of experienced goalkeeper Tony Pennock would prove to be an absolute ‘master’ stroke; if you’ll excuse the pun bearing in mind the nickname bestowed upon the stopper by the home fans. Likewise striker Craig Hughes; the sort of prolific front man the Exiles had been crying

Hughes put the visitors in front, before Fisken iced the cake with another goal-of-the-season contender. A great escape indeed and suddenly the future seemed rosy.

Wrexham had ended County’s FAW Premier Cup interest of 2005/6, winning 0-2 in a dire contest at Spytty after Caersws had been taken care of in Round Two; the stage at which the Exiles had entered. The cups mattered not though, certainly not at a time when achieving league safety was such a pressing and paramount issue. Like the FA Cup, the Trophy too ended at the first hurdle when the team were well beaten 0-3 at Salisbury City.

Like much of what was occurring early season, the Exiles’ involvement in the Gwent Senior Cup competition too was shrouded in farce. An early September tie at nearby Risca United was abandoned ten minutes into extra time with the scores locked at 2-2, as the little ground had no floodlights.

Eventually rearranged for Spytty Park some two months later, a 4-2 Newport victory proved somewhat irrelevant when County were subsequently kicked out of the competition for failing to fulfil a fixture with Croesyceiliog in the next round.


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Weymouth 42 30 4 8 80 34 46 90

St Albans City 42 27 5 10 94 47 47 86Farnborough Town 42 23 9 10 65 41 24 78Lewes 42 21 10 11 78 57 21 73Histon 42 21 8 13 70 56 14 71

Havant & Waterlooville 42 21 10 11 64 48 16 70Cambridge City 42 20 10 12 78 46 32 67Eastleigh 42 21 3 18 65 58 7 66Welling United 42 16 17 9 58 44 14 65Thurrock 42 16 10 16 60 60 0 58Dorchester Town 42 16 7 19 60 72 -12 55Bognor Regis Town 42 12 13 17 54 55 -1 49Sutton United 42 13 10 19 48 61 -13 49Weston super Mare 42 14 7 21 57 88 -31 49Bishop’s Stortford 42 11 15 16 55 63 -8 48Yeading 42 13 8 21 47 62 -15 47Eastbourne Borough 42 10 16 16 51 61 -10 46Newport County 42 12 8 22 50 67 -17 44Basingstoke Town 42 12 8 22 47 72 -25 44Hayes 42 11 9 22 47 60 -13 42

Carshalton Athletic 42 8 16 18 42 68 -26 40Maidenhead United 42 8 9 25 49 99 -50 31

Weymouth 4 points deductedWeymouth 4 points deducted

Havant & Waterlooville and Cambridge City each 3 pts deductedHavant & Waterlooville and Cambridge City each 3 pts deductedHavant & Waterlooville and Cambridge City each 3 pts deductedHavant & Waterlooville and Cambridge City each 3 pts deductedHavant & Waterlooville and Cambridge City each 3 pts deductedHavant & Waterlooville and Cambridge City each 3 pts deductedHavant & Waterlooville and Cambridge City each 3 pts deductedHavant & Waterlooville and Cambridge City each 3 pts deductedHavant & Waterlooville and Cambridge City each 3 pts deducted

Maidenhead United 2 points deductedMaidenhead United 2 points deductedMaidenhead United 2 points deductedMaidenhead United 2 points deducted

TOP SCORERSTOP SCORERSCraig Hughes 11

Jason Bowen 8

Matt Green 5



2006/07 2006/07

Followingthechampagnefinishto the previous season, the 2006/07 campaign would see

a rejuvenated County battling for success on three different fronts whilst playing the most exciting football seen in years. Boss Peter Beadle had spent the summer adding to the excellent signings that had clawed the club to safety, with the likes of veterans Alsop, Searle and Jenkins all arriving.

A new goalkeeper had to be sourced in double-quick time too, following a horrific pre-season injury to the popular Tony Pennock; Beadle excelled on that score too, recruiting experienced stopper Mark Ovendale. Lofty expectations were matched by a bright start; an entertaining, 3-3 opening-day draw at Justin Edinburgh’s Fisher Athletic was followed by a brace of home victories that had County sitting third in the table before they first tasted defeat, when losing 1-2 at Salisbury City.

The Exiles were quickly back into the groove and a trio of successes

3-0 first-half lead. Unthinkably, the hosts were allowed to fight back to level until an astonishing encounter was eventually decided two minutes into stoppage time when substitute Sam O’Sullivan hit a winning goal that defied the term ‘epic.’

Sadly, a gruelling nine games in just 21 days inevitably caught up with a fatigued County, as Cambridge City came to Spytty in the final game and won 1-2 with two Charlie Henry goals; thus ensuring the unfortunate Exiles missed the play-offs by a mere

whisker. The adventurous team of 2006/7 deserved better it must be said, but it wouldn’t quite be County without that annual dose of heartache.The team also excelled in the cups; especially in the FA Cup where the First Round [Proper] was reached for the only the second time. A 3-0 win at Bideford was proceeded by a 4-2 home success over Bishops Cleeve; before the team headed to Tonbridge Angels in the final qualifying round and returned victorious thanks to Alsop’s clever volley. There was great excitement as Newport were paired with Welsh rivals Swansea City, in what was clearly the tie of

the round. Alas it would be a day that would invariably attract the wrong sort of headlines as the Swans won 1-3 before a then-record crowd of 4,616 at a packed Spytty Park.

Another FAW Premier Cup final was reached too; County disposing of Newi Cefn Druids before beating league opposition in Wrexham during a dramatic Quarter-final tie, fondly remembered for the most audacious of nutmegs from Jason Bowen. A Semi-final with Port Talbot Town saw the Exiles taken to extra-time, before Bowen’s header sent Newport into the final. Sadly, as in the league programme, Newport fell at the final fence and North Walians TNS lifted the trophy following a slender 0-1 victory before another hefty Spytty Park crowd.

In the FA Trophy, victories over Didcot Town and Sudbury Town saw the Exiles lock horns with Histon once more in Round Two. Afforded home advantage, County couldn’t repeat their heroics of a week earlier when they had smashed five past the startled Stutes; the Cambridgeshire club eventually progressing following a 1-3 triumph in the replay. As seasons go however, it had been an absolute corker with more of those “worth the admission fee alone” moments than you could shake a veritable stick at.

saw them head to Histon in a ‘first vs. second’ early-season showdown, one which the Stutes won by a solitary strike. Nevertheless, the entertainment value was rich as County, with Craig Hughes in particular, rattling in the goals for fun; although a seven-goal thriller with Farnborough in which County emerged worse off highlighted the team’s defensive frailties.

A home game with Eastleigh saw three opposition players and their manager all dismissed inside a crazy first-half period, whilst Yeading left Spytty Park well and truly spanked following a hat-trick from the emerging Matt Green; a player who was soon off to Cardiff in a five-figure deal. Newport headed into the New Year in similarly decent shape and rose to fourth place after beating Dorchester 4-0 away, followed by an absolute demolition of champions-elect Histon at a muddy Spytty Park when the Exiles slammed home five wonderful goals.

Sadly, the consistency was never

quite there to challenge for the automatic promotion spot, although this vastly improved County were in touch with the play-off berths all year. Postponements meant a hectic finish to the season in which three games in particular would live long in the memory; a thrilling 4-3 home victory over eventual play-off winners Salisbury was epic enough, however this was followed by a 4-0 dismantling of Eastbourne via a majestic exhibition of football from the Exiles.

Both of those games however would be dwarfed by the penultimate match; a Thursday night trip to nearby Weston-super-Mare that saw over 500 County fans in raptures as the team strode to a commanding


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Histon 42 30 4 8 85 44 41 94

Salisbury City 42 21 12 9 65 37 28 75Braintree Town 42 21 11 10 51 38 13 74Havant & Waterlooville 42 20 13 9 75 46 29 73Bishop’s Stortford 42 21 10 11 72 61 11 73

Newport County 42 21 7 14 83 57 26 70Eastbourne Borough 42 18 15 9 58 42 16 69Welling United 42 21 6 15 65 51 14 69Lewes 42 15 17 10 67 52 15 62Fisher Athletic 42 15 11 16 77 77 0 56Farnborough Town 42 19 8 15 59 52 7 55Bognor Regis Town 42 13 13 16 56 62 -6 52Cambridge City 42 15 7 20 44 52 -8 52Sutton United 42 14 9 19 58 63 -5 51Eastleigh 42 11 15 16 48 53 -5 48Yeading 42 12 9 21 56 78 -22 45Dorchester Town 42 11 12 19 49 77 -28 45Thurrock 42 11 11 20 58 79 -21 44Basingstoke Town 42 9 16 17 46 58 -12 43

Hayes 42 11 10 21 47 73 -26 43Weston super Mare 42 8 11 23 49 77 -28 35

Bedford Town 42 8 7 27 43 82 -39 31

Farnborough Town 10 points deductedFarnborough Town 10 points deductedFarnborough Town 10 points deductedFarnborough Town 10 points deducted

TOP SCORERSTOP SCORERSCraig Hughes 26

Jason Bowen 20

Julian Alsop 11



2007/08 2007/08

Could Newport County AFC go one better in 2007/08? Supporters certainly hoped

andbelievedso;althoughthenewseason would need to go some in order to match the excitement levels of the previous one that much was for sure. Once again there was the usualplethoraofincomings;anewkeeper in Glyn Thompson arrived, along with reinforcements elsewhere inJarman,John,Griffin,DoddsandFowler.

Newport kicked-off with a goalless draw away at Bishop’s Stortford, before experiencing an indifferent start in which they won just two of the first seven league games. Sitting tenth at that point in time, the team began to gel and five successive games were won, albeit minus the swagger us supporters had been treated to the previous year. This was a more rigid looking outfit, gone was the cavalier approach that had seen the Exiles slip at the finish last time around.

Despite a contentious home defeat to Bath City, in which a dubious late penalty decision had enraged the Spytty faithful, County had risen to third in the table and a brace of victories

and then draws led the team up to the Christmas period in which four points out of six were gleaned from successive away trips to Weston-super-Mare and Dorchester Town, before the latter were thrashed 5-0 at Spytty in the New Year’s Day return fixture.

Unbeaten in their next four, followed by two defeats on the spin was a pattern that was endlessly repeated, Newport continuing to be consistently

inconsistent throughout the league campaign of 2007/08. Indeed following that sequence, three league games on the trot were won, before the next three were all haplessly lost; unlike the previous campaign, County didn’t appear to be approaching the business end of the year with any momentum whatsoever. A worrying statistic with the zest and hunger we’d seen before not at all prevalent.

However with the final three games all at home, destiny still lay firmly in County’s own hands; four points from the nine available would still see that coveted play-off berth achieved. The team sadly went into self-destruct mode for this run-in however, finishing the season in horrendous form that would not only see the play-offs missed by a whisker once again, but would also account for manager Peter Beadle’s own position come the season’s end.

Eventual runners-up and play-off winners Eastbourne Borough were up first, County certainly not disgracing themselves as Andy Gurney scored to secure a hard-fought point; now two home games with Thurrock and Fisher Athletic remained for Newport to find the three points necessary. The

first, against bogey-side Thurrock was a complete disaster; another four-figure crowd stunned as the Essex side trounced the Exiles by four goals to one. Worse was to follow, the following Saturday, Londoners Fisher employed a classic smash & grab and triumphed 1-2 before 1,427 disbelieving home patrons. County had thrown it all away again.

It wasn’t all doom and gloom in 2007/08 though; the FAW Premier Cup was

won for the first and only time, in the competition’s final year; a cup success that provided Newport fans with a night to absolutely savour. A last-minute Charlie Griffin goal saw off plucky Bangor City’s resistance in Round Two, before Swansea City headed to Spytty for the Quarter-final on another bitterly cold night. The prolific Griffin did it again; repeating the trick by disposing of the Swans with another 90th minute strike that had fellow

striker and Cardiff fan Guppy [Hughes] going ballistic.

That sent the Exiles to Ninian Park for the Semi-final against their biggest nemesis; over a thousand Newport supporters reliving the 1980s all over again by making the short trip down the road en masse. Amidst a turbo-charged away atmosphere, County took City to extra-time before former Bluebird Jason Bowen dived full-length to head Newport gloriously in front. The cheers had barely died down in the away enclosure when Cardiff struck back immediately through Steve Thompson, forcing the match to penalties.

County tucked all theirs away with the panache of the German National side, until another former Bluebird in Damon Searle smashed his [County’s fifth] penalty against the underside of the bar; if City scored their last kick, poor old County were out. Goalscorer Thompson stepped up and inexplicably put his kick wide of the upright; the 1,000 Newport fans erupting in disbelieving delight. Lee Jarman then buried his penalty before youngster Jack Carlisle had his saved by Glyn Thompson; and County to a man went absolutely wild in berserk celebration.

The final against former boss Peter Nicholas’ Llanelli was always going to be an anticlimax after that epic night, however Newport were again afforded home advantage and Hughes made sure there would be no regrets this time around; his clinical header eight minutes from time putting County’s name on the strange looking trophy that resembled a bowling ball.

The Exiles had fallen at the first hurdle in the FA Cup of 2007/08; Bath winning 1-2 at Spytty before a large Friday night crowd in which each goal was a cracker. In the FA Trophy, revenge of sorts was gleaned when the Romans were beaten 3-0 in Round One, before Torquay United ended our interest with a 1-2 success in Round Two. Horns were locked with Bath for an unfeasible fifth time in the newly-thought of Setanta Shield, Ian Hillier’s stunning acrobatic bicycle-kick just one highlight of a 3-2 thriller in which young Prosser got the winner. Defeat at Hampton & Richmond however quickly ended interest there too.


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Lewes 42 27 8 7 81 39 42 89

Eastbourne Borough 42 23 11 8 83 38 45 80Hampton & Richmond Borough 42 21 14 7 87 49 38 77Fisher Athletic 42 22 5 15 65 61 4 71Braintree Town 42 19 12 11 52 42 10 69

Eastleigh 42 19 10 13 76 62 14 67Havant & Waterlooville 42 19 10 13 59 53 6 67Bath City 42 17 15 10 59 36 23 66Newport County 42 18 12 12 64 49 15 66Bishop’s Stortford 42 18 10 14 72 60 12 64Bromley 42 19 7 16 77 66 11 54Thurrock 42 18 9 15 63 64 -1 63Hayes & Yeading United 42 14 12 16 67 73 -6 54Cambridge City 42 14 10 18 71 72 -1 52Basingstoke Town 42 12 14 16 54 75 -21 50Welling United 42 13 7 22 41 64 -23 46Maidenhead United 42 11 12 19 56 59 -3 45Bognor Regis Town 42 11 11 20 49 67 -18 44St Albans City 42 10 12 20 43 69 -26 42

Weston super Mare 42 9 10 23 52 85 -33 37Dorchester Town 42 8 10 24 36 70 -34 34

Sutton United 42 5 9 28 32 86 -54 24

TOP SCORERSTOP SCORERSCharlie Griffin 20

Craig Hughes 14

Jason Bowen 12



2008/09 2008/09

With manager Peter Beadle having been relieved of his duties at the end of the

last campaign, the Exiles needed a fresh approach and a new direction. The new gaffer was soon announced as former ‘Crazy Gang’ striker Dean Holdsworth. The popular forward had enjoyed a brief spell playing for County during the 2006/7 season, ironically under Beadle, andhadtakenhisownfirststepsin management last year, when he guided Redbridge to the Ryman play-offs.

Holdsworth’s first task was a huge one; a complete revamp of the Newport squad following a mass exodus in players after two years of falling at the final hurdle. Out went many a big name such as Bowen, Griffin, Alsop, Searle, Jarman, Fowler and Evans. In came three players from his previous club Redbridge, former Premiership players Kevin Cooper and Paul Hall, along with countless other names whose own stay at the club would eventually prove short ones. One summer signing who would buck that trend was midfielder Danny Rose; a skilful young player who had once been on the books at Manchester United.

With such enormous transition, it was little wonder the team started poorly; indeed an opening-day thrashing at home to newly promoted AFC

Wimbledon highlighted just what a gargantuan task Holdsworth had undertaken. Defeat at Eastleigh in the next match, followed by a brace of draws only served to emphasise the struggle ahead, as players began to arrive and depart almost on a daily basis. A Craig Hughes goal saw the first victory against Hampton & Richmond, but just one of the subsequent next nine were won as the team lurched from one crisis to another. This was best summed up when Hayes & Yeading came to Spytty and walloped the Exiles by an embarrassing five goals to one.

With the arrival of striker Craig Reid on loan, plus further reinforcements in the likes of veteran defender Ashley Vickers, slowly but surely a corner appeared to be being turned; although County still headed into the New Year 18th in the league table. The first game of 2009 however offered up new hope when runaway leaders Chelmsford City came to South Wales and were unceremoniously thumped 3-1, thanks to a sensational hat-trick from new crowd darling Reid. Indeed at

that point in time, Chelmsford had won 11 games on their travels and had yet to taste defeat.

Salisbury City pair Aaron Cook and Wayne Turk arrived and a revitalised Newport simply never looked back; four of the next six were won as the Exiles finally began to climb the table and banish those fears of relegation. It certainly wasn’t plain sailing, County continued to both win games and lose them in seemingly equal measure, but the green shoots of recovery were now extremely evident.

Sam Foley arrived on loan to bolster the team’s run-in and despite a horrendous evening when Bath came to Spytty and won 0-4, the Exiles finished the campaign with a nice flourish. County dispatched four goals themselves past both Fisher and

Team Bath as they finished the season unbeaten in their final seven outings, eventually finishing tenth. After a year in which the blood pressure had been pushed to boiling point, we had signed off with genuine hope that 2009/10 might be a far more special affair. By hook or by crook, we appeared to be getting there.Such was the timing of the FA Cup campaign of 2008/09, it had inevitably fallen victim to that wretched spell when absolutely nothing appeared to be going right for Dean Holdsworth and the Exiles. Sent away to Dorchester in Round Two [Qualifying], a battling 2-2 draw hinted at possible progress. Alas, an awful 1-2 surrender in the home replay would be remembered for Reid notching his first Newport goal and precious little else.

Dorchester Town were also drawn away in the Setanta Shield, a little more than a fortnight after the two teams had drawn an amazing league encounter 4-4. This tie provided more of the same; what a pity only 178 spectators were present to witness a thrilling encounter that County edged 5-4. Unfortunately, a Dave Gilroy hat-trick would see to Newport hopes in the next round as Bath City won 4-1 at Twerton Park.

In the FA Trophy, Andover were beaten 3-0 away from home before County were paired with Conference Premier outfit, Rushden & Diamonds in the First Round [Proper]. A Craig Reid penalty earned a trip to Nene Park for a replay in which Newport were more than a tad unlucky to exit the competition on penalties following another 1-1 draw over 120 tense minutes.

The Gwent Senior Cup was entered once again during this campaign; although amidst so much hearty transition it was an added distraction County could really have done without, with all due respect to the old competition. Cwmbran Town were defeated 4-1 away, before Newport Civil Service in the Semi-final beat a County team consisting almost entirely of academy players.


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AFC Wimbledon 42 26 10 6 86 36 50 88

Hampton & Richmond Borough 42 25 10 7 74 37 37 85Eastleigh 42 25 8 9 69 49 20 83Hayes & Yeading United 42 24 9 9 74 43 31 81Chelmsford City 42 23 8 11 72 52 20 77

Maidenhead United 42 21 8 13 57 46 11 71Welling United 42 19 11 12 61 44 17 68Bath City 42 20 8 14 56 45 11 68Bishop’s Stortford 42 17 8 17 60 60 0 59Newport County 42 16 11 15 50 51 -1 59Team Bath 42 16 7 19 62 64 -2 55St Albans City 42 14 12 16 56 50 6 54Bromley 42 15 9 18 60 64 -4 54Braintree Town 42 14 10 18 57 54 3 52Havant & Waterlooville 42 11 15 16 59 58 1 48Worcester City 42 12 11 19 38 53 -15 47Weston super Mare 42 12 11 19 43 68 -25 47Basingstoke Town 42 10 16 16 36 55 -19 46Dorchester Town 42 10 12 20 39 61 -22 42

Thurrock 42 9 13 20 54 60 -6 40Bognor Regis Town 42 7 12 23 33 68 -35 26

Fisher Athletic 42 5 3 34 22 100 -78 18

Bognor Regis Town 7 points deductedBognor Regis Town 7 points deductedBognor Regis Town 7 points deducted

TOP SCORERSTOP SCORERSCraig Reid 21

Danny Rose 11

Paul Cochlin 5


2009/10Conference South (1st)

2009/10 2009/10

Expectation levels were extraordinarily high for this new2009/10campaign;

however even the most rose-tinted of Newport followers could neither have imagined nor anticipated what actually transpired. County didn’t only challenge for promotion from Conference South, they simply tore the division apart leaving barely nothingstandingintheirwake;DeanHoldsworth’s team created records galore as they provided supporters with the greatest season on record thus far for NCAFC Mk II.

The permanent signings of Craig Reid, Paul Bignot and Sam Foley gave the new season the perfect starting platform. A new skipper in the irrepressible Gary Warren from nearby Team Bath joined them; alongside further fresh faces that included Scott Rogers and Dave Gilroy from the other side in Bath and the impish forward Charlie Henry. A pre-season trouncing of a strong Stoke City team only fuelled the hype, although when the real business began, County surprisingly drew three of their opening four games.

Nevertheless, this extremely talented side soon slipped into their stride and an almost perfect 4-0 demolition of Chelmsford City saw the Exiles proceed to win eight of their next nine games. Included in this run was a big 1-0 success at Woking and a 5-1 home

victory over Eastleigh, that had the faithful on the Shed simply purring; the football at times was an absolute joy to behold. Even a shock early exit from the FA Cup was perceived ultra-positively as a blessing in disguise, as an avaricious County continued to pull up trees in the league.

A 0-1 defeat at Staines Town at the tail end of October finally provided the Exiles with their first league defeat of the season, but from thereon, the club’s lead at the summit of the table simply grew and grew and grew. Second-placed Dover Athletic were beaten 2-1

on their own turf thanks to a brace of corkers from Reid; whilst supposed bogey-team Thurrock and St Albans City were both completely levelled at Spytty Park by identical score-lines of 5-0. County had gone top in September and would simply never look like relinquishing that spot; indeed the title was all but won by January!

Quality utility man Jamie Collins had arrived and strengthened the playing pool further,

the first Newport player in this exciting team to cost a fee amazingly. Old foes Lewes were beaten 3-0 away, Eastleigh were thrashed 4-1 on their own back lawn; while successive four-goal wins at Hampton and Worcester respectively were making this title-winning malarkey look far too easy indeed.

The Championship itself was finally clinched over the course of an ecstatic, never-to-be-forgotten weekend in early to mid March. A header from pint-sized Swansea loanee Kerry Morgan saw off Bishop’s Stortford on the Friday night, before 3,084 enraptured home supporters. Three nights later, Havant & Waterlooville arrived at Spytty Park on an absolute hiding to nothing; 4,221 expectant souls packed the ground and roared their approval as two Sam Foley goals duly delivered that coveted title. The pitch invasion and subsequent

celebrations that followed were unforgettable.

This team just didn’t know how to ease off however; with the crown now firmly in the bag, Newport continued to roar towards a record Conference South points total. Woking were beaten in the very last minute at Spytty, then Maidenhead United were resoundingly thrashed. County went to Weston-super-Mare and comprehensively trounced the Seagulls 4-1; before Dover came to Wales for the final home game in which a Championship party was held before 3,201 spectators.

County’s 3-0 victory that lovely, sunny afternoon seemed to be almost inconsequential. The final day at Braintree Town saw another 2-1 success, as Holdsworth’s team finished with 103 points, some 28 clear of runners-up Dover. A truly astonishing haul in what was only a 42-game league.

The cup competitions barely mattered during 2009/10, let alone actually registered. As previously alluded to, this all-conquering team suffered one the great FA Cup shocks of this campaign; unfeasible losing 0-1 at minnows Paulton Rovers after disposing of Clevedon. Supporters seemed rather non-plussed to be fair, they had a whole bunch of other stuff going on!

Another shock of note occurred in the Gwent Senior Cup, when Monmouth Town came to Spytty and deservedly won 2-0 against a team consisting largely of County academy kids.

In the FA Trophy, Newport beat Braintree 2-1 at home, before heading to Farnborough in the First Round [Proper]. A 3-1 victory there earned a Second Round tie with York City; the Exiles pummelling the Minsterman during the home tie, but ultimately not making their chances count. The replay back in York saw the host’s progress thanks to a late goal from striker Richard Brodie.


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Newport County 42 32 7 3 93 26 67 103

Dover Athletic 42 22 9 11 66 47 19 75Chelmsford City 42 22 9 11 62 48 14 75Bath City 42 20 12 10 66 46 20 72Woking 42 21 9 12 57 44 13 72

Havant & Waterlooville 42 19 14 9 65 44 21 71Braintree Town 42 18 17 7 56 41 15 71Staines Town 42 18 13 11 59 40 19 67Welling United 42 18 9 15 66 60 6 63Thurrock 42 16 13 13 66 60 6 61Eastleigh 42 17 9 16 71 66 5 60Bromley 42 15 10 17 68 64 4 55St Albans City 42 15 10 17 45 55 -10 55Hampton & Richmond Borough 42 14 9 19 56 66 -10 51Basingstoke Town 42 13 10 19 49 68 -19 49Maidenhead United 42 12 12 18 52 59 -7 48Dorchester Town 42 13 9 20 56 74 -18 48Bishop’s Stortford 42 12 11 19 48 63 -15 47Lewes 42 9 15 18 49 63 -14 42

Worcester City 42 10 10 22 48 60 -12 40Weston super Mare 42 5 8 29 48 93 -45 23

Weymouth 42 5 7 30 31 103 -72 22


Sam Foley 17

Charlie Henry 10


2010/11Conference Premier (10th)

2010/11 2010/11

These were exciting times to beaCountyfan;justhowwellwould this exciting side of ours

fair in the National Conference, a league that contained more than its fair share of professional, full-time outfits?Indeeditfeltmoreliketheold Division Four with all the famous old names that were suddenly appearingonNewport’sfixture-listoncemore;Wrexham,LutonTown,GrimsbyTown,MansfieldTown,Cambridge United, Darlington, York City, Barrow and Southport. It felt like we had well and truly arrived.

Big, bustling centre-forward Robbie Matthews was a new signing, along with the usual clutch of summer acquisitions such as Guiseppe Sole, Eddie Odhiambo, Lee Baker and Darryl Knights. Despite losing the opening game 0-1 at Darlington’s imposing Arena, the expectation didn’t waver; neither did it when the next three matches were all drawn. A fine brace of goals from Matthews helped defeat Kidderminster 3-0 and County were up and running; two draws followed before the team gloriously won five on the spin, including terrific away wins at Rushden & Diamonds and Cambridge United.

County proudly sat third in the table

before going down to a 0-2 defeat at Grimsby; that preceeded a pair of games in which they excelled even by their own recent lofty standards. York City were hammered 4-0 at Spytty Park, amidst the backdrop of the city of Newport hosting the illustrious Ryder Cup tournament; they then visited a heavily bankrolled Crawley Town and stunned the league leaders by winning 3-2. These were heady times indeed.

Sadly, the bubble burst in the very next match, when Kettering Town won 1-2 at Spytty, thus ending the Exiles’ proud home record of almost

two years without defeat. Another loss and a draw were quickly followed by successive victories as Newport maintained their position of fourth, nestled nicely amongst the promotion chasing pack. A 3-2 festive victory at Kidderminster Harriers had County top of the league momentarily, the wonderful calm before the storm that was to follow.

As we entered the busy new year, manager Dean Holdsworth announced he was off to Aldershot Town, a move that not only abruptly halted the sparkling momentum, but a decision that appeared to decimate the team’s extraordinary spirit. Following a defeat at Tamworth, trusty Director of Football Tim Harris

stepped up to the plate, with the Newport board announcing that they would not be rushing into appointing a successor for the now departed gaffer.

We all tend to agree that hindsight is a wonderful thing, but from New Year’s Day onwards, the team went some 13 games without experiencing victory; any chance of promotion had disappeared with that fateful decision of the manager’s it seemed. To make matters worse, top-scorer Craig Reid had been sold to Stevenage during that January transfer window, with former County striker Charlie Griffin and Yemi Obudade arriving in the opposite direction as a makeweight part of the deal. County were in no danger

of going down, but a season that had started so promisingly was effectively all but over.

On April 1st, Anthony Hudson, son of former England International Alan was finally announced as Holdsworth’s successor; the team seeing out the campaign thereafter with one or two bright spots that helped patch the gaping wounds that had been inflicted post Christmas time. Barrow were walloped 5-0 at Spytty Park, whilst the hefty trek to Gateshead on the final day of the season saw Newport rack-up a record-breaking 7-1 success; a clear case of what might have been indeed.

Now a Conference Premier outfit of course, County didn’t enter the FA Cup until the Fourth [& final] Qualifying Round; it was here they received a home tie with Crawley Town. Having recently upset the apple cart by triumphing on Crawley’s pitch, revenge was gained here when Town progressed by a solitary goal following an uninspiring contest. We just don’t ‘do’ the FA Cup do we?!

The FA Trophy was a competition County likewise rarely did well in; a goalless home draw with Wealdstone saw a Monday night replay back in Ruislip, where Jon Challinor’s goal in the last minute of extra-time sent Newport through. The second round trip to Mansfield Town had occurred during that January malaise when affairs at the club were up in the air; County unsurprisingly bowing out at Field Mill following a 2-4 defeat.

The Gwent Senior Cup was entered once again and County rattled in a fair few goals during their three matches in this year’s competition. Darryl Knights and Joe Leahy grabbed two apiece as Cwmbran Town were hit for eight in Round One at the Cwmbran Stadium; whilst their neighbours Cwmbran Celtic were thrashed 5-0 in a Spytty Semi in which the Exiles also missed two penalties. The trophy was lifted when County beat Croesyceiliog 2-0 at Abergavenny in the Final.


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Crawley Town 46 31 12 3 93 30 63 105

AFC Wimbledon 46 27 9 10 83 47 36 90Luton Town 46 23 15 8 85 37 48 84Wrexham 46 22 15 9 66 49 17 81Fleetwood Town 46 22 12 12 68 42 26 78

Kidderminster Harriers 46 20 17 9 74 60 14 72Darlington 46 18 17 11 61 42 19 71York City 46 19 14 13 55 50 5 71Newport County 46 18 15 13 78 60 18 69Bath City 46 16 15 15 64 68 -4 63Grimsby Town 46 15 17 14 72 62 10 62Mansfield Town 46 17 10 19 73 75 -2 61Rushden & Diamonds 46 16 14 16 65 62 3 57Gateshead 46 14 15 17 65 68 -3 57Kettering Town 46 15 13 18 64 75 -11 56Hayes & Yeading United 46 15 6 25 57 81 -24 51Cambridge United 46 11 17 18 53 61 -8 50Barrow 46 12 14 20 52 67 -15 50Tamworth 46 12 13 21 62 83 -21 49Forest Green Rovers 46 10 16 20 53 72 -19 46

Southport 46 11 13 22 56 77 -21 46Altrincham 46 11 11 24 47 87 -40 44

Eastbourne Borough 46 10 9 27 62 104 -42 39

Histon 46 8 9 29 41 90 -49 28

Kidderminster Harriers, Rushden & D and Histon each 5 points deductedKidderminster Harriers, Rushden & D and Histon each 5 points deductedKidderminster Harriers, Rushden & D and Histon each 5 points deductedKidderminster Harriers, Rushden & D and Histon each 5 points deductedKidderminster Harriers, Rushden & D and Histon each 5 points deductedKidderminster Harriers, Rushden & D and Histon each 5 points deductedKidderminster Harriers, Rushden & D and Histon each 5 points deductedKidderminster Harriers, Rushden & D and Histon each 5 points deductedKidderminster Harriers, Rushden & D and Histon each 5 points deducted

Kettering Town 2 points deductedKettering Town 2 points deductedKettering Town 2 points deducted


Jamie Collins 10

Darryl Knights 7


2011/12Conference Premier (19th)

2011/12 2011/12

It was all change again for 2011/12, as new manager Anthony Hudson attempted

to stamp his mark on a Newport side dealing with a plethora of departures. A new keeper arrived in Danny Potter, whilst the pre-season matches saw more trialists than you could keep count of. Other permanent new arrivals included the likes of Yakubu, McAllister, Doherty, Buchanan, Robson, Velez, Jardim andPaulRogers;asfamiliarfacesincluding Todd, Collins, Morgan, Odhiambo and Baker said “Adios” to life at Newport County AFC.

With such upheaval, the team started inconsistently although an opening day defeat at Kettering’s new Nene Park home was rough justice on the Exiles’ efforts that afternoon. The 4-0 home success over Hayes & Yeading that soon followed gave no hint to the strife that lay ahead; County failing thereafter to win any of their next 12 league matches, whilst displaying the poorest of on-field discipline. That horrific run ended the tenure of rookie boss Hudson almost as quickly as it had began, the board terminating the manager’s contract with immediate effect on the 28th September.

The next appointment couldn’t be more crucial if Newport were to preserve

their Conference status, let alone actually push on and take advantage of it. It has to be said, the County board got this one so spot on we would end up not quite believing our fantastic luck. On the 4th of October, former Tottenham stalwart Justin Edinburgh was announced as the new boss, with his immediate brief nothing more pressing than keeping the Exiles in this division. Such was the character of this man who simply oozed confidence, he immediately declared he most certainly would.A wonderful 4-1 victory at leaders and eventual champions Fleetwood, in only his second game, set the standard; the talented Sam Foley looking a

player reborn again as he whacked home a thrilling hat-trick. Not that it was plain sailing thereon; there would be plenty of obstacles along the way as a struggling Newport who had shipped most of their best players teetered around the division’s bottom four places all season. But a new-found belief was instilled; aided enormously by the manager’s cute signings and wily use of the loan market that saw the likes of Minshull, Porter, Chapman, Jarvis, Darlow and Sandell all hooking up with Hudson’s last and best signing, David Pipe in rejuvenating the County.

Safety was finally assured with three games to spare as Newport finished

free of the dreaded drop in 19th position. That gave the team ample time to prepare for the season’s finale that would herald the start of their centenary year in quite wonderfully fitting fashion; a first ever trip to Wembley Stadium. Yes Wembley! It still sounds weird, little Newport County at Wembley.

Despite the huge ongoing fight for league survival, the new manager had somehow steered this often-misfiring team to the final of the FA Trophy; the excitement in and around Newport as a result was almost without precedent, certainly for the new club. Forest Green Rovers had been negotiated in Round One, the two teams drawing 0-0 at

Spytty before County triumphed 2-0 at the New Lawn in the replay. Worksop Town were defeated 3-1 away in Round Two, whilst next up was Carshalton Athletic, whom the Exiles trounced 4-0 in what would be the easiest game of the run in all fairness.The Quarter-final draw was kind to the Exiles again, this time being paired with Northwich Victoria away, in a game that would be played at Macclesfield’s Moss Rose ground. Cult hero Jake Harris came into his own again here; once more climbing off the bench to rescue Newport after the favourites had gone two goals behind. Harris striking twice to restore parity before Jarvis struck an injury-time winner that lucky County scarcely deserved.

The Semi-final draw yet again looked upon County with great fortune, York had drawn Cambridge United whilst Newport got rank outsiders Wealdstone. Buchanan, Jarvis and Knights all scored at Spytty during a gutsy first-leg from the Stones; and a goalless draw in sunny Ruislip a week later had 500 County fans dancing merrily on the pitch. Wembley here we come!

Almost 12,000 Newportonians and quite a few ex-pats headed to the footballing Mecca en masse; and might even have won the day had Romone Rose not spurned a gilt-edged early chance. As it was, York proved too strong on the day and lifted the coveted Trophy by two goals to nil; nothing could spoil the thrill of seeing County at Wembley though. A year that had started in turmoil had finished there of all places.

The Exiles also reached the FA Cup First Round [Proper] after a thrilling 4-3 victory over Braintree. Shrewsbury Town came to Spytty and won a rather forgettable encounter by a solitary goal. The Welsh Cup was also entered for the first time since 1992; Newport defeating a plucky Barry Town side 3-2 before the farce of being forced to play at TNS on the same day as a league encounter saw the Exiles gracefully bow out.


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Fleetwood Town 46 31 10 5 102 48 54 103

Wrexham 46 30 8 8 85 33 52 98Mansfield Town 46 25 14 7 87 48 39 89York City 46 23 14 9 81 45 36 83Luton Town 46 22 15 9 78 42 36 81

Kidderminster Harriers 46 22 10 14 82 63 19 76Southport 46 21 13 12 72 69 3 76Gateshead 46 21 11 14 69 62 7 74Cambridge United 46 19 14 13 57 41 16 71Forest Green Rovers 46 19 13 14 66 45 21 70Grimsby Town 46 19 13 14 79 60 19 70Braintree Town 46 17 11 18 76 80 -4 62Barrow 46 17 9 20 62 76 -14 60Ebbsfleet United 46 14 12 20 69 84 -15 54Alfreton Town 46 15 9 22 62 86 -24 54Stockport County 46 12 15 19 58 74 -16 51Lincoln City 46 13 10 23 56 66 -10 49Tamworth 46 11 15 20 47 70 -23 48Newport County 46 11 14 21 53 65 -12 47AFC Telford United 46 10 16 20 45 65 -20 46

Hayes & Yeading United 46 11 8 27 58 90 -32 41Darlington 46 11 13 22 47 73 -26 36

Bath City 46 7 10 29 43 89 -46 31

Kettering Town 46 8 9 29 40 100 -60 30

Darlington 10 points deductedDarlington 10 points deductedDarlington 10 points deducted

Kettering Town 3 points deductedKettering Town 3 points deductedKettering Town 3 points deducted

TOP SCORERSTOP SCORERSSam Foley 12

Danny Rose 11

Nat Jarvis 9


RODNEY PARADE

OUR GROUNDS

RODNEY PARADE

Location NewportUsed 2012 - presentCapacity 7,012Record Attendance 6,615 (v. Grimsby Town 28/04/2013)

F inally,toourfifthandnewest home, Rodney Parade;astadiumwhich

has proven to be something of a talisman with an enthralling and emotional centenary year seeing us achieve our aim of Football League status in Justin Edinburgh’sfirstfullseasonatthe helm. You could not have written the script for this one. Unfashionable and at times under-appreciated as a top-flightnon-leagueclub-thedetermination of manager and players to prove the critics wrong, a great team spirit, and withtheenergyoftwentyfiveyears of angst and expectation uncorked–Countyfinishedthe season in impressive style and held their nerve to see off Wrexham at a sixth and newly adopted ‘second home’, Wembley Stadium.

Rodney Parade, home to Newport RFC and the Newport Gwent Dragons, had been the obvious location for some. Often talked about as an option in years past, the possibilities grew as we began to outgrow Spytty and relations between the rugby and football club leaders

grew stronger. There were an increasing number of football-rugby ground shares in evidence across England and, in the cases of Swansea and until recently Cardiff, within Wales. Newport posed a different challenge – three clubs would need to be accommodated remembering that Rodney Parade is an old athletic association housing a number of sports, and the original Newport RFC are the mainstay occupants.

Rodney Parade offered so much – a central location, a stadium with a sizeable capacity, in the new Bisley Stand modern and expansive corporate entertainment facilities, and a high quality playing surface, a major improvement on Spytty. A tentative one year deal has now been replaced by a full 10 year ground-share agreement. We have begun to make the Parade feel more shared and more ours with new turnstiles opening up the upper tier of the Hazell Stand, and the addition of the temporary seating in the unused space in the one end corner. The club shop sensitively balances the goods of the three clubs and

our new offices on the entrance road to the complex have been fitted out to a high standard. Bit by bit we are beginning to have a presence and the Parade is feeling more like a home than a hotel for the night.

The replacement of the pitch with a full under-pitch drainage and sprinkler stadium should resolve the biggest challenge posed by a three-way use of the stadium, and with the relief of a few paracetemol the three club secretaries should again be able to manage the headache of three competing fixture schedules.

At last we have some certainty for our future. The club can lay its nomadic past to rest, but will never forget its roots and will always have pride in its name of The Exiles. History is built by forefathers; for the newer and welcome fans to the Club remember and learn from your past.

Free fromartificialflavoursartificialcolours

✔

✔

ee fromee fromicial

Now made witheven more prime steak*

✔ hydrogenated fat

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654918_240x165_NEWPORT_FC_PROGRAMME_AD.indd 1 10/07/2013 13:59


2012/13 2012/13

Even before a ball had been kicked in the new 2012/13 season, the club’s proud 100th

as ‘County’ new and old, a huge move occurred that would ensure the club’s naturalprogressionfromhereon;Newport County AFC had now moved lock, stock and barrel to the City’s rugby stadium at Rodney Parade. A bigger ground with a city-centre location, one wholly more suitable for football than Spytty Park had ever been;thiscouldonlyaidetheclub’sfuture considerably. That was merely thetipoftheiceberghowever;aCentenary Year that had began with atriptoWembley,wouldfinishinthe most amazing, remarkable way possible.

The new ground made it feel like the Exiles had seriously moved up a level; and expectations were heightened by a summer of wheeling and dealing from manager Justin Edinburgh that saw another complete revamp of the squad. Gone were many of the players who had just about kept the club up last time around, not to mention two massive departures in Sam Foley and skipper Gary Warren; and in their place came an abundance of real quality with the likes of James, Pidgeley, O’Connor, Louis, not to mention a returning Michael Flynn all arriving. Previous loanees such as Porter and Minshull also saw their moves made

permanent.

To say the team started well was a gross understatement; County were out of the blocks in a trice and won all five of their opening fixtures. The club felt transformed; a 4-0 home thrashing of Nuneaton as Rodney Parade truly embraced the game of football followed an opening day 4-3 victory at Mansfield. In match number five, old foes Hereford came to Newport and 4,365 boisterous fans roared their approval as two stunning goals saw off the Bulls. County led the league table, completely unrecognisable from the club they had been just a few months earlier.

Indeed the turnaround the manager and his assistant Jimmy Dack had instigated was astonishing; Newport were the only

club that never once slipped out of the top five all season; with a little more luck at crucial times they might even have won the title. Mercurial forward Christian Jolley arrived in November and plundered six goals in five games; including a hat-trick as County demolished Luton 5-2 on live TV. Cambridge visited and were hit for six, as Louis departed and loan forward Michael Smith arrived and slotted in seamlessly; whilst on-fire striker Aaron O’Connor simply couldn’t stop scoring.

Edinburgh’s astute nurture in bringing on teenage sensation Lee Evans saw the midfielder move to Wolves in January for a large, six-figure

sum; whilst Willmott arrived and Jolley signed a permanent deal amidst stiff competition for his signature. The Exiles had faltered over the festive period, so the canny Edinburgh switched to a 5-3-2 formation that incorporated another local lad in Byron Anthony; and Newport returned to form by ending Mansfield’s winning run. A night match at Hereford saw County concede three penalties; yet they still mustered an injury-time winner from Willmott that had over a thousand away fans going berserk.

With a play-off berth secured, another loanee in teenager Alex Gilbey was

introduced as third-placed Newport, contesting an end of season play-off for the first time in their history, found themselves paired with fifth-placed Grimsby Town. The first-leg at a tense Blundell Park was a cagey affair, a draw would be perceived as a good result for the Welsh side that nobody fancied to succeed in the end of season lottery. Defender Ismail Yakubu had altogether other ideas; his last-minute header from Sandell’s set piece stunned the Mariners and jubilant County were on their way.

The following Sunday, a packed Rodney Parade was a sight to behold as flags, fireworks and 6,615 ecstatic fans bellowed their heroes over the line. When Jolley scored his 16th goal of the season, the place erupted and the Exiles were off to Wembley for the second time in a year! Honestly, if Carlsberg did centenary seasons, how could they ever try to better Newport County?!

Last year’s trip had been a glorious day out; this time it was utterly, deadly serious; Newport vs. Wrexham in the first ever all-Welsh Wembley final. The stakes simply couldn’t be higher; a place in the Football League awaited the victors and the chance for NCAFC MkII to complete the very mission the club had been reformed for. Even our nerves felt nervous!

Oh worry ye not, wonderful, lovely old County duly completed a season beyond our wildest dreams in a fashion that the famous ‘Roy of the Rovers’ comic would have deemed far-fetched. Just four minutes of a gruelling, goalless contest remained when Christian Jolley raced away like a whippet; his subsequent touch over the onrushing keeper had all the aplomb of your biggest Premiership star name. As the Dragons threw the kitchen sink at Newport in response, O’Connor raced away and smashed in an injury-time time second; the part of Wembley that was amber simply went mad. Mission accomplished!2012/13

Conference Premier (4th) - Promoted via play-offs


2345

6789

1011121314151617181820

2122

23

24

Mansfield Town 46 30 5 11 92 52 40 95

Kidderminster Harriers 46 28 9 9 82 40 42 93Newport County 46 25 10 11 85 60 25 85Grimsby Town 46 23 14 9 70 38 32 83Wrexham 46 22 14 10 74 45 29 80

Hereford United 46 19 13 14 73 63 10 70Luton Town 46 18 13 15 70 62 8 67Dartford 46 19 9 18 67 63 4 66Braintree Town 46 19 9 18 63 72 -9 66Forest Green Rovers 46 18 11 17 63 49 14 65Macclesfield Town 46 17 12 17 65 70 -5 63Woking 46 18 8 20 73 81 -8 62Alfreton Town 46 16 12 18 69 74 -5 60Cambridge United 46 15 14 17 68 69 -1 59Nuneaton Town 46 14 15 17 55 63 -8 57Lincoln City 46 15 11 20 66 73 -7 56Gateshead 46 13 16 17 58 61 -3 55Hyde 46 16 7 23 63 75 -12 55Tamworth 46 15 10 21 55 69 -14 55Southport 46 14 12 20 72 86 -14 54

Stockport County 46 13 11 22 57 80 -23 50Barrow 46 11 13 22 45 83 -38 46

Ebbsfleet United 46 8 15 23 55 89 -34 39

AFC Telford United 46 6 17 23 52 79 -27 35

TOP SCORERSTOP SCORERSO’Connor 21

Jolley 17

Minshull, Willmott 6


Core to our 25-year journey back to the Football League have been the men who have steered the ‘Good Ship Newport County AFC’

during their respective tenure as Chairman of the football club. In this article, Andrew talks to four of those who have been at the helm since reforming in 1989.

Our current chairman, Les Scadding is living the dream – a football fanatic at the helm of his club with the chance to steer the vision and wield influence to bring the success all fans crave. He has the privilege of being part of the inner sanctum – the ultimate ‘In the Know’ supporter and the opportunity to satiate his love of football on a daily basis. As Chairman he can bring in the man he is convinced will take you to the top – and have the power to say goodbye when it isn’t panning out quite the way you expected! And I have no doubt whatsoever that when Les reads this he will say ‘that’s what he thinks!’

The reality is somewhat different whether you are at a club struggling to keep afloat or riding the crest of the wave. A football club is a hungry beast that will, given the chance, devour you not only financially, but emotionally too. You are constantly second guessed, the success is down to the man you brought in, but you share in the blame for failure and in any event any success is fleetingly appreciated with yet more insatiably demanded. You won’t have it all your own way in any event as you will of course have a Board and most likely these days other supporters’ organisations with which you will need to develop finely tuned political skills. Still interested?

Most club Chairmen fit into the category of hero or villain in the minds of supporters. Many nowadays have no local affiliation. Some in their lifetime leave an indelible mark on their club’s history with a rare few both reviled and revered during different periods. In his first spell in charge at Stoke, Peter Coates received death threats and was utterly despised for many years. When his personal fortune had significantly increased and he took the club over once more, he had the good sense to turn to an ex-Newport County player (Tony Pulis) and by supporting him appropriately found success of a scale not seen by them for many years and is now fondly referred to by ‘Stokies’ as St Peter. County have been lucky. We have had Chairmen who have bled amber – and without any one of their contributions we would not be in such celebratory mood today with this historic return to the Football League. Every one of them has given to the cause far more than most of us could ever

LOOK BACK IN AMBER

Look Back In Amber

with Andrew Taylor

From The Boardroom

appreciate. But what was it really like to be in their shoes? Since reforming in 1989 we have had five Chairmen and in this article three share their memories.

David Hando

Without question, there could not have been a better ‘appointment’ than David Hando to navigate through the politically choppy waters of the early years as ‘Newport AFC’. David is reveling in the club’s progress, not least of which is having secured a long term future at Rodney Parade – a move which has taken him full circle to his days as a youthful supporter of local sport! “My father took me to Somerton Park, although we went to Lovell’s more as he worked on a Saturday. When going by myself I used to share between Somerton Park and Rodney Parade and only stopped going to the rugby because they insisted on playing South Africa”

David had worked in Uganda helping to train young teachers, one of who was beheaded in the very class used by David! David saw firsthand the unacceptability of apartheid and his strong sense of justice and belief in principles that have served us so well were already clearly evident. “I was involved in the supporters clubs of both codes and a group of us asked to meet RT Carter but he refused point blank. Wewerenotamob–IwasaParliamentarycandidateandothers in the group included the Bishop of Monmouth and head teachers. That was it for me and it was only County after that. Alf Sherwood was a particular hero of mine.”

David was to become a familiar face associated with fund raising for County – an enormously important contribution to our survival if not our development in some very difficult times. “In the 70’s when Fred Dawson made a special offer to join the Vice Presidents, I did, along with my two sons, and started the Subscription Draw. I was black and blue just from the practicing for a parachute drop, but it raised £1,000 which was a tidy sum back then. There was a fella irate when he heard about it because he thought I was going to land at Somerton Park during a game!”

With the club folding and the minimal assets being auctioned off, the spectre of Jerry Sherman remained, toying with the emotions of supporters with constant unfulfilled promises of the club continuing. Fortunately, there was unfinished business that needed attention by supporters groups – and from that emerged Newport AFC. “It was all through ‘Lifeline’ the fundraising society for the club. I was Secretary and people were still paying at least £2 per week to support a club that no longer existed and so we called a meeting to see what to do with the money. We voted to give £50 to every member of staff and one brave soul wanted it to go to the FAW! People had been ringing saying ‘why don’t we start a new club?’ So I came to the meeting and suggested it. We set up a Steering Committee of Lifeline and Supporters Club members and agreed to set up a new club with the aim of restoring League football to the town. The Committee of 15 was each allocated roles and Mark Williams was the Secretary and leading light I would say and it was he who contacted the Hellenic League


whileIwasdealingwiththeCouncil–Iwouldratherhaveswapped! Sherman’s promises were still continuing and we did say that we would offer our full support if the original club survived. The critical date was 1st April as that was the auction, but our so called saviours let it all go for a measly few thousand. We said to Sherman if we were offered a place in a lower league by the deadline then we would take it and he ridiculed us. Maurice Salway was still taken in by him and would just say that all would be well. Both the FAW and the Council also said that we were not a serious outfitandweredoomed.

“The Council said we were ‘Newport County in disguise’ and were trying to get back into Somerton Park while we owed them money and the FAW said we were nothing to do with Newport County and had to start off in the Newport and District League! They couldn’t both be right! Meanwhile a fewclubsopposedusatfirstjoiningtheHellenicLeague–well not so much joining but that they thought we should joinbelowtheirPremierDivision.Wedidaratherfineprospectustocirculate–andlet’sfaceitCountyhadbeenrathergoodatthatintheolddayswhenfightingforre-election year after year! Everyone was very impressed with it and we then rang round but said we had a problem as the FAW would not sanction us to play in an English league and the Council would not let us play at Somerton Park, or even Glebelands which was being talked about. One or two clubs considered a ground share, but they had reserve sides and the only one that didn’t was Moreton. It was 85 miles away and nearly in Oxfordshire really. Bill Eldridge said, ‘Do you know where we are?’ He said he’d ask his Committee and came back to us 20 minutes later and said, ‘you’d better see theground!’IwentwithRayTaylor,whoI’dfirstmetwhenIwas organising my parachute jump all those years ago and can remember saying, ‘well, it’s not exactly Wembley, but it’sagoodstart!’TurningupatMoretonforourfirstgameagainst Pegasus was emotional, particularly as they had repainted the railing behind the goalposts black and amber. They did everything they could to make us feel at home and it is very sad that all three of our main contacts and friends from there have now passed away.

“June 18th saw over 400 cram into Lysaghts on a sweltering evening for the launch of Newport AFC. They cheered the launchoftheclub;theycheeredtheintroductionofJohnRelishasmanager;theycheeredthesigningofGrahamRogers,BarrieVassallo,GarySpinkandRobertPainter;theycheeredtheamberandblackstrip;theycheeredBillEldridgeandourfriendsfromMoreton;theycheeredtheTransporterBridgelogo;theycheeredtheSteeringCommittee and voted them Directors of Newport AFC Ltd andtheybought£15,000worthofsharesonthenight;andthey cheered our slogan “Football with a Future.” I warned them not to believe rumours that Moreton-in-Marsh was

seventyfivemilesawaysaying‘Infactit’seightyfive!’Theyeven cheered that!

“All our plans were proceeding but we had these two great disappointments with the FAW and the Council. Alan Evans at the FAW was personally very supportive initially and he bought £100 worth of shares, but he had a phone call and when he came back in he’d changed. I am sure that if we’d immediately assumed the identity of the old club and Somerton Park was our home it would have been ok, but there was another problem for the FAW in that the Sylvester brothers at Barry Town also wanted to go in the Hellenic and that posed them a huge problem. As it was they reformed as Barri and went into the Beazer Midland Division, one above us, as a place became available. It was the League ofWalesproposalthatchangedEvans–I’msureitwasnothis decision and he had to eat his words and be the driving force for it.

“We were all making suggestions for a manager and I think that Martin Greenham rang John Relish for advice and he got interested and said, ‘what about me?’ There could have been no better choice. Expectations were so high after beingpromotedinourfirstseasonandthepressureonhimlaterwastremendousandIwasverysorrywhenhefinallyresigned during our next exile in Gloucester.

“We could have ‘played’ at Somerton when we were in exile butrefusedit.ItwastofilmanepisodeofCasualty,butitinvolved hooliganism and we wanted nothing to do with that. When we were eventually allowed in, not only had Somerton Park been neglected, it had been systematically thieved and every bit of copper pipe was stolen and it was just as well that in Graham Rogers we had a plumber amongst us! We spent £21,000 to get up to scratch. I can remember Eric Reed and Frank Batterham building a wall and so many people worked so hard with everyone saying it looked better than it had done for years. When Bill Faulkner looked around he just shook his head but we got it ready. He told us he’d expected to turn us down and he ignored the goalposts as we told him we’d ordered them. It was good thereandweweremakingprogress–butthenaftertwoyearswehadtotravelawayagain–thistimetoGloucester50 miles away!

“We never thought it would be easy. To start at the bottom and try to move up the leagues was mad enough to start with! I’ve always said I was just one of a group, but one thing I did was to recognise the need for us to go into exile and Relo was in agreement. Once we’d found a ground I couldn’t see anything stopping us, although if we’d not been promotedinourfirstseasonI’mnotsurehowlongwecouldhave sustained that. The second time after another two years, it was very wearing and it put us £200,000 in debt. If we’d lost our High Court case we’d have all been bankrupt.

“We picked up on the optimism of our Solicitor Charlie Hopkins, who was convinced we would win. The FAW knew they couldn’t have forced Cardiff and Swansea as they would have taken them for restraint of trade and I pointed out in Courtthatwepaidourplayers–buttheFAWdidn’tthinkwe’d have the will or the money to take them to Court. You could tell in both the interim and full cases that the Judges seemed to be sympathetic to the points we made.. Before that there had been an FAW Tribunal with Vernon Pugh QC, which they claimed was independent, but he would not let us argue restraint of trade. His judgment was in favour of Merthyr and against the other seven of what had become knownasthe‘Irate8’ofWelshclubsfightingfortherightto

LOOK BACK IN AMBER

play in the English pyramid system. He said that Merthyr, being in the Conference, were nearer to the League - to which I answered, ‘you have argued our case which is all about progression!’

“We were involved in the design of Spytty and Alf Ropke from the Council was very helpful, although I put my foot down at one stage about the requirements of the Harriers who were to move from Glebelands and said we’d have to look elsewhere. I wasn’t worried about the track because let’s face it we were used to that at Somerton, but I wasn’t so happy about the hammers landing on the pitch! People said, don’t worry, when you are ready for the League the ground will be too and Alf’s letter helped in Court when Evans argued that we didn’t even have a ground that would be eligible. When I was a Newport Councillor, I pointed out that the club had kept its side of the bargain, but they’ve not quite kept theirs. Our clubhouse was not built and instead our supporters built Bar Amber.”

The appointment of John Relish and then his assistant Graham Rogers were straightforward – but that was not the case with Graham’s succession, who after having failed to sustain his record breaking championship campaign in 1994/95 (the first at Spytty) was replaced by Chris Price and a prompt relegation. “The appointment of Chris Price was a lesson I should say! We’d appointed Nigel Vaughan as interim manager and offered him the job. I think Nigel was a little resentful he was even made to interview for the job but then after we offered it he started dictating his terms. Theissuewaswithregardtohisassistantmanager–hewanted a separate budget for Will Foley, but we told him what we could afford and it was up to him how he spent it. He was negotiating with Lifeline, but the money from them was already committed to us. I gave him until the Thursday to decide to accept the job and he didn’t and so we appointed Chris, which turned out to be a huge mistake. I was very sorry because we all wanted Nigel, but not on terms we couldn’t afford. Chris was very enthusiastic and he hadagoodmeetingwithsupporters.I’dspecificallyaskedhim if he had his coaching badges and we should have asked to see them! Being relegated under him was certainly a setback, but we looked on it as a temporary one and re-set our sights. It was a shame Tim Harris was not available earlier as that would have helped.”

It is self evident that the trials and tribulations involved in these early years must have required an exceptional time commitment. “I tell you what would have helped balance the football, work and home a lot easier in those days would have been a mobile phone! I was a Deputy Head and many callswerecomingtomyschoolofficeanditmusthavebeenvery disruptive for them. Mary is not interested in football but has done a lot of work to help us and been a great support–andinmypoliticallifeaswell.Icanrememberonce persuading Mary when we on holidays in Colwyn Bay to go and watch County at Doncaster, telling her that it was on the way! Perhaps geography was not her strong point! Wegottherelateandmissedthefirstgoal.Ithoughtwe’dlost but we’d drawn and didn’t know until I heard later! I met George Thorneycroft and said, ‘that was disappointing’ and he said, ‘Really? I thought it was good!’

“Aside from the obvious, the big challenge in being Chairman was keeping the Board together. We were 15 diverse people and nothing would have brought us together apart from the club. Keeping it together was a constant challenge, but we did manage that as a unit and I’m very proud of that. My one worry is that people forget how it

started and that is why I always stress the full name of Newport County AFC which the supporters agreed as a combination of the old and the new. We’d made a hugely important decision to buy the original club’s name even if wechosenottouseitforafewyears.Shermanwassniffingaround all the time and causing confusion and hindering our efforts, so buying the name was crucial. We just about scraped the bottom of the barrel for that as he could no longer claim he was Chairman of Newport County.

“Probably my highlight was coming back from Moreton-in-Marsh in triumph. There had been so many disbelievers and so many people dismissive and it was a triumph that ordinary supporters had established their club. I would say that my stand out player would have been Darren Porretta. I was put in contact with Birmingham City owner David Sullivan and he said he couldn’t offer us support, but he would look at any of our players and took Porretta up. He played a game and was the best player on the pitch, but Dario Gradi spotted something in the way he ran and it turned out he had a deep seated groin injury. Had it not been for that then they would have taken him to Birmingham. Steve Lowndes was another special player and JasonBowen–whatagreatplayerhewas!

“If I have a regret it is that I didn’t get closer to John Williams when he took over as Chairman. I’d three times invited him to join the Board, but when he did join he was persuaded to get rid of the old guard and bring in a new Board. They paid off our £200,000 debt, but then accrued it again and all credit to Chris Blight and the current Board for paying it off. I am so sorry that Chris went the way he did. I had a difference with Mike Rice, but I could have worked with John. I was told they would make me Vice President and to be fair to Wallace Brown and Martin Greenham, when they became joint chairs they honoured that promise to me - but while it is an honour, under no circumstances would I have ever gone away. I’ll go on helping in any way I can for as long as it is wanted and I feel I am doing something useful.

“AtWembleyintheplay-offfinalyoucouldsayIwasratherpleased! We deserved it and the longer it went on the more confidentIwas.Wrexhammissedtheirchancesandwetookours. I think for this season it is a matter of onward and upward. If we work together then OK it may be one year, it maybetwoforanotherpromotion–butitwillcome!”

John Williams

John stepped into the role of Chairman in January 1999. Another lifelong supporter, John had been smitten with the County bug at a young age with his father being to blame as he explained. “Itwas1952whenIfirststartedgoing

LOOK BACK IN AMBER


over with my dad. He was very friendly with a guy called Percy Bullock who was on the committee of the Supporters Club and I was given the job at a very early age of selling the cushions for 2d each to sit in the wooden stand and did that for two or three years. I think I became the youngest member of the Supporters Club when I was seven years old. Ken Hollyman, Ray Wilcox and Alf Sherwood were great names back then. Our family always had an association with the club and my parents had players lodging with us includingGeorgeRoffi.MydadwasalsoveryfriendlywithSyd Jenkins.

“I came to be involved with the Board after being approached by Alan Williams. I looked at the situation and could see it was not good because we were basically trading in an insolvent position. Alan decided that it would be good for us to take over and so Mike Rice and Rob Wixey also becameinvolvedandwedidn’tgetinonthefirstvotebutwe did on the second and I think at that time the club had aboutsevendaysleftinit–younamedacreditorandweowed them money, with the Council and the Inland Revenue in particular. I had a long meeting with the Council and with the Revenue and within a week we put together a rescue plan.Itwasverydifficultandtheywereverylongmeetingsbut the end result was that we gained promotion and we got the Council to upgrade the ground. I was also the instigator in getting Bar Amber with the Board and Rob Santwris. Once Bar Amber became under construction unfortunately I had a massive fallout with the Supporters Club and decided to leave and let them get on with it. The club was in a decent position then with most of the debts paid off. I had six months out, but you can’t walk away from the County can you and I got involved with Supporters Direct and got the Supporters Trust up and running. We got the numbers up to aboutfourorfivehundredandtheTrusthasbeenamassiveasset over the years.

“Time is your biggest problem as Chairman basically and it was a shock. If you are Chairman of a football club then you are going to be putting in excess of 14 hours a day. I’ve run a very successful business since 1981 and the only years I lost money was during my time as Chairman of the football club, because of the time it demands. You didn’t anticipate bills hidden in cupboards either! People put claims in and wehadacoupleofCountyCourtcases–butwepaidpeopleoff and we didn’t incur penalties with the Inland Revenue. Wewerelevelheaded,althoughitisverydifficultnottolet your heart rule your head. We were aware we needed to reduce the budget and it was the decisions we made that kept the club going. If we’d not been level headed then it would have folded. I can remember discussing the licence for Spytty with the Council’s Director Alf Ropke and he wanted a 15% increase but we managed to get a 5% reduction. Alf said to me, ‘why are you putting your money into this?’ I said, ‘Alf I am just a stepping stone for the next persontopickitup’–thatisallthatclubchairmenare.Ibrought Matt Southall into the club as he was a young successful businessman who was passionate about the club and he became one of those next stepping stones.

“In hindsight there are a few things I may possibly have done differently, but football commands a system you have tofollowthatisveryhardtochange–itisveryverydifficult!But the highs are wonderful. Finishing second behind Clevedon to win promotion by beating Solihull Borough, was special and we were getting mentions around the town and on the radio that we were not so used to at that time. It was tremendous. Tim Harris is still a very good friend and it was such a relief for both of us when we went up. It was

a repayment for all the hard work and Tim is another who puts in long hours. He is a tremendous guy to have at the club. I also remain a good friend of David Hando’s and sat next to him on the bus to Jena. David is a Goliath within this club.”

John resigned in January 2001, almost two eventful years to the day he had assumed the heavy mantle of Chairman. This was against the backdrop of some negative local journalism and some internal club politics. “Somebody leaked information to the local press ahead of the AGM and I had a go at the AGM about that. But what annoyed me more at the time was that we’d got the 200 Club later to become Bar Amber up and running as a project and got all the money in and David Hando and Eddie Wulf did most of the work. The Supporters Club said ‘you do realise that we will take it over’ and I wasn’t happy with that as I felt that they hadn’t put any work in. But to be honest, Andrew, it was a grueling couple of years that in fact felt more like 9 years! If you take my most memorable game asChairman–itisn’toneoftheoneswewon!IntheFACup we lost to Burgess Hill. I made the stupid mistake of sitting down before the game and working out exactly what I was going to do with the money from the next round. The disappointment of that result will always stand out in my mind. They were just a little team from down Sussex way! Tim was sat on the bonnet of his car and we looked at each other and nothing was said. All the wins you take withyou–butthatonewon’tgoaway!Ireallyenjoyedwatching us despite the stress. In my time our best player I think was Carl Dale who we poached from Merthyr and talked him instead to come to us. He was a lovely guy who oozed professionalism. In our post 89 years I also have a lot of fond memories of watching Chris Lilygreen and Linden Jones who I thought was a tremendous player. My worst signinghastobeShaunChapplewhohadterrificability–but…well he lacked whatever and it just didn’t happen.

“You have a lot of laughs along the way, especially on away trips and one story shows the sort of thing we had to do but with a funny side to it. We played at Bilston and Danny and David Hunt both had to go to different hospitals. We picked up Danny and then went to the other to collect David whose jaw was all wired up. Half way home Mike Rice said ‘I’m starvinglet’sgetsomethingtoeat–andturnedtoDavidand said. ‘Do you want a McDonald’s?’ He nearly broke his wiring through laughing!

“I am still involved with the Business Club and the Supporters Trust Golf Society and of course the Trust itself. ThefirsttimewewenttoWembleyIactuallycriedwhentheteams lined up and for the play-off Final I was invited into the Queen’s Box and the whole day was superb. Going into Wembleyandseeingallthesupportersturnup–thatwassomething at one time I never thought I’d see. I was sat next to Dave Roberts and his wife and little boy Dean for the second Wembley game and when we scored Dean said, ‘have we scored?’ and I said ‘Oh yes! Have we scored!’ I saw David Hando and gave him a big hug.

“I get on very well with Les - he is an ordinary tidy guy who has found something he enjoys. I must say this is the most exciting season ever coming up for me. The bunch of players we have with their camaraderie and morale is incredible and you only have to sit down and listen to Justin for half an hour and he oozes professionalism and you leave believing we will go up. I’d like to think that we can be on the fringes of the play-offs. If we can get good results in our firstfivegamesthenIthinkwewillbethereallseason!”

LOOK BACK IN AMBER

When John stood down the role of Chairman was split between original Board members Wallace Brown and Martin Greenham, with Wallace eventually assuming full responsibility until being replaced by Chris Blight in 2002.

Wallace Brown

Wallace was well known to supporters not least for having been the voice of the ‘Newport AFC Hotline’ and for his Red Dragon Radio match day reports which in a pre-internet age were essential to keep up with the latest twists and turns. Although sadly no longer following the club, his attachment had also been formed as a youngster. “MyfirstgamewasCounty’sfirstgameintheold4th Division, a 0-0 against Oldham. I’d have been about 10… so at least about 15 years ago then! I became involved behind the scenes during Len Ashurst’s time. I was helping Richard Shepherd out with the newspaper for the blind taped commentaries and my press involvement sort of started out from there.

“Ididn’tfindtheearlydaysasAFCstressfulasIpersonallydidn’t think the expectations were on us, as so many thought we wouldn’t do a great deal, but it did get to me a bit when we returned to Somerton Park and again when we came to Newport Stadium. The centre piece of the early years was the Welsh FA’s attitude. Any national football association are the custodians of the game for their area and no custodian worth their salt would ever ignore the history of the game and that was the problem and the biggest accusation you could make against them - they didn’tunderstandwherethenewclubwascomingfrom–Itwasn’t our fault that since 1912 we had played in England and as a football administrator if you have no regard to that then you are not a proper football person.

“My time as Chairman was all about keeping the wolf from thedoorandbalancingthebooks,whichwasdifficult.AsChairmanofafootballclubyouneedmoneyorinfluenceand preferably both and the original Directors didn’t have thefinancialbackingandotherthanDavidwerenotreallyusedtoexertinginfluenceonpeople.Asshownlateryoucan progress when you invest. I always felt that the glass ceiling was the Conference national and at north and south level you were not really seen as a big enough club and able togettheattention–weneededtogettotheConferenceand invest from there.

“John had left out of the blue without anybody being aware and we didn’t quite know what was what. Martin and I had been part of the original group and that is why we were askedIthinktotakeiton–jointlyatfirst.Itwasaltogetheradifficultperiod-abitlikeacricketerplayingdefensivelyand not having the option to play your shots. My particular memory from my time as Chairman was reaching the FA CupfirstroundproperatBlackpool.Itwasabitspecialwith Sky coverage of the replay when Spytty seemed to be transformed for it. I can remember being by the perimeter and Gary Shephard coming out and saying it was like a completely different ground. It galvanized things. It wasatremendousdrawupinBlackpool–wehadquiteaweekend! And of course the money that came in as a result went a fair way to keeping us on an even keel. My all time favourite memory of the club though has to be that famous trip to Carl Zeiss Jena.

“I can’t really remember becoming sole Chairman. I suppose somebody had to take it on and my colleagues at that time decided they wanted me to do it. We had our trials and tribulations. It was backs to the wall and I hoped someone

withmoreinfluenceandmoneycouldcomein,soIwaspleasedwhenChrisBlightdid–someoneofhigherintegrityyoucouldnotfind.Idon’tthinkIwoulddoanythingdifferently as the scope to do so was not really there. One ofadoseofinfluenceormoneywouldhavebeennice.Iobviously dipped into my pocket once or twice as did others, but a very sizeable contribution was beyond us. It does taketheenjoymentoutofit.Thefirstfewseasonswereanadventure, but then the pressure builds. I’d been in road transport for 30 years and was used to things happening that were out of your control, but I can remember watching an away game and not really taking it in as I was more preoccupied by our money worries.

“I suppose the best individual in terms of skill and ability since we reformed has to be Jason Bowen, but I do feel that Steve Lowndes when he came back was special once hehadgotusedtotheparttimeaspect,whichisadifficulttransition. Jeff Eckhardt found that too and he played a vital role. His professionalism impressed me from the moment hewalkedintosign–Eckhardtwasaprofessionalwithacapital P.”

Wallace eventually stepped down to be replaced by Chris Blight – a move that Wallace, with the best interests of the club at heart, welcomed. “Thepeoplewhocamein–andit is Paddy Mullen who was responsible and deserves the creditforthat–wereagroupabletomoveusonandbeable to put money in and the ordinary supporters couldn’t do that - and that is what was needed. I didn’t have a problem with any of that and worked well with them.

“I stopped going when the club moved to Rodney Parade and with the move went an overwhelming part of my interest. It is good the club have got to the Football League but my view is having gone to the rugby makes it lessofanachievement–butIfullyacceptthatmyviewis different from many others. In terms of the club going from the Conference to the League, such clubs tend to do well and in Justin Edinburgh they have not only I felt the best manager to get them out, but he will also have a good career as a Football League manager and I don’t think they willbetroubled–butthemomentyouthinkthisthenthatiswhatyoufindyourselfin!Youcannevertakeanythingforgranted–butIthinkyouwillbeok.

“Forme,Ihavesuchalotgoodmemories–andespeciallyabout our mutual good friend Ray Taylor. We both did press work for the club and were in press boxes together quite a lot of time. Ray’s enthusiasm would occasionally run away with himself as you know - but you could not have had anyone more committed to the cause. It is hard to imagine Newport County without having him around. We’d be on long journeys to games and Ray would have the Guardian out which did clues where you had to guess the player and we’d have great fun doing that. Clubs need enthusiasts and characters and in Ray and Tony Gilbert we had that in abundance!”

Chris Blight

Chris Blight initially joined the club as one of the strategic management team comprising local business leaders and after formally joining the Board soon stood up to the role of Chairman. Chris never hid the fact that he was not a ‘dyed in the wool’ County fan – but in a tenure lasting almost ten years that certainly changed – and his contribution to the club should never be forgotten. Chris recalls: “My dad was part of the set up over County as an electrician and he was

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very friendly with Cyril Rogers and as just about everyone knows now my uncle Ron Jones at 96 is a lifelong supporter andstillaregularatallgames–infactIwaswatchingSkySports just now and he popped up on an advert for next season! Despite this I had really nothing to do with the Countyandhadnohistorywiththeclub–fromabout14to17 I watched Cardiff City. I can remember going over with a bigwoodenrattle–butjustwentoverSomertonParkonafew occasions.”

So what possessed Chris to become involved with the set-up at Spytty, with the club struggling to make headroom following a difficult decade dominated by a constant struggle for the right to play in our town and in ‘our’ league structure? “I had just come out of several years of treasuryship with the squash club in 2002 and Steve Baker rang saying Paddy Mullen was wanting people to come and listen

to him at the Holiday Inn. Steve was my best mate and got me to go along. I met John Collingbourne and already knew Matt Southall who was already on the Board. Steve Sully was also there. We listened to a tale a woe about the club’sfinancialdifficulties–theywerenotfaroffanothermajor problem. I went away and thought about it and agreed to be involved. We were to be like a shadow of the Board looking at the decisions being made and drum up new business. The Board were supporters who were hard working but didn’t have links to the business community and had run out of steam. After a while we realised that we would have to do it ourselves and so we invited some of the Board to leave to do it our way. The decision was made we’d get involved. Alan Trott and Martyn Kings got involved and thereweresomefinancialadvantagestothat.

“That period saw the demise of Tim Harris as manager and Iwonderedwhowouldcomein–Iwasn’ttheChair,butPeter Nicholas came in and Stan Berry was the one the most enthusiastic about that. We spoke to Wallace Brown the Chairman and it was said we felt we needed to replace him with me. I didn’t know what I was doing at the time, but it soon became apparent that there was not enough money to match the desire of the fans! As much as we could raise funds we ended up putting our hands in our pockets and we had to do that or it would have meant the demise of the clubagain–andthatwasthestoryforthenexteightornine years.”

Peter Nicholas’ reign ended in September 2004 – a difficult task for Chris to carry out with an experienced professional who was the third most capped player in Welsh history. “I didn’t enjoy sacking Peter but there were reasons why he needed to be replaced and there was me a rookie pointing the arrow and having to carry it out. It wasn’t a nice thing to have to do, but if you can’t do it then you shouldn’t be in the job.I’dhadnothingtodowithTim’sdemise–otherpeopledid that.”

The challenges of running a club can never be underestimated as Chris illustrates. “I went into it naively. I had started my own business having been Managing Director of Halifax Financial Services until 1990 because they wanted me to move north and I had a desire to make something of it because I know my own capabilities and so thatdidn’tfazeme–butwhenitcametofootballIdidn’trealise how the balance sheets have to be done to stay afloat!Youhavetousebusinessacumen,butinfootballyour heart overrules your wallet! I am competitive though and wasn’t frightened of having a go at it. I can remember I turned to my uncle Ron and said, ‘I will have us back in the Leaguebythetimeyouare100’–andtherewasabitofseriousness to that.

“When you are enticed to have a player you can’t afford, but without that player you know you will be discriminated againstbyyourmanagerandthefansitishard–soyoudo–andworryaboutitlater!Butyouhavetogobackouttothe fan base and seek support. Let’s not forget that in the early days our support was about 500 to 700 and never ever wasthebudgetfixedjustonthefanscominginthroughthe gate and at the end of every year the shortfall had to be made up. It wasn’t intended to build up a Directors’ loans deficit–itwasjustnecessarytokeepgoing.YesIwasn’tafan to begin with and some people may say I did it for my ego–butalotofbusinessmenareegodriven–youhaveto be to have that sort of strength and self belief to carry thingsthrough.Tryingtoattendtoandattackthedeficitbalance was the biggest challenge in my time at the club. We discovered about £60,000 unpaid bills to the Council we didn’tknowaboutandmanypriortothat–wepaidthem,but it was always a worry that there would be one debt that would hit the fan! I was always determined that County wouldnotbeinthepaperforbeinginfinancialtroubleonmy watch. I have been to hell and back ensuring that and thereishugepublicscrutinywhileyouaredoingit–andwhen fans kick off as they did last year then it interferes with your life and when it happens to that extent then you have to make a decision.”

To an extent this demonstrated the additional pressure that managers and club chairmen are under in the modern age through the power of social media. Many choose to ignore it, some claim to but are understandably drawn to message boards and inevitably if they do will be affected by some of the things posted from time to time. With Chris it unfortunately went further, although as he indicated his time as Chairman was coming to an end in any event. “Various things led to that and it was said that I was the onestoppingMattandhisconsortiumcomingin–butIwas involved in his plans! It was posted ‘Blight out’ on the message board and Sian saw it and it was a horrible weekendwiththephoneringing–itreallywasnotverynice. There was not a use of bad language or anything like that, but being confronted by persons unknown coming in through your front door in this way was too much and although Sian had always been fantastically supportive she was sick and tired of not having me around. The following day I seemed to be the subject of some interest from the Argus and they rang asking to pop in and see me. Michael Pearlman said he had seen things on the message board and I gave him a brief synopsis of what had happened and also said that I’d given it a lot of consideration over the weekend and had decided to resign. He said, ‘you can’t do that!’ but my mind was made up and so I almost told Michael before theothers–Iamstubbornandnobodywasgoingtotalkme out of it. I had already been invited to do another job as CEO of Gwent Nursing Homes and I couldn’t have committed

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myself and might not have been the best person to take the club on. I told Howard not to leave and I knew that Les was in the mix and events have proved that it has worked.

“Yes you can lose sleep and it can affect your health in averydetrimentalway,especiallywithtryingtofindthemoney to pay the wages. You think, ‘where the hell are we going to get that from?’ It taught me lots of lessons, but yearslateryoustillfindyourselflookingformoney–andfortunatelythatisonethingIamgoodat–collectingmoney! I realised that my name would be across the paper if we were in trouble and that was one of my drivers and I couldn’t allow that to happen, but it cost me about a quarter ofamillionandabout£180,000becameDirector’sloans–would you ever get that back? Not realistically. At the end of the season I’d think ‘thank God for that!’ When a cheque camein,thefanswantedtospendit–butwealreadyhad!Imust admit that I was very fortunate that we had the likes of Howard Greenhaf and Matt Southall who were prepared to put money in.

“There were some very strong characters in that Boardroom –allselfmadebusinessmenandmyrolewastobethegluethat held them together. Take the time when the club made the mistake of appointing Anthony Hudson, neither Matt or I wanted him and it was not a very nice time. Tim had taken a bit of a hammering as caretaker manager and what happened with Hudson, even with my limited experience, I could see wasn’t going to work in a month of Sundays. He was deemed to be a good coach and he was a good talker and some people were impressed by what Harry Redknapp had to say about him, but in the end we said, ‘we’ve got to dosomethingaboutthis.’IthinktheresultatMansfieldwhenwelost5-0wasthefinalnailinthecoffin.IwassoangryandMansfieldwasthepointoftheneedlethatmeanthehadtogoregardlessofthefinancialconsequences.”

Anthony Hudson’s departure left us perilously close to relegation – and nobody surely could have anticipated that his replacement heralded one of the greatest periods in our history – although Chris was quietly confident! “I had been tailing Justin for months as when I was on the Conference Board one of his Director’s at Rushden spoke to me privately saying ‘you want to look at this guy.’ Lots of clubs wanted him and I was thrilled to bits we got him. We looked at all of the applications and his was like a cork coming to the surface. I think Justin’s got three ears! He has one where he listens to himself, one for the people around him and the other tuned into what the public want. There were a few instances last year when he made a couple of changes that people were encouraging. There is an interesting relationship between the manager and his assistant. I have certainly seen them play good cop and back cop in the dressing room. And another important relationship is with Tim as Director of Football. Matt was the driving force to get Tim in and he is reliable and very well connected and a lot of what has been done is also down to him.”

All of the stresses that come with the job became worthwhile when success was achieved and Chris has many proud moments to look back on. “Winning the FAW Premier Cup was a proud moment and then that was overtaken by the Conference South promotion and the way in which we did it and obviously going to Wembley for the FA Trophy Final. All along I was just pleased we were keeping the club going when so many others were going through. I was very involved in Dean’s appointment and it was a bit of a gamble but Matt and I felt that he had something and when his revolving door of signings was not working we looked

at each other and wondered, but we scraped it through and I was stubborn and felt we had to stick with him and that stubbornness kept him there and we got promotion. I understood their concerns, but I wouldn’t be dictated to by the fan base. It was a special year and the trip to celebrate it in Vegas and the event at the Celtic Manor summed it up.

“I am also proud of us getting into Rodney Parade also getting Les Scadding involved. I’ve got a lot of time for HowardGreenhafandJackieTutton–sensiblepeoplewhowon’t let them run away with themselves. Without any shadowofdoubtHowardisanabsolutegrafter–hewon’tgive up. I think the club is in a really good place at the moment. Les won’t want anything to happen on his watch and he is by far the wealthiest person to have been involved. ThecashflowisnowcarefullymonitoredbytheFootballLeague and that should prevent the sort of problems we’ve seen some clubs get themselves into.”

Chris may have not started out as a fan, but he is now and looks forward with eager anticipation to the season ahead – even if he may smile ruefully at his contribution to our current position inevitably being overlooked by some! “Someone said to me recently, ‘you leave the club and they get into the League!’ All I did was forgotten by him at least althoughsomeoneelsetheresaid,‘Oh,hangon–that’sabit uncalled for - this guy put ten years in - the tree doesn’t just appear, you put the roots in!’ It would have been nice thoughtohavestillbeeninvolvedwhenwefulfilledmypromise to my uncle Ron to get us back into the League.

“Along the way I worked with some great people. John Brough I would say in my view is a very professional upstanding character who does football the world of good and I have an awful lot of time for him in particular and he is probably my favourite player from my time there. SamFoleyisacharacter–hewasamonkey–butBroughprobably topped the pile.

“I don’t regret having been involved with Newport County andtheysaythatyousoonbecomehistory–butIdidwhatI thought best to the best of my ability and we weren’t insolvent. My being on the Board of the Conference was important to the club and we are still the holders of the FAW Premier Cup. I saw them through promotion and with Howard played a part in moving to Rodney Parade and Matt also had a role in it. I’ve got a lot of time for them both. I think we will rise above expectations this season and present ourselves in the best possible manner. To come out of the League would be so detrimental and now we want to stay there. I am optimistic that we could have a top ten finishifnotbetter–alltheingredientsarethere.Whenwewon at Wembley I wrapped myself around David Hando like a backpack as I knew how much it meant to him more than anyone. And yes, I am now a fan!”

David Hando in his inimitable supremely diplomatic style steadied the ship in the immediate aftermath of Chris’ resignation until the appointment of Les Scadding – and we all know what happened next! Our thanks though go to all past and present Board members who have worked so tirelessly and selflessly to make today’s historic occasion possible.

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In the 24 years since reforming as Newport AFC, it took 10 managers to restore our Football League status, not including a couple

of caretaker stints by Nigel Vaughan, Glyn Jones and Tim Harris. Justin Edinburgh will go down in ourhistoryasthemanagerwhofinishedoffthepioneeringworkofJohnRelish–andallintheirown way have contributed greatly to the emotional roller coaster that has seen Newport County AFC defy the skeptics and the football authorities and against all odds justify the faith of the supporters who simply refused to accept that this was not some hopelessly romantic dream, and insisted that to the contrary it was a mission to be pursued relentlessly. In this article Andrew talks to seven of our former ‘gaffers’ who share their memories of being in the hot seat.

John Relish

‘Relo’ left Somerton as a County legend, amassing over 400 appearances between 1974 and 1986, despite having missed a year with a broken leg and having stepped into the fray as player manager in 1985/86 successfully saving us from relegation from the old 3rd Division. Loyal, universally respected and extremely popular with supporters, there could have been no better choice to unite fans and give credibility and hope in the face of what some doubters would have considered an impossible dream as we prepared for a first season in

LOOK BACK IN AMBER

Look Back In Amber

with Andrew Taylor

From The Dugout

exile at Moreton in Marsh. With Relo at the helm there could be no question that to borrow a quote from Mark Twain, ‘reports of our death had been greatly exaggerated.’ Relo represented the spirit of Newport County and in him we put our faith, totally and utterly.

Relo was a leading figure in some of our greatest moments of our first 100 hundred years. A key player in the ‘Great Escape’ of 76/77, the West Ham Cup victory and the 79/80 ‘Season of Triumph’, not to mention our famous European adventure. Arguably though, his return in 1989 left an even greater mark on our history. John picks up the story: “I was coming to the end of three great years at Forest Green and was asked to go on a Steering Committee with David Hando and others to form a successor club after County had gone bust. They asked me if I would be interested in being Manager and I really wanted it. I knew everyone who played football in the town and I asked Graham Rogers to come in with me and pulled in favours from people like Barrie Vassallo, Dai Williams,AlexBeattieandAllenWood–goodpeopleinthe town who had been ignored in recent years by County. It was very enjoyable and you had a real camaraderie with the supporters and could enjoy a drink with them after the game.”

We began in the humble surrounds of the Federated Homes Hellenic Premier Division – and our league opponents had never witnessed anything quite like the Newport AFC bandwagon coming to town! “Playing us was everyone’s Cup Final that year and to be honest at one time after we got beat 3-0 at Kintbury, who kicked us off the park, I stopped the coach on the way back for us to have a drink and sort a few things out.

“I suppose my abiding memory of that season was going back to grass roots and signing local players like Norman Parselle, Dean Richards and Dave Jarvis. We made a conscious effort to connect the club with local lads and these gave us an identity. Graham and I felt the same way - that we would build up from local talent.

“WewonthefirstgameatMoretonagainstPegasus1-0,with Norman scoring. It was so nice to see all the old facessmiling.Ithinkatfirstthelocalswerealarmedseeing all these football fans invading their quaint Cotswold’stown–butalotoffriendshipswereformed.”

Relo with Alex Beattie (left) and Barrie Vasallo (right)

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The nucleus of the squad had strong County associations either having been former first team or reserve and youth players. They all put their names in the history books with their efforts – especially the postmen who left their shifts tired but ready to do battle. “We had some very good players–toogoodforthatleaguewithnodisrespecttothe Hellenic. Dean Herritty, as you would expect coming from that family, was a very accomplished player and it was a great shame we couldn’t keep him for the next season when we returned to Somerton. Dave Jarvis wasn’t easy to handle being truthful, but a while ago he was managing Lliswerry and said to me, ‘I can’t believe I causedyousomuchtrouble–nowIknowwhatit’slike!’Jarvowaslargerthanlifeandwasgreatforus–abreathof fresh air. He was a Roy of the Rovers comic strip type of characterwhowouldeatfishandchipsbeforeplayingandthen run for 90 minutes non-stop and argue with the ref. Chris Lilygreen was a talented player who knew where the goals were and was sharp and clever. He was a good mix with Jarvo who harried and was never afraid no matter how big the defenders were. Gary Spink was only what, 19? There’s another boy who was absolutely motoring. He was quick and strong and would be up and down the rightflankforus.Weweregettingenquiriesabouthimfrom clubs and it was the low point of the season when he broke his leg against Pegasus at Edgar Street. I thought it was a very bad challenge and that was the downside of thatleague–someplayerscouldbeabitreckless.Garynever really recovered from that nasty challenge and it caused a lot of bad feeling at the time. Graham and I stayed with him when he was taken to hospital. At the other end of the scale we had Brian Preece. Preecer had played in the League with me in the late 70’s and died at a young age in a car crash just a couple of years later and hewastheclownofthedressingroom–everyonelovedhimtobits.Hescoredthegoaloftheseason–andtherewereafewcrackers–againstRuislipParkwhenwebeatthem 8-0. The ball dropped to him outside the area and he played keepy-uppy with it before volleying to the top corner! Even now over 20 years later I think about what a good goal that was. There was a player at Trowbridge I would have loved to sign and tracked him for a couple of seasons but he eventually went to Wycombe. Steve somethinghisnamewas,Ican’trememberitnow–buthewas a hell of a player!

“One of my proudest achievements was taking them to Ninian Park to play Cardiff City in that season’s Welsh Cup. There was a superb turnout from Newport and we performed so well losing only 1-0. I can’t tell you how proud I was of them that night. Winning the League at Abingdon was also a tremendously memorable night. To be truthful, I thought we would do it as I felt we were better than everyone else. The biggest problems we faced were more down to our own supporters’ high expectations. And being supported like a League club could work against us in terms of lifting the opposition. We then played them at Almondsbury in the Cup Final and drew 1-1 but they objected to the replay being played at our ground as originally arranged and so it was held over until early in the new season. Although we won the double, not being able to actually complete it in the same season I suppose did take the edge of it a little bit and it annoyed the players.

“After all the heartache of what Sherman did, we saw the other side of football with fans of both sides mingling and having a drink and also mixing with and getting to know

the players. Although I wish the old club had not needed to fold it gave us the chance to enjoy that experience.”

Having persuaded the authorities to allow us to return to our spiritual Somerton Park, Relo now had to contend with an even greater expectation. “It was a step up in standard the next season and playing at Somerton for a while worked against us as it inspired the opposition and our players found it a bit overwhelming, but after Christmas we lost very few games. All the other clubs were playing in front of a couple of hundred and our firstgameathomeagainstRedditchwehadover2,000there! That had an impact on our lads and I think the responsibility and burden of what they were dong and so many hopes of fans played on their minds for some time–butwehadareallygoodsecondhalfoftheseason.We came up against some big names too like Frank Worthington for Hinckley and Mark Lawrenson for Corby.

Early in the 91/92 season, talk of a League of Wales became a hot topic and it became increasingly apparent that we would be required to join if we wished to stay in Wales. “It was certainly a big distraction for the Board whospentalltheirtimefightingtheWelshFAandweretherefore not able to direct their efforts to make us profitableandgrowtheclub,butDavidHandoandtheBoard protected me and therefore the players remarkably well from the nonsense like Tommy Forse saying that we were no more Welsh than Gateshead! They couldn’t see what the club wanted out of football. Maybe it subconsciously had something to do with us not having quite such a good season, but the Board did us proud.

“Possibly my two best signings were ‘Peeney’ (Phil Green) whowasthetoughestladImetinfootball–hehadelbowslikerazors!–andMarkPricewhoItookfromlocal football. I’d always wanted to sign Phil Green as I knewwhatahandfulhewas–unyieldingandhelltoplayagainst. Mark should have played in the League and he was so good in so many positions.

“We had two unusual games. In the Cup at Aylesbury the fog was so bad we had no idea what the score was and couldn’t see either goal from the dug-out! At home against Redditch again, Paul Sanderson scored in would you believe the 9th minute of injury time - 9 minutes! And the ref blew his whistle while the shot was on its way intothenet!Wecouldn’tbelieveit!Atfirsttheplayershadthoughthe’dblownforthegoal–butnohesaidhe’d blown his whistle for full time before it crossed the line! Other than Clive Thomas doing the same thing

Relo with Andrew Taylor inducts Mark Price in to the Hall of Fame at the Centenary Dinner


in the World Cup I’ve never seen anything like it. These days they seem to let you complete corners even and let the attack break down. I was so angry I went on and confrontedhimandgotfinedabout£500forthat!

“You could feel there a vendetta against you if you let it get to you. One example is when we returned to Newport. Somerton Park had expensive fencing and gating and Europeanclassfloodlightsandeveryoneworkedsohardto get the ground spick and span. We had by far the best setupintheLeague–andwhentheycametoinspectthey failed us because there wasn’t a wash basin in the referee’s room! We thought ‘this must be a big league this!’WewenttoLeicesterUnitedforourfirstgameandgot changed in leaky portakabins with cold showers and just a fence around the pitch. They’d passed that! I rememberthinking‘holdon–they’veactuallyfailedours and ours looks immaculate in comparison!’ Double standards!”

Untold damage was done to our progress when we had no alternative than to once again go into exile, this time to Gloucester, in order to fight for the right to pursue our mission of a return one day to the Football League. “Our last game at Somerton was against Barry with Jason Prew scoring the only goal of the game at the Railway End. I think I was up in the stand watching. It was bitter sweet really. County had gone through for a miserable amount of money and no one had stepped forward locally to support them just eight years on from playing Carl Zeiss Jena and people, like David Hando had come forward and youcan’tgivethemtoomuchcredit–andnowithadcome to this again! I resigned after we had been exiled again up to Gloucester and lost at home to Rushden. I’d been at a meeting in Manchester that day and didn’t get there until just before half time. The travelling was really taking its toll and I felt that we were looking tired and needed either a new team or a new Manager. I probably made a mistake. Graham kept the same side and added avitalingredient–CeriWilliams–andtheywalkedtheLeague when they returned to Newport. I’m very proud of what we achieved and will always love the club.

“Idon’tthinkJustinEdinburghhasputafootwrong–faultless. He brought people in when he needed and hasdoneagreatjob.IwasfineatWembleyuntilJolleyscored. Me and Ro (Relo’s wife) looked round and saw Chris Blight’s uncle, Ron, crying and it set me off and I got really nervous. I’d had a good feeling all day until then! I thought Pidgeley was fantastic all afternoon. I signed Sandell as a 17 year old for Bath paying £5,000 for him from Paulton Rovers and he has a great left foot and Mike Flynn was in my school of excellence. I also thought that Byron Anthony was excellent every time I saw him.”

Since hanging up his boots, Relo’s other League club Chester has also disappeared from the Football League fixutre list. It is understandable that he takes a personal pride and pleasure therefore in our newly reacquired status!

“Now they are back in the League it revalidates the CV of the old players like me and I am not the only one to think that–peoplenowrecognisethatweplayedforaLeagueclub! So Justin’s done a job for all of us too! They just need to be in the League for the following season and anything above that is a bonus. More money will come in and it starts to build. They’ve made all the struggles worthwhile.”

Graham Rogers

Graham, played an equally important role in our new beginnings as player and assistant manager before stepping up into the hot seat after Relo’s resignation “I always said that some people thought we had a divine right to be back in the Football League and lots of clubs have spent many years as non league clubs trying to return–sowehadnodivinerightandhadtobepatient.Greattimesthough–fantastictimes! “I can remember going back in the car after Relo resigned and we stopped in a pub and because I was his friend I think at the time it was the right thing to do. When you liveinNewportyoufeelandlivethepressure–youcan’tget away from it. I was very impressed with him as a manager. He was sensible to see how things were going. I think County should have gone back to him before they appointed Anthony Hudson. I was offered the job on a trialbasis.Iwaspleased–providedthatJohnapproved–butI’dneverwantedtobeamanager.IappointedJohnLewis as my Assistant.

“We were playing in Gloucester and although a lot of people made something about us being in exile, for the players I don’t think it was a major problem, probably because we were very much a family club and we saw it as an adventure. Of course we wanted desperately to get back to Newport, but to be fair I enjoyed my time on the road and if anything it was a challenge that spurred people on. It was a fantastic ground for our level and at the time Gloucester were one of the bigger clubs in the region–Godlookatthemnow!Wewerewelllookedafter there. The Board put me in charge for a short while initially, I don’t remember how long and it helped with the players with me having been there from the start. Results picked up as they so often do when there is a changeofmanagerandwefinished5th.Thenextseasonwefinished4th”

The end of season run-in saw an extremely strong finish with some spectacular results including an 8-3 win at Forest Green, 5-0 at home against Leicester United and a final day 5-1 romp at Bilston. Graham added: “And we wonmyfirsttrophyasmanagerIthinktoowhenwebeatGloucester to win the Gloucestershire Senior Cup.”

With a High Court Injunction secured, we returned to our new home at Spytty Stadium for the 94/95 season – and what a season that was! “I can remember it being a fantastic occasion going to Spytty and I would always be popping in to see the groundsman.

“I thought we had a chance you know. John Lewis left early on as he had an offer from Barry and he later said

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it was the worst thing he ever did, but Linden Jones took over and look what he did playing up front with Ceri Williams! I thought we had a chance with players like Linden, Lowndsie (Steve Lowndes) Vaughnie (Nigel Vaughan) andDavidCole–avastamountofLeagueexperience - and then we had a lot of local players like Tuck (Mark Tucker) Brendan Dowd and Ray John. And youngsters played their part like Darren Porretta. Training was always great fun. Being manager of a side like that you had to appreciate what you had in the dressing room. I would go in and name the side and Linden would do his bit with Vaughnie counting how many times he’d say ‘F***’! I’d then go on the pitch and warm up the keeper Jon Roberts and let them get on with it.”

Linden Jones was a revelation as he reverted to his schoolboy position up front after a long League career in defence and scored 21, but the star of the season was former County youngster Ceri Williams who netted 36. “Linden wanted to play up front alongside Ceri. He knew how to play the game and he loved it. John Lewis and I found out that Ceri wasn’t happy at Barry and we met him at a hotel. I hated playing against him! We had a coffee and chatted and he just wanted paying the same as at Barry. I said I was worried that he was a ‘bit of a lad’ and said ‘I’m not putting up with that!” He said not to worry –thatonFridayafternoonshewouldfinishat3pmonthe tarmac and would go to the pub and have between fiveandeightpintsandwouldbeinbedby9o’clock!Helost his child and so had no real pre-season - he was in a terrible state. We went to Kings Lynn and he fell out with one of the Directors, but he scored the next day and he never looked back. He’d said on the coach ‘we’ll win promotion and I’ll make sure we do!’ He was murder to get to training, but was outstanding for us. Unfortunately he wasn’t the same player the next season, but as a manager,CeriwasthebestIworkedwith–ahellofaplayer. With a different attitude he would have had a League career and that Merthyr side he played in was a very good side.”

We set a new points record for the League and finished 14 points clear of second place. A record was also set for the number of consecutive wins and at one time, 20 points clear, promotion seemed a foregone conclusion. “We were promoted at Dudley and I suppose it was an anti climax as we found out in the dressing room that we were up because of other results, but we made up for that with the champagne when we won the Championship, beating Rothwell at Spytty 4-0. We noticed the step up in 95/96, althoughwestartedofflikeahouseonfire.Lookingbackitwasdifficulttobreakupthatsideandmaybeexperienced players took their foot off the pedal and youngerplayersdidn’tstepup.Wefinished14th”

With no room for sentiment in football, Graham left in October 1996. “To be honest, the writing was on the wall as supporters wanted me out. The Directors were great and gave me the support I needed. The side was good enough to survive, but the discontent on the terraces affectedtheplayers’confidence.Youdon’tthinkyouare showing the pressure, but you are and it rubs off on people. People said to get rid of people, but that was not me. History says I went and it didn’t get better. The time was right for me to go and when you decide to resign you feel a weight off your shoulders. Working in Newport you live it all the time. It was a part-time job with full-time expectations–butIwassadinawayafterallthoseyears.Idon’tregretanything.Itellyouonething–Isigned

Mark Aizlewood and people told me not to. Even Mark said, ‘people will think I’m after your job.’ I said, ‘if you want it you can have it, but I want you to play.’ Mark, to befair,thensaidthatifIlefthewouldtoo–andhewastrue to his word. He also told me I needed to change some ofmymanagementteamifIwantedtosurvive–butthatjustwasn’tme–Icouldn’tbethatruthlessanddidn’tseethe point in that.”

Graham laments that County youngsters over the years have failed to fulfill their promise – but is delighted that one exception to that rule has now returned! “None went on to do much more really. We had some good youngsters like Porretta. Elliott Reynolds showed promise, butdidn’tmakethegradewithus–butheusedtotake Dai Williams off really well! The only one really is Michael Flynn. Tim Harris took over and Allen Wood asked me to run the Youth Team with him. I had a season and really enjoyed it, but they started the Academy and I couldn’tdofull–time.Flynnywaswithusthoughandwasa character. I always thought Flynny would have a career. Youhadtostophimfromplaying–abitlikeRooney–you had to stop him or he would play two games a day –helovedhisfootball!Istillseequiteafewoftheboysand play 7 a side with Relo and Tucker. I was having aches and pains in my calves and was up Brendan Dowd’s house having physio off him. His massage was really hurting and he was saying, ‘that’s for dropping me against Barry...and that’s for Gloucester!’

“I went to a few games last season. The one was on the day of the centenary presentation dinner at the Celtic Manor and it was disappointing to lose that. I can remember speaking to Justin that evening and he said something that struck me about the team at that stage overachieving and that although they had lost so few games he realised he had to strengthen the squad. I was impressed by him. I saw a few games towards the end of the season including the play-off. I was really impressed withByronAnthony–youdon’tgetplayerslikehimveryoftenthesedays–andSandellalsolooksverygood.

“I had a special occasion family party that night and so missed Wembley. I can remember going into the shower to get ready and was listening to the radio and when they scored I thought ‘God I wish I was there!’ When the second goalwentinIhadatextfromRelosaying,‘We’vefinallydone it!’ I really liked that he said that ‘we’d’ done it.

“Iwouldsaythattheyneedtofinishatleasthalfwaybutat all costs avoid going back down. Anything top half is a result. They need to maintain good results play good football and hopefully keep the crowds interested and the important thing is they stay in the League. Supporters’ expectations will be high but if it doesn’t go to plan at any time then they’ve got to encourage the players.”

We finished off the conversation with my recalling our being on the pitch at Somerton Park on a balmy evening, after another long day getting the ground ready for our historic return. I always remember Graham telling me that evening that we had to be patient and despite our runaway first season success it would get incredibly difficult and it would be good going to get back in the League within 20 years. Whilst supporters would not have wanted to hear that at the time, how right he was! Graham added: “Supporters thought we had a divine right as an ex League club. Nobody has! Look at how many ex league clubs are now in the Conference and even

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below and look how long it took a non-league club like Cheltenham to gain League status. It takes a long time and clubs that do it the quick route like Rushden don’t seemtolast.Wearebacknow–let’sstaythereandenjoyevery moment of it.”

Nigel Vaughan

Our legendary Wales international midfielder, nowadays coaching in the States, took over as caretaker but was not offered the job full time much to his later regret when he told me: “I really enjoyed my second spell and was bitterly disappointed I didn’t get the job but I can see the point of view of the Board. I think I upset a couple of people. Going to Dorchester I was p****off over something with Darren Porretta who was a good player and told him I wasn’t taking him and I can remember one of the Directors saying, ‘Hold on Darren’s not here!’ and I said, ‘So what?’ and she looked at me and said, ‘He always plays cards with us!’ They never spoke to me all the way down! If I’d stayed though there is no way they would have been relegated! I wanted money for me and Will Foley and perhaps was a little naughty. I wish now I’d done some things differently. I was a bit too big for my boots at the time. I’d love to have another go one day and always keep an eye on results.”

Nigel’s assistant, the popular Will Foley adds: “My only sadness is when Nigel and I had the chance of having the management jobs having done it as caretakers, but mistakes were perhaps made on both sides. The Board wasn’t used to negotiating and Nigel had always done that as a pro. Next thing we knew was they had appointed Chris Price and he took them down quicker than the Titanicandputusbackfiveyears.Butmaybenowthebest times ever are ahead.”

Chris Price had enjoyed a career at the highest level with Aston Villa and Blackburn. We were his first managerial post having been on the staff at Cheltenham. Unfortunately his short stint saw us relegated.

Bill Shankley’s famous quote about football being more important than life or death is of course whimsical and not to be taken seriously and events

in 2011 proved that as Chris stopped breathing when swept away by currents in the sea at his Queensland home in Australia. A succession of complications meant he lost the ability to walk although he has since recovered albeit with damage to his lungs. Best wishes go to Chris for his continued return to good health. Price’s departure meant an introduction to fans of one of the hardest working and most influential personalities of the last 20 years…..

Tim Harris

Our Director of Football has made a selfless and remarkable contribution to our success. This began when he applied for the position as manager to succeed Price in readiness for the 97/98 season.

Tim picks up the story: “I’d had a really successful spell with Cinderford and taken them from the bottom of the Gloucestershire County League to the Southern League. We’d also had a fantastic cup run and were in the hat for the 3rd Round and drawn against Aston Villa but lost to Gravesend. The job became available and I obviously knew Relish and Rogers and came for an interview with the Board. They’d just got relegated so Chris was a hard act to follow!

“I’d been at County as a youngster, although I didn’t play inthefirstteam,butIhadtrainedwiththemunderLenAshurst and with the main two goalkeepers Gary Plumley and Mike Dowler and it was a great opportunity for me. I’d spent most of my playing career after County with Gloucester and Cheltenham and I knew the Southern League very well. A lot of people from the old club were there when I arrived but we were in the Dr Martens Midland Division and so quite a way from where we are now and this was before they brought in the Conference South and North. It was a long way also from where they had been when I was a young player, but the one thing that had never disappeared was the passion of the supporters. I remember we would all meet up in The King which the club had bought as a HQ.

“The infrastructure of the club was poor to say the least andhadjustsufferedtheirfirstrelegation.Otherclub’swerecomingbackstrongerandquickerthanus–butthey hadn’t had to face what we’d had to face. The

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place needed a lift. Being realistic, few people come in as manager to a club in a good position. I signed Karl Bayliss and he started banging them in.

“WhenIfirstcameIfelttheclubhadlostabitofitsidentity with local players like Phil Coyne, Jason Donovan who, whatever they may have lacked in ability, made up for in effort and you need that type of character. Chris Price had gone down a route and it hadn’t worked out. I brought in other good people like Grantley Dicks, DannyHuntandDarrenRobisonwhotypifiedthekindofcharacterweneeded–playerswhowerecommittedtothecause.Thatisavitalingredient–aplayercanhaveallthe ability in the world but without character they won’t do it.”

One enthusiastic young face around the club is now well known even to our youngest supporters! “Mike Flynn was in the Academy and I got a phone call one day that this boy was probably going out of the youth team and thathecoulddowithtrainingwiththefirstteamsquadto clip his wings a bit and bring him down a peg. So we did–andbeforeweknewithe’dscoredathirtyyarderand we couldn’t keep him quiet! He was young and full of lifeandhegotajobinthePostOfficeandwasgettingupearly in the morning but wouldn’t rest up and by the time for training he was knackered! Peter Nicholas at Barry was interested in him and he needed full time training. I knew he had it in him and so we did a deal with a sell-on clause which got us £15,000 when he was sold to Wigan. I was absolutely delighted to bring him back last season and when he got going he showed everybody what he has in his locker and he’s going to be a very important player for us with his experience this season. His birthday is the same as mine and every 17th October for almost 20 years I’vegota‘happybirthdaygaffer’messagefirstthinginthemorning.”

The following season, Tim blooded another youngster: “Nathan Davies was perhaps one of the unluckiest players I had the opportunity to manage. He played hundreds of games for us but I really thought he was going to make the grade in the Football League. He was totally different to Flynny in terms of personality but he would run through a brick wall for you and was totallyuncompromising.Hewasnotprolificbutwhenhe scored they were spectacular. He had an opportunity to go to Chelsea and we went to their training ground. Theyplayedagameandinthefirst15or20minutesthey didn’t pass to him at all and all of a sudden he made a tackle right through someone as clean as you like and thereon everything went through him. But he got injured and so that stopped their interest. He should have played a lot higher than he did. It is great to see people like Nathan and Mark Price when you go away. OK Nathan plays for Merthyr now, but he is County through and through. Just before I arrived everyone had big hopes forDarrenPorrettabutitdidn’tworkout–Birminghamwere supposed to have been interested at one time. But thefirsttimeIsetmyeyesonLeeEvansIknewhewouldmake it and I am sure he is going to feature for Wolves this season. If Nathan hadn’t had his injury, where would he be now?

“Dave Hunt is another that may have done better had it not been for an injury. We played Coventry in pre-season and they had Deon Dublin and Noel Whelan up front with Darren Huckerby. Hucks, who was very quick indeed, has gone down the line and knocked it past Hunt, but he

chased after him and put in a superb recovering tackle. Gordon Strachan was their manager and we could hear him say ‘**** who’s that!’ After that we called him ‘Charlie Big Potatoes’! He had a really bad break though at Bilston colliding with our keeper Jon Roberts and one of their players breaking both cheekbones. After that he seemed toloseconfidence.ChrisBaleisaplayerwhohasgoneonand done really well and has been voted Footballer of the Year in New Zealand.

“Initially trying to get supporters to accept we were where we were was my biggest challenge. They needed to accept that we had no divine right to win matches. That has been the biggest challenge other than of course and not taking anything away from the High Court battle. And let’s face it we have fought more battles than most! This made the job harder over the last 24 years and a few have come and gone as manager but I have always given 110% commitment. With me you will always get what you see and anything I will ever achieve and as a club what we will ever achieve is down to pure hard work and effort.”

No one should underestimate the time involved alongside in Tim’s case running his own business and that dedication is still needed in his current role: “At the momentitisa14or15hoursadayforme–youjustdo it. I have a pile of paperwork to do before I go to bed probably around midnight. Fortunately I can do a lot of mybusinessoutsideof9to5.Taketoday–Ilefthomearound7.30amandcalledintotheofficeandthenspoketo Justin. I picked up a contract around 12 and then saw a customer and was back at the training ground from about two until four. I had to see Mike Everett as well at different times and was home just before you rang at halfseventhisevening.ButIloveit–Iamnowherenearfinishedwithfootballandokifyoufalloutoflovewithitthen you just don’t do it. But I never have!

“There are so many amazing times that make it all so worthwhile. One such time was when we won at Cambridge in 2000/01. I often think about it even now! We were 4-0 down after 35 minutes. The traveling fans were understandably shouting ‘sort it out Harris!’ At the end of the game they were singing my name! I remember going in the changing rooms and having a right go and told the players to go out and earn some pride as the supporters had travelled such a long way. We got back to 4-4 and my assistant Chrissie Hyde said, ‘you know what’sgoingtohappen–wearegoingtolose5-4!’Isaid, ‘shut up you pessimist!’ Their manager then took a BeckhamlikefreekickwhichPatMountainflappedatand Chris said, ‘told you so!’ Then Eaton scored twice and completed his hat trick and we won 6-5! A game with

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Tim grabs a rare rest break!


11 goals and I don’t think either keeper could have been faulted for any of them! When we got back on the coach coming home, even though drinking was a little bit more relaxedinthosedaysthanitisnow,thebeerwasflowingand the music blaring - I think it was Tina Turner ‘Simply theBest’–itwascarnage!Totaleuphoria!TheDirectorsat the front of the bus shouted up to me that Radio Five Live were on the phone and did an interview, although I couldn’t truthfully hear any of the questions as the noise was so loud! In all honesty I have never experienced a game like that in any league.

“My other stand out games were at Blackpool in the FA Cup and at Woking. That’s what drives you. The Woking game when we drew up there and saw the draw for the next round in the clubhouse, the fans were singing, ‘we’re going to the seaside.’ We put in a fantastic performance atSpyttyandwenttoBlackpool,thefirsttimetheclubhadbeeninthefirstroundpropersincereforming.AtBlackpooltheyhadthepenwithfiveminutestogotoequalise and I’d thought we’d had them for the taking, but it was probably the best thing that could have happened, as disappointed as I was at the time, as we brought them back for the replay and with Sky covering the game as well we probably made around £100,000. Promotion back to the Premier Division was of course also very special.”

Tim ‘resigned’ in November 2002 having never finished lower than 10th. “It wasn’t handled in the best way if I’m totally honest. A new consortium with Chris Blight, John Collingbourne, Steve Sully and Stan Berry came in after I’d managed under the Chairmanship of David Hando, Wallace Brown and John Williams and they wanted to bring in their own man and Berry knew Peter Nicholas really well. Nicko was sat in the stands for three or four games before I was sacked. I can remember him waving at me and I thought, ‘I’m not stupid!’ Colin Addison was my assistant and he went to Forest Green. Next thing was they wanted me to appoint Peter as my assistant manager. They shoved a piece of paper under my nose and wanted me to sign so that they could decide after three months who has what strengths etc. I told them that if they wanted to bring in their own man then that was no problem - but that I did have a problem with them not doing things properly and professionally. They asked what it would take for me to go and I ended up going to Forest Green as Colin’s assistant! I was just disappointed and can remember going to Baneswell Social Club which was packed and got up and was emotional. I’d put my heart and soul into it. I was just disappointed with the waytheywentaboutit–butyouhavetobebiggeraboutsuch things and leave on good terms and leave the door open to work again. We hadn’t been doing great and they thought that Peter would do better and that was their prerogative. There was sadness but no bitterness.”

Tim returned to the club during Dean Holdsworth’s tenure as Director of Football, eventually having a second spell as manager in a caretaking capacity following Dean’s resignation until the appointment of Anthony Hudson. This spell in the hot seat was certainly less enjoyable!

“MattSouthallknewIfeltIhadunfinishedbusinessattheclubandhefeltthatDeanneededsomesupport–he’dmade a few signings that hadn’t worked out. I wasn’t sure atfirst,butmetDeanandwegotonwell.Needlesstosay we got promotion back to the Conference. But being caretakermanageritwastotallydifferent–anabsolutenightmare! A League club had been in for Dean and I’d

spoken to him and said they were not the right club for himandheneededtobepatient–hewouldn’thavebeengiven time there and their record since with managers bears that out. To be fair he listened, but then literally a couple of months later he said he was going to Aldershot. I think in that period he felt that he’d taken us as far as he could. A number of key players had tremendous loyalty toDean–theywerebesottedwithhim.They’denjoyedsuccesswithhim;therewastheVegastrip–allincredibleexperiences and career highs for them. And to be honest theyfounditveryverydifficulttoadjusttolifewithouthim when he left. One of our best players, who still genuinely loves our club, said to me, ‘Can I be honest with you–myheadsgone!’Hemadeanagreementnottotryto take any of our players to Aldershot until at least the end of the season and if you look at someone like Jamie Collins then it was only half an hour up the road from wherehelived.Itwasaverydifficultspell.Therewereonly a few players I could totally rely on to be unphased by it and I must say that Gary Warren was immense. I brought in James Rowberry as an excellent young coach and he worked hard with Wayne Hatswell on the training ground and we did everything possible to get the players refocused and to get the drive back. In the end Anthony Hudson was appointed and we got a few improved results and I told the Directors ‘we’ll be alright now - they are refocused.’ In my honest opinion, that was down to our hard work.”

Regaining our League status has eclipsed all of our achievements and it is fitting that Tim, for all his hard work and loyalty, still plays such a significant role. “It was such an unbelievable feeling! Having trained under Ashurst as a young player, to come back and play a small part in taking the club up from part-time to a full-time era-wellitwasadifficulttransition,nonemoresothanthefinancialaspect.Itwasverydemandingbutwe’vemanaged to do it.

“When the second goal went in at Wembley, Flynny was on my right and he was crying. I told him to shut up! We knew we had done it! I think Newport County touches people who’ve been involved in a way other clubs don’t. With both Dean and Justin’s squads the camaraderie has been outstanding. I think it is nice that we have a pre-season game against Chris Hyde’s Pegasus and I wasexplainingitssignificancethattheywereourfirstcompetitive opponents as AFC.

“I would like to say that we will be challenging in the play-offs this season but it is a big ask. The issue is strength in depth. We coped last season and brought in people like Gilbey at the right time. We will certainly havethecrowdbehindusandlookatthefixtures!BristolRovers,Plymouth,Torquay,Portsmouth–somefantasticgames to look forward to!”

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Peter Nicholas

If the Board were looking for the attraction of a big name to take County to the next level, then Welsh football would have struggled to provide a better candidate than 73 times capped Peter Nicholas, who included Crystal Palace, Arsenal and Chelsea on his CV – and what was even more impressive – he was a County fan! Peter’s spell at the club from November 2002 until September 2004 makes far more impressive reading than perhaps supporter memories automatically relate – and that in itself is symptomatic of the pressure any manager of that era would have been faced with. Peter explains: “I was a ball-boy at Somerton Park and loved players like Lennie Hill, Lennie Weare and Willie Brown and used to walk with my dad from the Gaer to games. When I was playing, the CountywasalwaysthefirstresultIlookedfor–andI’mstill a fan now. As a local boy and a fan then managing the club was a proud achievement and a great honour in itself. It was a dream, but there was a pressure being a home grown lad in taking over what I considered to still bea‘big’club–andweallknowthatNewportfans,I’mone of them, are impatient! I am disappointed with the way things turned out, but nothing can take that pride away and I’m so pleased they’ve got promotion.

“The club was undergoing change with the beginning really of the Chris Blight era and they felt they wanted me to come in for whatever reason. I really wanted to get promotion, but the biggest issue for the Board was thebudget–itwasquitebigandtheywantedmetoaddress that and I brought it down quite substantially from around £7,000 per week to around £4,000. Some players were on big money for the level we were at and for only being part time. I wanted us to go full time and couldn’t understand us paying £500 for some players to just train two or three times a week and play games. Pat Mountainwasonemassivedecisionforme–hewasabigplayer for Newport but I felt that at that time he was not good enough and it became a problem with the Board as some wanted him to stay and others for him to go. Later of course he got injured playing for us. Jason Perry was another. Tim really didn’t want him around but he had his contract and so Tim was paying him to stay at home. I didn’t think that was acceptable and so brought him back playing and he did ok for me but his legs had gone and so I didn’t think he would improve us and wanted tomovehimon.TheDirectorswereverygreen–theyweren’t football people, although Wallace Brown, who wasChairmanwhenIfirstwentthere,wasverygoodandhe could see what I was trying to do.”

It was evident that although Peter’s international status had come as a totally uncompromising defensive midfielder, he favoured a neat passing style of football with a midfield five and a flat back four and the talismanic Gary Shephard up front. It was not always easy to utilize that system! “I didn’t like playing at Spytty, the surface ofthefieldandtheopennessofthegroundIfeltwastothe advantage of the other team. More often than not at Spytty you were against the wind in the one half and there’dbeastrangecrosswindmakingitdifficultinadifferent way in the other! I remember going there when I was at Llanelli in the FAW Final and the game ought not tohavebeenplayed.Itmadethingssodifficult.Ibelievein playing football but sometimes you can come unstuck. ItwasdifficultalsotogetanatmospheregoingandIwanted the dugouts moved to the other side to get away fromthenegativecommentsfromthemainstand–butit has been a great move to Rodney Parade. Newport is a big place and there can be a massive following to a level but there was a feeling that the club should be in the Football League because of that and the history and there isnothingwrongwiththat–buttryingtogetoutoftheleagues is a different thing as I found out!”

A study of the results in Peter’s time shows that County tended to come unstuck against sides we were expected to beat – but could so often produce the goods against better quality opposition. Peter mused: “That is very true. Resultssummedtheplayersup–someofthemwereupfor it one game and not on it for the next. We would get some frustrating sequences of results and we also seemed to lack the ability to kill lesser teams off. Yes you can also blamethemanagerforthat.Butlisten–thethingwassome of the players knew I was looking to get rid of them –Ihadnochoicereducingthebudgetsomuchandhadto make the most of the budget I had with players that would give us the best chance of going up. Picking players you are trying to get rid of and getting them to give their best when that is happening is not so easy.

“I was going to the Board and asking them to pay certain players off, but the Board could not understand that and would say ‘why pay them?’ I’d say, ‘because they’ve got a contract!’ Perry was at home under Tim earning until Ibroughthimback–noblameonJasonashehadhiscontract so he was perfectly entitled. As I said, my attitude was then to get him in and train, but he wasn’t a good influencewhenhewasn’tpickedandthesamewithPat–he couldn’t accept it either. But that’s football and Pat was alegendatNewport–butI’dfeltthathistimehadcometo an end. Make no mistake it was a hard league to be in and there were probably eight or nine good teams so it was very competitive.

“Don’t get me wrong, we had some very good players whose attitude was always spot on. Jeff Ekhardt was a top pro and another was Nathan Davies. He was there for you absolutely week in and week out, he had great endeavor andwouldbeoneofthefirstontheteamsheet.Hewasalovelylad–perhapstoomuchso.Hewasastalwart–atypical Newport kind of player and became a club legend.”

Preparations were somewhat disturbed one night for an away game at Folkestone! “That was just ridiculous that was–thefirealarmwentoffatthehotelinthemiddleof the night! Although we had budget issues and I was reducing the wage bill I had tried to get us to stay away for long distance games which the players certainly appreciated as there could be a lot of travelling to be

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done and we tried to change the way training was done andplayers’diets–thatkindofthing.”

There were days when it all came together in just the way Peter would have wanted and nothing better demonstrated that than the charge to the Final of the FAW Premier Cup in his first season. “We beat Swansea 3-1, (the first time we’d beaten a league club since reforming) and they had a verydecentteamout–theirfirstside(including current Premiership stars Leon Britton and Alan Tate.) And those were the standards we had to maintain–that’swhatJustin’sdone–he’smaintainedthestandard.Theninthesemi-finalwebeatCardiffonpenalties. Looking back on it I think the Swansea result was more satisfying as, although Cardiff had a strong enough team out, they had included more fringe players (including a young unused sub named Byron Anthony). Byron is another lovely lad and a very good player who of course has come now with a lot of experience. We came unstuck in the Final losing 6-1 at Wrexham but they were onfireandIthinkLeeTrundleandAndyMorrellscoredover 50 between them that season. At the end of the day standards are set and maybe it was one game too many for us against very good opposition, but interestingly some of our more experienced players that I’d wanted to move on were the ones who seemed overawed. The important thing was that cup run brought a lot of money intotheclub–about£70,000Ithink.”

It was perhaps a surprise when Peter was sacked early in the 2004/05 season. “I was disappointed with the Directors in how they did it. They were inexperienced and maybe that was a part of it. At the end of the day my record stood for itself and it was as much as I could havedonewiththebudgetIhad–notjusttheamountofbudget but as I say the repercussions of what you have to do to reduce the budget by so much. I didn’t have enough time to turn it around. I didn’t get too involved with the Boardroom situation but the way they treated Wallace I felt was totally wrong and to be fair to him as well he rang me when I left saying he disagreed with the decision.

“I’d been up in London seeing my children and had a call from Chris Blight on the Sunday telling me he wanted to see me at 5.00 pm. When I did he told me he would be sacking me and when I asked him why I told him I felt the reasons were bang out of order. He said I hadn’t reduced the budget very well and I reminded him they were on contracts that I’d not put them on and had told the Board to come to an agreement with them only to be told they couldn’t do that. There was a Board meeting on the Monday and I told them I thought it would be out of order to dismiss me as I’d brought in £70,000 from the Cup run, andhadfinished10th in the league despite reducing the budget from £7,000 to £4,000 per week. I accepted that results so far that season were not good enough but felt I deserved to be given time to turn it around. I was told to wait outside while they discussed it and when I came back in I was told the Board was behind me 100%. A week later I was sacked!

“If I had my time again there are two things I would like tohavebeendifferent.Iwoulddefinitelydoalotmoresupporters meetings and listened to and accepted their way of thinking and been very truthful and open with them about what was happening. And I would have loved tohaveplayedatanotherground–thatwasabigissuefor us.

“I do like the atmosphere over at Rodney and I will be over watching the odd game this season with my mate Russell Jones, who even gave up his physio job at Merthyr just so he can go home and away with the County. I hope everyone gets behind them and is patient with it and the players don’t feel they need to respond like my goalkeeper Duncan Roberts did when he tried to climb over the fence to confront fans having a go at him! It is all about passion and we all just want them to do well. For next season retaining their position in the League is so important and I’d love to see a fat cheque book broughtoutwhentheyneeditandgofortopfiveorevenwin it. I think the players they have will step up and be even better as they will be even better suited to a higher standard. I’d love it if they got promotion!”

Loyal club servant Glyn Jones stepped up into the caretaker manager role for a very short period until the appointment of John Cornforth.

Sunderland, Swansea and Cardiff featured on Cornforth’s career record and although being from Tyne and Weare he had been capped twice for Wales qualifying through his paternal grandmother. This was his second management position, having been at Exeter from 2001 until October 2002. This was the inaugural season for the new Conference set up with County in Conference South and it looked perilously like being a short stay! Relegation was averted, but the following season was faring no better - it was a miserable time and Cornforth departed in September 2005. Back in came Glyn for a second short spell until Peter Beadle became the latest in the hot seat the following month.

LOOK BACK IN AMBER

A great club servant – Glyn Jones twice stepped into the breach – Seen here in his playing days

Peter Beadle

Beadle could not boast the international pedigree of his two predecessors but had over 350 league games under his belt, most notably with both Bristol clubs. He was picking up from a losing seven game streak and after three games had extended this to ten but slowly changed fortunes and avoided relegation with a run of six wins in eight games. His second season was eventful and provided a sixth placed finish, missing the play-offs with a bitterly disappointing last day defeat and also reaching the Final of the FAW Premier Cup. His third was more impressive again, although once more being the bridesmaid by losing a play-off place on the last game – and was sacked the day after! This also came despite winning the FAW Premier Cup and a £100,000 prize. Beads side certainly also played some very attractive football. Peter reflected on his time at the club: “It was Martin Allen who suggested that I apply for the job. I was manager at Taunton and had only been there for about six or seven games and Martin rang me saying ‘look Newport isafantasticclubwithagreathistory–putinforit.’Ithought it was too early but he persuaded me it would be great experience and if I didn’t go for it then I’d never know. I put in for it quite late and the rest is history. I wasabsolutelydelightedwhenIgotit,althoughatfirstIwasn’t aware just how big a club I’d taken over and that becameabitdaunting,butIloveachallenge–I’djoinedBristol City after I’d played for Rovers so I don’t exactly shirk one! I soon realised I needed someone with me and some fantastic people came in who knew the Welsh football scene and I took the bull by the horns and did quite well in the end.

“Whenyoufirstgotoaclubsometimespeoples’expectations are pie in the sky but with Newport everything was there with a great supporter base and behind the scenes everyone wanted to do all they could to get it going. They took a gamble with me being young and inexperienced, but overriding that was my passion andenthusiasm.IwasconfidentIcouldturnthingsaround and had a lot of work on. We had players on contracts who I felt were not giving value for money and the Board let me move them out and bring one or two in. It was actually like pre-season in October, but after Christmas things got better. We went on a fantastic run before making ourselves safe by winning at Cambridge in the last but one game. That was a fantastic day for everyone and we avoided relegation by four points.”

The following season saw a dramatic improvement in form but with some bitter sweet memories: “I think about the Swansea FA Cup game to this day and in fact it was

only today that one of my lads here at Hereford came in and said he’d seen a video of me on YouTube losing it! It remainsoneofmybiggestregrets–youcan’tturntheclock back and that was my moment of madness. I am still hurt that I took the attention away from the team –butyoulearnfromit.Ihavespokentothe4thofficialwho got hit by the coin since and shaken his hand and apologised and he was great about it. It is a reminder of how I was then and I have changed now. I can remember when we drew them how I’d laughed at Craig Hughes’ reaction–asaCardiffdiehardhecouldn’twaittogetatthem! I was gobsmacked and so pleased for everyone.

“Wefinished6th and lost out on a play-off place by losing at home on the last day to Cambridge (thanks to 2 goals by a certain Charlie Henry). When we started the season we were looking to consolidate in the top half and build for the season after and to be honest doing so well in the cups brought the money in but it meant our league form suffered as we had so many games to catch up with and it took its toll. We believed we could get in the play-offs and on the last day I felt both pride for how far we’d come so quick but of course disappointment for the supporters who’d travelled in numbers far and wide and for the Board who had backed me too. I can remember coming back from that unbelievable game at Weston when we won 4-3 with a massive grin on my face and feeling chuffed. Cambridge was just one game too many unfortunately. And perhaps it was the beginning of the end as the minimum expectation the next season was the play-offs. We reached the Final of the FAW Premier Cup and it was a bit surreal playing New Saints on our own pitch, but we didn’tdoourselvesjusticeandwereluckytofinishwithjust a 1-0 defeat. But I was very proud to have managed us to a Final.”

The 2007/08 season was dramatic but unexpectedly Peter’s last: “I work with the young lads here at Hereford and every game we are looking to improve and we carried thatmentalityintothenextseason–wewantedtogoforward in all competitions. We beat both Swansea and Cardiff in the FAW Premier Cup and that was unbelievable. The season before we’d beaten Wrexham but Cardiff away was particularly special as they’d started the game with such a strong side. We got to 90 minutes and I was really concerned about us hanging on but the lads stepped up to the plate. Damon was unlucky with his penalty that hit the crossbar and we were ecstatic when we won. The travelling support was fantastic that night. Swansea had not put out as strong a side, but beating them was lovely retribution for the previous season. We again though lost out on the play-offs by losing the last game. That Fisher game was extremely close. A few games we should have won, but all managers can say that, but for Fisher I think thepressuremaybegottoafew–wecertainlydidn’tprepare any differently. We lost Damon and Smudge with nastyinjuriesinthefirsthalfhourandtheyscoredfromapenandadirectfreekick.Wefinished9th which doesn’t look great, but it was so close.

“I was sacked the next day and of course was sad. The worst thing is when you do so well you want to carry iton–butfootballisfootballandIhavetotalrespectfor them wanting to move on with someone else. I was disappointed to leave as I’d made a lot of friends, but nowtheyarewheretheyshouldbe–backintheFootballLeague. When Justin was appointed I told the Argus that they’d got the right manager this time. Things could have been handled different, but I look at my time at Newport

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very fondly and have just been told our Youth team’s firstgameoftheseasonisNewportawayandthatisabsolutelyfantasticforme.Ihavenobadfeelings–justasense that it was a shame it came to an end.

“The biggest challenge at Newport was managing expectations. I can recall at a fans forum when I got there saying you can never guarantee success, but that when I left it would be in a far better state than when I joined and I think I did that. The expectation level in my second full season was phenomenal but the players were paid and needed to handle that. I had so many proud moments;obviouslybeatingleagueteams,gettingtothe FA Cup 1st Round proper, winning the Cup and proving to myself that I was good enough to do it. My backroom staff and everyone behind the scenes were phenomenal. My proudest moment to be truthful was just getting to manage the club that has the history it has and to have moved it forward. As I say, there were a lot of times I left the ground with a grin on my face and chuffed to bits. I usedtogoeverywherewatchinggames–andGodresthissoul would bump into Ray Taylor at most of them!

“We had lots of great players too. Jason Bowen I’d have to say was the best for his skill and John Brough and Tony Pennock for their leadership. Big Jules (Julian Alsop) and Sam O’Sullivan were great characters in the changing room–theyallcontributedsomething–buttheonewhostood out on his own was Bows, who was an unbelievable athleteandfootballer.IwasalwaysconfidentIcouldbring out the best in Guppy (Craig Hughes) –peopleneed a chance to know that you will judge them on what theywilldointhefutureandnotjustthepast–justasJustinisdoingnow.Wehadtogethimfitandputanarmaround him, but what an absolute gentleman he was and hehadagreatwillingnesstodothings–hisdesirewasphenomenal. I am a better coach now having done my badges and I look at things differently during the game. If I had my time again I would still manage my players andlookafterthemthesameway–Ijustregretnotmaking the play-offs. Taking the club up would have been massive! We had a great time and I especially remember our Christmas party in Cardiff. The players came up with theidea–BigJuleswasDarthVaderandeveryplayerwasa storm trooper and then some of us were Luke Skywalker and so on. I think Tony Gilbert was Chewbacca and Joe the masseur was Princess Leah and got his bottom pinched in a bar! At one stage there was a full on battle in the street and people were stopping cars and taking pictures of us –itwasoneofthefunniestthings!SteveJenkinshelpsme out here and we were talking about this just the other day. I think this season Justin will want stability and set some foundations, stay in the League and then look at progression. You don’t want to do an Aldershot and if you maketheplay-offsthentakeit.Iamsuretheywillbefine.The supporters were brilliant with me and I’m sure they will make the most of it too. ‘Up the Port!’”

Dean Holdsworth

Former Premiership striker and England B cap Dean Holdsworth had enjoyed a spell in the twilight of his career at County under Beadle and was appointed in May 2008, eventually writing his name into the record book as the manager who returned us to the Conference – the level the old club had been at when folding. And Dean did it in style with a sensational record breaking second season. Dean recalls: “I was approached at the end of the season after guiding Redbridge to the Ryman Division OneNorthplay-offfinalandofcourseafterhavingspenta short amount of time playing for County. I was invited down to speak to the Board and the talks went very well and happily I got the job. They were ambitious and really keentogetoutoftheConferenceSouthbutwefirstlyhad to understand why they hadn’t been able to do it beforeandfigureoutwhatneededtobeputinplacetotake it forward. We never had anywhere to train and the infrastructure was nowhere near ready. I’d enjoyed my spell playing and that gave me a bit of time to look at the club and helped me to decide what was needed.”

The 2008/09 season saw a 10th placed finish and a revolving door of players, some who barely stayed long enough to have their photo! “AttheendofmyfirstseasonI was knackered and emotionally drained! When I’d come the budget was very low and lots of changes were needed in the playing personnel and I had to do things quickly. I needed to change the non-league mentality and realised it wasn’t going to happen overnight and signing players was a learning curve but I set out my wish list of things I needed behind the scenes, for example a house for players who had long distances to travel to be able to stay over and a better wage infrastructure. All these things I knew were necessary for us to do better.”

The 2009/10 season was the 30th anniversary of the 1979/80 ‘Season of Triumph’ and the 20th of the inaugural season in Moreton in Marsh – if we were going to finally achieve promotion to the Conference then there could be no more romantic opportunity! It was to be a season none of us would ever forget and certainly not Dean: “I think after working closely with the Board and setting out my plans I honestly thought the play-offs would be our aim, but I’d also learnt not to shout about it in the media and I actually lowered expectations in the media on purpose.WhenIfirstarrivedChrisBlightwasveryvocalin the media and that was new to me where the Chairman had a relationship with the paper and if you say in your firstyearyouwantpromotionthatmeanspeoplecometoexpectit.Thefanbasedemandedit–theyhadbeen

LOOK BACK IN AMBER LOOK BACK IN AMBER

a long time waiting and were understandably impatient. It was important that we controlled that expectation level and at the end of the day you are only as good as you are on the pitch and not on the basis of your history or your column inches in the press. But I realised what we could do the day we beat Eastleigh 5-1 at home and after the game I went in the dressing room and said ‘we willwinthisleague–sogetready!’AndthatwasinearlySeptember! I have a huge sense of pride from that season and at the end of it there was no prouder man than me. IthinkthatseasonwewerethefirstteaminEuropetogetpromotion!Theeuphoria–seeinggrownmencrying–I’llneverforgetthefeeling.Ihadtocontroltheteamas I wanted them to just not win it but make themselves heroes and put their names in the history of the club. I think there were about eight records we broke that year! The players deserve huge credit for sustaining their professionalism as we could so easily have taken our foot off the pedal, but we carried on giving our best until the last kick. The night we beat Havant and Waterlooville 2-0towinpromotionwassomethingsospecial–tosee the crowd on the edge of the pitch from the shed wave like and the whole of that evening can still make meemotional–andfortheplayerstohavehandledthepressure–fantastic!Thedressingroommessagewasdifferent than the one that went out as I wanted to put pressureonthemtoseeiftheycouldhandleit–andtheydid.”

So what had made such a dramatic improvement? Dean points to the changes he had indentified at the outset: “The whole squad bought into the extra training sessions and we also picked up on the educational and scientificsideofitwatchingvideosandsoon.Theclubwere stronger behind the scenes with the Board pulling togetherandeverythingclickedonthefieldfromFoleyandReidtoWarrenandBignotandRose–theplayerswere all on it and I told them ‘you do this and get promotion and you will never be forgotten and you may never get the chance to make names for yourselves like this again.’ For me Danny Rose was something special with his technical and dead ball ability. Craig Reid and Sam Foley up front worked so well together and what a magnificentleaderGaryWarrenwas!Tobehonestthoughif you ask who I thought my best player was I’d have to saymyfirsteleven!”

The Conference fixture list made supporters realise we were back! Illustrious names from our League days lay ahead such as Wrexham and Luton and Mansfield – managed by Dean’s twin David! “I think the fact we could more than hold our own in the Conference was highlighted when we beat my brother’s team 1-0. But I still wanted us to improve behind the scenes and we became more or less three quarters full time and could put on more training sessions and the start to the season we had was fantastic. The players knew what wewantedandweweretheeliteintermsofourfitnessand professionalism. But behind the scenes as I say somethingswerestillnotasIwantedthem–wedidn’thave our own training ground and in the two and a half years I had at the club I still had the burning ambition to be a League manager and I wanted so badly to test myselfagain.TobefairwhenIfirstwenttoAldershotinmyfirstthreegamesIwasinoppositionagainstDarioGradi and Peter Taylor and it was that standard I was impatient to come up against. It was never about wanting to leave Newport but all about wanting to test myself higher. Behind the scenes it’s all about structure and it

is probably very different now but it is very frustrating whenyoudon’thavethosefacilitiesinplace–it’snotonly about Saturday it’s also about Monday to Friday. I have to say though that I had a wonderful time and still have a fantastic relationship with Chris Blight. If the club had moved to Rodney Parade that would have made a difference, but I’d reached a point that without much financialhelpIfeltwecouldnotgomuchfurther,aswellasweweredoing.Footballisallaboutfinance.Wehadaclick of about seven or eight players, who were always in the team, but we needed more and they cost.

“Incredible memories though. The evening after we beat Eastleigh we hadn’t anything in our mind to reward the players if we got promotion and we suggested that we take them to Las Vegas. Every win after that we sang Elvis’ ‘Viva Las Vegas’ and Matt Southall brought in 50 pairs of Elvis glasses. There is a pic in my mind of Blighty in his suit and wearing the glasses singing after the Havant game that will never leave me and is very special!

“For this season you’ve already brought in some good players. Jolley I’d looked at myself but couldn’t afford him.Youwillfindoutinthefirsttwomonthswhocanhandle it. It’s a tough Division and defending set pieces is important as it is quite direct. I will look at the style and how they adapt with a lot of interest. My message to fans is ‘manage your expectations’. Sustainability is the key and ifyoudothenthenextfiveyearscanbeadream–enjoyyour status and your success. I had an absolutely amazing time and am very proud to have managed your club. There are lots of special people there. Best wishes to you all.”

Tim Harris stepped into the breach when Dean left and restored order in time for the arrival of Anthony Hudson in April 2011.

The son of the legendary and controversial Alan, his appointment was met with universal surprise and promises from Harry Redknapp that he would be the ‘new Jose Mourinho’ did little to help the burden of expectancy every manager has talked about when given the challenge of managing our club.

As many predicted, he failed and was swiftly replaced by Justin Edinburgh on 4th October 2011 – and two Wembley appearances later and with the mission of restoring Football League status finally accomplished - the rest really is history! And now a new chapter awaits!A memorable win at Cardiff

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Accrington Stanley Match Day Programme