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{{Short description|Association football club in Newport, Wales}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} |
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{{Use British English|date=December 2023}} |
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{{Infobox football club |
{{Infobox football club |
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| clubname = Newport County |
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| image = Newport County AFC crest.svg |
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| image_size = |
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| fullname = Newport County<br />Association Football Club |
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| upright = 0.85 |
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| nickname = ''The Exiles, The Ironsides'', ''The Port'', ''The County'' |
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| alt = Badge of Newport Amber Army |
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| founded = 1912 (reformed 1989) |
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| caption = |
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| ground = [[Rodney Parade]],<br />[[Newport]] |
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| fullname = Newport County Association Football Club |
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| capacity = 11,676 |
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| nickname = The Exiles, The Ironsides, The Port |
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| chairman = Chris Blight |
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| short name = County |
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| manager = [[Justin Edinburgh]] |
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| founded = {{nowrap|{{Start date and age|1912|df=yes}} (founded)<br>{{Start date and age|1989|6|df=yes}} (reformed)}} |
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| league = [[Conference National]] |
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| dissolved = |
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| season = [[2011–12 Football Conference#Conference National|2011–12]] |
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| American = |
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| position = Conference National, 19th |
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| ground = [[Rodney Parade]] |
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| current = {{Newport County A.F.C. current season}} |
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| capacity = 7,850 |
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|pattern_la1=|pattern_ra1=|pattern_b1=_newport1112h|pattern_so1=_band_amber |
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| coordinates = {{coord|51.588332|-2.988207}} |
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|leftarm1=febd11|body1=febd11|rightarm1=febd11|shorts1=000000|socks1=000000 |
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| owntitle = <!--optional, default: Owner --> |
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| pattern_la2=|pattern_ra2=|pattern_b2=|leftarm2=FFFFFF|body2=FFFFFF|rightarm2=FFFFFF|shorts2=FFFFFF|socks2=FFFFFF |
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| owner = [[Huw Jenkins (Welsh businessman)|Huw Jenkins]] 52%,<br>[http://ncafctrust.org Newport County AFC Supporters Trust] 27%,<br>Other investors 21% |
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| chrtitle = <!--optional, default: Chairman --> |
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| chairman = |
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| mgrtitle = <!--optional, default: Manager --> |
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| manager = Vacant |
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| coach = |
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| league = {{English football updater|NewportC}} |
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| season = {{English football updater|NewportC2}} |
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| position = {{English football updater|NewportC3}} |
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| website = http://www.newport-county.co.uk/ |
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|pattern_name1 = Home |
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|pattern_la1=|pattern_ra1=|pattern_b1=|pattern_so1=|leftarm1=FFC840|body1=FFC840|rightarm1=FFC840|shorts1=000000|socks1=FFC840 |
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|pattern_name2= Away |
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|pattern_la2= |pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=|pattern_sh2=|pattern_so2=|leftarm2=FFFFFF|body2=FFFFFF|rightarm2=FFFFFF|shorts2=FFFFFF|socks2=FFFFFF |
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|pattern_name3= Third |
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|pattern_la3= |pattern_b3=|pattern_ra3=|pattern_sh3=|pattern_so3=|leftarm3=000000|body3=000000|rightarm3=000000|shorts3=000000|socks3=000000 |
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| current = 2023–24 Newport County A.F.C. season |
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}} |
}} |
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'''Newport County Association Football Club''' is a Welsh [[association football|football]] club based in [[Newport]], [[South Wales]]. The club participates in the [[Conference National]], the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1912 the club were founder members of the [[The Football League|Football League]]'s new [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] in [[1920–21 Newport County A.F.C. season|1920]]. |
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'''Newport County Association Football Club''' ({{lang-cy|Clwb Pêl-droed Cymdeithas Sir Casnewydd}})<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.assembly.wales/NAfW%20Documents/n0000000000000000000000000044275.pdf%20-%2021012009/n0000000000000000000000000044275-English.pdf|title=Welsh Assembly reference|website=Assembly.wales|access-date=15 May 2018|archive-date=5 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305100626/http://www.assembly.wales/NAfW%20Documents/n0000000000000000000000000044275.pdf%20-%2021012009/n0000000000000000000000000044275-English.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> is a professional [[association football]] club in the city of [[Newport, Wales|Newport]], [[South Wales]]. The team compete in {{English football updater|NewportC}}, the fourth level of the [[English football league system]]. The club's usual [[Kit (association football)|home colours]] are amber shirts and black shorts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://historicalkits.co.uk/Newport_County-2/Newport-County-2.html|title=Newport County AFC|publisher=Historical Football Kits|access-date=5 August 2018|archive-date=7 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607004825/http://historicalkits.co.uk/Newport_County-2/Newport-County-2.html|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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Newport County were [[Welsh Cup]] winners in [[1979–80 Newport County A.F.C. season|1980]] and subsequently reached the quarter-finals of the [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|European Cup Winners' Cup]]. The club was relegated from the [[Football League]] in 1988 and went out of business in February 1989. The club re-formed shortly afterwards and entered the English league pyramid system at a much lower level. The club achieved promotion to the [[Conference National]] for the [[2010–11 Newport County A.F.C. season|2010–11 season]], the same level they played at prior to bankruptcy in 1989. |
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Formed in 1912, the club began life in the [[Southern Football League|Southern League]] before being invited to become founder members of the [[Football League Third Division]] in 1920. They failed re-election in 1931, but were elected back into the [[English Football League|Football League]] the next year. They struggled for the next few seasons, but went on to be crowned [[Football League Third Division South|Third Division South]] champions in 1938–39. [[World War II]] meant they had to wait until the 1946–47 season to take their place in the [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]], though they were relegated at the end of the campaign. They were relegated out of the Third Division in 1962. In the 1979–80 season, under manager [[Len Ashurst]], they secured promotion out of the [[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] and won the [[Welsh Cup]] for the first time. They reached the quarter-finals of the [[European Cup Winners' Cup|UEFA Cup Winner's Cup]] the next year. In the 1980s they suffered financial difficulties with a double relegation costing them their Football League place in 1988 and the club went out of business in February 1989. |
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==The Football League years== |
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===Rise through the league=== |
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Newport County,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Newport_County/Newport_County.htm|title=Newport County – Historical Kits|accessdate=2010-03-23}}</ref> originally nicknamed "The Ironsides" due to Newport being home to [[John Lysaght|John Lysaght's]] [[steel works]],<ref>[http://www.thisisnotgwent.co.uk/wolverhampton_connection.htm Newport, Lysaght's and Wolverhampton]</ref> started out in the [[Southern Football League|Southern League]] in 1912 at [[Somerton Park]].<ref name="clubinfo">{{cite web|url=http://www.newport-county.co.uk/about/page3.html|title=History & Honours|publisher=Newport County A.F.C.|accessdate=2010-03-23}}</ref> The official name of the club was The Newport & Monmouth County Association Football Club, although the shorter ''Newport County'' was soon adopted.<ref name="clubinfo" /> The club were reformed in 1919<ref name="ncfc1912–1960">{{cite book |title=Newport County Football Club 1912–1960 |last=Shepherd |first=Richard |year=1997 |publisher=Tempus Publishing Ltd. |isbn=0-7524-1081-4}}</ref> and were first elected to the [[Football League]] in [[1920–21 in English football|1920]]. They were not re-elected after the [[1930–31 Newport County A.F.C. season|1930–31 season]] but rejoined for 1932–33.<ref name="clubinfo" /> After almost twenty years in the [[Football League Third Division South|Third Division South]], the club finally clinched promotion to the [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] as champions in [[1938–39 Newport County A.F.C. season|1939]].<ref name="clubinfo" /> |
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The club reformed but were initially unable to play at their home ground at [[Somerton Park]], so picked up the nickname of the "Exiles". They immediately won the [[Hellenic Football League|Hellenic League]] in 1989–90 and were promoted out of the [[Southern Football League|Southern League Midland Division]] in 1994–95. While playing at [[Newport Stadium]], they were relegated from the Premier Division in 1997, before winning promotion out of the Midland Division again in 1998–99. Placed in the [[National League South|Conference South]] in 2004, they went on to be crowned champions in 2009–10 and after moving to [[Rodney Parade]] in 2012, they returned to the Football League following a 25-year absence after winning the [[National League (division)|Conference National]] play-off final in [[2013 Conference Premier play-off final|2013]] under manager [[Justin Edinburgh]]. |
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===Second Division=== |
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Hopes were high that the championship-winning side could prosper in the Second Division, but only three games were played of the [[1939–40 Newport County A.F.C. season|1939–40 season]] due to the outbreak of [[World War II]]. Newport County managed a 1–1 draw with [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] and a 3–1 win over [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]], finishing joint 9th out of 22 in the abandoned season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rsssf.com/engpaul/FLA/1939-40.html|title=Season 1939–40 (Abandoned)|author=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation}}</ref> The War League operated for the remainder of the [[1939–40 Newport County A.F.C. season|1939–40 season]] and County finished 10th in the South-West Division. |
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==History== |
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On the resumption of national league football after the war, the club reformed<ref name="ncfc1912–1960" /> but did not fare so well as a re-shaped team suffered a host of defeats – including a joint [[Football records in England#Scorelines|Football League record]] 13–0 defeat at [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]]. Newcastle player [[Len Shackleton]] remarked "they were lucky to get nil". Despite victories over [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]], [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]] and [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]], the club needed four wins out of the last four games to have any hope of safety. Despite a revenge victory over Newcastle United, defeats to [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]], [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]] and [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] sealed their fate. County finished rock bottom of Division 2 and were relegated. However, during this lean period Newport did reach the 5th round of the [[FA Cup 1948–49|FA Cup in 1949]], the furthest they have gone in the competition. They only narrowly lost the game 3–2 away to [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]], the eventual FA Cup semi-finalists and [[Football League First Division|First Division]] champions that season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=26455|title=Portsmouth 3 Newport 2 |date=1949-02-17 |publisher=British Pathe|accessdate=2010-02-22}}</ref> |
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{{Main|List of Newport County A.F.C. seasons}} |
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===1912–1988=== |
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===Life in the basement division=== |
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====Rise through the league==== |
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After eleven further seasons in the Third Division South, the club narrowly avoided another effective relegation with the creation of the [[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] for the [[1958–59 Newport County A.F.C. season|1958–59 season]]. The bottom twelve teams from the Third Division North and South were placed in the new division, with the remainder forming the revived [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]]. County avoided this fate by a mere four points. However, in [[1961–62 Newport County A.F.C. season|1962]], with only seven wins all season, the club were relegated to the Fourth Division — their home for the next 18 years. |
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Newport County,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Newport_County/Newport_County.htm|title=Newport County – Historical Kits|access-date=23 March 2010|archive-date=8 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608073956/http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Newport_County/Newport_County.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> originally nicknamed The Ironsides due to Newport being home to Lysaght's [[Orb Works]] [[steel works]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thisisnotgwent.co.uk/wolverhampton_connection.htm|title=THE WOLVERHAMPTON CONNECTION|work=thisisnotgwent.co.uk|access-date=7 May 2011|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304050505/http://www.thisisnotgwent.co.uk/wolverhampton_connection.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> started out in the [[Southern Football League|Southern League]] in 1912 at [[Somerton Park]].<ref name="clubinfo">{{cite web|url=http://www.newport-county.co.uk/about/page3.html|title=History & Honours|publisher=Newport County A.F.C.|access-date=23 March 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128093003/http://www.newport-county.co.uk/about/page3.html|archive-date=28 January 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The official name of the club was The Newport & Monmouthshire County Association Football Club, although the shorter ''Newport County'' was soon adopted.<ref name="clubinfo" /> The club were reformed in 1919<ref name="ncfc1912–1960">{{cite book |title=Newport County Football Club 1912–1960 |last=Shepherd |first=Richard |year=1997 |publisher=Tempus Publishing Ltd. |isbn=0-7524-1081-4}}</ref> and were first elected to the [[Football League]] in [[1920–21 in English football|1920]]. They were not [[Re-election (Football League)|re-elected]] after the [[1930–31 Newport County A.F.C. season|1930–31 season]] but rejoined for 1932–33.<ref name="clubinfo" /> After almost 20 years in the [[Football League Third Division South|Third Division South]], the club finally clinched promotion to the [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] as champions in [[1938–39 Newport County A.F.C. season|1939]] under manager [[Billy McCandless]].<ref name="clubinfo" /> |
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====Second Division==== |
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In the [[1959–60 Newport County A.F.C. season|1959–60 season]], County were drawn with [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] – a top English side – in the [[FA Cup]] third round. The game was played in heavy snow at [[White Hart Lane]], and although County lost 4–1 their goal came from an incredible 35-yard effort by [[Ken Hollyman]]. This forced the score-line to 1–2, giving County the hope that they could force an upset and inflict a replay or even defeat upon [[Bill Nicholson (footballer)|Bill Nicholson's]] men (who were [[Double (association football)|double]] winners [[1960–61 in English football|a year later]]). However, two late goals for Tottenham ended County's hopes of pulling off a shock result.<ref name="countypast">{{cite web|url=http://www.newport-county.co.uk/archives/county_past/county_past_page.html|title=County Past|author=Newport County A.F.C.|accessdate=2010-03-22}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> |
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[[File:Newport County FC League Performance.svg|thumb|right|Chart of yearly table positions of Newport County in the English football league system.]]Hopes were high that the championship-winning side could prosper in the Second Division, but only three games were played of the [[1939–40 Newport County A.F.C. season|1939–40 season]] due to the outbreak of [[World War II]]. Newport County managed a 1–1 draw with [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] and a 3–1 win over [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]], finishing joint ninth out of 22 in the abandoned season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/engpaul/FLA/1939-40.html|title=Season 1939–40 (Abandoned)|author=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=3 February 2023|archive-date=28 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328131102/http://www.rsssf.com/engpaul/FLA/1939-40.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The War League operated for the remainder of the [[1939–40 Newport County A.F.C. season|1939–40 season]] and County finished 10th in the South-West Division. |
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After the war, the club reformed and competed in the temporary [[Football League North and South|Football League South]] for the [[1945–46 Newport County A.F.C. season|1945–46 season]]. On the resumption of national league football for the [[1946–47 Newport County A.F.C. season|1946–47 season]]<ref name="ncfc1912–1960" /> Newport resumed their place in the Second Division but the reshaped team suffered a host of defeats – including a joint [[Football records in England#Scorelines|Football League record]] 13–0 defeat at [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]]. Newcastle player [[Len Shackleton]] remarked "they were lucky to get nil". Despite victories over [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]], [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]] and [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]], the club needed four wins out of the last four games to have any hope of safety. Despite a revenge victory over Newcastle United, defeats to [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]], [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]] and [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] sealed their fate. County finished bottom of the Second Division and were relegated. |
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In January 1964, County took on another high-profile side – [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]], the [[1959–60 in English football|1960]] [[Football League Division One|Division One]] champions and [[1961–62 in English football|1962]] [[Double (association football)|double]] runners-up – in the FA Cup fourth round, but again suffered defeat. |
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====Third Division==== |
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In the [[1970–71 Newport County A.F.C. season|1970–71 season]] Newport set an unwanted Football League record by not winning any of their first 25 matches. In the same season Newport equalled the worst defeat of a Football League club by a non-league club when they lost 6–1 to [[Barnet F.C.|Barnet]] in the [[1970–71 FA Cup|FA Cup First Round]]. Results improved in the following season and in the [[1972–73 Newport County A.F.C. season|1972–73 season]] the Newport team managed by [[Billy Lucas]] missed out on promotion only on [[goal average]]. |
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Newport reached the fifth round of the [[1948–49 FA Cup]] under manager [[Tom Bromilow]], the furthest they have gone in the competition, later equalled in 2019. They only narrowly lost the game 3–2 away to [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]], the eventual FA Cup semi-finalists and [[Football League First Division|First Division]] champions that season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=26455|title=Portsmouth 3 Newport 2|date=17 February 1949|publisher=British Pathe|access-date=22 February 2010|archive-date=11 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611050523/http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=26455|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
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After 11 further seasons in the Third Division South, the club narrowly avoided another effective relegation with the creation of the [[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] for the [[1958–59 Newport County A.F.C. season|1958–59 season]]. The bottom 12 teams from the Third Division North and South were placed in the new division, with the remainder forming the revived [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]]. County avoided this fate by a mere four points. However, in [[1961–62 Newport County A.F.C. season|1962]], with only seven wins all season, the club were relegated to the Fourth Division – their home for the next 18 years. |
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===Promotion, cup glory and European run=== |
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[[File:Somerton Park, Newport - geograph-1225331.jpg|thumb|right|Newport playing [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]] in 1981]] |
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====Fourth Division==== |
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The 1980s heralded both the brightest and darkest moments in Newport County's history. [[Len Ashurst]] was manager from 1978–1982, the club's most successful period in its history and under the Chairmanship of Richard Ford. In [[1979–80 Newport County A.F.C. season|1980]], promotion was finally achieved from the Football League Fourth Division, the club being only five points from being crowned champions. County sealed promotion in the last match of the season with a 4–2 win at high-flying [[Walsall F.C.|Walsall]]. Walsall finished second in the league and were also promoted. |
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[[Billy Lucas]] had the first of three spells as Newport County manager from 1953 to 1961. County reached the fourth round of the [[1956–57 FA Cup]] losing 2–0 to [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] in front of 20,000 spectators at Somerton Park. In the [[1958–59 FA Cup]] County faced [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] in the fourth round. The game was played in heavy snow away at [[White Hart Lane]], and although County lost 4–1 their goal came from an incredible 35-yard effort by defender [[Ken Hollyman]]. This made the score-line 1–2, giving County the hope that they could force an upset upon [[Bill Nicholson (footballer)|Bill Nicholson's]] men (who were [[Double (association football)|double]] winners [[1960–61 in English football|a year later]]). However, two late goals for Tottenham ended County's hopes of pulling off a shock result.<ref name="countypast">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905131440/http://www.newport-county.co.uk/archives/county_past/county_past_page.html|url=http://www.newport-county.co.uk/archives/county_past/county_past_page.html|archive-date=5 September 2008 |title=County Past|author=Newport County A.F.C.}}</ref> County faced Tottenham again in the [[1959–60 FA Cup]] third round at Somerton Park in front of a cup record 24,000 crowd, this time losing 4–0. |
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In January 1964 under [[Billy Lucas]] in his second spell as manager, County took on another high-profile side – [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]], the [[1959–60 in English football|1960]] [[Football League Division One|Division One]] champions and [[1961–62 in English football|1962]] [[Double (association football)|double]] runners-up – in the FA Cup fourth round, but again suffered defeat 2–1. |
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In the [[1970–71 Newport County A.F.C. season|1970–71 season]] the Newport team managed by [[Bobby Ferguson (footballer, born 1938)|Bobby Ferguson]] set an unwanted Football League record by not winning any of their first 25 matches, losing 21 in the process.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Jeffery|first1=Robert|last2=Gonnella|first2=Mark|title=Pictorial History of English Football|publisher=Parragon|year=1999|page=178|chapter=1970–1980: Taking on the World|isbn=1-84164-077-8}}</ref> In the same season Newport equalled the worst defeat of a Football League club by a non-league club when they lost 6–1 to [[Barnet F.C.|Barnet]] in the [[1970–71 FA Cup|FA Cup first round]]. Results improved in the following season under [[Billy Lucas]] in his third spell as manager and in the [[1972–73 Newport County A.F.C. season|1972–73 season]] Newport missed out on promotion only on [[goal average]]. |
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For the [[1976–77 Newport County A.F.C. season|1976–77 season]] the team managed by [[Jimmy Scoular]] changed their playing strip to light blue and white striped shirts, light blue shorts and white socks akin to the Argentina national team in an attempt to turn around their fortunes. However, the team continued to struggle until [[Colin Addison]] took over in January 1977. The season became known as "the great escape" as County avoided relegation with a 1–0 win at home to [[Workington A.F.C.|Workington]] in the last game of the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39804433|title=Deja vu as Newport County look to repeat their 1977 great escape|date=4 May 2017|access-date=15 May 2018|website=BBC|archive-date=24 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024190118/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39804433|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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====Promotion, cup 'glory' and European run==== |
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[[File:Somerton Park, Newport - geograph-1225331.jpg|thumb|right|Top-of-the-table Newport playing [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]] in a Third Division clash in 1981]] |
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The 1980s heralded both the brightest and darkest moments in Newport County's history. [[Len Ashurst]] was manager from 1978 to 1982, the club's most successful period in its history and under the chairmanship of Richard Ford. In the [[1978–79 FA Cup]] County beat [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]] 2–1 in round three before losing 1–0 to [[Colchester United F.C.|Colchester United]] in a fourth round replay. In [[1979–80 Newport County A.F.C. season|1980]], promotion was finally achieved from the Football League Fourth Division, the club being only five points from being crowned champions although never being in contention to win the league and never being top. County sealed promotion in the last match of the season with a 4–2 win at high-flying [[Walsall F.C.|Walsall]]. Walsall finished second in the league and were also promoted. |
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The team included a young [[John Aldridge]] who later became one of the most prolific goal-scorers in English football history, most famous for helping [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] win the [[Football League First Division|First Division]] title in 1988 and FA Cup in 1989, as well as helping [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]] win two successive promotions and the [[Football League Cup]]. |
The team included a young [[John Aldridge]] who later became one of the most prolific goal-scorers in English football history, most famous for helping [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] win the [[Football League First Division|First Division]] title in 1988 and FA Cup in 1989, as well as helping [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]] win two successive promotions and the [[Football League Cup]]. |
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<!--<gallery> |
<!--<gallery> |
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[[Image: |
[[Image:county past31.JPEG|thumb|alt=A Tommy Tynan scores the final goal to clinch promotion to Division 3 in Season 1979/80.]] |
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[[Image: |
[[Image:county past32.JPEG|thumb|alt=A A Civic ride through Newport to celebrate the promotion and Welsh Cup win. 1979/80.]] |
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</gallery>--> |
</gallery>--> |
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Also in the promotion-winning team was [[Tommy Tynan]], one of the leading lower-league strikers of his era, who scored the all-important goal that sealed County's promotion.<ref name="countypast" /> [[Steve Lowndes]] and [[Nigel Vaughan]] went on to attain international caps for [[Wales national football team|Wales]]. This was also the year that County [[1980 Welsh Cup Final|won the Welsh Cup]], entitling them to play in the 1980–81 season [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|European Cup Winners' Cup]]. |
Also in the promotion-winning team was [[Tommy Tynan]], one of the leading lower-league strikers of his era, who scored the all-important goal that sealed County's promotion.<ref name="countypast" /> [[Dave Gwyther]] completed the trio of prolific goalscorers whilst captain [[Keith Oakes]] provided strength in central defence. Youth team products [[Steve Lowndes]] and [[Nigel Vaughan]] went on to attain international caps for [[Wales national football team|Wales]]. This was also the year that County [[1980 Welsh Cup Final|won the Welsh Cup]], entitling them to play in the 1980–81 season [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|European Cup Winners' Cup]]. |
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The [[European Cup Winners' Cup |
The [[1980–81 European Cup Winners' Cup]] turned out to be quite eventful – the first round against [[Crusaders F.C.|Crusaders]] of [[Northern Ireland]] was won 4–0 on aggregate (4–0 at home and 0–0 away). The second round against [[SK Haugar]] of [[Norway]] was even more convincing: after a 0–0 draw away, the home leg was won 6–0, taking the club into the quarter-finals against [[FC Carl Zeiss Jena|Carl Zeiss Jena F.C.]] of [[East Germany]]. Aldridge was injured for both matches against Carl Zeiss Jena, though he was a non-playing substitute in the 2nd leg. The quarter-final away leg was drawn 2–2 with Tommy Tynan scoring both goals, including his equaliser in the 90th minute. However, despite dominating the home leg, Newport lost 1–0 in front of 18,000 fans at Somerton Park, denying them a high-profile semi-final with [[S.L. Benfica]]. Carl Zeiss Jena went on to be the eventual cup runners-up, losing the final to [[FC Dinamo Tbilisi|Dinamo Tbilisi]] of the [[Soviet Union]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/that-1980s-sports-blog/2014/feb/20/newport-county-cup-winners-1981|title=Recalling Newport County's run to the last eight of the 1981 Cup Winners' Cup|first=Steven|last=Pye|date=20 February 2014|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=9 December 2021|archive-date=9 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209183548/https://www.theguardian.com/football/that-1980s-sports-blog/2014/feb/20/newport-county-cup-winners-1981|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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The Newport County squad for the |
The Newport County squad for the first leg was: 1 [[Gary Plumley]], 2 [[Richard Walden]], 3 [[John Relish]], 4 [[Grant Davies (footballer)|Grant Davies]], 5 [[Keith Oakes]] (Captain), 6 [[Tommy Tynan]], 7 [[Nigel Vaughan]], 8 [[Steve Lowndes]], 9 [[Dave Gwyther]], 10 [[Karl Elsey]], 11 [[Kevin Moore (footballer, born 1956)|Kevin Moore]], 12 [[Neil Bailey]], 13 [[Steve Warriner]], 14 [[Dave Bruton (footballer)|Dave Bruton]], 15 [[Robert Ward (footballer)|Bobby Ward]], 16 [[Mark Kendall (footballer, born 1958)|Mark Kendall]]. |
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In the [[1982–83 Newport County A.F.C. season|1982–83 season]] [[Colin Addison]], in his second spell as manager, led Newport County to their highest post-war league finish – just four points behind third-placed [[Huddersfield Town F.C.|Huddersfield Town]] |
In the [[1982–83 Newport County A.F.C. season|1982–83 season]] [[Colin Addison]], in his second spell as manager, led Newport County to their highest post-war league finish – 4th in the Third Division, just four points behind third-placed [[Huddersfield Town F.C.|Huddersfield Town]]. Huddersfield were promoted to the Second Division, along with champions [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]] and local rivals [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]]. County had actually gone top of the table in early April after a 1–0 win over Cardiff in front of 16,052 fans at Somerton Park, but a return of only four points from the last seven games meant County missed out on promotion. County faced [[Football League First Division|First-Division]] team [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] in the third round of the [[1982–83 FA Cup]]. After a 1–1 draw at Newport, Everton won the replay 2–1. |
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Newport appeared in the [[Welsh Cup]] final again in 1987, this time losing 1–0 to [[Merthyr Tydfil F.C.|Merthyr Tydfil]] after a replay. |
In 1986 County reached the FA Cup third round under manager [[Bobby Smith (footballer, born 1944)|Bobby Smith]], losing 2–0 to [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]. Newport appeared in the [[Welsh Cup]] final again in 1987 under manager [[John Lewis (footballer, born 1955)|John Lewis]], this time losing 1–0 to [[Merthyr Tydfil F.C.|Merthyr Tydfil]] after a replay. |
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===Freefall and bankruptcy=== |
====Freefall and bankruptcy==== |
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Despite reaching the Welsh Cup final, County were relegated from the Third Division in [[1986–87 Newport County A.F.C. season|1987]] and in [[1987–88 Newport County A.F.C. season|1988]] finished bottom of the Fourth Division with a mere 25 points, meaning that their 60-season stay in the Football League was over. They failed to finish their [[1988–89 Newport County A.F.C. season|first season]] in the [[National League (English football)|Conference]] and finally went out of business on 27 February 1989 with debts of £330,000. They were then expelled from the Conference for failing to fulfil their fixtures. Their record (four wins, seven draws and 19 points from 29 games) was expunged. |
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The BBC Wales current |
The BBC Wales current affairs programme ''Week in Week Out'' broadcast a documentary in 1989 about the winding up of Newport County and its controversial owner at the time, American Jerry Sherman.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/8562788.stm|author=BBC Sport|title=Jerry Sherman interview|work=BBC News|date=11 March 2010|access-date=13 March 2010|archive-date=28 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928114759/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/8562788.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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===1989 onwards=== |
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In June that year, the club was reformed and elected to the [[Hellenic Football League|Hellenic League]] (four divisions below the Football League). Since then, the club's main aim has been to regain the Football League status lost in 1988. |
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== |
====Reformation and exile==== |
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[[Image:Newport Stadium - larger.jpg|right|thumb|Newport Stadium, 2004]] |
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===First years=== |
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[[Image:Newport Stadium - larger.jpg|right|thumb|Newport Stadium]] |
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The new club took on the name "Newport A.F.C." and adopted the nickname "The Exiles", as a result of the need to play their [[1989–90 Newport A.F.C. season|inaugural season]] in the north [[Gloucestershire]] town of [[Moreton-in-Marsh]] at which venue they won the Hellenic 'League and Cup double', winning promotion to the [[Southern Football League|Southern League]].<ref name="clubinfo" /> After two seasons back home in Newport at [[Somerton Park]], football politics consigned them to a further two seasons of exile at [[Gloucester]] and the club was forced to resort to legal action to protect themselves from being forced out of the English football pyramid by the [[Football Association of Wales]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/newport-county-fc/2010/03/14/come-and-watch-us-celebrate-title-county-tell-faw-nemesis-alun-evans-91466-26027432/|title=‘Come and watch us celebrate title’ County tell FAW nemesis Alun Evans|author=Western Mail|date=2010-03-14|accessdate=2010-03-23|authorlink=Western Mail (Wales)}}</ref> That litigation proved successful, a landmark [[High Court of Justice of England and Wales|High Court]] verdict enabling them to have a permanent home in Newport at the then newly-built [[Newport Stadium]]. The club's first season back in Newport, in [[1994–95 Newport A.F.C. season|1994–95]], saw them promoted to the [[Southern League Premier Division]] by winning the Midland Division Championship by a 14-point margin; on the way to that championship, the club set a then Southern League record by winning 14 successive league matches.<ref name="clubinfo" /> In [[1999–2000 Newport County A.F.C. season|1999]], the club reverted to the name Newport County A.F.C..<ref name="clubinfo" /> |
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In June 1989 the club was reformed by 400 supporters, including David Hando as chairman and, later, club president. Former manager [[John Relish]] was re-appointed team manager and they were elected to the [[Hellenic Football League|Hellenic League]] (then four divisions below the Football League). The club's main aim was to regain the Football League status lost in 1988. The club took on the name "Newport A.F.C." and adopted the nickname The Exiles, as a result of having to play home matches for the 1989–90 season at the [[Moreton Rangers#Ground|London Road ground]] in the north [[Gloucestershire]] town of [[Moreton-in-Marsh]], {{convert|80|mi}} north-east of Newport. [[Newport City Council|Newport Council]] considered the new company to be a continuation of the old, and refused it permission to use Somerton Park on the grounds of unpaid rent.<ref name=dad>{{cite news |author=Peter Shuttleworth |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-68096720 |title=FA Cup: 'Newport v Man Utd not possible without my dad' |website=BBC News Wales |date=27 January 2024 |access-date=28 January 2024 |archive-date=28 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128003418/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-68096720 |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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===Further progress=== |
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In the [[2001–02 Newport County A.F.C. season|2001–02]] season the team managed by [[Tim Harris (footballer)|Tim Harris]] reached the first round proper of the [[FA Cup]] for the first time since the club was reformed, drawing [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] side [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]]. Holding them to a 2–2 draw away,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/1658666.stm|author=BBC Sport|title=Blackpool v Newport County | work=BBC News | date=17 November 2001}}</ref> County lost the home replay 4–1 after [[extra time]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/1678640.stm|author=BBC Sport|title=Newport County v Blackpool | work=BBC News | date=28 November 2001}}</ref> The [[2002–03 Newport County A.F.C. season|following season]], then managed by [[Peter Nicholas (footballer)|Peter Nicholas]], Newport reached the final of the [[FAW Premier Cup]] beating [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]] and [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]] along the way before losing 6–1 in the final against [[Wrexham F.C.|Wrexham]]. |
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Newport won the Hellenic [[Double (association football)|double]], gaining promotion to the [[Southern Football League|Southern League]].<ref name="clubinfo" /> After the 1990–91 and 1991–92 seasons back home in Newport at Somerton Park, the [[Football Association of Wales]] (FAW) consigned them to a further two seasons of exile in England, ground-sharing at [[Gloucester City A.F.C.|Gloucester City]]'s Meadow Park stadium for 1992–93 and 1993–94. The club was forced to resort to legal action to protect themselves from being forced out of the [[English football league system]] by FAW secretary [[Alun Evans (FAW)|Alun Evans]], who was promoting the first national [[Cymru Premier|League of Wales]] formed for the 1992–93 season.<ref>{{cite news|author=Chris Wathan|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/newport-county-fc/2010/03/14/come-and-watch-us-celebrate-title-county-tell-faw-nemesis-alun-evans-91466-26027432/|title='Come and watch us celebrate title' County tell FAW nemesis Alun Evans|work=[[Western Mail (Wales)|Western Mail]]|date=14 March 2010|access-date=23 March 2010|archive-date=10 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010045200/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/newport-county-fc/2010/03/14/come-and-watch-us-celebrate-title-county-tell-faw-nemesis-alun-evans-91466-26027432/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Newport Association Football Club Ltd and others v Football Association of Wales Ltd|That litigation proved successful]], with a landmark [[High Court of Justice of England and Wales|High Court]] verdict enabling them to have a permanent home in Newport at the then newly built [[Newport Stadium]].<ref name=dad/> |
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Subsequent reorganisation of the upper divisions of non-league football saw County take their place in the [[2004–05 Football Conference#Conference South|inaugural season]] of [[Conference South]], one of the two feeder divisions into the [[Football Conference]]. |
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[[File:The view to the north-east from Newport Cathedral - geograph.org.uk - 2509141.jpg|thumb|Rodney Parade]] |
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[[Peter Beadle]] was appointed manager in October 2005 and in the [[2006–07 Newport County A.F.C. season|2006–07 season]] Newport again reached the first round proper of the FA Cup but lost 3–1 to fellow Welsh side Swansea City. In the same season, Newport reached the [[2007 FAW Premier Cup Final|final]] of the [[FAW Premier Cup]] for the second time, beating Wrexham along the way but losing 1–0 to [[The New Saints F.C.|TNS]] in the final. 2006–07 also saw an improvement in league form by Newport with the team consistently in the top half of the league and challenging for a playoff place (top 5), having one of the best home records in the league. In the end, Newport finished just one position below the playoffs after losing 2–1 to [[Cambridge City F.C.|Cambridge City]] on the final day of the season. |
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The club's first season back in Newport, in 1994–95 under manager [[Graham Rogers (footballer)|Graham Rogers]], saw them promoted to the [[Southern League Premier Division]], after winning the Midland Division Championship by a 14-point margin. On the way to that championship, the club set a then record for the Southern League by winning 14 successive league matches.<ref name="clubinfo" /> |
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In the [[2007–08 Newport County A.F.C. season|2007–08 season]], Newport won what may be the last-ever [[FAW Premier Cup]] beating [[Llanelli A.F.C.|Llanelli]] 1–0 in the [[2008 FAW Premier Cup Final|final]], making a total of one win out of three finals. For the second consecutive season a last-day defeat prevented County reaching the Conference South playoffs. In April 2008 Peter Beadle was sacked as club manager, and was replaced by [[Dean Holdsworth]]. |
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====Further progress==== |
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In his first full season in charge, Holdsworth led Newport to a 10th place finish in the league for the [[2008–09 Newport County A.F.C. season|2008–09 season]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newport-county.co.uk/fixtures_results_08-09.html|title=Blue Square South 2009/09: Fixtures/Results/League Table|author=Newport County A.F.C.}}</ref> |
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In 1999, the club reintroduced the name Newport County A.F.C.<ref name="clubinfo" /> |
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Newport went top of the league in September of the [[2009–10 Newport County A.F.C. season|2009–10 season]] and held onto the top spot for the rest of the season. The league title was won in March 2010 after beating {{fc|Havant and Waterlooville}} 2–0 at Newport Stadium with seven league games remaining. The win made them the first team in the English football leagues to achieve promotion in the 2009–10 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/8569457.stm|title=Newport County's promotion party|author=BBC Sport|accessdate=2010-03-19 | work=BBC News | date=16 March 2010}}</ref> County finished the season with a Conference South record 103 points, 28 ahead of nearest rivals Dover Athletic. They were promoted to the [[Conference National]] for the [[2010–11 Newport County A.F.C. season|2010–11 season]], the level they played at prior to bankruptcy in 1989. Holdsworth left Newport County to become team manager of [[Football League Two]] team [[Aldershot Town F.C.|Aldershot Town]] on 12 January 2011 with Newport County in fifth place in the Conference National table. {{fc|Tottenham Hotspur}} reserve team coach [[Anthony Hudson (footballer)|Anthony Hudson]] was announced as the new manager on 1 April 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newport_county/9435691.stm|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|title=Tottenham coach Anthony Hudson accepts Newport vacancy|date=1 April 2011|first=Peter|last=Shuttleworth}}</ref> The team finished their first season back in the Conference National league in 9th place. |
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In the 2001–02 season the team managed by [[Tim Harris (footballer)|Tim Harris]] reached the first round proper of the [[FA Cup]] for the first time since the club was reformed, drawing [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] side [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]]. Holding them to a 2–2 draw away,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/1658666.stm|author=BBC Sport|title=Blackpool v Newport County | work=BBC News | date=17 November 2001}}</ref> County lost the home replay 4–1 after [[extra time]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/1678640.stm|author=BBC Sport|title=Newport County v Blackpool|work=BBC News|date=28 November 2001|access-date=13 March 2010|archive-date=29 July 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030729223529/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/1678640.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> The following season, then managed by [[Peter Nicholas (footballer)|Peter Nicholas]], Newport reached the final of the [[FAW Premier Cup]] beating [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]] and [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]] along the way before losing 6–1 in the final against [[Wrexham F.C.|Wrexham]]. |
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After a poor start to the [[2011–12 Newport County A.F.C. season|2011–12 season]] where County picked up just a single win out of the first 12 games, Hudson was sacked on 28 September and replaced by [[Justin Edinburgh]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15172904.stm|title=Justin Edinburgh named Newport County manager|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|date=2011-10-04|accessdate=2011-10-04}}</ref> Under Edinburgh's stewardship County finished in 19th place hence avoiding relegation. They also reached the [[2012 FA Trophy Final]] versus York City at [[Wembley Stadium]], which coincided with the 100th anniversary of the club being formed. York won the final 2–0. |
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====Conference South==== |
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In May 2012, Newport County announced that they had agreed a deal that would see the club move to [[Rodney Parade]], the home of [[Newport Gwent Dragons]] and [[Newport RFC]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18286818|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|title=Newport County move to the Dragon's lair at Rodney Parade|date=1 June 2012|first=|last=}}</ref> The initial deal is for three years, with a clause inserted allowing County to pull out and return to [[Newport Stadium]] in 2013-14 if the groundshare proves unsuccessful. <ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18286818 County move to Rodney Parade]</ref> |
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Subsequent reorganisation of the upper divisions of non-league football saw County take their place in the [[2004–05 Football Conference#Conference South|2004–05 inaugural season]] of [[National League (English football)|Conference South]], one of the two feeder divisions into the [[National League (English football)|Football Conference]]. [[Peter Beadle]] was appointed manager in October 2005 and in the 2006–07 season Newport again reached the first round proper of the FA Cup but lost 3–1 to Swansea City. In the same season, Newport reached the [[2007 FAW Premier Cup Final|final]] of the [[FAW Premier Cup]] for the second time, beating Wrexham along the way but losing 1–0 to [[The New Saints F.C.|TNS]] in the final. In 2006–07 Newport finished just one position below the playoffs after losing 2–1 to [[Cambridge City F.C.|Cambridge City]] on the final day of the season. |
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In the 2007–08 season, Newport won the last-ever [[FAW Premier Cup]] beating [[Llanelli A.F.C.|Llanelli]] 1–0 in the [[2008 FAW Premier Cup Final|final]], making a total of one win out of three finals. For the second consecutive season a last-day defeat prevented County reaching the Conference South playoffs. In April 2008 Peter Beadle was sacked as club manager, and was replaced by [[Dean Holdsworth]]. |
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==Fans== |
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Newport County draws its main support from the city of Newport but also the wider surrounding historic [[Monmouthshire (historic)|Monmouthshire]] area, as reflected in the original club name of ''Newport & Monmouth County A.F.C''. The club's supporters refer to themselves as the 'Amber Army' in reference to the traditional club colour, and the sporting colours more widely associated with Newport. Newport County have a historic rivalry with {{fc|Cardiff City}}, and to a lesser extent {{afc|Swansea City}}, {{fc|Bristol City}}, {{fc|Bristol Rovers}} and {{fc|Hereford United}} but since 1989 Newport County have rarely encountered these clubs. Since 2009 the club has operated the popular and successful [[Internet radio]] commentary service for supporters. |
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In his first full season in charge, Holdsworth led Newport to a 10th-place finish in the league, despite a poor start.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newport-county.co.uk/fixtures_results_08-09.html|title=Blue Square South 2009/09: Fixtures/Results/League Table|author=Newport County A.F.C.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417073659/http://www.newport-county.co.uk/fixtures_results_08-09.html|archive-date=17 April 2009|df=dmy-all}}</ref> |
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The supporters' unofficial anthem is 'Come on the County', originally released in 1973 and written by Ken Buck and Eric Thomas. The song was re-recorded in 1999 to mark the tenth anniversary of the formation of the new club. For the 2012 FA Trophy final singer songwriter Tracey Curtis wrote and released the song 'A Hundred Years of Football (and we're off to Wembley)'.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/9624971.Song_celebrates_County_s_Wembley_dream/|title=Song celebrates County's Wembley dream|publisher=[[South Wales Argus]]|date=31 March 2012}}</ref> |
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Newport went top of the league in September of the 2009–10 season and held onto the top spot for the rest of the season. The league title was won in March 2010 after beating [[Havant and Waterlooville F.C.|Havant and Waterlooville]] 2–0 at Newport Stadium with seven league games remaining. The win made them the first team in the English football leagues to achieve promotion in the 2009–10 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/8569457.stm|title=Newport County's promotion party|author=BBC Sport|access-date=19 March 2010|work=BBC News|date=16 March 2010|archive-date=13 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413200519/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/8569457.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> County finished the season with a Conference South record 103 points, 28 ahead of nearest rivals [[Dover Athletic F.C.|Dover Athletic]]. [[Craig Reid (footballer, born 1985)|Craig Reid]] was the league's top scorer with 24 goals in the season. |
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====Conference Premier==== |
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In the 1970s and 1980s comedian [[Frank Carson]] was appointed as a Director and Vice President in order to raise the profile of the club. <ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-17137248 Frank Carson and Newport County]]</ref>. Newport based rappers [[Goldie Lookin' Chain]] are supporters of the club and were the teams shirt sponsors for the [[2004–05 Newport County A.F.C. season|2004–05 season]] [[FAW Premier Cup]] matches<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/3954739.stm Goldie Lookin' Chain]</ref> |
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Newport County were promoted to the [[National League (English football)|Conference Premier]] for the 2010–11 season, the level they had played at prior to bankruptcy in 1989. Dean Holdsworth left Newport County to become team manager of [[Football League Two|League Two]] club [[Aldershot Town F.C.|Aldershot Town]] on 12 January 2011 with Newport County in fifth place in the Conference Premier table. [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] reserve-team coach [[Anthony Hudson (footballer)|Anthony Hudson]] was announced as the new manager on 1 April 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newport_county/9435691.stm|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|title=Tottenham coach Anthony Hudson accepts Newport vacancy|date=1 April 2011|first=Peter|last=Shuttleworth|access-date=1 April 2011|archive-date=14 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414161446/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/newport_county/9435691.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> The team finished their first season back in the Conference Premier league in ninth place. |
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After a poor start to the [[2011–12 Newport County A.F.C. season|2011–12]] season with the team last-but-one in the table after picking up just a single win out of the first 12 games, Hudson was sacked on 28 September 2011. He was replaced on 4 October 2011 by [[Justin Edinburgh]] with the task of saving County from relegation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15172904.stm|title=Justin Edinburgh named Newport County manager|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|date=4 October 2011|access-date=4 October 2011}}</ref> Under Edinburgh, County finished in 19th place and so maintained their Conference Premier status. They also reached the [[2012 FA Trophy Final]] and their first [[Wembley Stadium]] appearance coincided with the 100th anniversary of the club. County lost the final 2–0 to [[York City F.C.|York City]] who went on to secure promotion to the Football League a week later in a Wembley play-off match. |
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==Youth academy== |
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Newport County established Hartridge Football Academy in 1998 in partnership with [[Newport City Council]]<ref name="hartridge-argus">{{cite web|url=http://archive.southwalesargus.co.uk/2002/3/7/74130.html|author=[[South Wales Argus]]|title=Hartridge book place}}</ref> and the club has a youth development programme with around 50 students. The team competes in the South West Counties League and in the 2001–02 season County's youngsters won the [[English Schools' Football Association]] under-19 Trophy under the banner of Hartridge High School.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.southwalesargus.co.uk/2002/5/18/72899.html|author=[[South Wales Argus]]|title=Hartridge High make history}}</ref> In the 2004–05 season they won the FAW Youth Cup. A number of the Academy graduates have progressed to the senior squad. |
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[[File:West Stand, Rodney Parade, Newport.jpg|thumb|Rodney Parade 2012]] |
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==Honours and records== |
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In May 2012, Newport County announced that they had agreed a deal to move to the city's rugby stadium, [[Rodney Parade]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18286818|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|title=Newport County move to the Dragon's lair at Rodney Parade|date=1 June 2012|access-date=12 February 2018|archive-date=30 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140430132810/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18286818|url-status=live}}</ref> In August 2012 [[EuroMillions]] lottery winner [[Les Scadding]] succeeded Chris Blight as club chairman.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19043327|title=Millionaire Les Scadding takes over as Newport County chairman|work=BBC Sport|access-date=12 February 2018|archive-date=8 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908150522/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19043327|url-status=live}}</ref> In February 2013 a further 10-year lease to play at Rodney Parade was signed.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21607160|title=Newport County extend Rodney Parade stay|work=BBC Sport|access-date=12 February 2018|archive-date=22 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140722052838/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21607160|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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{{Main|List of Newport County A.F.C. records and statistics}} |
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See also:''[[List of Newport County A.F.C. seasons]]'' |
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The centenary [[2012–13 Newport County A.F.C. season|2012–13]] season saw Newport County finish third in the Conference Premier league, reaching the play-offs for the first time. A 2–0 aggregate win over Grimsby Town in the two-legged play-off semi-final saw Newport County reach the [[2013 Conference Premier play-off final]] at [[Wembley Stadium]]. The final versus Wrexham was the first Wembley final to feature two Welsh teams, and Newport County won 2–0 to return to the Football League after a 25-year absence with promotion to [[Football League Two|League Two]].<ref name="Wrexham 0-2 Newport">{{Cite news |
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| first = Dewi |
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| last = Hughes |
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| title = Wrexham 0–2 Newport |
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| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22335600 |
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| publisher = BBC Sport |
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| date = 5 May 2013 |
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| access-date = 5 May 2013 |
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| archive-date = 18 April 2014 |
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| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140418194213/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22335600 |
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| url-status = live |
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}}</ref> |
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County were awarded [[Freedom of the City]] of Newport on 17 August 2013 in recognition of this achievement.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newport.gov.uk/stellent/groups/public/documents/press_release/cont715426.pdf|title=Newport County AFC awarded freedom of the city|publisher=Newport City Council|date=17 August 2013}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> |
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====Return to League Two 2013==== |
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On their return to the Football League in the [[2013–14 Newport County A.F.C. season|2013–14]] season, Newport County finished a creditable 14th in [[Football League Two|League Two]]. On 7 February 2015, with Newport County in sixth place in League Two, it was confirmed that [[Justin Edinburgh]] had been appointed manager at [[Gillingham F.C.|Gillingham]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31112173|title=Justin Edinburgh: Gillingham appoint Newport boss as manager|work=BBC Sport|access-date=12 February 2018|archive-date=18 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160118042011/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31112173|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Jimmy Dack]] stepped up from assistant manager at the club to caretaker manager and was later appointed manager until the end of the 2014–15 season. On 29 April, Dack stated he had been offered the manager's job beyond the end of the season but he had decided he would move on after the final game.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32515573|title=Newport caretaker boss Jimmy Dack turned down permanent role|work=BBC Sport|access-date=12 February 2018|archive-date=2 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502021243/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32515573|url-status=live}}</ref> Newport finished the 2014–15 season in ninth place in League Two. [[Terry Butcher]] was appointed team manager on 30 April 2015.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32543980|title=Terry Butcher appointed new manager of Newport County|work=BBC Sport|access-date=12 February 2018|archive-date=29 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529164153/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32543980|url-status=live}}</ref> On 18 June 2015 Les Scadding resigned as Newport County chairman and director.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33180126|title=Newport County: Les Scadding resigns as Exiles chairman|work=BBC Sport|access-date=12 February 2018|archive-date=8 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708044442/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33180126|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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====Supporters Trust takeover 2015==== |
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On 1 October 2015 Newport County Supporters' Trust took over ownership of the club with Tony Pring appointed interim chairman.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33868072|title=Fans' Newport County takeover a step closer|work=BBC Sport|access-date=12 August 2015|archive-date=5 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005153314/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33868072|url-status=live}}</ref> Butcher was sacked on the same day, with Newport bottom of League Two after gaining just five points from the first 10 matches of the 2015–16 season. [[John Sheridan (footballer)|John Sheridan]] was appointed team manager on 2 October 2015 until the end of the 2015–16 season and results improved. Sheridan resigned on 13 January 2016 after just 14 league games to take up the manager's job at [[Oldham Athletic A.F.C.|Oldham Athletic]]. Assistant manager [[Warren Feeney]] was promoted to team manager on 15 January 2016. On 18 January 2016 County lost 2–1 to [[Football League Championship|Championship]] team [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]] in the FA Cup; the first time Newport had reached the third round of the cup since 1986. A good start saw Feeney gain 21 points from his first 12 games but results then worsened. Newport finished the season in 22nd place in League Two, avoiding relegation. |
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Feeney and Todd were sacked by Newport on 28 September 2016 with Newport County bottom of League Two having gained just six points from their first nine matches of the 2016–17 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/club-statement-warren-feeney-3333997.aspx|title=CLUB STATEMENT: WARREN FEENEY|website=Newport-county.co.uk|access-date=15 May 2018|archive-date=10 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510091530/http://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/club-statement-warren-feeney-3333997.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> First team coach [[Sean McCarthy (Welsh footballer)|Sean McCarthy]] and goalkeeping player/coach [[James Bittner]] were appointed joint caretaker managers. Effective from 10 October 2016 [[Graham Westley]] was appointed team manager with [[Dino Maamria]] his assistant<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37586772|title=Graham Westley: Newport County appoint former Stevenage boss|date=7 October 2016|access-date=15 May 2018|website=BBC|archive-date=20 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020163403/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37586772|url-status=live}}</ref> and Mccarthy released by the club.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/football/latest/14792796.Sean_McCarthy_leaves_Newport_County/|title=Sean McCarthy leaves Newport County|website=South Wales Argus|date=10 October 2016|access-date=15 May 2018|archive-date=24 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724213322/http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/football/latest/14792796.Sean_McCarthy_leaves_Newport_County/|url-status=live}}</ref> On 9 March 2017 Westley and Maamria were sacked with Newport 11 points adrift at the bottom of League Two. |
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==== Progress under Michael Flynn 2017–2021 ==== |
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Following the departure of Westley, first team coach [[Michael Flynn (footballer)|Michael Flynn]] was appointed caretaker manager for the remaining 12 league matches of the 2016–17 season and [[Wayne Hatswell]] returned to the club as assistant manager.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39178177|title=Newport County sack manager Graham Westley|date=9 March 2017|website=BBC|access-date=15 May 2018|archive-date=5 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805042252/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39178177|url-status=live}}</ref> A remarkable recovery saw Newport avoid relegation, sealed by a final day of the season 2–1 victory at home against [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]] with centre half [[Mark O'Brien (footballer, born 1992)|Mark O'Brien]] scoring the 89th-minute winner.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39753914|title=Newport County 2–1 Notts County|date=6 May 2017|website=BBC|access-date=15 May 2018|archive-date=5 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805043519/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39753914|url-status=live}}</ref> The season became known as the second "great escape" in the club's history. |
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On 9 May 2017 Flynn was appointed permanent team manager on a two-year contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39854787|title=Mike Flynn appointed permanent Newport County manager|date=9 May 2017|access-date=15 May 2018|website=BBC|archive-date=5 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805044126/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39854787|url-status=live}}</ref> On 7 January 2018 a 2–1 home win over [[EFL Championship|Championship]] club [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] in the FA Cup third round meant Newport progressed to the [[2018–19 FA Cup#Fourth round proper|FA Cup]] fourth round for the first time since the [[1978–79 FA Cup#Fourth round proper|1978–79 FA Cup]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42526173 |title=Newport County 2–1 Leeds United |publisher=BBC Sport |date=7 January 2018 |access-date=7 January 2018 |archive-date=17 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717154017/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42526173 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the following round, the club was drawn at home to [[Premier League]] club [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]]. On 27 January 2018 Newport achieved [[2018–19 FA Cup#Fifth round proper|a creditable 1–1 draw]] to force a replay at [[Wembley Stadium]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42756217|title=Newport County 1–1 Tottenham Hotspur|date=15 May 2018|access-date=15 May 2018|website=BBC|archive-date=28 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628224758/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42756217|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/newport-vs-tottenham/report/387629|title=Match Report – Newport 1 – 1 Tottenham|publisher=Sky Sports|access-date=27 January 2018|archive-date=28 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180128055646/http://www.skysports.com/football/newport-vs-tottenham/report/387629|url-status=live}}</ref> Tottenham won the replay 2–0.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42882967|title=Tottenham Hotspur 2–0 Newport County|date=7 February 2018|access-date=15 May 2018|website=BBC|archive-date=23 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323150640/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42882967|url-status=live}}</ref> County finished the [[2017–18 Newport County A.F.C. season|2017–18]] season in 11th place in League Two. |
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Newport began the [[2018–19 EFL League Two|2018–19]] creditably, securing 23 points from their first 10 games, losing only twice. On 6 January 2019, County won their home [[2018–19 FA Cup#Third round proper|FA Cup third round]] tie against [[Premier League]] club [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] 2–1.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46713172 |title=Newport County 2–1 Leicester City |author=Michael Pearlman |publisher=BBC Sport |date=6 January 2019 |access-date=16 March 2023 |archive-date=15 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415125210/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46713172 |url-status=live }}</ref> The subsequent [[2018–19 FA Cup#Fourth round proper|Fourth round]] drew Newport in an away match against Championship club [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]] on 26 January 2019, in which they achieved a 1–1 draw,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46928649 |title=Newport draw with Middlesbrough |website=BBC Sport |date=26 January 2019 |access-date=16 March 2023 |archive-date=14 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414201843/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46928649 |url-status=live }}</ref> going on to a home replay victory 2–0 on 5 February 2019.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47037237 |title=Newport beat Middlesbrough |author=Michael Pearlman |publisher=BBC Sport |date=5 February 2019 |access-date=16 March 2023 |archive-date=3 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230503210900/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47037237 |url-status=live }}</ref> County progressed to the most high-profile fixture in their modern history, the FA Cup fifth round which they had not reached since 1949. The Exiles were rewarded for their success with a home fixture against reigning Premier League champions [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] on 16 February 2019. County lost the match 4–1 with striker [[Pádraig Amond]] scoring a late goal. Amond finished the competition as joint-top scorer with Manchester City striker [[Gabriel Jesus]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=2019-02-16|title=Newport 1–4 Man City: Phil Foden double helps City into FA Cup quarter-finals|language=en-gb|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47180807|access-date=2020-08-31|archive-date=14 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414013149/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47180807|url-status=live}}</ref> Newport finished the [[2018–19 Newport County A.F.C. season|2018–19]] season in 7th place in League Two, thus qualifying for the [[2019 English Football League play-offs#League Two Final|League Two play-offs]]. In the semi-final against [[Mansfield Town F.C.|Mansfield Town]], Newport drew the first leg 1–1 at home,<ref>{{Cite news|date=2019-05-09|title=League Two play-offs: Newport County 1–1 Mansfield Town|language=en-gb|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48164457|access-date=2020-08-31|archive-date=27 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927114446/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48164457|url-status=live}}</ref> drew the second leg 0–0 at Mansfield but then won the subsequent penalty shoot-out.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2019-05-12|title=Mansfield Town 0-0 (3-5 pens) Newport County: Day sends County to Wembley|language=en-gb|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48165959|access-date=2020-08-31|archive-date=16 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616160012/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48165959|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[2019 EFL League Two play-off final|League Two play-off final]] at [[Wembley Stadium]] on 25 May 2019 Newport lost to [[Tranmere Rovers]] 1–0, after a goal in the 119th minute.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Tranmere beat Newport to win promotion|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48318580|access-date=2020-08-31|archive-date=4 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004064334/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48318580|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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On 27 August 2019, Newport County faced [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]] of the Premier League in the [[EFL Cup]], losing the tie 2–0.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Newport County 0–2 West Ham|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49403011|access-date=2020-08-31|archive-date=7 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107230740/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49403011|url-status=live}}</ref> Newport also reached the semi-final of the [[EFL Trophy]] for the first time on 19 February 2020, losing to [[Salford City F.C.|Salford City]] on penalties.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-02-19|title=Newport County 0–0 Salford City (5–6 on pens)|language=en-gb|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51494329|access-date=2020-08-31|archive-date=19 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219105500/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51494329|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[2019–20 Newport County A.F.C. season|2019–20]] season was suspended on 13 March 2020 due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom]], with Newport in 15th place in League Two.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-03-13|title=Coronavirus: Premier League and EFL suspended in England - Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland halt games|language=en-gb|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51867989|access-date=2020-08-31|archive-date=14 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314140033/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51867989|url-status=live}}</ref> The club [[furlough]]ed the players, management team and most staff to "protect the long-term financial viability" of the club.<ref name="BBC-15Apr2020b">{{cite news |title=Newport County: Boss Michael Flynn, his staff and players furloughed |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52299883 |access-date=17 April 2020 |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=15 April 2020 |archive-date=19 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519231554/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52299883 |url-status=live }}</ref> The League Two season was formally terminated on 9 June 2020.<ref name="BBC-09Jun2020">{{cite news |title=League One & League Two clubs vote to end seasons early |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52705124 |access-date=15 June 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=9 June 2020 |archive-date=15 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615090610/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52705124 |url-status=live }}</ref> Points per game was subsequently adopted to determine the final League Two table with Newport County rising one place to 14th in the league. Club chairman Gavin Foxall stated that they expected to lose 40% of their income as a consequence of continued COVID-19 constraints.<ref name="Phillips-12Jun2020">{{cite news |last1=Phillips |first1=Rob |title=Newport County braced for 40% income loss due to coronavirus |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53023681 |access-date=15 June 2020 |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=12 June 2020 |archive-date=14 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614231903/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53023681 |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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On 22 September 2020 Newport County beat Championship club [[Watford F.C.|Watford]] 3–1 at home in the third round of the EFL Cup to reach the fourth round for the first time in the club's history.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54190610 |title=Newport beat Watford |website=BBC Sport |date=22 September 2020 |access-date=16 March 2023 |archive-date=25 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425194336/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54190610 |url-status=live }}</ref> Newport were drawn at home to Premier League club [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] in the fourth round and after drawing 1–1 in normal time, Newcastle won the penalty shoot-out.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54298222 |title=Newcastle beat Newport |author=Dafydd Pritchard |publisher=BBC Sport |date=30 September 2020 |access-date=16 March 2023 |archive-date=8 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408181058/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54298222 |url-status=live }}</ref> Newport again reached the third round of the 2020–21 FA Cup to face Premier League club [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|Brighton & Hove Albion]] at home and lost to Brighton on penalties having drawn 1–1 after extra time.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/55510999|title=Highlights: Newport County 1-1 Brighton & Hove Albion (3-4 pens)|work=BBC Sport |access-date=19 January 2021|archive-date=13 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113112256/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/55510999|url-status=live}}</ref> On 19 January 2021, goalkeeper [[Tom King (footballer, born 1995)|Tom King]] scored the first goal of his career with a wind-assisted goal kick in the 12th minute of Newport's 1–1 League Two draw at [[Cheltenham Town F.C.|Cheltenham Town]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55627807 |title=Cheltenham Town 1–1 Newport County |publisher=BBC Sport |date=19 January 2021 |access-date=19 January 2021 |archive-date=19 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119200619/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55627807 |url-status=live }}</ref> His goal was confirmed to have broken the [[Guinness World Records|Guinness World Record]] for longest football goal, with a distance of 96.01 metres (105 yards), a record previously held by [[Asmir Begović]].<ref>{{Cite news |url = https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2021/1/british-goalkeeper-tom-king-breaks-record-for-longest-football-goal-646285 |title = British goalkeeper Tom King breaks record for longest football goal |publisher = Guinness World Records |date = 21 January 2021 |access-date = 21 January 2021 |archive-date = 21 January 2021 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210121130141/https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2021/1/british-goalkeeper-tom-king-breaks-record-for-longest-football-goal-646285 |url-status = live }}</ref> In March 2020 Newport were permitted by the EFL to move two home matches to [[Cardiff City Stadium]] due to the poor condition of the Rodney Parade pitch.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/56285251|title=Cardiff City Stadium to host two Newport games|work=BBC Sport |date=4 March 2021 |access-date=22 December 2023|archive-date=22 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231222140005/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/56285251|url-status=live}}</ref> Newport finished the [[2020–21 Newport County A.F.C. season|2020–21]] season in 5th place in League Two and qualified for the play-offs.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/56953517|title=Southend United 1-1 Newport County|work=BBC Sport |date=8 May 2021 |access-date=22 December 2023|archive-date=22 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231222140006/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/56953517|url-status=live}}</ref> Newport beat [[Forest Green Rovers F.C.|Forest Green Rovers]] 5–4 on aggregate to reach the play-off final for the second time in three seasons.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/live/football/56725820|title=League Two play-offs: Forest Green 4-3 Newport (4-5 agg) - Maynard scores 119th-minute winner for Exiles - as it happened|work=BBC Sport |date=22 May 2021|access-date=22 December 2023|archive-date=22 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231222140003/https://www.bbc.com/sport/live/football/56725820|url-status=live}}</ref> On 31 May 2021, Newport lost 1–0 to [[Morecambe F.C.|Morecambe]] in the [[2021 EFL League Two play-off final|League Two play-off final]] at Wembley Stadium, a contentious 107th-minute penalty.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/57224523|title=Shrimps go up with extra-time penalty|work=BBC Sport |date=30 May 2021 |access-date=22 December 2023|archive-date=7 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207072048/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/57224523|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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On 25 August 2021, Newport County faced Southampton of the Premier League in the second round of the 2021–22 EFL Cup but they lost heavily 8–0.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/58239578|title=Saints hit record eight past Newport|work=BBC Sport |date=25 August 2021 |access-date=22 December 2023|archive-date=22 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230522023906/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/58239578|url-status=live}}</ref> Michael Flynn resigned as Newport County manager on 1 October 2021 after nine league matches of the 2021–22 season with Newport 15th in League Two.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/58750726|title=Manager Flynn leaves Newport County|work=BBC Sport |date=October 2021 |access-date=22 December 2023|archive-date=22 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231222140008/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/58750726|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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==== 2021 onwards ==== |
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On 19 October 2021, it was confirmed that the club had appointed Cardiff City first team coach [[James Rowberry]] as permanent manager with Newport 13th in League Two after 13 league games.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58983821 |title=James Rowberry: Newport County job 'a dream' for new manager |author=Michael Pearlman |publisher=BBC Sport |date=20 October 2021 |access-date=9 May 2023 |archive-date=15 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221015231023/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58983821 |url-status=live }}</ref> Newport finished the 2021–22 League Two season in 11th place.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61281128 |title=Newport County 0–2 Rochdale |publisher=BBC Sport |date=7 May 2022 |access-date=9 May 2023 |archive-date=25 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425144457/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61281128 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 10 October 2022, Rowberry was sacked with Newport in 18th place in League Two after 13 league matches of the [[2022–23 Newport County A.F.C. season|2022–23 season]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63205882 |title=James Rowberry: Newport County sack manager after poor start to season |publisher=BBC Sport |date=10 October 2022 |access-date=9 May 2023 |archive-date=27 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027071220/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63205882 |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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On 20 October 2022, [[Graham Coughlan]] was appointed manager on a two-and-a-half year contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/20222/october/graham-coughlan-appointed-newport-county-manager/|title=Graham Coughlan appointed Newport County manager!|website=www.newport-county.co.uk|date=20 October 2022|accessdate=20 October 2022|archive-date=20 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221020115557/https://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/20222/october/graham-coughlan-appointed-newport-county-manager/|url-status=live}}</ref> Newport reached the third round of the 2022–23 EFL Cup, losing 3–0 to Leicester City of the Premier League in November 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/leicester-city-vs-newport-county-afc/report/477327|title=Leicester 3-0 Newport: James Justin scores but carried off injured in Carabao Cup win|website=Sky Sports|access-date=22 December 2023|archive-date=22 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231222140005/https://www.skysports.com/football/leicester-city-vs-newport-county-afc/report/477327|url-status=live}}</ref> Newport finished the 2022–23 season in 15th position in League Two.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65445729 |title=Newport County 2–2 Crewe Alexandra |publisher=BBC Sport |date=8 May 2023 |access-date=9 May 2023 |archive-date=9 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509033243/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65445729 |url-status=live }}</ref> In August 2023 Newport County reached the second round of the 2023–24 EFL Cup, losing on penalties to [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]] of the Premier League after drawing 1–1 in normal time.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66577562 |title=Newport v Brentford |work=BBC Sport |date=29 August 2023 |access-date=28 January 2024 |archive-date=31 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240131172533/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66577562 |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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On 24 January 2024 former [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]] chairman [[Huw Jenkins (Welsh businessman)|Huw Jenkins]] purchased a controlling interest 52% of shares in Newport County from the Supporters Trust.<ref name="Jenkins Newport takeover confirmed">{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68086112 |title=Jenkins Newport takeover confirmed |work=BBC Sport |date=24 January 2024 |access-date=24 January 2024 |archive-date=24 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124182806/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68086112 |url-status=live }}</ref> In February 2024 Newport reached the fourth round of the 2023–24 FA Cup, losing 4–2 to [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] of the [[Premier League]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68110828 |title=Newport v Man United |work=BBC Sport |date=27 January 2024 |access-date=29 January 2024 |archive-date=29 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129013420/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68110828 |url-status=live }}</ref> Newport finished the 2023–24 season in 18th place in League Two.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68862492 Newport 18th in League Two]</ref> On 20 June 2024, Graham Coughlan departed the club by mutual consent.<ref> {{cite web|url=https://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/2024/june/club-statement--graham-coughlan/|title=Club Statement {{!}} Newport County part company with Graham Coughlan|website=www.newport-county.co.uk|date=20 June 2024|accessdate=20 June 2024}}</ref> |
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==Kit manufacturers and sponsors== |
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;margin-left:1em" |
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!Period |
|||
!Kit Manufacturer |
|||
!Shirt Sponsor |
|||
|- |
|||
|1974–1975 |
|||
|[[Adidas]] |
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| rowspan=5 | None |
|||
|- |
|||
|1975–1976 |
|||
| None |
|||
|- |
|||
|1976–1977 |
|||
| [[Bukta]] |
|||
|- |
|||
|1977–1979 |
|||
| Adidas |
|||
|- |
|||
|1982–1983 |
|||
| rowspan=2 | [[Patrick (shoe company)|Patrick]] |
|||
|- |
|||
|1983–1985 |
|||
| rowspan=2 | [[South Wales Argus]] |
|||
|- |
|||
|1985–1989 |
|||
|Spall |
|||
|- |
|||
|1989 |
|||
| Scoreline |
|||
| JLA |
|||
|- |
|||
|1989–1990 |
|||
| [[Umbro]] |
|||
| AFG Newport, Newport Ford |
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|- |
|||
|1990–1991 |
|||
| None |
|||
| None |
|||
|- |
|||
|1991–1992 |
|||
| rowspan=2 | Balan Sports International |
|||
| [[Pirelli|Pirelli Cables]] |
|||
|- |
|||
|1992–1993 |
|||
| George Ford Motor Spares |
|||
|- |
|||
|1993–1994 |
|||
| None |
|||
| Tom Witton Carpets |
|||
|- |
|||
|1994–1995 |
|||
| ProStar |
|||
| [[Courage Brewery|Courage Best Bitter]] |
|||
|- |
|||
|1995–1996 |
|||
| rowspan=2 | Edwards Sports |
|||
| Empress Car Sales |
|||
|- |
|||
|1996–1997 |
|||
| [[NTL Incorporated|CableTel]] |
|||
|- |
|||
|1997–1998 |
|||
| rowspan=2 | ICIS |
|||
| none/David McLean Homes (2nd half of season) |
|||
|- |
|||
|1998–1999 |
|||
| Acorn Recruitment |
|||
|- |
|||
|1999–2007 |
|||
| [[Errea]] |
|||
| rowspan=4 | Acorn Recruitment<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-301581744.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924153943/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-301581744.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2015-09-24|title=Acorn to Reach Its 16th Year as Sponsor of County}}</ref> |
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|- |
|||
|2007–2009 |
|||
| [[Joma]] |
|||
|- |
|||
|2009–2011 |
|||
| [[Lotto Sport Italia|Lotto]] |
|||
|- |
|||
|2011–2013 |
|||
| rowspan=3 | [[Macron (sportswear)|Macron]] |
|||
|- |
|||
|2013–2014 |
|||
| [[32Red]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/10460432.Future_s_bright_____County_chairman_upbeat_after_record_shirt_sponsorship_deal/|title=Future's bright – County chairman upbeat after record shirt sponsorship deal|work=South Wales Argus|date=3 June 2013|access-date=10 April 2015|archive-date=18 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418044120/http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/10460432.Future_s_bright_____County_chairman_upbeat_after_record_shirt_sponsorship_deal/|url-status=live}}</ref> |
|||
|- |
|||
|2014–2017 |
|||
| rowspan=2 | [[Mr. Tom]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/business/11193156.Newport_business_takes_over_as_shirt_sponsor_for_Newport_County/|title=Newport business takes over as shirt sponsor for Newport County|work=South Wales Argus|date=6 May 2014|access-date=10 April 2015|archive-date=18 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418044010/http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/business/11193156.Newport_business_takes_over_as_shirt_sponsor_for_Newport_County/|url-status=live}}</ref> |
|||
|- |
|||
|2017–2018 |
|||
| rowspan=3 | [[FBT (company)|FBT]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/2017/june/newport-county-afc-are-delighted-to-announce-that-fbt-will-be-our-201718-kit-manufacturer/|title=Newport County AFC are delighted to announce that FBT will be our 2017/18 kit manufacturer|website=www.newport-county.co.uk|language=en-gb|access-date=2019-05-22|archive-date=28 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928030047/https://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/2017/june/newport-county-afc-are-delighted-to-announce-that-fbt-will-be-our-201718-kit-manufacturer/|url-status=live}}</ref> |
|||
|- |
|||
|2018–2019 |
|||
| Interbet<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/2018/june/interbet-main-club-sponsor/|title=COMMERCIAL{{!}} Interbet.com announced as Newport County AFC Main Club Sponsor|website=www.newport-county.co.uk|language=en-gb|access-date=2019-05-22|archive-date=19 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919191230/https://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/2018/june/interbet-main-club-sponsor/|url-status=live}}</ref> |
|||
|- |
|||
|2019–2020 |
|||
| [[Paddy Power]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/2019/july/headline-sponsor-announcement-1920/|title=COMMERCIAL{{!}} PADDY POWER announced as Newport County AFC's title sponsor as Exiles join "Save our Shirt" campaign|website=www.newport-county.co.uk|language=en-gb|access-date=2019-07-28|archive-date=28 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190728174050/https://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/2019/july/headline-sponsor-announcement-1920/|url-status=live}}</ref> |
|||
|- |
|||
|2020–2023 |
|||
|[[Hummel International|Hummel]] |
|||
|[[Alzheimer's Society]], Pure Vans |
|||
|- |
|||
|2023– |
|||
|VX3 Sportswear |
|||
| Pure Vans |
|||
|} |
|||
==Ownership== |
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[[File:Newport County directors 2016-2022.svg|alt=A timeline showing the club's directors and their tenure(s).|thumb|220x220px|A timeline showing the past and present directors of the club, and their tenure(s).]] |
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In 2015 following the sale of the club by majority shareholder [[Les Scadding]], Newport County AFC Supporters Society Limited was established with guidance from the UK Government backed charity [[Supporters Direct]]. The Society is established as a trust<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mutuals Public Register: Newport County AFC Supporters Society Limited|url=https://mutuals.fca.org.uk/Search/Society/8809|access-date=2020-08-31|website=mutuals.fca.org.uk|archive-date=19 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719210211/https://mutuals.fca.org.uk/Search/Society/8809|url-status=live}}</ref> with an elected board, yearly elections, regular AGMs, and fee-based supporter ownership. |
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As a Registered Society under the [[Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014]]) the group acquired a majority shareholding<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newport-county-fans-ready-take-10163183|title=Newport County fans ready to take over club, but battles ahead at Rodney Parade|last=Wathan|first=Chris|date=30 September 2015|website=walesonline|access-date=2019-07-19|archive-date=19 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719210244/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newport-county-fans-ready-take-10163183|url-status=live}}</ref> in the football club's trading body, Newport Association Football Club Limited.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NEWPORT ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL CLUB LIMITED - Overview (free company information from Companies House)|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/02395863|access-date=2020-08-31|website=beta.companieshouse.gov.uk|language=en|archive-date=19 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719210218/https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/02395863|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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The supporters trust members elected a board of between 6 and 12 Directors. The board established that it would aim to operate with 9 directors, with a mixed model of elected and co-opted (unelected) directors. Directors are elected to three-year terms. In 2017 Peter Madigan and Mark Crook were co-opted to serve as unelected directors. |
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In 2017 a leaked resignation letter by director Charlie Hopkins he made allegations against some serving directors which were disputed by the Trust Board.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Club Statement|url=https://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/2017/october/club-statement-26102017/|access-date=2020-08-31|website=www.newport-county.co.uk|language=en-gb|archive-date=19 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719210219/https://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/2017/october/club-statement-26102017/|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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In October 2023 Newport County Supporters Trust members voted in favour of selling a controlling interest 52% of shares in the club to former [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]] chairman [[Huw Jenkins (Welsh businessman)|Huw Jenkins]], subject to [[English Football League|EFL]] approval. The supporters trust retained 27% of shares and other previous private investors retained 21%.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66966390|title=Jenkins promises to 'stabilise' Newport as owner|work=BBC Sport |date=29 September 2023 |access-date=22 December 2023|archive-date=22 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231222140011/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66966390|url-status=live}}</ref> The sale was confirmed as completed on 24 January 2024 <ref name="Jenkins Newport takeover confirmed"/> |
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==Supporters== |
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[[Image:Spytty the Dog.JPG|right|thumb|upright|Club mascot Spytty the Dog]] |
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Newport County draws its main support from the city of Newport but also from the wider surrounding historic [[Monmouthshire (historic)|Monmouthshire]] area, as reflected in the original club name of ''Newport & Monmouth County A.F.C''. The club's supporters refer to themselves as the Amber Army, in reference to the traditional club colour, and the sporting colours more widely associated with Newport. The club operates the 'ifollow' match day [[Streaming media|voice and video]] commentary service for supporters. |
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The supporters' unofficial anthem is ''Come on the County'', written by Ken Buck and Eric Thomas. Originally released in 1973, it was re-recorded in 1999 and 2010. The 1999 release included the song ''Carl Zeiss Jena'' by Newport band Flyscreen, celebrating County's 1981 European campaign. The 2010 release included reworkings of ''Come on the County'' by The Tenants Supermen, who are ardent County fans. For the 2012 FA Trophy final, singer-songwriter Tracey Curtis wrote and released the song ''A Hundred Years of Football (And We're Off To Wembley)''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/9624971.Song_celebrates_County_s_Wembley_dream/|title=Song celebrates County's Wembley dream|publisher=[[South Wales Argus]]|date=31 March 2012|access-date=30 April 2012|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304003049/http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/9624971.Song_celebrates_County_s_Wembley_dream/|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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In the 1970s and 1980s comedian [[Frank Carson]] was appointed as a director and vice president in order to raise the profile of the club.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-17137248|title=Frank Carson death: Newport County on how comic's laughter lifted club|work=BBC News|date=23 February 2012|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-date=18 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918235335/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-17137248|url-status=live}}</ref> Newport-based rappers [[Goldie Lookin' Chain]] are supporters of the club and were the team's shirt sponsors for the 2004–05 season [[FAW Premier Cup]] matches<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/3954739.stm|title=BBC NEWS – UK – Wales – South East Wales – Rappers GLC sponsor football kit|work=BBC|date=26 October 2004|access-date=29 April 2012|archive-date=11 July 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060711064109/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/3954739.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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===Rivalries=== |
|||
{{Main|South Wales derby}} |
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County fans consider their main rival to be [[South Wales]] rivals [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]], however, the two sides have rarely met since the 1980s due to the league gap between them.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/fiercest-rivalries-biggest-local-grudge-11379193|title=These are the fiercest rivalries and biggest local grudge matches in the whole of Wales|work=Wales Online|date=25 May 2016|access-date=13 February 2020|archive-date=13 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213131636/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/fiercest-rivalries-biggest-local-grudge-11379193|url-status=live}}</ref> Other rivals, to a lesser extent, include Welsh rivals [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]] and [[Wrexham A.F.C.|Wrexham]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67763556|title=The Welsh derby between clubs who are miles apart|work=BBC Sport |date=20 December 2023 |access-date=22 December 2023|archive-date=22 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231222135936/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67763556|url-status=live}}</ref> as well as relatively local rivals [[Bristol Rovers F.C.|Bristol Rovers]], [[Cheltenham Town F.C.|Cheltenham Town]] and [[Forest Green Rovers F.C.|Forest Green Rovers]]. A 2017 match against [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]] saw opposing fans clash before and after the game in [[Swindon]] town centre.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/17887693.swindon-town-yobs-clashed-newport-county-fans-2017-avoid-jail/|title=Swindon Town yobs who clashed with Newport County fans in 2017 avoid jail|work=Swindon Advertiser|date=7 September 2019|access-date=13 February 2020|archive-date=13 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213131635/https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/17887693.swindon-town-yobs-clashed-newport-county-fans-2017-avoid-jail/|url-status=live}}</ref> Before a match at [[Rodney Parade]] in January 2020, Swindon fans were filmed throwing [[toilet paper]] and drinks containers outside a pub in [[Newport city centre]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/newport-football-fans-county-swindon-17590846|title=Football fans screaming 'we do what we want' and throwing toilet paper occupy Newport city centre street|work=Wales Online|date=18 January 2020|access-date=13 February 2020|archive-date=13 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213131632/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/newport-football-fans-county-swindon-17590846|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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During County's days in the non-league pyramid, [[Merthyr Tydfil F.C.|Merthyr Tydfil]] and [[Bath City F.C.|Bath City]] were considered rivals. County also used to maintain a rivalry with [[Hereford United F.C.|Hereford United]]. However, the club went out of business in 2014 and a new club, [[Hereford F.C.|Hereford FC]] was formed. |
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==Players== |
==Players== |
||
===Current squad=== |
===Current squad=== |
||
{{updated|20 June 2024}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newport-county.co.uk/teams/first-team/ |title=Newport County AFC First Team |publisher=Newport County AFC |access-date=25 August 2021 |archive-date=5 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805083055/https://www.newport-county.co.uk/teams/first-team/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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{{updated|3 June 2012.}}<ref>[http://www.newport-county.co.uk/index.php?p=playerprofiles Official website player profiles]</ref> |
|||
{{Fs start}} |
{{Fs start}} |
||
{{Fs player|no= |
{{Fs player|no=1|nat=ATG|pos=GK|name=[[Nick Townsend]]}} |
||
{{Fs player|no= |
{{Fs player|no=4|nat=IRL|pos=DF|name=[[Ryan Delaney]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|captain]]}} % |
||
{{Fs player|no= |
{{Fs player|no=5|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[James Clarke (footballer, born 1989)|James Clarke]]}} |
||
{{Fs player|no= |
{{Fs player|no=6|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Declan Drysdale]]}} % |
||
{{Fs player|no= |
{{Fs player|no=7|nat=WAL|pos=FW|name=[[Will Evans (footballer, born 1997)|Will Evans]]}} |
||
{{Fs player|no= |
{{Fs player|no=8|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Bryn Morris]]}} |
||
{{Fs player|no= |
{{Fs player|no=9|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Omar Bogle]]}} % |
||
{{Fs player|no= |
{{Fs player|no=10|nat=CGO|pos=FW|name=[[Offrande Zanzala]]}} % |
||
{{Fs player|no=11|nat=WAL|pos=MF|name=[[James Waite (footballer, born 1999)|James Waite]]}} % |
|||
{{Fs mid}} |
|||
{{Fs player|no= |
{{Fs player|no=14|nat=WAL|pos=DF|name=[[Harrison Bright]]}} % |
||
{{Fs player|no= |
{{Fs player|no=15|nat=IRL|pos=DF|name=[[Josh Seberry]]}} |
||
{{fs mid}} |
|||
{{Fs player|no=36|nat=WAL|pos=MF|name=Lee Evans}} |
|||
{{Fs player|no= |
{{Fs player|no=17|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Scot Bennett]]}} % |
||
{{Fs player|no= |
{{Fs player|no=18|nat=WAL|pos=FW|name=[[Kiban Rai]]}} |
||
{{Fs player|no=|nat= |
{{Fs player|no=19|nat=IRL|pos=MF|name=[[Shane McLoughlin]]}} |
||
{{Fs player|no=|nat= |
{{Fs player|no=20|nat=IRL|pos=MF|name=[[Harry Charsley]]}} £ |
||
{{Fs player|no=22|nat=WAL|pos=MF|name=[[Nathan Wood (footballer, born 1997)|Nathan Wood]]}} |
|||
{{Fs player|no=23|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Kyle Jameson]]}} |
|||
{{Fs player|no=24|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Aaron Wildig]]}} £ |
|||
{{Fs player|no=26|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=[[Jonny Maxted]]}} % |
|||
{{Fs player|no=31|nat=WAL|pos=FW|name=[[Luke Jephcott]]}} |
|||
{{Fs player|no=34|nat=WAL|pos=MF|name=Jac Norris}} |
|||
{{fs end}} |
{{fs end}} |
||
% = To be released on 30 June 2024 at end of contract<br> |
|||
===Out on loan=== |
|||
£ = Contract extension negotiations underway |
|||
===Development squad players named in First Team squads=== |
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{{Fs start}} |
{{Fs start}} |
||
{{Fs player|no=35|nat=WAL|pos=MF|name=Morgan Evans}} |
|||
{{Fs end}} |
|||
{{Fs player|no=36|nat=WAL|pos=MF|name=Corey Evans}} |
|||
{{Fs player|no=38|nat=WAL|pos=FW|name=Alfie Young}} |
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{{fs mid}} |
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{{Fs player|no=40|nat=WAL|pos=GK|name=Fraser Needham}} |
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{{Fs player|no=41|nat=POR|pos=DF|name=Nelson Sanca}} |
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{{fs end}} |
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== |
===Out on loan=== |
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{{fs start}} |
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{{Fs player|no=13|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=[[Joe Day (footballer)|Joe Day]]|other=on loan to [[Yeovil Town F.C.|Yeovil Town]]}} % |
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{{Fs player|no=16|nat=WAL|pos=MF|name=[[Sam Bowen (footballer)|Sam Bowen]]|other=on loan to [[Wealdstone F.C.|Wealdstone]]}} % |
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{{fs end}} |
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===Youth academy=== |
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[[Glyn Jones (footballer, born 1959)|Glyn Jones]] was appointed director of the Newport County Youth Academy in 1997. In 1998 Newport County established a partnership with [[Newport City Council]]<ref name="hartridge-argus">{{cite web|url=http://archive.southwalesargus.co.uk/2002/3/7/74130.html|author=[[South Wales Argus]]|title=Hartridge book place|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20070617063256/http://archive.southwalesargus.co.uk/2002/3/7/74130.html|archive-date=17 June 2007|df=dmy-all}}</ref> and the club has a youth development programme with around 50 students based at [[Llanwern High School]]. |
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The team compete in the Under-18 [[Football League Youth Alliance]]. A number of the academy graduates have progressed to the senior squad including [[Andrew Hughes (footballer, born 1992)|Andrew Hughes]], [[Lee Evans (footballer)|Lee Evans]], [[Regan Poole]], [[Aaron Collins (footballer)|Aaron Collins]], [[Tom Owen-Evans]], [[Kieran Parselle]], [[Lewis Collins (footballer)|Lewis Collins]], [[Kiban Rai]] and [[Harrison Bright]]. |
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In the 2001–02 season County's youth team won the [[English Schools' Football Association]] under-19 trophy under the banner of Hartridge High School.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.southwalesargus.co.uk/2002/5/18/72899.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120701115953/http://archive.southwalesargus.co.uk/2002/5/18/72899.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-07-01|author=[[South Wales Argus]]|title=Hartridge High make history}}</ref> In the 2004–05 season they won the FAW Youth Cup. |
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In May 2014 Glyn Jones was succeeded after 17 years as academy director by [[Michael Flynn (footballer)|Michael Flynn]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/11207101.County_part_company_with_academy_director_Glyn_Jones/?ref=var_0|title=County part company with academy director Glyn Jones|work=South Wales Argus|date=12 May 2014|access-date=20 October 2014|archive-date=12 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512223815/http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/11207101.County_part_company_with_academy_director_Glyn_Jones/?ref=var_0|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015 the academy organisation was restructured to comply to FA requirements and in June 2015 Grant Kalahar was appointed to the senior role of academy manager.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33279064|title=Newport County appoint Grant Kalahar as new academy manager|work=BBC Sport|access-date=12 February 2018|archive-date=28 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628113228/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33279064|url-status=live}}</ref> Kalahar left the academy at the end of the 2015–16 season with [[Byron Anthony]] appointed academy manager.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/football/newportcounty/14342427.Newport_County_favourite_Byron_Anthony_named_interim_academy_manager/|title=Newport County favourite Byron Anthony named interim academy manager|website=South Wales Argus|date=14 March 2016|access-date=15 May 2018|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143415/http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/football/newportcounty/14342427.Newport_County_favourite_Byron_Anthony_named_interim_academy_manager/|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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Newport County were champions of the [[Football League Youth Alliance]] in the 2016–17 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freepressseries.co.uk/sport/newport_county/15248258.Premier_League_scouts_target_Newport_County_s_young_champions/?commentSort=newest|title=Premier League scouts target Newport County's young champions|website=Free Press Series|date=27 April 2017|access-date=15 May 2018|archive-date=19 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819190957/http://www.freepressseries.co.uk/sport/newport_county/15248258.Premier_League_scouts_target_Newport_County_s_young_champions/?commentSort=newest|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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Byron Anthony resigned in November 2018.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/17268484.academy-manager-byron-anthony-to-leave-newport-county/ |title=Academy manager Byron Anthony to leave Newport County |publisher=South Wales Argus |last=Penman |first=Andrew |date=30 November 2018 |access-date=9 March 2019}}</ref> [[Stevenage F.C.|Stevenage]] coach Jorden Gibson was appointed Newport County Academy Manager in June 2019<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48483827|title=Coach Gibson joins Newport from Stevenage|work=BBC Sport |date=June 2019 |access-date=22 December 2023|archive-date=22 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231222140010/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48483827|url-status=live}}</ref> but he resigned 11 September 2019 following an internal investigation after an altercation with a youth team player.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Newport academy manager Gibson resigns after internal investigation|url=https://www.bt.com/sport/news/newport-academy-manager-gibson-resigns-after-internal-investigation|access-date=2020-08-31|website=BT.com|language=en|archive-date=16 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716181003/https://www.bt.com/sport/news/newport-academy-manager-gibson-resigns-after-internal-investigation|url-status=live}}</ref> In December 2019 Damien Broad was promoted internally to academy manager.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/18101291.newport-county-appoint-new-academy-manager/|title=Newport County appoint new academy manager|date=13 December 2019|website=South Wales Argus|access-date=17 December 2019|archive-date=17 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217125950/https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/18101291.newport-county-appoint-new-academy-manager/|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2022 Luke Hussey was promoted internally to academy manager.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/20222/november/luke-hussey-appointed-newport-county-academy-manager/|title=Luke Hussey appointed Newport County Academy Manager|website=www.newport-county.co.uk|access-date=9 November 2022|archive-date=9 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109151933/https://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/20222/november/luke-hussey-appointed-newport-county-academy-manager/|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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===Notable former players=== |
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{{Main|List of Newport County A.F.C. players}} |
{{Main|List of Newport County A.F.C. players}} |
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''For all Newport County players with a Wikipedia article see [[:Category:Newport County A.F.C. players]].'' |
''For all Newport County players with a Wikipedia article see [[:Category:Newport County A.F.C. players]].'' |
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== Coaching staff == |
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==Former managers== |
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{{updated|20 June 2024}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=Staff Index - Newport County|url=https://www.newport-county.co.uk/club-1/staff-index/|website=www.newport-county.co.uk|access-date=2020-06-01|archive-date=23 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023090425/https://www.newport-county.co.uk/club-1/staff-index/|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
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:''See also [[:Category:Newport County A.F.C. managers|Newport County A.F.C. managers]] |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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!Position |
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!Staff |
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|- |
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|Manager |
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|Vacant |
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|- |
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|Assistant Manager |
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|Vacant |
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|- |
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|Senior goalkeeping coach |
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|{{flagicon|ENG}} Jim Hollman |
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|- |
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|Chief Footballing Officer |
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|{{flagicon|WAL}} Lucy Kelly |
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|- |
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|Head of performance |
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|{{flagicon|ENG}} Scott Wickens |
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|- |
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|First-team lead performance analyst |
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|{{flagicon|NIR}} Conor McGaharan |
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|- |
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|First-team physio |
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|{{flagicon|WAL}} Tom Gittoes |
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|- |
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|Fitness coach |
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|{{flagicon|NIR}} Connor Neeson |
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|- |
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|Kitman |
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|{{flagicon|WAL}} [[David Pipe]] |
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|- |
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|Head of Academy Recruitment |
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|{{flagicon|WAL}} Sam Bladen |
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|- |
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|Academy Manager |
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|{{flagicon|ENG}} Luke Hussey |
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|- |
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|Academy Head of Coaching |
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|{{flagicon|ENG}} Ben Gast |
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|- |
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|U18's Coach |
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|{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Kayne McLaggon]] |
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|} |
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==Honours and achievements== |
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{{col-begin-small}} |
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{{Further|List of Newport County A.F.C. records and statistics}} |
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{{col-5}} |
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'''League''' |
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* {{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Davy McDougall]] 1912–1913 (player-manager) |
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*[[Football League Third Division South|Third Division South]] (level 3) |
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* {{flagicon|England}} [[Sam Hollis]] 1913–1917 |
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**Champions: [[1938–39 Football League|1938–39]] |
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* {{flagicon|England}} [[Harry Parkes (football manager)|Harry Parkes]] 1919–1922 |
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*[[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] (level 4) |
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* {{flagicon|England}} [[Jimmy Hindmarsh]] 1922–1935 |
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**Promoted: [[1979–80 Football League|1979–80]] |
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* {{flagicon|England}} [[Louis Page]] 1935–1936 |
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*[[National League (division)|Conference Premier]] (level 5) |
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* {{flagicon|England}} [[Tom Bromilow]] 1936–1937 |
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**Play-off winners: [[2013 Conference Premier play-off final|2013]] |
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* {{flagicon|Northern Ireland}} [[Billy McCandless]] 1937–1945 |
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*[[National League South|Conference South]] (level 6) |
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* {{flagicon|England}} [[Tom Bromilow]] 1948–1950 (2nd spell) |
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**Champions: [[2009–10 Football Conference|2009–10]] |
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* {{flagicon|Wales}} [[Fred Stansfield]] 1950–1953 |
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*[[Southern Football League|Southern League Midland Division]] |
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* {{flagicon|Wales}} [[Billy Lucas]] 1953–1961 |
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**Champions: [[1994–95 Southern Football League|1994–95]] |
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* {{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Bobby Evans]] 1961–1962 |
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*[[Hellenic Football League|Hellenic League]] |
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* {{flagicon|Wales}} [[Billy Lucas]] 1962–1967 (2nd spell) |
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**Champions: [[1989–90 Hellenic Football League|1989–90]] |
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* {{flagicon|England}} [[Leslie Graham (footballer)|Leslie Graham]] 1967–1969 |
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* {{flagicon|England}} [[Bobby Ferguson (footballer born 1938)|Bobby Ferguson]] 1969–1970 (player-manager) |
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* {{flagicon|Wales}} [[Billy Lucas]] 1970–1974 (3rd spell) |
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* {{flagicon|England}} [[Brian Harris (footballer)|Brian Harris]] 1974–1975 |
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* {{flagicon|England}} [[Dave Elliott]] 1975–1976 (player-manager) |
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* {{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Jimmy Scoular]] 1976–1977 |
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* {{flagicon|England}} [[Colin Addison]] 1977–1978 |
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* {{flagicon|England}} [[Len Ashurst]] 1978–1982 |
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{{col-5}} |
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* {{flagicon|England}} [[Colin Addison]] 1982–1985 (2nd spell) |
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* {{flagicon|England}} [[Bobby Smith (football manager)|Bobby Smith]] 1985–1986 |
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* {{flagicon|England}} [[John Relish]] 1986 |
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* {{flagicon|England}} [[Jimmy Mullen (footballer born 1952)|Jimmy Mullen]] 1986–1987 |
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* {{flagicon|Wales}} [[John Lewis (footballer born 1955)|John Lewis]] 1987 |
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* {{flagicon|England}} [[Brian Eastick]] 1987–1988 |
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* {{flagicon|Wales}} [[David Williams (Welsh footballer)|David Williams]] 1988 |
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* {{flagicon|England}} [[Eddie May]] 1988 |
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* {{flagicon|Wales}} [[John Mahoney (footballer)|John Mahoney]] 1988–1989 |
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* {{flagicon|England}} [[John Relish]] 1989–1993 (2nd spell) |
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* {{flagicon|England}} [[Graham Rogers]] 1993–1996 |
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* {{flagicon|England}} [[Chris Price]] 1997 |
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* {{flagicon|England}} [[Tim Harris (footballer)|Tim Harris]] 1997–2002 |
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* {{flagicon|Wales}} [[Peter Nicholas (footballer)|Peter Nicholas]] 2002–2004 |
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* {{flagicon|Wales}} [[John Cornforth (footballer)|John Cornforth]] 2004–2005 |
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* {{flagicon|England}} [[Peter Beadle]] 2005–2008 |
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* {{flagicon|England}} [[Dean Holdsworth]] 2008–2011 |
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* {{flagicon|England}} [[Tim Harris (footballer)|Tim Harris]] 2011 (caretaker manager) |
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* {{flagicon|England}} [[Anthony Hudson (footballer)|Anthony Hudson]] 2011 |
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* {{flagicon|England}} [[Lee Harrison]] 2011 (caretaker manager) |
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{{col-end}} |
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'''Cup''' |
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==Kit manufacturers and sponsors== |
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*[[FA Trophy]] |
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{{Expand section|date=November 2010}} |
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**Runners-up: [[2011–12 FA Trophy|2011–12]] |
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{{col-begin}} |
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*[[Welsh Cup]] |
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{{col-break}} |
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**Winners: [[1979–80 Welsh Cup|1979–80]] |
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;Manufacturers |
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*[[FAW Premier Cup]] |
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*1974–75 [[Adidas]] |
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**Winners: [[2007–08 FAW Premier Cup|2007–08]] |
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*1976–77 [[Bukta]] |
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*1977–79 Adidas |
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*1982–85 [[Patrick (shoe company)|Patrick]] |
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*1985–89 Spall |
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*1989 Scoreline |
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*1989–90 [[Umbro]] |
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*1996–97 Edwards Sports |
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*1997–99 ICIS |
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*1999–2007 [[Errea]] |
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*2007–09 [[Joma]] |
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*2009–11 [[Lotto Sport Italia|Lotto]] |
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*2011–present [[Macron (sportswear)|Macron]] |
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{{col-break}} |
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;Sponsors |
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*1983–89 [[South Wales Argus]] |
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*1989 JLA |
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*1989–90 AFC Newport |
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*1991–92 [[Pirelli|Pirelli Cables]] |
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*1992–93 George Ford Motor Spares |
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*1993–94 Tom Witton Carpets |
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*1994–95 [[Courage Brewery]] |
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*1995–96 Empress Car Sales |
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*1996–98 [[CableTel]] |
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*1998–99 David McLean Homes |
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*1999–present [[Acorn Recruitment]] |
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{{col-end}} |
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==See also== |
== See also == |
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* [[List of Newport County A.F.C. managers]] |
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*[[Spytty the Dog]], team mascot |
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*[[ |
* [[List of Newport County A.F.C. players]] |
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*[ |
* [[List of Newport County A.F.C. records and statistics]] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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;General |
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{{reflist|2}} |
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* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101230045849/http://www.newport-county.co.uk/archive/archive_menu.htm Newport County Archives] |
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* [https://www.fchd.info/NEWPOC-1.HTM Football Club History Database] |
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* [https://www.fchd.info/NEWPORTC.HTM Football Club History Database] |
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* [http://www.oldfootballshirts.com/en/teams/n/newport-county/old-newport-county-football-shirts-t155.html?nc=1 Old Newport County shirts] |
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* {{cite book|title=Amber in the Blood: History of Newport County F.C.|isbn=978-1874427407|author=Tony Ambrosen|year=1993|publisher=Yore Publications}} |
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;Specific |
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==External links== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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*[http://www.newport-county.co.uk/ Newport County official website] |
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*[http://www.amberarmy.com/ Amber Army (Supporters' Trust) official website] |
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*[http://www.ncafcsc.co.uk/ Newport County Supporters Club official website] |
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*[http://flickr.com/photos/newportcounty The Amber Terrace – photo & archive site] |
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*[http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Newport_County/Newport_County.htm Newport County playing kits archive] |
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*[http://www.oldfootballshirts.com/en/teams/n/newport-county/old-newport-county-football-shirts-t155.html?nc=1 Old Newport County shirts] |
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*[http://tangerinetommy.webs.com/ Tangerine Tommy] |
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*{{BBC Football Info|BBClinkname=n/newport_county}} |
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== |
==External links== |
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{{Commons category}} |
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*[http://www.newport-county.co.uk/archive/archive_menu.htm Newport County Archives] |
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* {{official website}} |
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*[http://www.fchd.info/ Football Club History Database] |
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* [http://www.ncafctrust.org/ "Amber Army" (Supporters' Trust)] – official website |
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*Amber in the Blood: History of Newport County F.C. ISBN 1-874427-40-2 |
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* [http://www.ncafcsc.com/ Newport County Supporters Club official website] |
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* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/newportcounty The Amber Terrace – photo & archive site] on [[Flickr]] |
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* [http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Newport_County/Newport_County.htm Newport County playing kits archive] |
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* {{BBC Football Info|BBClinkname=newport-county}} |
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{{City of Newport}} |
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{{Newport County A.F.C.}} |
{{Newport County A.F.C.}} |
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{{Newport County A.F.C. seasons}} |
{{Newport County A.F.C. seasons}} |
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{{Newport County A.F.C. squad}} |
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{{Football Conference}} |
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{{Newport County A.F.C. managers}} |
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{{Former football league members}} |
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{{Newport County A.F.C. Player of the Year}} |
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{{Football League Two}} |
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{{Football League clubs of Wales}} |
{{Football League clubs of Wales}} |
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{{Authority control}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2010}} |
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[[Category:Football Conference]] |
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[[Category:Newport County A.F.C.| ]] |
[[Category:Newport County A.F.C.| ]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:1912 establishments in Wales]] |
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[[Category:Southern Football League clubs]] |
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[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1912]] |
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1912]] |
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[[Category:1989 disestablishments in the United Kingdom]] |
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[[Category:Association football clubs disestablished in 1989]] |
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[[Category:1989 establishments in the United Kingdom]] |
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[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1989]] |
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[[Category:Football clubs in Newport, Wales]] |
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[[Category:Football clubs in Wales]] |
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[[Category:Welsh football clubs in English leagues]] |
[[Category:Welsh football clubs in English leagues]] |
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[[Category:Football |
[[Category:Southern Football League clubs]] |
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[[Category:English Football League clubs]] |
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[[Category:National League (English football) clubs]] |
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[[ar:نيوبورت كونتي]] |
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[[Category:Hellenic Football League]] |
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[[cs:Newport County AFC]] |
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[[Category:Companies that have entered administration in the United Kingdom]] |
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[[de:AFC Newport County]] |
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[[Category:Phoenix clubs (association football)]] |
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[[es:Newport County Association Football Club]] |
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[[Category:Fan-owned football clubs in England]] |
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[[fr:Newport County Association Football Club]] |
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[[Category:Community interest companies in Wales]] |
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[[it:Newport County Association Football Club]] |
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[[Category:Organisations based in Newport, Wales]] |
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[[lt:Newport County AFC]] |
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[[nl:Newport County AFC]] |
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[[ja:ニューポート・カウンティAFC]] |
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[[no:Newport County AFC]] |
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[[pl:Newport County A.F.C.]] |
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[[ru:Ньюпорт Каунти]] |
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[[simple:Newport County A.F.C.]] |
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[[sv:Newport County AFC]] |
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[[zh:纽波特郡足球俱乐部]] |
Revision as of 06:58, 21 June 2024
Full name | Newport County Association Football Club | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | The Exiles, The Ironsides, The Port | |||
Short name | County | |||
Founded | 1912 June 1989 (reformed) (founded) | |||
Ground | Rodney Parade | |||
Capacity | 7,850 | |||
Coordinates | 51°35′18″N 2°59′18″W / 51.588332°N 2.988207°W | |||
Owner | Huw Jenkins 52%, Newport County AFC Supporters Trust 27%, Other investors 21% | |||
Manager | Vacant | |||
League | EFL League Two | |||
2023–24 | EFL League Two, 18th of 24 | |||
Website | Club website | |||
| ||||
Newport County Association Football Club (Welsh: Clwb Pêl-droed Cymdeithas Sir Casnewydd)[1] is a professional association football club in the city of Newport, South Wales. The team compete in EFL League Two, the fourth level of the English football league system. The club's usual home colours are amber shirts and black shorts.[2]
Formed in 1912, the club began life in the Southern League before being invited to become founder members of the Football League Third Division in 1920. They failed re-election in 1931, but were elected back into the Football League the next year. They struggled for the next few seasons, but went on to be crowned Third Division South champions in 1938–39. World War II meant they had to wait until the 1946–47 season to take their place in the Second Division, though they were relegated at the end of the campaign. They were relegated out of the Third Division in 1962. In the 1979–80 season, under manager Len Ashurst, they secured promotion out of the Fourth Division and won the Welsh Cup for the first time. They reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup Winner's Cup the next year. In the 1980s they suffered financial difficulties with a double relegation costing them their Football League place in 1988 and the club went out of business in February 1989.
The club reformed but were initially unable to play at their home ground at Somerton Park, so picked up the nickname of the "Exiles". They immediately won the Hellenic League in 1989–90 and were promoted out of the Southern League Midland Division in 1994–95. While playing at Newport Stadium, they were relegated from the Premier Division in 1997, before winning promotion out of the Midland Division again in 1998–99. Placed in the Conference South in 2004, they went on to be crowned champions in 2009–10 and after moving to Rodney Parade in 2012, they returned to the Football League following a 25-year absence after winning the Conference National play-off final in 2013 under manager Justin Edinburgh.
History
1912–1988
Rise through the league
Newport County,[3] originally nicknamed The Ironsides due to Newport being home to Lysaght's Orb Works steel works,[4] started out in the Southern League in 1912 at Somerton Park.[5] The official name of the club was The Newport & Monmouthshire County Association Football Club, although the shorter Newport County was soon adopted.[5] The club were reformed in 1919[6] and were first elected to the Football League in 1920. They were not re-elected after the 1930–31 season but rejoined for 1932–33.[5] After almost 20 years in the Third Division South, the club finally clinched promotion to the Second Division as champions in 1939 under manager Billy McCandless.[5]
Second Division
Hopes were high that the championship-winning side could prosper in the Second Division, but only three games were played of the 1939–40 season due to the outbreak of World War II. Newport County managed a 1–1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur and a 3–1 win over Southampton, finishing joint ninth out of 22 in the abandoned season.[7] The War League operated for the remainder of the 1939–40 season and County finished 10th in the South-West Division.
After the war, the club reformed and competed in the temporary Football League South for the 1945–46 season. On the resumption of national league football for the 1946–47 season[6] Newport resumed their place in the Second Division but the reshaped team suffered a host of defeats – including a joint Football League record 13–0 defeat at Newcastle United. Newcastle player Len Shackleton remarked "they were lucky to get nil". Despite victories over Coventry City, Sheffield Wednesday and Fulham, the club needed four wins out of the last four games to have any hope of safety. Despite a revenge victory over Newcastle United, defeats to Birmingham City, Luton Town and Manchester City sealed their fate. County finished bottom of the Second Division and were relegated.
Third Division
Newport reached the fifth round of the 1948–49 FA Cup under manager Tom Bromilow, the furthest they have gone in the competition, later equalled in 2019. They only narrowly lost the game 3–2 away to Portsmouth, the eventual FA Cup semi-finalists and First Division champions that season.[8]
After 11 further seasons in the Third Division South, the club narrowly avoided another effective relegation with the creation of the Fourth Division for the 1958–59 season. The bottom 12 teams from the Third Division North and South were placed in the new division, with the remainder forming the revived Third Division. County avoided this fate by a mere four points. However, in 1962, with only seven wins all season, the club were relegated to the Fourth Division – their home for the next 18 years.
Fourth Division
Billy Lucas had the first of three spells as Newport County manager from 1953 to 1961. County reached the fourth round of the 1956–57 FA Cup losing 2–0 to Arsenal in front of 20,000 spectators at Somerton Park. In the 1958–59 FA Cup County faced Tottenham Hotspur in the fourth round. The game was played in heavy snow away at White Hart Lane, and although County lost 4–1 their goal came from an incredible 35-yard effort by defender Ken Hollyman. This made the score-line 1–2, giving County the hope that they could force an upset upon Bill Nicholson's men (who were double winners a year later). However, two late goals for Tottenham ended County's hopes of pulling off a shock result.[9] County faced Tottenham again in the 1959–60 FA Cup third round at Somerton Park in front of a cup record 24,000 crowd, this time losing 4–0.
In January 1964 under Billy Lucas in his second spell as manager, County took on another high-profile side – Burnley, the 1960 Division One champions and 1962 double runners-up – in the FA Cup fourth round, but again suffered defeat 2–1.
In the 1970–71 season the Newport team managed by Bobby Ferguson set an unwanted Football League record by not winning any of their first 25 matches, losing 21 in the process.[10] In the same season Newport equalled the worst defeat of a Football League club by a non-league club when they lost 6–1 to Barnet in the FA Cup first round. Results improved in the following season under Billy Lucas in his third spell as manager and in the 1972–73 season Newport missed out on promotion only on goal average.
For the 1976–77 season the team managed by Jimmy Scoular changed their playing strip to light blue and white striped shirts, light blue shorts and white socks akin to the Argentina national team in an attempt to turn around their fortunes. However, the team continued to struggle until Colin Addison took over in January 1977. The season became known as "the great escape" as County avoided relegation with a 1–0 win at home to Workington in the last game of the season.[11]
Promotion, cup 'glory' and European run
The 1980s heralded both the brightest and darkest moments in Newport County's history. Len Ashurst was manager from 1978 to 1982, the club's most successful period in its history and under the chairmanship of Richard Ford. In the 1978–79 FA Cup County beat West Ham United 2–1 in round three before losing 1–0 to Colchester United in a fourth round replay. In 1980, promotion was finally achieved from the Football League Fourth Division, the club being only five points from being crowned champions although never being in contention to win the league and never being top. County sealed promotion in the last match of the season with a 4–2 win at high-flying Walsall. Walsall finished second in the league and were also promoted.
The team included a young John Aldridge who later became one of the most prolific goal-scorers in English football history, most famous for helping Liverpool win the First Division title in 1988 and FA Cup in 1989, as well as helping Oxford United win two successive promotions and the Football League Cup.
Also in the promotion-winning team was Tommy Tynan, one of the leading lower-league strikers of his era, who scored the all-important goal that sealed County's promotion.[9] Dave Gwyther completed the trio of prolific goalscorers whilst captain Keith Oakes provided strength in central defence. Youth team products Steve Lowndes and Nigel Vaughan went on to attain international caps for Wales. This was also the year that County won the Welsh Cup, entitling them to play in the 1980–81 season European Cup Winners' Cup.
The 1980–81 European Cup Winners' Cup turned out to be quite eventful – the first round against Crusaders of Northern Ireland was won 4–0 on aggregate (4–0 at home and 0–0 away). The second round against SK Haugar of Norway was even more convincing: after a 0–0 draw away, the home leg was won 6–0, taking the club into the quarter-finals against Carl Zeiss Jena F.C. of East Germany. Aldridge was injured for both matches against Carl Zeiss Jena, though he was a non-playing substitute in the 2nd leg. The quarter-final away leg was drawn 2–2 with Tommy Tynan scoring both goals, including his equaliser in the 90th minute. However, despite dominating the home leg, Newport lost 1–0 in front of 18,000 fans at Somerton Park, denying them a high-profile semi-final with S.L. Benfica. Carl Zeiss Jena went on to be the eventual cup runners-up, losing the final to Dinamo Tbilisi of the Soviet Union.[12]
The Newport County squad for the first leg was: 1 Gary Plumley, 2 Richard Walden, 3 John Relish, 4 Grant Davies, 5 Keith Oakes (Captain), 6 Tommy Tynan, 7 Nigel Vaughan, 8 Steve Lowndes, 9 Dave Gwyther, 10 Karl Elsey, 11 Kevin Moore, 12 Neil Bailey, 13 Steve Warriner, 14 Dave Bruton, 15 Bobby Ward, 16 Mark Kendall.
In the 1982–83 season Colin Addison, in his second spell as manager, led Newport County to their highest post-war league finish – 4th in the Third Division, just four points behind third-placed Huddersfield Town. Huddersfield were promoted to the Second Division, along with champions Portsmouth and local rivals Cardiff City. County had actually gone top of the table in early April after a 1–0 win over Cardiff in front of 16,052 fans at Somerton Park, but a return of only four points from the last seven games meant County missed out on promotion. County faced First-Division team Everton in the third round of the 1982–83 FA Cup. After a 1–1 draw at Newport, Everton won the replay 2–1.
In 1986 County reached the FA Cup third round under manager Bobby Smith, losing 2–0 to Sunderland. Newport appeared in the Welsh Cup final again in 1987 under manager John Lewis, this time losing 1–0 to Merthyr Tydfil after a replay.
Freefall and bankruptcy
Despite reaching the Welsh Cup final, County were relegated from the Third Division in 1987 and in 1988 finished bottom of the Fourth Division with a mere 25 points, meaning that their 60-season stay in the Football League was over. They failed to finish their first season in the Conference and finally went out of business on 27 February 1989 with debts of £330,000. They were then expelled from the Conference for failing to fulfil their fixtures. Their record (four wins, seven draws and 19 points from 29 games) was expunged.
The BBC Wales current affairs programme Week in Week Out broadcast a documentary in 1989 about the winding up of Newport County and its controversial owner at the time, American Jerry Sherman.[13]
1989 onwards
Reformation and exile
In June 1989 the club was reformed by 400 supporters, including David Hando as chairman and, later, club president. Former manager John Relish was re-appointed team manager and they were elected to the Hellenic League (then four divisions below the Football League). The club's main aim was to regain the Football League status lost in 1988. The club took on the name "Newport A.F.C." and adopted the nickname The Exiles, as a result of having to play home matches for the 1989–90 season at the London Road ground in the north Gloucestershire town of Moreton-in-Marsh, 80 miles (130 km) north-east of Newport. Newport Council considered the new company to be a continuation of the old, and refused it permission to use Somerton Park on the grounds of unpaid rent.[14]
Newport won the Hellenic double, gaining promotion to the Southern League.[5] After the 1990–91 and 1991–92 seasons back home in Newport at Somerton Park, the Football Association of Wales (FAW) consigned them to a further two seasons of exile in England, ground-sharing at Gloucester City's Meadow Park stadium for 1992–93 and 1993–94. The club was forced to resort to legal action to protect themselves from being forced out of the English football league system by FAW secretary Alun Evans, who was promoting the first national League of Wales formed for the 1992–93 season.[15] That litigation proved successful, with a landmark High Court verdict enabling them to have a permanent home in Newport at the then newly built Newport Stadium.[14]
The club's first season back in Newport, in 1994–95 under manager Graham Rogers, saw them promoted to the Southern League Premier Division, after winning the Midland Division Championship by a 14-point margin. On the way to that championship, the club set a then record for the Southern League by winning 14 successive league matches.[5]
Further progress
In 1999, the club reintroduced the name Newport County A.F.C.[5]
In the 2001–02 season the team managed by Tim Harris reached the first round proper of the FA Cup for the first time since the club was reformed, drawing Second Division side Blackpool. Holding them to a 2–2 draw away,[16] County lost the home replay 4–1 after extra time.[17] The following season, then managed by Peter Nicholas, Newport reached the final of the FAW Premier Cup beating Swansea City and Cardiff City along the way before losing 6–1 in the final against Wrexham.
Conference South
Subsequent reorganisation of the upper divisions of non-league football saw County take their place in the 2004–05 inaugural season of Conference South, one of the two feeder divisions into the Football Conference. Peter Beadle was appointed manager in October 2005 and in the 2006–07 season Newport again reached the first round proper of the FA Cup but lost 3–1 to Swansea City. In the same season, Newport reached the final of the FAW Premier Cup for the second time, beating Wrexham along the way but losing 1–0 to TNS in the final. In 2006–07 Newport finished just one position below the playoffs after losing 2–1 to Cambridge City on the final day of the season.
In the 2007–08 season, Newport won the last-ever FAW Premier Cup beating Llanelli 1–0 in the final, making a total of one win out of three finals. For the second consecutive season a last-day defeat prevented County reaching the Conference South playoffs. In April 2008 Peter Beadle was sacked as club manager, and was replaced by Dean Holdsworth.
In his first full season in charge, Holdsworth led Newport to a 10th-place finish in the league, despite a poor start.[18] Newport went top of the league in September of the 2009–10 season and held onto the top spot for the rest of the season. The league title was won in March 2010 after beating Havant and Waterlooville 2–0 at Newport Stadium with seven league games remaining. The win made them the first team in the English football leagues to achieve promotion in the 2009–10 season.[19] County finished the season with a Conference South record 103 points, 28 ahead of nearest rivals Dover Athletic. Craig Reid was the league's top scorer with 24 goals in the season.
Conference Premier
Newport County were promoted to the Conference Premier for the 2010–11 season, the level they had played at prior to bankruptcy in 1989. Dean Holdsworth left Newport County to become team manager of League Two club Aldershot Town on 12 January 2011 with Newport County in fifth place in the Conference Premier table. Tottenham Hotspur reserve-team coach Anthony Hudson was announced as the new manager on 1 April 2011.[20] The team finished their first season back in the Conference Premier league in ninth place.
After a poor start to the 2011–12 season with the team last-but-one in the table after picking up just a single win out of the first 12 games, Hudson was sacked on 28 September 2011. He was replaced on 4 October 2011 by Justin Edinburgh with the task of saving County from relegation.[21] Under Edinburgh, County finished in 19th place and so maintained their Conference Premier status. They also reached the 2012 FA Trophy Final and their first Wembley Stadium appearance coincided with the 100th anniversary of the club. County lost the final 2–0 to York City who went on to secure promotion to the Football League a week later in a Wembley play-off match.
In May 2012, Newport County announced that they had agreed a deal to move to the city's rugby stadium, Rodney Parade.[22] In August 2012 EuroMillions lottery winner Les Scadding succeeded Chris Blight as club chairman.[23] In February 2013 a further 10-year lease to play at Rodney Parade was signed.[24]
The centenary 2012–13 season saw Newport County finish third in the Conference Premier league, reaching the play-offs for the first time. A 2–0 aggregate win over Grimsby Town in the two-legged play-off semi-final saw Newport County reach the 2013 Conference Premier play-off final at Wembley Stadium. The final versus Wrexham was the first Wembley final to feature two Welsh teams, and Newport County won 2–0 to return to the Football League after a 25-year absence with promotion to League Two.[25] County were awarded Freedom of the City of Newport on 17 August 2013 in recognition of this achievement.[26]
Return to League Two 2013
On their return to the Football League in the 2013–14 season, Newport County finished a creditable 14th in League Two. On 7 February 2015, with Newport County in sixth place in League Two, it was confirmed that Justin Edinburgh had been appointed manager at Gillingham.[27] Jimmy Dack stepped up from assistant manager at the club to caretaker manager and was later appointed manager until the end of the 2014–15 season. On 29 April, Dack stated he had been offered the manager's job beyond the end of the season but he had decided he would move on after the final game.[28] Newport finished the 2014–15 season in ninth place in League Two. Terry Butcher was appointed team manager on 30 April 2015.[29] On 18 June 2015 Les Scadding resigned as Newport County chairman and director.[30]
Supporters Trust takeover 2015
On 1 October 2015 Newport County Supporters' Trust took over ownership of the club with Tony Pring appointed interim chairman.[31] Butcher was sacked on the same day, with Newport bottom of League Two after gaining just five points from the first 10 matches of the 2015–16 season. John Sheridan was appointed team manager on 2 October 2015 until the end of the 2015–16 season and results improved. Sheridan resigned on 13 January 2016 after just 14 league games to take up the manager's job at Oldham Athletic. Assistant manager Warren Feeney was promoted to team manager on 15 January 2016. On 18 January 2016 County lost 2–1 to Championship team Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup; the first time Newport had reached the third round of the cup since 1986. A good start saw Feeney gain 21 points from his first 12 games but results then worsened. Newport finished the season in 22nd place in League Two, avoiding relegation.
Feeney and Todd were sacked by Newport on 28 September 2016 with Newport County bottom of League Two having gained just six points from their first nine matches of the 2016–17 season.[32] First team coach Sean McCarthy and goalkeeping player/coach James Bittner were appointed joint caretaker managers. Effective from 10 October 2016 Graham Westley was appointed team manager with Dino Maamria his assistant[33] and Mccarthy released by the club.[34] On 9 March 2017 Westley and Maamria were sacked with Newport 11 points adrift at the bottom of League Two.
Progress under Michael Flynn 2017–2021
Following the departure of Westley, first team coach Michael Flynn was appointed caretaker manager for the remaining 12 league matches of the 2016–17 season and Wayne Hatswell returned to the club as assistant manager.[35] A remarkable recovery saw Newport avoid relegation, sealed by a final day of the season 2–1 victory at home against Notts County with centre half Mark O'Brien scoring the 89th-minute winner.[36] The season became known as the second "great escape" in the club's history.
On 9 May 2017 Flynn was appointed permanent team manager on a two-year contract.[37] On 7 January 2018 a 2–1 home win over Championship club Leeds United in the FA Cup third round meant Newport progressed to the FA Cup fourth round for the first time since the 1978–79 FA Cup.[38] In the following round, the club was drawn at home to Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur. On 27 January 2018 Newport achieved a creditable 1–1 draw to force a replay at Wembley Stadium.[39][40] Tottenham won the replay 2–0.[41] County finished the 2017–18 season in 11th place in League Two.
Newport began the 2018–19 creditably, securing 23 points from their first 10 games, losing only twice. On 6 January 2019, County won their home FA Cup third round tie against Premier League club Leicester City 2–1.[42] The subsequent Fourth round drew Newport in an away match against Championship club Middlesbrough on 26 January 2019, in which they achieved a 1–1 draw,[43] going on to a home replay victory 2–0 on 5 February 2019.[44] County progressed to the most high-profile fixture in their modern history, the FA Cup fifth round which they had not reached since 1949. The Exiles were rewarded for their success with a home fixture against reigning Premier League champions Manchester City on 16 February 2019. County lost the match 4–1 with striker Pádraig Amond scoring a late goal. Amond finished the competition as joint-top scorer with Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus.[45] Newport finished the 2018–19 season in 7th place in League Two, thus qualifying for the League Two play-offs. In the semi-final against Mansfield Town, Newport drew the first leg 1–1 at home,[46] drew the second leg 0–0 at Mansfield but then won the subsequent penalty shoot-out.[47] In the League Two play-off final at Wembley Stadium on 25 May 2019 Newport lost to Tranmere Rovers 1–0, after a goal in the 119th minute.[48]
On 27 August 2019, Newport County faced West Ham United of the Premier League in the EFL Cup, losing the tie 2–0.[49] Newport also reached the semi-final of the EFL Trophy for the first time on 19 February 2020, losing to Salford City on penalties.[50] The 2019–20 season was suspended on 13 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, with Newport in 15th place in League Two.[51] The club furloughed the players, management team and most staff to "protect the long-term financial viability" of the club.[52] The League Two season was formally terminated on 9 June 2020.[53] Points per game was subsequently adopted to determine the final League Two table with Newport County rising one place to 14th in the league. Club chairman Gavin Foxall stated that they expected to lose 40% of their income as a consequence of continued COVID-19 constraints.[54]
On 22 September 2020 Newport County beat Championship club Watford 3–1 at home in the third round of the EFL Cup to reach the fourth round for the first time in the club's history.[55] Newport were drawn at home to Premier League club Newcastle United in the fourth round and after drawing 1–1 in normal time, Newcastle won the penalty shoot-out.[56] Newport again reached the third round of the 2020–21 FA Cup to face Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion at home and lost to Brighton on penalties having drawn 1–1 after extra time.[57] On 19 January 2021, goalkeeper Tom King scored the first goal of his career with a wind-assisted goal kick in the 12th minute of Newport's 1–1 League Two draw at Cheltenham Town.[58] His goal was confirmed to have broken the Guinness World Record for longest football goal, with a distance of 96.01 metres (105 yards), a record previously held by Asmir Begović.[59] In March 2020 Newport were permitted by the EFL to move two home matches to Cardiff City Stadium due to the poor condition of the Rodney Parade pitch.[60] Newport finished the 2020–21 season in 5th place in League Two and qualified for the play-offs.[61] Newport beat Forest Green Rovers 5–4 on aggregate to reach the play-off final for the second time in three seasons.[62] On 31 May 2021, Newport lost 1–0 to Morecambe in the League Two play-off final at Wembley Stadium, a contentious 107th-minute penalty.[63]
On 25 August 2021, Newport County faced Southampton of the Premier League in the second round of the 2021–22 EFL Cup but they lost heavily 8–0.[64] Michael Flynn resigned as Newport County manager on 1 October 2021 after nine league matches of the 2021–22 season with Newport 15th in League Two.[65]
2021 onwards
On 19 October 2021, it was confirmed that the club had appointed Cardiff City first team coach James Rowberry as permanent manager with Newport 13th in League Two after 13 league games.[66] Newport finished the 2021–22 League Two season in 11th place.[67] On 10 October 2022, Rowberry was sacked with Newport in 18th place in League Two after 13 league matches of the 2022–23 season.[68]
On 20 October 2022, Graham Coughlan was appointed manager on a two-and-a-half year contract.[69] Newport reached the third round of the 2022–23 EFL Cup, losing 3–0 to Leicester City of the Premier League in November 2022.[70] Newport finished the 2022–23 season in 15th position in League Two.[71] In August 2023 Newport County reached the second round of the 2023–24 EFL Cup, losing on penalties to Brentford of the Premier League after drawing 1–1 in normal time.[72]
On 24 January 2024 former Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins purchased a controlling interest 52% of shares in Newport County from the Supporters Trust.[73] In February 2024 Newport reached the fourth round of the 2023–24 FA Cup, losing 4–2 to Manchester United of the Premier League.[74] Newport finished the 2023–24 season in 18th place in League Two.[75] On 20 June 2024, Graham Coughlan departed the club by mutual consent.[76]
Kit manufacturers and sponsors
Period | Kit Manufacturer | Shirt Sponsor |
---|---|---|
1974–1975 | Adidas | None |
1975–1976 | None | |
1976–1977 | Bukta | |
1977–1979 | Adidas | |
1982–1983 | Patrick | |
1983–1985 | South Wales Argus | |
1985–1989 | Spall | |
1989 | Scoreline | JLA |
1989–1990 | Umbro | AFG Newport, Newport Ford |
1990–1991 | None | None |
1991–1992 | Balan Sports International | Pirelli Cables |
1992–1993 | George Ford Motor Spares | |
1993–1994 | None | Tom Witton Carpets |
1994–1995 | ProStar | Courage Best Bitter |
1995–1996 | Edwards Sports | Empress Car Sales |
1996–1997 | CableTel | |
1997–1998 | ICIS | none/David McLean Homes (2nd half of season) |
1998–1999 | Acorn Recruitment | |
1999–2007 | Errea | Acorn Recruitment[77] |
2007–2009 | Joma | |
2009–2011 | Lotto | |
2011–2013 | Macron | |
2013–2014 | 32Red[78] | |
2014–2017 | Mr. Tom[79] | |
2017–2018 | FBT[80] | |
2018–2019 | Interbet[81] | |
2019–2020 | Paddy Power[82] | |
2020–2023 | Hummel | Alzheimer's Society, Pure Vans |
2023– | VX3 Sportswear | Pure Vans |
Ownership
In 2015 following the sale of the club by majority shareholder Les Scadding, Newport County AFC Supporters Society Limited was established with guidance from the UK Government backed charity Supporters Direct. The Society is established as a trust[83] with an elected board, yearly elections, regular AGMs, and fee-based supporter ownership.
As a Registered Society under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014) the group acquired a majority shareholding[84] in the football club's trading body, Newport Association Football Club Limited.[85]
The supporters trust members elected a board of between 6 and 12 Directors. The board established that it would aim to operate with 9 directors, with a mixed model of elected and co-opted (unelected) directors. Directors are elected to three-year terms. In 2017 Peter Madigan and Mark Crook were co-opted to serve as unelected directors.
In 2017 a leaked resignation letter by director Charlie Hopkins he made allegations against some serving directors which were disputed by the Trust Board.[86]
In October 2023 Newport County Supporters Trust members voted in favour of selling a controlling interest 52% of shares in the club to former Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins, subject to EFL approval. The supporters trust retained 27% of shares and other previous private investors retained 21%.[87] The sale was confirmed as completed on 24 January 2024 [73]
Supporters
Newport County draws its main support from the city of Newport but also from the wider surrounding historic Monmouthshire area, as reflected in the original club name of Newport & Monmouth County A.F.C. The club's supporters refer to themselves as the Amber Army, in reference to the traditional club colour, and the sporting colours more widely associated with Newport. The club operates the 'ifollow' match day voice and video commentary service for supporters.
The supporters' unofficial anthem is Come on the County, written by Ken Buck and Eric Thomas. Originally released in 1973, it was re-recorded in 1999 and 2010. The 1999 release included the song Carl Zeiss Jena by Newport band Flyscreen, celebrating County's 1981 European campaign. The 2010 release included reworkings of Come on the County by The Tenants Supermen, who are ardent County fans. For the 2012 FA Trophy final, singer-songwriter Tracey Curtis wrote and released the song A Hundred Years of Football (And We're Off To Wembley).[88]
In the 1970s and 1980s comedian Frank Carson was appointed as a director and vice president in order to raise the profile of the club.[89] Newport-based rappers Goldie Lookin' Chain are supporters of the club and were the team's shirt sponsors for the 2004–05 season FAW Premier Cup matches[90]
Rivalries
County fans consider their main rival to be South Wales rivals Cardiff City, however, the two sides have rarely met since the 1980s due to the league gap between them.[91] Other rivals, to a lesser extent, include Welsh rivals Swansea City and Wrexham,[92] as well as relatively local rivals Bristol Rovers, Cheltenham Town and Forest Green Rovers. A 2017 match against Swindon Town saw opposing fans clash before and after the game in Swindon town centre.[93] Before a match at Rodney Parade in January 2020, Swindon fans were filmed throwing toilet paper and drinks containers outside a pub in Newport city centre.[94]
During County's days in the non-league pyramid, Merthyr Tydfil and Bath City were considered rivals. County also used to maintain a rivalry with Hereford United. However, the club went out of business in 2014 and a new club, Hereford FC was formed.
Players
Current squad
- As of 20 June 2024[95]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
% = To be released on 30 June 2024 at end of contract
£ = Contract extension negotiations underway
Development squad players named in First Team squads
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
Youth academy
Glyn Jones was appointed director of the Newport County Youth Academy in 1997. In 1998 Newport County established a partnership with Newport City Council[96] and the club has a youth development programme with around 50 students based at Llanwern High School.
The team compete in the Under-18 Football League Youth Alliance. A number of the academy graduates have progressed to the senior squad including Andrew Hughes, Lee Evans, Regan Poole, Aaron Collins, Tom Owen-Evans, Kieran Parselle, Lewis Collins, Kiban Rai and Harrison Bright.
In the 2001–02 season County's youth team won the English Schools' Football Association under-19 trophy under the banner of Hartridge High School.[97] In the 2004–05 season they won the FAW Youth Cup.
In May 2014 Glyn Jones was succeeded after 17 years as academy director by Michael Flynn.[98] In 2015 the academy organisation was restructured to comply to FA requirements and in June 2015 Grant Kalahar was appointed to the senior role of academy manager.[99] Kalahar left the academy at the end of the 2015–16 season with Byron Anthony appointed academy manager.[100]
Newport County were champions of the Football League Youth Alliance in the 2016–17 season.[101]
Byron Anthony resigned in November 2018.[102] Stevenage coach Jorden Gibson was appointed Newport County Academy Manager in June 2019[103] but he resigned 11 September 2019 following an internal investigation after an altercation with a youth team player.[104] In December 2019 Damien Broad was promoted internally to academy manager.[105] In November 2022 Luke Hussey was promoted internally to academy manager.[106]
Notable former players
For all Newport County players with a Wikipedia article see Category:Newport County A.F.C. players.
Coaching staff
- As of 20 June 2024[107]
Position | Staff |
---|---|
Manager | Vacant |
Assistant Manager | Vacant |
Senior goalkeeping coach | Jim Hollman |
Chief Footballing Officer | Lucy Kelly |
Head of performance | Scott Wickens |
First-team lead performance analyst | Conor McGaharan |
First-team physio | Tom Gittoes |
Fitness coach | Connor Neeson |
Kitman | David Pipe |
Head of Academy Recruitment | Sam Bladen |
Academy Manager | Luke Hussey |
Academy Head of Coaching | Ben Gast |
U18's Coach | Kayne McLaggon |
Honours and achievements
League
- Third Division South (level 3)
- Champions: 1938–39
- Fourth Division (level 4)
- Promoted: 1979–80
- Conference Premier (level 5)
- Play-off winners: 2013
- Conference South (level 6)
- Champions: 2009–10
- Southern League Midland Division
- Champions: 1994–95
- Hellenic League
- Champions: 1989–90
Cup
See also
- List of Newport County A.F.C. managers
- List of Newport County A.F.C. players
- List of Newport County A.F.C. records and statistics
References
- General
- Newport County Archives
- Football Club History Database
- Football Club History Database
- Old Newport County shirts
- Tony Ambrosen (1993). Amber in the Blood: History of Newport County F.C. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-1874427407.
- Specific
- ^ "Welsh Assembly reference" (PDF). Assembly.wales. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
- ^ "Newport County AFC". Historical Football Kits. Archived from the original on 7 June 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ "Newport County – Historical Kits". Archived from the original on 8 June 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
- ^ "THE WOLVERHAMPTON CONNECTION". thisisnotgwent.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g "History & Honours". Newport County A.F.C. Archived from the original on 28 January 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
- ^ a b Shepherd, Richard (1997). Newport County Football Club 1912–1960. Tempus Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-7524-1081-4.
- ^ Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. "Season 1939–40 (Abandoned)". Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ "Portsmouth 3 Newport 2". British Pathe. 17 February 1949. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
- ^ a b Newport County A.F.C. "County Past". Archived from the original on 5 September 2008.
- ^ Jeffery, Robert; Gonnella, Mark (1999). "1970–1980: Taking on the World". Pictorial History of English Football. Parragon. p. 178. ISBN 1-84164-077-8.
- ^ "Deja vu as Newport County look to repeat their 1977 great escape". BBC. 4 May 2017. Archived from the original on 24 October 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
- ^ Pye, Steven (20 February 2014). "Recalling Newport County's run to the last eight of the 1981 Cup Winners' Cup". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 9 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
- ^ BBC Sport (11 March 2010). "Jerry Sherman interview". BBC News. Archived from the original on 28 September 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
- ^ a b Peter Shuttleworth (27 January 2024). "FA Cup: 'Newport v Man Utd not possible without my dad'". BBC News Wales. Archived from the original on 28 January 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ Chris Wathan (14 March 2010). "'Come and watch us celebrate title' County tell FAW nemesis Alun Evans". Western Mail. Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
- ^ BBC Sport (17 November 2001). "Blackpool v Newport County". BBC News.
- ^ BBC Sport (28 November 2001). "Newport County v Blackpool". BBC News. Archived from the original on 29 July 2003. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
- ^ Newport County A.F.C. "Blue Square South 2009/09: Fixtures/Results/League Table". Archived from the original on 17 April 2009.
- ^ BBC Sport (16 March 2010). "Newport County's promotion party". BBC News. Archived from the original on 13 April 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
- ^ Shuttleworth, Peter (1 April 2011). "Tottenham coach Anthony Hudson accepts Newport vacancy". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 14 April 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
- ^ "Justin Edinburgh named Newport County manager". BBC Sport. 4 October 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
- ^ "Newport County move to the Dragon's lair at Rodney Parade". BBC Sport. 1 June 2012. Archived from the original on 30 April 2014. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
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External links
- Official website
- "Amber Army" (Supporters' Trust) – official website
- Newport County Supporters Club official website
- The Amber Terrace – photo & archive site on Flickr
- Newport County playing kits archive
- Newport County A.F.C. on BBC Sport: Club news – Recent results and fixtures