 | ||||
| Full name | Newport County Association Football Club | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicknames |
| |||
| Short name | Newport County | |||
| Founded | 1912; 113 years ago (1912) (founded) June 1989; 36 years ago (1989-06) (reformed) | |||
| Ground | Rodney Parade | |||
| Capacity | 7,850 | |||
| Coordinates | 51°35′18″N2°59′18″W / 51.588332°N 2.988207°W /51.588332; -2.988207 | |||
| Owner(s) | Huw Jenkins 52%, Newport County AFC Supporters Trust 27%, Other investors 21% | |||
| Chairman | Huw Jenkins | |||
| Manager | David Hughes | |||
| League | EFL League Two | |||
| 2024–25 | EFL League Two, 22nd of 24 | |||
| Website | newport-county.co.uk | |||
 Current season | ||||
Newport County AFC (Welsh:Clwb Pêl-droed Casnewydd[1]) is a professionalassociation football club in the city ofNewport, South Wales. The team compete inEFL League Two, the fourth level of theEnglish football league system. The club's usualhome colours are amber shirts and black shorts.[2]
Formed in 1912, the club began life in theSouthern League before being invited to become founder members of theFootball League Third Division in 1920. They failed re-election in 1931, but were elected back into theFootball League the next year. They struggled for the next few seasons, but went on to be crownedThird Division South champions in 1938–39.World War II meant they had to wait until the 1946–47 season to take their place in theSecond 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 managerLen Ashurst, they secured promotion out of theFourth Division and won theWelsh Cup for the first time. They reached the quarter-finals of theUEFA 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 atSomerton Park, so picked up the nickname of the "Exiles". They immediately won theHellenic League in 1989–90 and were promoted out of theSouthern League Midland Division in 1994–95. While playing atNewport Stadium, they were relegated from the Premier Division in 1997, before winning promotion out of the Midland Division again in 1998–99. Placed in theConference South in 2004, they went on to be crowned champions in 2009–10 and after moving toRodney Parade in 2012, they returned to the Football League following a 25-year absence after winning theConference National play-off final in2013 under managerJustin Edinburgh.
Newport County,[3] originally nicknamed The Ironsides due to Newport being home to Lysaght'sOrb Workssteel works,[4] started out in theSouthern League in 1912 atSomerton Park.[5] The official name of the club was The Newport & Monmouthshire County Association Football Club, although the shorterNewport County was soon adopted.[5] The club were reformed in 1919[6] and were first elected to theFootball League in1920. They were notre-elected after the1930–31 season but rejoined for 1932–33.[5] After almost 20 years in theThird Division South, the club finally clinched promotion to theSecond Division as champions in1939 under managerBilly McCandless.[5]
Hopes were high that the championship-winning side could prosper in the Second Division, but only three games were played of the1939–40 season due to the outbreak ofWorld War II. Newport County managed a 1–1 draw withTottenham Hotspur and a 3–1 win overSouthampton, finishing joint ninth out of 22 in the abandoned season.[7] The War League operated for the remainder of the1939–40 season and County finished 10th in the South-West Division.
After the war, the club reformed and competed in the temporaryFootball League South for the1945–46 season. On the resumption of national league football for the1946–47 season[6] Newport resumed their place in the Second Division but the reshaped team suffered a host of defeats – including a jointFootball League record 13–0 defeat atNewcastle United. Newcastle playerLen Shackleton remarked "they were lucky to get nil". Despite victories overCoventry City,Sheffield Wednesday andFulham, 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 toBirmingham City,Luton Town andManchester City sealed their fate. County finished bottom of the Second Division and were relegated.
Newport reached the fifth round of the1948–49 FA Cup under managerTom Bromilow, the furthest they have gone in the competition, later equalled in 2019. They only narrowly lost the game 3–2 away toPortsmouth, the eventual FA Cup semi-finalists andFirst 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 theFourth Division for the1958–59 season. The bottom 12 teams from the Third Division North and South were placed in the new division, with the remainder forming the revivedThird Division. County avoided this fate by a mere four points. However, in1962, with only seven wins all season, the club were relegated to the Fourth Division – their home for the next 18 years.
Billy Lucas had the first of three spells as Newport County manager from 1953 to 1961. County reached the fourth round of the1956–57 FA Cup losing 2–0 toArsenal in front of 20,000 spectators at Somerton Park. In the1958–59 FA Cup County facedTottenham Hotspur in the fourth round. The game was played in heavy snow away atWhite Hart Lane, and although County lost 4–1 their goal came from an incredible 35-yard effort by defenderKen Hollyman. This made the score-line 1–2, giving County the hope that they could force an upset uponBill Nicholson's men (who weredouble winnersa year later). However, two late goals for Tottenham ended County's hopes of pulling off a shock result.[9] County faced Tottenham again in the1959–60 FA Cup third round at Somerton Park in front of a cup record 24,000 crowd, this time losing 4–0.
In January 1964 underBilly Lucas in his second spell as manager, County took on another high-profile side –Burnley, the1960Division One champions and1962double runners-up – in the FA Cup fourth round, but again suffered defeat 2–1.
In the1970–71 season the Newport team managed byBobby 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 toBarnet in theFA Cup first round. Results improved in the following season underBilly Lucas in his third spell as manager and in the1972–73 season Newport missed out on promotion only ongoal average.
For the1976–77 season the team managed byJimmy 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 untilColin 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 toWorkington in the last game of the season.[11]
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 the1978–79 FA Cup County beatWest Ham United 2–1 in round three before losing 1–0 toColchester United in a fourth round replay. In1980, 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-flyingWalsall. Walsall finished second in the league and were also promoted.
The team included a youngJohn Aldridge who later became one of the most prolific goal-scorers in English football history, most famous for helpingLiverpool win theFirst Division title in 1988 and FA Cup in 1989, as well as helpingOxford United win two successive promotions and theFootball League Cup.
Also in the promotion-winning team wasTommy 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 captainKeith Oakes provided strength in central defence. Youth team productsSteve Lowndes andNigel Vaughan went on to attain international caps forWales. This was also the year that Countywon the Welsh Cup, entitling them to play in the 1980–81 seasonEuropean Cup Winners' Cup.
The1980–81 European Cup Winners' Cup turned out to be quite eventful – the first round againstCrusaders ofNorthern Ireland was won 4–0 on aggregate (4–0 at home and 0–0 away). The second round againstSK Haugar ofNorway was even more convincing: after a 0–0 draw away, the home leg was won 6–0, taking the club into the quarter-finals againstCarl Zeiss Jena F.C. ofEast 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 withS.L. Benfica. Carl Zeiss Jena went on to be the eventual cup runners-up, losing the final toDinamo Tbilisi of theSoviet Union.[12]
The Newport County squad for the first leg was: 1Gary Plumley, 2Richard Walden, 3John Relish, 4Grant Davies, 5Keith Oakes (Captain), 6Tommy Tynan, 7Nigel Vaughan, 8Steve Lowndes, 9Dave Gwyther, 10Karl Elsey, 11Kevin Moore, 12Neil Bailey, 13Steve Warriner, 14Dave Bruton, 15Bobby Ward, 16Mark Kendall.
In the1982–83 seasonColin 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-placedHuddersfield Town. Huddersfield were promoted to the Second Division, along with championsPortsmouth and local rivalsCardiff 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 facedFirst-Division teamEverton in the third round of the1982–83 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 managerBobby Smith, losing 2–0 toSunderland. Newport appeared in theWelsh Cup final again in 1987 under managerJohn Lewis, this time losing 1–0 toMerthyr Tydfil after a replay.
Despite reaching the Welsh Cup final, County were relegated from the Third Division in1987 and in1988 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 theirfirst season in theConference 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 programmeWeek 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]
In June 1989 the club was reformed by 400 supporters, including David Hando as chairman and, later, club president. Former managerJohn Relish was re-appointed team manager and they were elected to theHellenic 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 theLondon Road ground in the northGloucestershire town ofMoreton-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 Hellenicdouble, gaining promotion to theSouthern League.[5] After the 1990–91 and 1991–92 seasons back home in Newport at Somerton Park, theFootball Association of Wales (FAW) consigned them to a further two seasons of exile in England, ground-sharing atGloucester 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 theEnglish football league system by FAW secretaryAlun Evans, who was promoting the first nationalLeague of Wales formed for the 1992–93 season.[15]That litigation proved successful, with a landmarkHigh Court verdict enabling them to have a permanent home in Newport at the then newly builtNewport Stadium.[14]
The club's first season back in Newport, in 1994–95 under managerGraham Rogers, saw them promoted to theSouthern 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]
In 1999, the club reintroduced the name Newport County A.F.C.[5]
In the 2001–02 season the team managed byTim Harris reached the first round proper of theFA Cup for the first time since the club was reformed, drawingSecond Division sideBlackpool. Holding them to a 2–2 draw away,[16] County lost the home replay 4–1 afterextra time.[17] The following season, then managed byPeter Nicholas, Newport reached the final of theFAW Premier Cup beatingSwansea City andCardiff City along the way before losing 6–1 in the final againstWrexham.
Subsequent reorganisation of the upper divisions of non-league football saw County take their place in the2004–05 inaugural season ofConference South, one of the two feeder divisions into theFootball 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 thefinal of theFAW Premier Cup for the second time, beating Wrexham along the way but losing 1–0 toTNS in the final. In 2006–07 Newport finished just one position below the playoffs after losing 2–1 toCambridge City on the final day of the season.
In the 2007–08 season, Newport won the last-everFAW Premier Cup beatingLlanelli 1–0 in thefinal, 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 byDean 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 beatingHavant 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 rivalsDover Athletic.Craig Reid was the league's top scorer with 24 goals in the season.
Newport County were promoted to theConference 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 ofLeague Two clubAldershot Town on 12 January 2011 with Newport County in fifth place in the Conference Premier table.Tottenham Hotspur reserve-team coachAnthony 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 the2011–12 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 byJustin 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 the2012 FA Trophy Final and their firstWembley Stadium appearance coincided with the 100th anniversary of the club. County lost the final 2–0 toYork 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 2012EuroMillions lottery winnerLes 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 centenary2012–13 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 the2013 Conference Premier play-off final atWembley 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 toLeague Two.[25]County were awardedFreedom of the City of Newport on 17 August 2013 in recognition of this achievement.[26]
On their return to the Football League in the2013–14 season, Newport County finished a creditable 14th inLeague Two. On 7 February 2015, with Newport County in sixth place in League Two, it was confirmed thatJustin Edinburgh had been appointed manager atGillingham.[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]
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 atOldham Athletic. Assistant managerWarren Feeney was promoted to team manager on 15 January 2016. On 18 January 2016 County lost 2–1 toChampionship teamBlackburn 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 coachSean McCarthy and goalkeeping player/coachJames Bittner were appointed joint caretaker managers. Effective from 10 October 2016Graham Westley was appointed team manager withDino 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.
Following the departure of Westley, first team coachMichael Flynn was appointed caretaker manager for the remaining 12 league matches of the 2016–17 season andWayne 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 againstNotts County with centre halfMark 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 overChampionship clubLeeds United in the FA Cup third round meant Newport progressed to theFA Cup fourth round for the first time since the1978–79 FA Cup.[38] In the following round, the club was drawn at home toPremier League clubTottenham Hotspur. On 27 January 2018 Newport achieveda creditable 1–1 draw to force a replay atWembley Stadium.[39][40] Tottenham won the replay 2–0.[41] County finished the2017–18 season in 11th place in League Two.
Newport began the2018–19 creditably, securing 23 points from their first 10 games, losing only twice. On 6 January 2019, County won their homeFA Cup third round tie againstPremier League clubLeicester City 2–1.[42] The subsequentFourth round drew Newport in an away match against Championship clubMiddlesbrough 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 championsManchester City on 16 February 2019. County lost the match 4–1 with strikerPádraig Amond scoring a late goal. Amond finished the competition as joint-top scorer with Manchester City strikerGabriel Jesus.[45] Newport finished the2018–19 season in 7th place in League Two, thus qualifying for theLeague Two play-offs. In the semi-final againstMansfield 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 theLeague Two play-off final atWembley Stadium on 25 May 2019 Newport lost toTranmere Rovers 1–0, after a goal in the 119th minute.[48]
On 27 August 2019, Newport County facedWest Ham United of the Premier League in theEFL Cup, losing the tie 2–0.[49] Newport also reached the semi-final of theEFL Trophy for the first time on 19 February 2020, losing toSalford City on penalties.[50] The2019–20 season was suspended on 13 March 2020 due to theCOVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, with Newport in 15th place in League Two.[51] The clubfurloughed 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 clubWatford 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 clubNewcastle 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 clubBrighton & Hove Albion at home and lost to Brighton on penalties having drawn 1–1 after extra time.[57] On 19 January 2021, goalkeeperTom 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 atCheltenham Town.[58] His goal was confirmed to have broken theGuinness World Record for longest football goal, with a distance of 96.01 metres (105 yards), a record previously held byAsmir Begović.[59] In March 2020 Newport were permitted by the EFL to move two home matches toCardiff City Stadium due to the poor condition of the Rodney Parade pitch.[60] Newport finished the2020–21 season in 5th place in League Two and qualified for the play-offs.[61] Newport beatForest 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 toMorecambe in theLeague Two play-off final at Wembley Stadium, a contentious 107th-minute penalty.[63]
On 25 August 2021, Newport County facedSouthampton 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]
On 19 October 2021, it was confirmed that the club had appointed Cardiff City first team coachJames Rowberry as team 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 the2022–23 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 toBrentford of the Premier League after drawing 1–1 in normal time.[72]
On 24 January 2024 formerSwansea City chairmanHuw 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 toManchester United of thePremier 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]
On 16 July 2024Nelson Jardim was appointed as Newport County Head Coach.[77] Jardim left Newport County by mutual consent on 24 April 2025 with the club in 20th position in League Two and safe from relegation with two games to play of the 2024-25 season.[78] Assistant head coach Dafydd Williams stepped up as head coach for those two matches.[79] Newport finished the 2024-25 season in 22nd place in League Two.[80] On 23 May 2025David Hughes was appointed as team Manager.[81]
| 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[82] |
| 2007–2009 | Joma | |
| 2009–2011 | Lotto | |
| 2011–2013 | Macron | |
| 2013–2014 | 32Red[83] | |
| 2014–2017 | Mr. Tom[84] | |
| 2017–2018 | FBT[85] | |
| 2018–2019 | Interbet[86] | |
| 2019–2020 | Paddy Power[87] | |
| 2020–2023 | Hummel | Alzheimer's Society, Pure Vans |
| 2023– | VX3 Sportswear | Pure Vans |
In 2015 following the sale of the club by majority shareholderLes Scadding, Newport County AFC Supporters Society Limited was established with guidance from the UK Government backed charitySupporters Direct. The Society is established as a trust[88] with an elected board, yearly elections, regular AGMs, and fee-based supporter ownership.
As a Registered Society under theCo-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014) the group acquired a majority shareholding[89] in the football club's trading body, Newport Association Football Club Limited.[90]
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.[91]
In October 2023 Newport County Supporters Trust members voted in favour of selling a controlling interest 52% of shares in the club to formerSwansea City chairmanHuw Jenkins, subject toEFL approval. The supporters trust retained 27% of shares and other previous private investors retained 21%.[92] The sale was confirmed as completed on 24 January 2024[73]
Newport County draws its main support from the city of Newport but also from the wider surrounding historicMonmouthshire area, as reflected in the original club name ofNewport & 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 dayvoice and video commentary service for supporters.
The supporters' unofficial anthem isCome 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 songCarl Zeiss Jena by Newport band Flyscreen, celebrating County's 1981 European campaign. The 2010 release included reworkings ofCome 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 songA Hundred Years of Football (And We're Off To Wembley).[93]
In the 1970s and 1980s comedianFrank Carson was appointed as a director and vice president in order to raise the profile of the club.[94] Newport-based rappersGoldie Lookin' Chain are supporters of the club and were the team's shirt sponsors for the 2004–05 seasonFAW Premier Cup matches[95]
County fans consider their main rival to beSouth Wales rivalsCardiff City, however, the two sides have rarely met since the 1980s due to the league gap between them.[96] Other rivals, to a lesser extent, include Welsh rivalsSwansea City andWrexham,[97] as well as relatively local rivalsBristol Rovers,Cheltenham Town andForest Green Rovers. A 2017 match againstSwindon Town saw opposing fans clash before and after the game inSwindon town centre.[98] Before a match atRodney Parade in January 2020, Swindon fans were filmed throwingtoilet paper and drinks containers outside a pub inNewport city centre.[99]
During County's days in the non-league pyramid,Merthyr Tydfil andBath City were considered rivals. County also used to maintain a rivalry withHereford United. However, the club went out of business in 2014 and a new club,Hereford FC was formed.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Glyn Jones was appointed director of the Newport County Youth Academy in 1997. In 1998 Newport County established a partnership withNewport City Council[101] and the club has a youth development programme with around 50 students based atLlanwern High School.
The team compete in the Under-18EFL Youth Alliance. A number of the academy graduates have progressed to the senior squad includingAndrew Hughes,Lee Evans,Regan Poole,Aaron Collins,Tom Owen-Evans,Kieran Parselle,Lewis Collins,Kiban Rai andHarrison Bright.
In the 2001–02 season County's youth team won theEnglish Schools' Football Association under-19 trophy under the banner of Hartridge High School.[102] In the 2004–05 season they won the FAW Youth Cup.
In May 2014 Glyn Jones was succeeded after 17 years as academy director byMichael Flynn.[103] 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.[104] Kalahar left the academy at the end of the 2015–16 season withByron Anthony appointed academy manager.[105]
Newport County were champions of theEFL Youth Alliance in the 2016–17 season.[106]
Byron Anthony resigned in November 2018.[107]Stevenage coach Jorden Gibson was appointed Newport County Academy Manager in June 2019[108] but he resigned 11 September 2019 following an internal investigation after an altercation with a youth team player.[109] In December 2019 Damien Broad was promoted internally to academy manager.[110] In November 2022 Luke Hussey was promoted internally to academy manager.[111]
For all Newport County players with a Wikipedia article seeCategory:Newport County A.F.C. players.
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Manager |  David Hughes |
| Assistant Manager |  Wayne Hatswell |
| Goalkeeping coach | Lee Kendall |
| 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 |
| Under 18's Coach | Kayne McLaggon |
League
Cup
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| Home stadium |
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| International | |
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| National | |
