- Founded: 1912
- Nicknames: The Exiles
- Honours: Division 3 South (1938/39), Welsh FA Cup (1979/80), Conference South (2010/11)
In 1912 Newport County were formed following a meeting at the Tredegar Arms Hotel as a replacement for the deformed Newport FC (1907).
The South Welsh city lies just off the Severn Estuary and is one of Exeter’s nearest League away trips this season. The City was founded after the Norman Invasion and in the height of the industrial revolution was Wales’ leading coal port. In 1963, Newport Rugby Club beat the touring New Zealand All Blacks. Newport was given city starts in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.
The first season as Newport County was in the second division of the Southern League. In 1920, Newport were elected as founding members of Division Three. In 1938/39 Billy McCandless guided the Welsh outfit to their only Football League honour as the Exiles won the Division 3 title.
In 1980 Newport beat Shrewsbury Town 5-1 on aggregate to win the Welsh Cup after seeing off Cardiff City and Wrexham en-route. This qualified Newport for the European Cup Winner’s Cup where they were edged out in the Quarter Final’s by East German side Carl Zeiss Jena.
Just seven years later Newport were relegated out of the Football League, and in 1989 went out of business all-together and from the ashes Newport AFC were born. Starting down in the Hellenic League they eventually gained promotion to the Conference in 2011 and beat Wrexham in an all-Welsh tie in the 2013 play-off final.
Northampton climbed to fourth in League Two by inflicting struggling Walsall’s sixth successive defeat with a 1-0 victory at the Banks’s Stadium.
Mitch Pinnock was credited with the Cobblers’ early winner as his free-kick nestled in the bottom corner, although deadline-day signing Louis Appere may have got the final touch.
The decisive goal arrived after just 10 minutes, although Northampton were grateful to three fine saves from ex-Walsall goalkeeper Liam Roberts to preserve the points.
He pushed away George Miller’s 30-yard effort and produced a smart low stop to thwart Jack Earing before the break.
The Cobblers nearly doubled their lead early in the second half as Walsall keeper Carl Rushworth spilled Shaun McWilliams’ routine shot but atoned by saving follow-ups from Appere and Paul Lewis.
Rushworth later saved well from Sam Hoskins’ free-kick to keep the Saddlers in it.
They almost pinched a point with a late rally, but Roberts made a superb diving stop to deny Conor Wilkinson, who later fired inches over from 20 yards as Walsall slipped to 21st.
Matty Stevens struck twice against Newport County to extend Forest Green Rovers’ lead at the top of League Two.
In windy conditions at The New Lawn, Stevens tapped in from Kane Wilson’s cross to give them a half-time lead – and he was on target again on the hour mark, heading home from close range.
It ended a four-game winning run but County are fifth, in the play-off zone.
Second-placed Tranmere drew at Barrow which means Forest Green now have a 10-point cushion, with a game in hand.
Newport manager James Rowberry said: “They [Forest Green] are in the position they’re in for a reason and credit to them.
“But what I can say about my players today is that they never gave up and that’s one thing that is ingrained at this football club, and we will continue to ingrain our endeavour and our way of doing things won’t stop.”
Northampton Town moved into the top three with a controlled win at an off-colour Newport County.
Jon Guthrie put Northampton ahead when Newport failed to clear Mitchell Pinnock’s free-kick and the centre-back gleefully slammed home.
Jake Cain almost had the Exiles level early in the second half but his free-kick whistled just past the post.
But it needed a fine close-range save by Joe Day to prevent Nicke Kabamba from doubling Northampton’s lead.
Newport’s miserable night was compounded when they lost defender Scot Bennett to a worrying looking injury with 18 minutes of normal time remaining.
Newport County manager Michael Flynn said:
“I thought we were absolutely awful first half, gave it a go first half with a better team but never really looked like scoring.
“A few have played themselves out of the squad completely, some of the performances tonight were dreadful… but I pick the team and I’ll take this one on the chin.
“I don’t at the minute [know the severity of Scot Bennett’s injury] and that’s probably summed the evening up, because he’s a key player for us. I just hope it’s not a bad one.”
| Played | Won | Draw | Lost | F | A |
| 96 | 50 | 15 | 31 | 175 | 123 |
PLAYED FOR BOTH
We look at a selection of players that played for the Cobblers and Newport.
BENJAMIN SPEEDIE will take charge of the Cobblers match v Newport County this Tuesday night.
In his first season as an EFL referee, he produced 78 yellow cards and five reds across 29 games last term.
Michael Webb and Michael Chard
Fourth Official : Steven Plane
| 11.08.2021 | Coventry | 1:2 | Northampton |
| 27.02.2021 | Swindon Town | 2:1 | Northampton |
| 1 | Northampton have won each of their last seven home Football League games against Newport County, keeping clean sheets in each of the last four games. |
| 2 | Newport County have won just one of their last seven Football League encounters with Northampton (D1 L5), while their last away win against the Cobblers in the Football League was back in November 1977 (4-2). |
| 3 | Northampton’s Danny Rose has six goals in nine Football League appearances against Newport – including two in his last three games – more than against any other side. |
| 4 | Newport have won each of their last two Football League games on a Tuesday, the last time they won three successive games April 1980 (run of six). |
