A Look Into Histories

A LOOK INTO HISTORY TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY TWO

NEWPORT COUNTY LEAVE THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE IN 1988

Although now back in the Football League since 2013, the present club was reformed in 1989 when the club our story is about went out of business and dropped to the Hellenic League. First formed in 1912, Newport County joined the Football League from the Southern League in 1920 but failed re-election in 1930-1931 only to return a year later for season 1932-33. The highest they ever achieved was the Second Division for 3 games in 1939-40 with progress destroyed by War. So, they commenced again at that level in 1946-47 but were relegated at the end of that season.

The home ground was Somerton Park and I had travelled down to Wales on 30th April 1988 in the knowledge that it could be the last we would see of the club in the League. They played Tranmere Rovers and incurred another loss, this time 0-3, not having won since January 12th. Unfortunately my endearing memory of that visit is the vast ramshackle stadium with an old speedway track coupled with the fact that the club, so financially restrained had a club shop but no souvenirs available. All Signs had been stolen and an air of failure encompassed the whole show with just one policeman on duty. I took eight photos to remember it by.

Our Match Programme is for the final game of all on May 7th 1988 v Rochdale and was an Official Commemorative Edition priced £1 and quite a shock production bearing in mind their financial position and three High Court administration appearances when the club was temporarily saved from being wound up and many fans got together to raise funds. It is a brilliant read and From the Boardroom was a sad recollection of the past season and the hope of their Conference season would be short with a League return in 1989 followed by same from David Williams, Caretaker Manager. Two pages were dedicated to Rochdale and a story of County’s great 1938-39 season when they won division three only for the Second World War to halt progress in Division 2 . The South Wales Argus gave their side of the story and two pages were dedicated to the clubs complete League record from 1920 plus a season by season account. All results and players appearances then followed for 1987-88 with a league table, Looking forward to the Conference League, Youth team talk, Where did it all go wrong and Supporters Notes helped fill this bumper issue. Just to note that the Referee was Mr Ray Lewis who hailed from the best address of any Match Official – Great Bookham !

Although the Programme intimated hopes of a quick return to the Football League that would not be the case because overwhelming serious issues meant that, after a February 1989 league game at Maidstone United and home Welsh Cup tie v Kidderminster no further games were played, the Conference League annulled their membership and results struck off. Matters did not get any better when the Newport Council refused them a return to Somerton Park and the Welsh F A denied them being able to play in Wales so the reformed club moved to share at Moreton in the Marsh and joined the Hellenic League winning it at the first attempt. With fantastic support from fans, life in the lower leagues continued until 1994-95 when a return to Newport was made at the Stadium of that name with a Beazer (Southern) Homes Midland Division game with Redditch United on 23rd August. The glossy programme was another of high standard with lots to read. In 2013 having secured tenure of Rodney Parade, Football League status was regained. Back in the 1901-1934 Rodney Parade had hosted Monmouthshire Minor Counties Cricket side. In modern times the cricket field became a school and the Rugby Union team moved to the Stadium in a switch of codes.