Newport County A.F.C.
English football team.
Newport County Association Football Club is a professional football team based in Newport, South Wales. The club, known as "The Exiles," currently competes in EFL League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Newport County's home matches are played at Rodney Parade, a stadium with a capacity of around 7,850 spectators, which they have called home since 2012.
Founded in 1912, Newport County has a rich and tumultuous history. The club began its journey in the Southern League before becoming founding members of the Football League Third Division in 1920. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Newport County established themselves as a competitive force in the lower divisions of English football. Their most notable achievement during this period came in the 1938-39 season when they were crowned champions of the Third Division South, earning promotion to the Second Division for the first time in their history.
However, World War II interrupted their progress, and when football resumed in 1946, Newport County struggled to maintain their Second Division status, suffering relegation after just one season. The following decades saw the club oscillate between the Third and Fourth Divisions, with occasional periods of success interspersed with financial difficulties and on-field struggles.
One of the most memorable periods in Newport County's history came in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Under the management of Len Ashurst, the club secured promotion to the Third Division in the 1979-80 season and also won the Welsh Cup for the first time. This cup victory led to their participation in the European Cup Winners' Cup in the 1980-81 season, where they reached the quarter-finals, a remarkable achievement for a club of their size.
Unfortunately, the 1980s also marked the beginning of a difficult period for Newport County. Financial troubles plagued the club, leading to a double relegation that saw them lose their Football League status in 1988. The situation worsened, and in February 1989, Newport County was forced to go out of business, a devastating blow for the club and its supporters.
However, the spirit of Newport County proved resilient. In June 1989, the club was reformed by a group of 400 supporters, led by David Hando. The newly formed club, initially known as Newport AFC, had to start from scratch in the Hellenic League, several tiers below their previous position. They also earned the nickname "The Exiles" during this period, as they were forced to play their home games in Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, due to issues with using their former ground in Newport.
The reformed club's journey back to the Football League was a long and challenging one. They progressed through the pyramid, winning the Hellenic League in their first season and gradually climbing the ranks of non-league football. In 1999, the club officially readopted the name Newport County A.F.C.
A significant milestone was reached in 2013 when, under the management of Justin Edinburgh, Newport County won the Conference National play-off final, securing their return to the Football League after a 25-year absence. This victory at Wembley Stadium against Wrexham was a moment of immense pride and joy for the club and its supporters.
Since their return to the Football League, Newport County has established themselves as a competitive force in League Two. They have come close to promotion on several occasions, most notably reaching the play-off final in 2019, where they narrowly lost to Tranmere Rovers.
Newport County takes pride in its Welsh heritage and has a strong rivalry with other Welsh clubs, particularly Cardiff City and Swansea City.