The Supporters Club committee for County's  first  season are  pictured in August 1912 at  the King of Prussia (now The King) near Somerton Park.

Newport County's first professional squad 1912/13 season face the camera outside the dressing room hut at Somerton Park. From left to right Back row are : George Perry : Dave Ewings : Ted Husbands : Dick Williams (Director) : Billy Taylor : Fred Good  (Trainer).    Middle row  : Andy Bolt : Proctor Hall : Bob Vowles: George Fyfe : Enoch Westward : Fred Good.    Front row : Albert Cox : Tommy Thornton : Davy McDougall (Player /Manager).

A typical 1920s crowd at Somerton Park the average attendances was 8300 My granddad is the one with the hat.

Its August 1923 the squad face the camera in front of the 1913 Grandstand  the opposite side to Somerton Road. (The greyhound side)     Back row from left : Tom White : Billy Charlton : Bill Ogley : Billy Nairn : Andy Carr :Frank Knowles: Alex Dougall : Percy Whitton George Groves.    Middle row : George Thorneycroft (Director) : Jimmy Hindmarsh (Manager) : Fred Cook : Ted Dimmock : Jack Connor : Johnny Bell : Tommy Lowes : Jack (Ginger) Lewis : Bob Chatt (Trainer).   Front row : Daniel (Jock) Patterson : Fred Sanderson : Jimmy Carney : Fred Taylor.

The match programme from the first match season 1924/25 a 4-3 home win.  On the right the two captains Jimmy Carney (County) Jack Jenkins (Brighton) about to toss the coin referee R.G.Budd of London.

Newcomers for 1925-26 were Jack Drinnan of Merthyr Town, Jack Davis of Exeter City, Ted Smith of West Hartlepool (who had come for a trial period in May 1925), Walter Coates of Leeds, Joey Cunningham of Aberdeen, and Stan Bowsher of Lovells Athletic. Here they all are in the 1925-26 pre-season public-practice game. From left, back row: Chatt (trainer), Wetherby, Forward, Cook, Maidment, Sanderson, Cunningham, Lowes, Smith, Bowsher, Elwell; middle row: Drinnan, Wardell, Nairn, Carney, Frank McKenzie, Fred McKenzie, Davis, Hiles; front row: Coates, Hayward, White, Dimmock, Taylor, Jones (groundsman), Thomas (assistant trainer

The squad of 1930/31 the County were relegated to the Southern League at the end of the season.     Back row from left : Jack Clifford : Victor Fox : Len Blackmore : George Wheeler  Val Riley.  Front row : George Brown : Jimmy Gittins : Cyril Pearce : Billy Bagley : Billy Thomas : Hector Lawson.

October 29th 1932 saw the opening of the new Somerton Park grandstand.

Nine of this County line-up, which lost 5-2 at Coventry City on 14 April 1934, had been signed either in the summer of 1933 or during the 1933-34 season. Amongst them was full-back Ralph Robinson who had been at Arsenal for eight years without appearing in the first-team! Andy Higgins later became the son-in-law of club director Jack Wardell. From left, back row: Billy Clarke, Ralph Robinson, Bert Emery, Tommy Gibbon (trainer), Hughie McLaughlin, Charlie Whitehouse; front: Wally Reynolds, Andy Higgins, Gordon Reed, Jack Burgess, Vince Jones, George Jordan

The official 1935-36 pre-season photograph of Newport County which includes two former Scottish internationals - Jimmy Smith and skipper Bobby McKay. The club had now decided to change from amber and black stripes to red and white stripes. It made no difference - at the end of '35-36 they still had to seek re-election! From left, back row: Enoch Thomas (assistant trainer), Roy Hill, Jimmy Smith, Eddie Jenkins, Tom Helsby, Howard Davies, Arthur Briggs. Len Williamson, Bob Calder, Dudley Lewis,. Charlie Whitehouse, Jack Burgess, Donald Wright (secretary), front row: Louis Page (manager), Jimmy Kelso, Joe Sadler, Frank White, Tommy Green, Albert Derrick, Tom Appleby, Bobby McKay (captain), Jimmy Parle, Dai Jones, Harry Morgan, Joe Craven, Charlie Bates (trainer).

The 16th October 1937 saw  the all time record attendance at Somerton Park a crowd of 24,268 witnessed  the 1-1 draw with Cardiff City,  In and on top of the grandstand and everywhere else.

The 1938/39 squad that won the 3rd Division South Championship From left, back row: A. Morris, Jack Webb, Arthur Hydes, Bill Roberts, Wilf Hares; standing: Bill Poyntz (trainer), Enoch Thomas (assistant trainer), Bill (W.M.) Owen, Arthur Hickman, Ray Lawrance, Alex Ferguson, Cyril Reid, Norman Low, Trevor Mead, Len Richards, Arthur Thomas (assistant secretary), Billy McCandless (secretary/manager); seated: Dr W.E. Wade (director/club medical officer), Albert Derrick, Cliff Wood (director), Harry Duggan (captain), Captain H.J. Petty (chairman), Lance Carr, Ald. Jack Wardell (director), Tommy Wood, George Nixon (director); On ground: Ray Wilcox, Reg Mogford, Jack Harvey, Ernie Brinton, Danny Williams, Billy (W.E.) Owen, Graham Hogg, Les Cureton, Johnny Sockett (clerk).

A rare photo of the 1938/89 team:  Back row : W.Poyntz : J.Web : A.Hydes : W.Roberts : A.Ferguson : N.Low : T.Wood : L.Richards : R.Mogford : W.McCandless (Manager)

Front Row : A.Hickman : W.M.Owen : A.Derrick : H.Duggan : E.Brinton : L.Carr : W.E.Owen

Early September 1938, and Newport County open their home fixtures with a 3-0 win over Cardiff City in front of 18,892, a number of them on the roof of the stand. County had intended playing in amber shirts with three black hoops, but until mid-September the kit was black shirts with three amber hoops. County players, from left: Arthur Hickman, Albert Derrick, Arthur Hydes.

A panoramic view of Somerton Park in late 1938-39 taken from the greyhound judges' box. On the right of the stand are the  press-boxes for the (South Wales Argus and Western Mail)

The 1939/40 Season, An historic goal at Somerton Park as Arthur Hydes (bending) beats Southampton 'keeper Warhurst to score County's first-ever goal in Division Two. A month later, County were playing wartime friendlies before competing in a south-west regional league with their players now in civil defence activities.

Season 1946-47.    Turner : Oldham : Rawcliffe :  Wilcox, and Newall had been there at the start of the season. The other six were amongst numerous signings made in a vain to beat the drop.  From left,.  back row:    Frank Rawcliffe : Alf Newbold : Charlie Turner : George Oldham : Ralph Jones : Ray Wilcox; front row: Danny Newall : Idris Lewis : Billy Sneddon  EddieCarr : Bob Harper.

One of the greatest occasions in Newport County's history - their fifth-round FA Cup tie at Fratton Park on 12 February 1949 against the eventual Football League champions Portsmouth. County narrowly lost 3-2 after extra time in a tremendous game. Some 10,000 County fans cheered their side on.  Bobby Harper  scores a 15th-minute equaliser for County to make it 1-1.

The squad for Season 1951/52 : From left, back row: Albert Davies, Billy Lunn, Don Haines, Bill Stroud, Billy Molloy; middle row: Fred Stansfield (manager), George James, Hubert Evans, Harry Fearnley, Terry Pope, Ray Wilcox, Doug Hayward, Ray Lawrance (trainer/coach); front row: Cliff Birch, George Beattie, Reg Parker, Danny Newall (captain), Billy Shergold, Beriah Moore, Len Staples.

The 1953/54 Season and The Lucas Era begins, The new manager did not have far to come. Swansea Town and Wales inside-forward Bill Lucas and his wife Edith ran the Black Horse Inn some two hundred yards from Somerton Park. Bill was born a couple of streets from the ground, and, after playing for Wolves and Swindon, had joined Swansea in 1948. He trained with County at Somerton Park, and had taken over the Black Horse in 1951.

This was the Newport County line-up which played in the first eight games of 1956-57. From left, back row: Ray Wilcox, Pat Terry, Len Weare, Howard Sheppeard, Harry Harris, Tom Docherty; front row: Colin Hudson, Ken Hollyman, Alf Sherwood (captain), George Thomas, Gordon Brown.

The 1959/60 Season F.A.Cup 3rd round at Tottenham,  the Spurs centre-forward Bobby Smith KO's County 'keeper Len Weare early in the game. Spurs won 4-1, but Ken Hollyman had scored from 35 yards to make it 2-1 after 64 minutes. Ray Wilcox (right) was taken to hospital with 10 minutes left after dislocating his elbow, and Spurs scored twice in the closing stages.

This is how we play it,' says manager Bill Lucas before that Walsall game. It was to be Bill's last season of his first period with the club. He resigned at the end of 1960-61 due to falling support and general apathy surrounding the club. He would be back, but for the moment Newport County had come full-circle - from Lysaght's to Lucas.

1961/62 Season Ken McPherson attacks the home goal in a 2-0 defeat against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.  The 1962/63 Seasons FACup Match v QPR was played at The White City Stadium.

County fans enjoy the FACup 4th round match at Burnley on the 25th Jan 1964.

The Squad for the 1966/67 Season.   Back row from left. Dai Jones : John Bird : Alan Williams : Alan Wood : Keith Beswick : David Pugh : Graham Reynolds.   Front row : Jeff Thomas : Len Hill : John Rowland : Ken Morgan : David Williams.

An away days training at Barry Island for the County Squad in the late 1960's

Left : Len (Nobby) Hill, a County mainstay of the 60's and 70's.     Right : Manager Brian Harris signs a young John Relish from Chester later to become  Newport AFC's  first Manager.

Season 1972/73 Back row from left : R.Summerhayes : G.Coldrick : J.Macey : R.Jones  S.Aizlewood : A.White.   Front Row.  W.Brown : M.Sprague : B.Harris : D.Jones : L.Hill  W.Screen.

Season 1974/75 Back row from left : S.Aizlewood : R.Jones : R.Summerhayes : J.Macey  D.Payne : G.Coldrick : M.Hancock : W.Screen.     Front row : G.Rogers : W.Hooper P.Passey : B.Godfrey : A.White : W.Brown : J.Relish.

The Blue & White Season 1976/77 Back row from left. Bird (Trainer) : S.Lowndes : J.Relish  M.Dowler : R.Walker : B.Clark : G.Plumley : J.Singer :  S.Hodge : T.Villars : W.Emanuel  S.Derrett : W.Hopper : G.Bell : J.Scoular  (Manager) : E.Woods : A. White : M.Williams  J.Parsons.   

The County Team line up for the camera before the first leg of the Welsh Cup Final against Shrewsbury at Home. Season 1979/80. 

 Tommy Tynan scores the final goal to clinch promotion to Division 3 in Season 1979/80

A Civic ride through Newport to celebrate the promotion and Welsh Cup win. 1979/80

Tommy Tynan : Steve Lowndes : John Aldridge : Kevin Moore : Dave Gwyther : All Score against Haugar in the European Cup Winners Cup  Round 2 : 2nd leg at Somerton Park. 1980/81 Season.

County attack before a 18,000 crowd at Somerton Park in the European Cup Winners Cup Round 3 : 2nd leg, against Carl Zeiss Jena.   Season 1980/81.

1986/87 Back to Division 4.   Back row from left : M.Vinter : S.Berry : S.Martenborough  M.Kendall : R.Freestone : R.Carter : R.Gibbins : L.Jones.    Front  row : J.Bolton : D.Peacock  : J.Lewis : J.Mullen (Player Manager) : P.Jones : S.Mills : G.Staniforth.

1987/88 Down to Conference  Back row from left   : J.Lewis (Manager) : S.Hodson  R.Gibbins  (Player/Coach) : R.Thompson : A.Dillon : P.Williams : R.Collins : S.Tuplin K.Hamer : D.Williams. (Trainer)     Front row : P.Giles : D.Withers : G.Millett : S.Bignull R.Jones : A.Thackeray : S.Sherlock.

Glynne Millett in action during the last League Match v Rochdale at Somerton Park.

The Squad of 1988/89 the only  season in the Conference.  Back row from left :  S.Bennett  C.Banks : S.Sherlock : D.Peacock :T.Bird : P.Sanderson : P.Bignull : D.Abbruzzesse.   Front row : P.Williams : K.Andrews  F.Ford : G.Millett : R.Evans.  The Club was wound up on 27th Feb1989, and withdrew from the League.

Arial shot of Somerton Park taken during the last ever match played there.

 The new club Newport AFC was formed in June 1989

 We would like to thank Mr Tony Ambrosen for photographs reproduced from his book Amber in the Blood

Also Mr Richard Shepherd for photographs reproduced from his book Newport County 1912-1960

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