NEWPORT COUNTY AFC v MANCHESTER UNITED UNDER 19'S Press Release (19th April)

Newport Stadium Wednesday 19th July KO 7:45 pm

Newport County AFC advise the following arrangements for the above match, which has already been the subject of ticket enquires from a large geographical area.
The ticket costs for both stand and terrace will be:-
Adults £6   Child/Senior Citizen £4
All stand tickets will be for unreserved seats.
Stand tickets will be issued on a first come, first served basis but all 2000-2001 season ticket holders will have until the Kings Lynn game on May 6th to order stand tickets but it is stressed that these will be for unreserved seats and not for their own seat number.
All applications will need to be made on a booking form that will be available at our forthcoming home matches with Merthyr on Easter Monday and King's Lynn on May 6th.
For security purposes, the actual match tickets will be posted approximately ten days prior to the game.
The Club Office will be open from 11am - 2:30pm Tuesday 2nd May to Friday 5th May and from 6pm - 8pm on two evenings, Tuesday 2nd May and Thursday 4th May, to deal with ticket applications and payment as well as season ticket renewal.
The booking application form can be obtained by forwarding a stamped addressed envelope to Newport County AFC, Newport Stadium, Langland Way, Spytty Park, Newport, South Wales, NP19 0PT.
Or follow the link below to print out a Reservation Form to send to the Club - then use the back button on your browser to return to this page.

Friendly against Manchester United (4th April)

Following the recent match between a Manchester United team and the Newport County Youth team a pre season friendly has now been arranged against the United club for Wednesday, 19th July.
The Manchester United Under 19 team will play a County team at Newport Stadium; the kick off time is still to be arranged.

Press Release - Striker signs from Yeovil (31st March)

Newport County AFC announce their second signing this week with the arrival of experienced striker Jason Eaton from Nationwide Conference Club Yeovil Town.
Jason scored the winning goal for Cheltenham in their 1998 FA Trophy victory at Wembley and also helped the Whaddon Road club to two successive promotions, the second seeing them reach the Football League.
When he decided not to turn full time with Cheltenham's entry into the League last summer, Yeovil paid a fee of £15,000 for his services and the Somerset club's decision to go full time themselves next season has led Jason to be available.
Manager Tim Harris, commenting on his latest signing, said "I hope that supporters see it as a move that is very significant for our intentions."
Newport County AFC Chairman John Williams commented "The excellent signing of Jason Eaton should be taken by everyone as continued proof of our confidence in the decision of Newport County Borough Council concerneing the upgrading of Newport Stadium".

Transfer news (28th March)

Stephen Benton has been signed from Shortwood United on a non contract basis till the end of the season. He was previously with Cheltenham Town where he played 120 games and was a member of their FA Trophy winning squad. A knee injury has meant he been out of football for a short period but since Christmas has been playing in the Hellenic League for Shortwood - he is 26 years old and can play as left back or left midfield.

Transfer news (21st March)

Gary Smart has been transferred to Gloucester City and Danny Hunt to Clevedon Town.
Due to the looming transfer deadline 2 players have been signed on Southern League forms; Gareth Wesson, ex County youth player, Plymouth Argyle and Merthyr Tydfil has signed as cover for Pat Mountain due to Andy Fisher staying on loan at Yate until the end of the season plus Ryan Dorrian, a current youth team player.

Players leaving County (6th March)

Roy Jordan has transferred to Gloucester City as a permanent move and Karl Bayliss has gone to the same club on a loan transfer which last until to the end of the season.
Danny Hunt is in the process of talks with Clevedon Town regarding a transfer to the West Country club.

New signings (3rd March)

The signing of Gary Thorne has now been completed, in addition striker/midfield player Matt Rose was also signed last night from Gloucester and, subject to international clearance, he will be in the squad for the match away to Dorchester.

Press Release - new signing (1st March)

Newport County AFC are pleased to announce that Gloucester City central defender, Gary Thorne, has agreed to join us and the relevant formalities are likely to be concluded within the next 24 hours.
22 year old Gary has played 205 games for Gloucester, a tremendous amount of experience for someone of his age. He was previously with Swindon Town and has had further trails with the County Ground club whilst with Gloucester.
Our new signing was available due to the current financial difficulties at Gloucester who were requiring a £10,000 fee for him just four or five months ago.
He is ambitious to return to the Football League and he will strengthen our push for further progress next season. He is looking forward to resuming his partnership with former Gloucester colleague Gary Kemp, who joined us last September.

Loan signing (12th Feb)

Chris Honor has been signed on loan from Forest Green Rovers for a period of one month.

Press release - new signings (11th Feb)

The club announce a transfer deal with Merthyr Tydfil involving three players.
County midfielder Dean Clarke is joining the Martyrs with County receiving a fee of £3000 plus two players, striker Garry Shephard and midfielder Darren Ryan. Darren Ryan joins initially on loan but with a view to a permanent transfer.
Garry Shephard, 22 years of age, was with Ton Pentre before joining Merthyr, for whom he was one of the Penydarren club's leading scorers last season. He had been the subject of a substantial County transfer bid some time ago that was rejected by the administrators then supervising matters at Merthyr.
Darren Ryan is a left sided midfield player, 27 years old, who has been with Shrewsbury, Chester, Stockport and Barry and scored against us in our 5-2 win at Merthyr on December 27th.
It is also likely that, in view of the club's current injury worries, a further loan signing may be made in time for tomorrow's home match with Grantham Town.

Mainwaring to move (28th Jan)

Andy Mainwaring, who has been on loan with Clevedon Town, is set to make the move permanent and the transfer is currently being processed.

Press Release (13th Jan)

The Club have today issued the following press release:-
NEW DIRECTOR APPOINTED
The club are delighted to announce the appointment to the board of Newport County Halesowen-based businessman Glenn Grove, 47 year old Glenn, married with one son, has been the owner of a Midlands packaging company for the last 14 years.
A keen musician, Glenn specialises on the trumpet and, in the late sixties, attended Bromsgrove Teacher Training College where Wizard lead singer Roy Wood was a fellow student. Later, Glenn played at the Royal Albert Hall and then played with Steve King's big band at Ronnie Scott's famous London Jazz Club, as well as making radio recordings and four albums.
He then became a buyer in the packaging industry and this knowledge and experience he acquired led to his establishment of Frankley Packaging in 1985.
Glenn's appointment will further enhance the board's business acumen as the club continues the progress, both on and off the field, made in the last twelve months.

LEE BROWN

Following Lee's guest appearance for League of Ireland club Shelbourne, in which he impressed whilst facing the full first team of F A Carling Premiership club Middlesbrough, Shelbourne made an offer to take Lee on a 10-12 week loan period with a view to a permanent transfer.
However, this lengthy loan period suggested by the League of Ireland Club was in no way acceptable to either ourselves or the player. In any event, Shelbourne's valuation of Lee did not meet our valuation.

Lee Brown plays against Middlesbrough (10th Jan)

NEWPORT County striker Lee Brown played against Gazza and Brazilian star Juninho last night in a possible move from the club.
Brown today guested for Irish side Shelbourne, who took on Premiership club Middlesbrough in a celebrity game in Dublin. He was accompanied to Ireland by assistant-manager Chris Hyde and Lee played for just over an hour against the full Premiership side.

Andy Mainwaring (Dec)

Andy who was placed on the transfer earlier in the month has gone on loan to Clevedon Town.

Ground grading (17th Nov)

The following Press Release has today been issued by the club:-
Following an inspection on our ground on 5th October 1999 by 2 representatives of the Nationwide Conference, a report has now been received.
Two options were presented by the club, those of, effectively, a 2 sided ground or a 3 sided ground but they have both been refused whilst a third option, involving development at the cricket pitch end of the ground was totally unacceptable due to the viewing difficulties and restrictions at that end of the ground.
The Conference, which in its report considers the present Stadium layout as "a purpose built athletics stadium with football played on the central grassed area", has to be mindful of its responsibilities to its members in being able to upgrade their stadia to Football League requirements within 12 months so as to allow further promotion. Those Football League requirements require a football-orientated stadium currently involving a minimum capacity of 6000.
A letter has been sent to Newport County Borough Council requesting a meeting with members to ascertain what money is available to enable Newport stadium to be upgraded or, as an alternative, what else could be offered.
It seems obvious to the Board that the work needed will not be completed by the deadline date of 1st April 2000 particularly bearing in mind that the planning permission for the new Directors and Sponsors boxes, the application for which was submitted in August, has not yet been received.
Manager Tim Harris said "In the last 12 months, I have nothing but admiration for the hard work and achievement of the current Board of Directors and I am extremely disappointed for them with the outcome of the discussions that have been held with respect to Conference grading and the facilities currently available".
"I am doubly determined with my own personal ambitions, to take this as a setback - no matter how major it may be - and assist the club, the supporters and the whole of Newport in achieving their aim of regaining Football League status".

New signings (11th Nov)

Newport have this week made two new signings:-

vastly-experienced former Bath City player Nicky Brooks, a six-foot, central midfielder has ben signed on laon for one month. He played over 250 times for Bath but then injured a knee and was out for nearly 18 months; he has recently been playing for Brislington in the Screwfix Premier League.
Kris Lewis has been signed from Cinderford Town, he is a left-sided midfielder, but he is currently the Dr Martens League Western Divisions top goalscorer.

Flynn and Mountain have trials (10th Nov)

Two County players are to have trials with English League clubs next week, Mike Flynn with Nottingham Forest and Pat Mountain with York City.

Grantley Dicks leaves the Club (5th Nov)

Dicks, the club captain, has left the club and Gary Kemp has taken over as captain.
Roy Jordan has been placed on the transfer list

Fixture changes (21st Oct)

Due to the Rugby World Cup and the England v Scotland Euro 2000 qualifier the following fixture changes have been made:-

30th Oct Halesowen at home - kick off time brought forward to 12:15pm

12th Nov Gloucester City away - match brought forward to Friday evening, kick off 7:45pm

Bradley Thomas released (14th Oct)

Tim Harris has this week released Bradley Thomas, he had been associated with Tim for over 6 years at Cinderford and Newport - with recent transfers and the numbers of injuries receding it was felt the Club had as large a squad as they needed. The Club and supporters wish Bradley, a very popular player, well for the future.

Gary Kemp sign from Tigers (21st Sep)

The club announce the signing, on Monday evening, of Gloucester City central defender Gary Kemp. 30 year old Gary has been at Gloucester for 8 years after signing for the Tigers from Almondsbury.
He was made available by the Meadow Park club, who are currently having financial problems, and, whilst not signed in time to play at Wimborne tonight, is likely subject to international clearance being finalised, to be available for Saturday's Dr Martens League game at Kings Lynn.
Manager Tim Harris commenting on his latest capture, said "Gary is vastly experienced and an absolute winner. He will give us the experience we lack at the centre of defence and I feel his signing will be a major plus, not just for the club but for the younger players who can hopefully learn from his undoubted pedigree. I am personally delighted, having known him for a number of years."

Record transfer fee received (10th Sep)

Craig Lima has today joined Merthyr Tydfil for a Newport record transfer fee receipt of £ 5,000.
The deal follows several renewed and increased offers from Merthyr.
Tim Harris said "All of our central defenders are ball players and the deal could enable us to look at a technically different type of player to complement that area of the team. In addition, as has been seen in recent games, we have adequate cover in that position".
John Williams commented "We were under no pressure to sell but it represents good business for Newport County AFC, the club having paid a nominal fee for the player originally".

New signing from Forest Green Rovers (1st Sep)

Tim Harris this evening signed Forest Green Rovers midfielder, Shaun Chapple, with a transfer fee of £5,000 this is Newport's record signing.
Chapple, who is 26, played 107 games for Swansea City before moving to Rovers via a brief stop off at Merthyr, he has been capped at Under 21 level.

Kington 3-2 Newport County (1st Sep)

This friendly match was played as part of the arrangements for Scott Jackson (Kington's leading goal scorer last season) signing for County. It gave an opportunity for squad players to play in a match and Beckett and Thomas from the Youth team also played.
Bradley Thomas gave County the lead, Hibberd (who played for County in pre season friendlies) scored two and King one goal to give Kington a two goal lead before Mainwaring scored towards the end of the match to make it 3-2.
Kington play in the Banks West Midland League.

Hyde resigns (28th Aug)

Chris Hyde has resigned as Assistant Manager and this post is currently vacant.

Pre - Season Friendlies
 

17th July	Viney St Swithhins	A		7-0
21st July	Stoke City	H		1-2
23rd July	Llanhilleth	A	Chris Townsend's club	5-0
24th July	Caldicot Town	A		5-1
27th July	Hereford	A	Herefordshire Senior Cup Final	1-0
30th July	Caerleon	A		5-0
31st July	Haverfordwest County	A		1-2
2nd August	Swansea City	H		1-0
4th August	Birmingham City XI	H		4-0
7th August	Redditch Utd	A		0-2