Players Profile 1999-2000

header graphic

Player Profiles 1999/2000

Management Team
Goalkeepers
Defenders

Utility Players
Midfield
Forwards

No longer with Club

Management Team

Tim Harris	17.10.59 Appointed in the summer of 1997, Tim has an excellent track record and knowledge of, non-league football. A former goalkeeper, he obtained Herefordshire County Youth honours prior to joining Newport County's youth set up as well as having trials with Shrewsbury Town. He spent two years at Gloucester, nearly five years at Cheltenham and, after a short period with Redditch, returned as a player to help Cheltenham to the Southern League Championship in 1984-85. He was then assistant manager at both Gloucester City (2 seasons) and Alvechurch before being appointed Manager at Cinderford in 1990. He rapidly elevated Cinderford from Gloucestershire County League to Southern League status and took them to the second round of the F A Cup in 1995-96. The latter part of the 1996-97 season was spent as assistant at Gloucester City before accepting the post at Newport, where the Exiles have won promotion under his guidance

Chris Hyde	22.02.63 A prolific scorer in a non-league career that included spells at Worcester City, Gloucester City, and Abergavenny Thursdays, Chris spent five years at Cinderford as they rose quickly to the Southern League. He was assistant manager to Tim Harris at the Causeway and their successful partnership has been restored to excellent effect at Newport.

Goalkeepers

Andy Fisher
30.07.72 Having been capped by Welsh Schools at the oval ball game, a consequence of attending a rugby-only school, Andy saw the light whilst studying in Hampshire and joined Havant Town. He had two spells there as well as a period at Fareham before joining the Exiles in 1998.

He works as a DJ promoting house music events and his sporting career saw him established as Newport's first choice ' keeper from early 1999 and Andy was named Player's Player of the Year last season.

Pat Mountain
01.07.76 Pat was with Cardiff City through his school years before progressing through YTS and having two years as a professional making eight first team appearances for the Bluebirds. He has represented Wales at four age levels up to and including under 21 and has had European experience with Barry Town who he joined after leaving Ninian Park.

A fitness instructor, he had six months experience with Yeovil after leaving Barry, followed by a similar period at Gloucester immediately prior to joining Newport in the summer.

Steve Benton
Signed from Shortwood United a few days before the transfer deadline after earlier spending 4 successful years with Cheltenham Town for whom he made some 120 appearances.

Dave Hunt
11.01.79 Dave came to Newport in September 1997, having been released by Cardiff City with whom he was on YTS forms. He quickly established a regular place with his pace and anticipation attracting the attention of league clubs. He suffered a fractured jaw at Bilston in January 1999 and missed the remainder of last season

Gary Kemp
Signed in September 1999 from Gloucester City. He is a vastly experienced player who had spent eight years at Meadow Park, after joining from Almondsbury. Appeared in an FA Trophy semi-final while at Gloucester.

Gary Thorne
Signed im March - 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.

Utility Players

Jason Donovan
22.04.74 Midfield/Defender. A gritty, determined player, Jason learnt his footballing trade with Cardiff City where he moved on from YTS status to a full professional. He clocked up over a hundred appearances for Newport over a four year period before leaving the club in early 1997. He then had a brief spell at Ebbw Vale and returned to Newport soon after Tim Harris' appointment

Danny Hill
10.01.75 Utility. A tall, powerfully built defender who can also play in attack and midfield. He made himself an immediate hit by scoring in his first two games for Newport having signed in December 1997. He was formerly a player with Tim Harris at Cinderford Town where he attracted much attention.

Chris Bale
A member of the Newport Academy, 17 years ol midfielder who made his senior debut in January

Sean Chapple
Signed from conference club Forest Green Rovers in early September for a club record fee. Shaun has ten Welsh Under-21 international caps and has made over 100 Football League appearances for Swansea City. Joined the Martyrs in October 1997 before signing for Forest Green Rovers in December 1998.

Nathan Davies
Welsh Schools Under 18 International who made his senior debut against Atherstone in January, a member of the Newport Football Academy.

Mike Flynn
17.10.80 One of a group of youngsters who have broken through the club's youth ranks, Mike scored in initial substitute appearances in the Dr. Martens Midland Division last season as well as scoring on his full debut in January 1999. The captain of the Welsh Schools under 18 squad, Mike has had trials at several Football League clubs.

Darren Robison
19.05.71 An aircraft technician at RAF St. Athan, near Barry, Darren was signed from Trowbridge Town in 1998. He started his football career with Millbrook in the South Western League and continued to play in Cornwall with Falmouth Town and Truro City.
His career continued at Witney and Weston-super-Mare before joining Trowbridge in 1997.

Matt Rose
Signed in March 2000 - 22 years old he started out with his local club Cheltenham Town bnefore joining Cirencester Town and then Gloucester City.

Karl Bayliss
24.02.68 Scored a spectacular goal on his Exiles debut at Bashley in November 1997 after signing from Cinderford, with whom he had played for four years under Tim Harris. Bradley spent three years with Sharpness before joining Cinderford and also had a spell in New Zealand in 1995.

He won the Newport player of the year award in his first season with the club.

Lee Brown
24.12.76 Although born overseas, Lee was brought up in the South Wales valleys and attracted interest from Football League sides whilst playing locally for Cefn Fforest, Pengam and Fields Park/Pontllanfraith.

Lee joined Newport in time for the 1995-96 season and, despite having to overcome several injury setbacks, has managed a consistent scoring ratio of a goal every other game.

Carl Dale
29.04.66 A Welsh schoolboy and non-league international, Carl was on Schoolboy forms at Arsenal before starting his senior career at Conwy Utd. After spells with Rhyl, Bangor City and Chester City, he joined Cardiff City for £100,000. Winner of a Third Division Championship medal and two Welsh Cup Winners medals whilst at Cardiff, Carl then joined Yeovil for a short spell and signed for Newport in March 1999.

Jason Eaton
Scored the 1998 FA Trophy winning goal for Cheltenham and also helped the Whaddon Road club to two successive promotions, the second to the Football League. When he decided not to turn full time, Yeovil paid a fee of £15,000 for his services and the Somerset club's decision to go full time themselves led to his signing for County in March.

Garry Shephard
Signed in Feb 2000 - Welsh non league international, 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.

Left Club during 1999/00 season.

Nicky Brooks Midfield
Signed in November 1999 from Bath City for who he played over 250 times but then injured a knee and was out for nearly 18 months; he had earlier been playing for Brislington in the Screwfix Premier League

Dean Clarke

Midfield
S Spent three years at Hereford United, including one a s a contract professional in their Third Division days, before joining Cheltenham Town and playing regularly in a side which won promotion to the Conference as Southern League runners-up in 1997. He then joined Merthyr Tydfil and once again narrowly missed out on a Premier Division title award when the Martyrs were pipped by Forest Green in 1997-98. He joined Newport in September 1998, transferred back to Merthyr in Feb 2000.

Grantley Dicks

Defender
A summer 1998 signing by the Exiles, Grantley was a regular in Forest Green Rovers' title triumph the previous season. He has a strong pedigree having made 260 Conference appearances for Bath City. Brother of West Ham's Julian Dicks, Grantley started his career with Paulton Rovers. He left the club in November.

Chris Honor Defender/Midfield
A former AFC player, he was signed on loan in Feb 2000 from Forest Green Rovers for a period of one month

Danny Hunt

Defender/Midfield
Won schoolboy representative honours in the Bristol and Avon areas before joining Swindon Town on YTS straight from school in 1994. Was not taken on by the County Ground club and joined Newport AFC in the summer of 1997. Went to Clevedon in March 2000.

Scott Jackson

Defender
With Manchester United's age group teams before moving to Hereford, Scott spent a 2 year YTS period at Edgar Street and, after being released, had over two years with Kington in the Banks's Brewery League.
His abilities have brought trials with Shrewsbury and Scarborough and he joined Newport in the 1999 close season.

Roy Jordan

Forward
Roy was with Torquay United as a youngster and had trials with Yeovil, Bristol Rovers and Hereford before being taken on YTS at Edgar Street in 1995. He made his debut at Football League level and after turning professional, played for a year for Hereford in the Conference.
A plumber, he was previously on loan to Newport whilst at Hereford before playing for a short spell at Merthyr and joining Pegasus Juniors from whom he moved to Newport in the summer of 1999. Transferred to Gloucester City in March 2000

Phil Kelly

Midfield
Phil was with Cardiff City for two years on YTS arrangements before being released at the end of last season. A Welsh under 15 schools cap, Phil was a member of the under 16 squad that played in European competition in Poland.

Craig Lima

-Defender
Another dominant defender, Craig played for several years in the Welsh League for Cardiff Civil Service, Brecon, Taffs Well and Maesteg Park before helping Ebbw Vale qualify for Europe. He then made a big impression at Merthyr Tydfil before joing AFC in January 1999. Transferred back to Merthyr in Sep for record fee of £5000.

Andrew Mainwaring

Forward
Another player who joined the Exiles in the close season, Andy was on Everton's books as a schoolboy. He played for League of Wales clubs Inter Cardiff and Cwmbran Town, scoring no less than 64 goals in two seasons for the latter.
His scoring record continued after a move to Bromsgrove and, for the last season and a half prior to joining Newport, has been with Gloucester City. Went to Clevedon, first on loan and then as a permanent transfer in January 2000.

Darren Ryan

Midfield
Another player who joined the Exiles in the close season, Andy was on Everton's books as a schoolboy. He played for League of Wales clubs Inter Cardiff and Cwmbran Town, scoring no less than 64 goals in two seasons for the latter.
Signed on loan from Merthyr in Feb 2000 - 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. He returned to Merthyr in March.

Gary Smart

Midfield
A close season signing, Gary spent much of his early years in the Bristol area, making nearly thirty senior appearances for Bristol Rovers before joining Cheltenham Town.
Soon after, he had a spell at Wokingham Town and then moved to Bath City making almost 300 Conference appearances for the Twerton Park club. Most recently, his wealth of experience has guided Forest Green Rovers to the Southern and Premier Division titles in successive seasons and, last season, Gary played a major role in the Nailsworth club reaching the F A Trophy final.
Gary's arrival at Newport means an extension of the club's team management as he will be part of the coaching staff. Transferred to Gloucester City in March 2000

Bradley Thomas

Utility
Utility. Scored a spectacular goal on his Exiles debut at Bashley in November 1997 after signing from Cinderford, with whom he had played for four years under Tim Harris. Bradley spent three years with Sharpness before joining Cinderford and also had a spell in New Zealand in 1995.
He won the Newport player of the year award in his first season with the club. Released by the Club in Oct he played for a few weeks at County League level before signing for Forest Green Rovers