MANAGER

 Born Whitley Bay 07/10/67

Appointed on 27th September in succession to Peter Nicholas, John played for Sunderland (1985-90), Swansea City (1990- 96), Birmingham City (1996- 97), Wycombe Wanderers (1997-2000) and Cardiff City (2000-01), and was capped twice for Wales (against Bulgaria and Georgia). John, who had a successful spell as Exeter City manager (2001-02) before upheaval in the boardroom led to his untimely dismissal, carries respect within the footballing community and is known for his dedication, honesty and mental toughness. He is qualified to UEFA A coaching standard.               County Gallery on John Cornforth

GOALKEEPER

Born  Newport 08/09/85 

A product of Countys Academy, he made a number of appearances late in the 2003-2004 season and , after spending some time with Welsh league team Caldicot, returned to the first team to cover Roger Freestone.

County Gallery on Andrew Delve

GOALKEEPER

Born  02/10/81 

Signed in March from Willenhall Town where he was in his third season, having progressed from the reserves. A former Plymouth Argyle YTS player who attracted several league scouts and, during 2001/02 season, had trials with Northampton Town, QPR and Bradford City.

DEFENDER

Born  Newport 01/09/85 

Signed a contract with the club just prior to the season, thus becoming the latest product of County’s Academy to reach the first team squad. One of a quartet of young players from the club who were capped by Welsh Schools  last season, Neil was with Bristol Rovers as a schoolboy for eighteen months prior to joining County’s Academy.

DEFENDER

Born  Newport 11/10/82 

A product of the successful Newport Football Academy, Andrew has made great strides in his career and was deservedly rewarded with Welsh semi-professional caps at the end of the 2003-2003 season. He has made over 150 senior appearances for the club, being able to play either in central defence or full back. Unfortunately, a serious injury has deprived him of a place for the second half of last season but he has fought back to fitness for the new campaign.

DEFENDER

Born  Sheffield 07/10/65

Signed on a non-contract basis in March, Jeff was a regular member of County’s defence prior to his summer 2004 release, following which he has been with Merthyr Tydfil. Originally, this vastly experienced player joined the club having spent five years with Nationwide League neighbours Cardiff City. His career has seen him play well over 500 Football League games, commencing with Sheffield United before moving to Fulham and Stockport County.

DEFENDER

Born  Birmingham 17/09/81 

A vastly experienced early-February signing from Willenhall Town, Chris was thus reunited with manager John Cornforth for whom he was skipper at Exeter. Chris made 157 Football League appearances for the St. James Park side, his time there completing service with the trio of Devon clubs, having played a total of 182 matches between his times at Torquay United and Plymouth Argyle.

DEFENDER

Born  Newport 28/08/83 

Signed in February 2004, having been on loan to Forest Green Rovers for most of last season, following an earlier short loan spell with Cheltenham. He was also at The Lawns in 2003-2003, making 33 appearances in Forest Green colours.

DEFENDER

Born Colchester 22/03/75

Scott joined County in October 2003. He is a left sided central defender who was formerly with Barry Town, and subsequently played for Conference side Forest Green Rovers whom he joined in August. Twenty-eight-years old, Scott had European experience during his three-year stay at Jenner Park.

DEFENDER

Born  Aberdare 18/03/79 

Originally a pre-transfer deadline signing from Forest Green Rovers, Lee signed a contract with the club in the summer having made an excellent impression toward the end of last season. Lee is a Welsh non-league international who was formerly with Barry Town and can play in a variety of positions.

County Gallery on Lee Phillips

DEFENDER

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Matt was with Hereford’s youth and reserve teams before going to the USA for four years. He returned to this country in December 2003 and has been playing for Westfields, Wellington and, most recently, Malvern Town.

MIDFIELD

Born  Pontypool 26/05/82

Welsh non-league international matches have completed the last three seasons for Nathan, who is another product of the Newport Football Academy. Eight-times capped by Wales Schools under 18’s, he made his Dr. Martens debut in January 2000 and, by the end of last season had made over 150 first team appearances.

MIDFIELD

Born  Newport 14/05/86

Has just completed his time at County’s Academy. Ashley is a strong, livewire midfield player who made his first team debut last season, being rewarded with a club contract. Was in the Rest of the World squad that played England Schools at Villa Park in May, an accolade that followed his being capped for Welsh Schools a month earlier.

MIDFIELD

Born  Newport 21/02/86

A former Academy pupil who has represented Gwent and Wales schools, Tom was once on Cardiff City’s books and is currently taking a Sports Science degree at Swansea University.

MIDFIELD

Born  Merthyr 24/08/72

Another late July signing, Jason has two full Welsh international caps to his name as well as recognition at Schools, Youth and under 21-level. Jason has nearly 350 Football League appearances behind him, having spent five seasons at Swansea, three at Birmingham City and shorter spells at Southampton and Reading before moving to Cardiff City during the 1998-99 campaign.

County Gallery on Jason Bowen

MIDFIELD

Born  Tredegar 13/12/84

A central midfield player from Tredegar who played regularly for Welsh Schools, he forced himself into regular first team squad selection contention last season, and will look to consolidate his position in the squad.

MIDFIELD

Born  Reading 17/11/84

Antonio, 20, was originally here in December and played four league games and is again on loan from Swansea City. Born in Reading, Antonio joined Swansea on leaving school and, following a three-year YTS apprenticeship at the Vetch during which he made his Football League debut, embarked on a pro contract at the start of this season. 

MIDFIELD

Lloyd, 19, was recommended to the club by former County and AFC player Nigel Vaughan and has been with Shrewsbury Town on YTS arrangements.

MIDFIELD

Chris, just two weeks older than Lloyd, is a former England under-15 international who is understood likely to be turning professional with Swindon next season. He played for Swindon’s youth team against us here in the 31st January Football League Youth Alliance game that Swindon won 4-2.

ATTACK

Born  Aberdare 14/07/86

A prolific scorer with the Youth team over the last two seasons, Sam was once on Cardiff City’s books as a schoolboy and made his league debut in 2003-2004. He has already shown in first team action that he has a more than promising future. One of four County youngsters capped by Welsh Schools last April.

ATTACK

Born  Aberdare 22/10/85

Another player once on schoolboy forms at Cardiff, John is now a regular in the first team squad having graduated from the youth team. He has created quite an impression, including two goals at Worcester in November 2003. Was in the Rest of the World team that played England Schools at Villa Park in May, following his being capped for Welsh Schools a month earlier.

ATTACK

Born Wandsworth 21/02/71

Signed from Forest Green in January 2004 after an initial loan spell, Jamie was involved in two transfers totalling £750,000 earlier in his career in moves  from  Crystal Palace to Millwall and then to Watford.

He later played for two years at Crewe and also had three months with Belgian side Royal Antwerp before moving to Brighton, Colchester and Barry Town where he experienced European football.

ATTACK

Born Newport 27/08/83

Signed on loan from Chester City until the end of the season, Cortez had been with the Deva Stadium club since signing from Merthyr Tydfil at the start of the 2004/05 season.

He scored 44 goals in two seasons for the Martyrs, having had trials with Plymouth and County.

ATTACK

Born 14/09/82

Nick has been another March signing and played for most of the season with Gravesend & Northfleet. A former Bristol City youth player, he returned from a spell in Australia last September

ATTACK

Born 30/01/81

One of a trio of forwards signed by County in March, Justin was with Willenhall Town until January and was on the bench for our away game at Weymouth.

MIDFIELD

Born  Swansea 27/06/75

The third summer signing for County, Jonathan had, other than the briefest of spells with Cheltenham and Woking, been with Swansea City throughout his career. He made over 250 league appearances for the Vetch Field club, having come through their junior ranks, to be eventually capped by Wales at Youth, B and under 21 level.

ATTACK

Born Westminster 27/04/83

London born Carl was with Kingstonian as a junior for two years and subsequently spent a year in Irish football before signing for Brighton & Hove Albion in July 2003. He went on loan to Crawley in the 2003-2004 season and later had spells with Cambridge City and Fisher Athletic London. He signed for County in July having made his club debut against Bristol City in a pre season friendly.

County Gallery on Carl Wilson-Denis

MIDFIELD

Born  Tonypandy 14/01/76

County Gallery on Scott Young

MIDFIELD

Born  Carmarthen 

Signed from Merthyr Tydfil in the close season, having been a regular at Penydarren Park in Merthyr’s ultimately-unsuccessful quest for Conference football. 23-year-old Kevin started his career at Elland Road being on Leeds United’s books until he was 19, then moving to Ninian Park. He has since been with Merthyr for whom he played regularly in midfield last season in the Martyrs’ ultimately unsuccessful quest for Conference South status.

GOALKEEPER

Born Newport 19/08/68 

Signed in the summer from Swansea City having been a virtual ever-present throughout his thirteen seasons at the Vetch, he makes a return to Newport a full eighteen years after leaving the former Newport County for Chelsea. 

Capped by Wales at schools, youth, under 21 and full level, Roger spent five seasons at Stamford Bridge before moving to Swansea where he clocked up over 550 Football League appearances for the Swans.