Player Profiles


Peter BEADLE	MANAGER	Born Lambeth 13/05/72
Peter made 344 Football League appearances, starting his career at Gillingham before spells at Tottenham Hotspur, Watford, both Bristol City and Rovers and latterly Barnet. This was followed by short periods at Team Bath as player/coach and at Clevedon Town as player/commercial manager before he was appointed as Taunton Town manager in early 2005. He was chosen as successor to John Cornforth as County manager in October 2005, and impressed as he helped turn the club’s form around.
		Adopted by Colin Everett


Scott YOUNG	Assistant Manager	Born Tonypandy 14-01-76
Scott was a popular figure during his 11 seasons at Cardiff City, especially for having scored the goal that defeated Leeds United in the 2001-02 FA Cup. A one-club man since graduating from the Ninian Park ranks, Scott made 277 league appearances for the Bluebirds, and was capped by Wales at under-21 and B international level. He had the briefest of spells as a County player at the start of the 2004-05 season and returned as assistant to manager Peter Beadle earlier this year when the pair masterminded the club’s tremendous end of season sequence.
		Adopted by The Programme Shop


Tony PENNOCK	GOALKEEPER	Born Swansea, 10/04/71
A Welsh non-league international keeper, Tony joined County from Carmarthen Town in October 2005, after two years with the Welsh Premier League club. Tony started his professional career at Stockport County but it was at Wigan Athletic that he made his league debut, making 10 league appearances before joining Hereford United in their Third Division days. He added a further 15 league games before spending six years at Yeovil Town. Tony then played five times in the league for Rushden & Diamonds before signing for Farnborough Town and playing at Arsenal in the FA Cup. A fully qualified coach, he works as a football development officer at the FAW and is goalkeeping coach at Swansea City.
		Adopted by Monday Night Group, Andy Hurst & Colin Everett


Mark OVENDALE	GOALKEEPER	Born 22/11/73
Signed in July from Tiverton Town to replace the injured Tony Pennock, Mark started with Wisbech Town before joining Northampton Town where he made his league debut. He later played regular first team football for both AFC Bournemouth and Luton Town after playing for Barry Town in European competition.
		Adopted by The Programme Shop


Jacob GILES	GOALKEEPER	Born Huddersfield 12/10/85
Jacob spent three years at Huddersfield Town, often being named as substitute keeper without making a first team appearance. He spent last season at Team Bath before joining County in the summer.
		Adopted by Bill & Angela Inson


Ian HILLIER	DEFENDER	Born Neath 26/12/79
Last season’s choice of both players and supporters as Player of the Year, Ian proved his defensive versatility by playing equally well at full back and as a central defender. A Welsh under-21 international, Ian began his professional career at Tottenham Hotspur before joining Luton Town and making 56 league appearances. He had a spell on loan at Chester City before joining County in the summer of 2005.
		Adopted by Amber Army Trust & Gwent Hospitals Fund


Steve JENKINS	DEFENDER	Born Merthyr 16/07/72
A vastly experienced full-back who returned to his Welsh roots in October 2006, Steve represented Wales at full international level 16 times. He established himself as a regular league player at Swansea City, moving to Huddersfield Town where he spent seven seasons and having a loan spell at Birmingham City. He briefly joined Cardiff City before short spells with Notts County and Peterborough United. Two seasons with Swindon Town took his career total of league appearances beyond 500 and he spent a short time at Worcester City this season before joining County.
		Adopted by The Programme Shop


Gareth MOUNCHER	DEFENDER	Born Cardiff 15-10-87
A graduate of the club’s youth academy, Gareth is a left back who had played three times in the first team prior to this season and is looking to make a further impact in the future.


Stewart EDWARDS	DEFENDER	Born Swansea 01/10/84
Stewart spent four seasons at Leeds United without making it to the first team ranks and, after being released in 2005 he spent most of last season in the Welsh Premier League with Llanelli. He did have a loan spell at County however and made enough impact in his 10 appearances to put him on Peter Beadle’s shopping list, resulting in his transfer in July 2006. He can play at centre half or full back.


John BROUGH	DEFENDER	Born Heanor 08/01/73
John proved a crucial signing when joining County from Aldershot Town in March 2006 and his organisational skills in central defence were vital in helping the club produce near promotion form to move away from the threat of relegation. John, who previously made well over 200 league appearances for Shrewsbury Town, Hereford United and Cheltenham Town, is now club captain.
		Adopted by Chris Blight, Hywel Rees & Andy Hurst


Damon SEARLE	DEFENDER	Born Cardiff 26/10/71
Capped by Wales at all levels up to B international, Damon is a left sided defender who joined County in July 2006 from Forest Green Rovers. He has played in 493 league games, almost half of which were with the club of his birth, the rest being in the colours of Stockport County, Carlisle United, Rochdale, Southend United and Chesterfield, while he was briefly with Hornchurch before their demise.
		Adopted by Jeff Challingsworth & Robert Sercombe


Paul COCHLIN	DEFENDER	Born Cardiff 23/08/83
Paul has played in senior football for Cardiff Civil Service, UWIC Inter Cardiff, Team Bath, Cwmbran Town and Merthy Tydfil. He also had a brief spell at Carmarthen Town for whom he played in the UEFA Cup last season before representing Great Britain in the World University Games. He joined County in December 2005 and played at both left back and centre half in the club’s outstanding run towards the end of season.
		Adopted by Paul Reeves


Nathan DAVIES	MIDFIELD	Born Pontypool 26/05/82
Nathan emerged from the club’s youth scheme into the first team and has been a midfield regular since making his league debut in County’s Southern League days in January 2000. He was a Welsh schoolboy international and has been a regular member of his country’s semi-professional international squad in each of the last five seasons. Only one player has played in more first team games for Newport County (Mark Two) and Nathan’s appearance tally topped 250 last season.
		Adopted by John Guy &The Programme Shop


Richard EVANS	MIDFIELD	Born Cardiff 19/06/83
Richard was with Birmingham City as a scholar but made his Football League debut after joining Sheffield Wednesday for whom he made 10 appearances, scoring once. He was with Shrewsbury Town last season, making another six league appearances before joining County in August 2006. Richard is the younger brother of Mark Evans who played for County in the 1990s.
		Adopted by David Laws & Family & The E.Mail list

Lee FOWLER

MIDFIELD

Born Cardiff 10/06/83

Lee, a Welsh youth and under 21 international, was signed in March 2007 on loan from Burton Albion after playing regular Conference football until January this year. He started his career at Coventry Cty and moved to Huddersfield Town before playing for Scarborough last season and joining Burton in the summer. His brother Mike, who is now with Salisbury City, is a former County player.


Ashley WILLIAMS	MIDFIELD	Born Newport 14/05/86
Another product of the club’s youth academy production line, Ashley is a powerful midfield player who can also operate at right back. He reached a century of first team appearances for County while still in his teens and he has been capped by Wales at schoolboy international level.
		Adopted by Colin Everett


Jason BOWEN	MIDFIELD	Born Merthyr 24/08/72
Signed in the summer of 2004, Jason has been capped twice by Wales in an illustrious career which started at Swansea City where he spent five seasons before moving to Birmingham City where he remained for a further three years. He had shorter spells at Southampton and Reading before returning to Wales where he spent five years with Cardiff City. Jason is one of the most skilful players in non-league football and he has played a total of 324 league games with 68 goals to show. Since joining County he had chipped in with 23 goals in 85 games to the end of last season.
		Adopted by Stewart Williams & The Amber Army Trust


Lee COLLIER	MIDFIELD	Born Bath 15/12/79
Originally with Torquay United, Lee was with Yeovil Town as a youth team player before playing for Bath City, Merthyr Tydfil and Chippenham Town. He spent last season at Paulton Rovers and, having impressed in pre-season games in 2006, has been added to Peter Beadle’s squad.
		Adopted by Courtybella Club


Kris LEEK	FORWARD	Born Newport 11/03/88
Another product of the club’s academy at Hartridge School, Kris is a hard-working winger or midfield player who has impressed when stepping up to senior level. He had made eight appearances up to end of last season.
		Adopted by Bill & Angela Inson


Tyrone TOPPAR	FORWARD	Born Cardiff 15/01/88
Tyrone is a Welsh schoolboy international who switched to the club’s youth academy last season after being associated with Cardiff City, and he has since attracted the attention of Premiership clubs. He made a considerable impact with his pace and direct style after being given his first team debut as a 17 year-old and his 12 senior appearances included his first goal.
		Adopted by Baramber


Sam O'SULLIVAN	FORWARD	Born Aberdare 14/07/86
Sam is another product of the club’s youth scheme and, by the end of last season, he had played 96 times in the first team and netted 10 goals. Sam had been on Cardiff City’s books as a schoolboy and has been capped by Wales as schoolboy international.
		Adopted in Memory of Roy Deakin


Craig HUGHES	FORWARD	Born Rhondda 18/12/78
Craig is an under-16 Welsh schools international who joined Coventry City in their Premiership days under a two year YTS arrangement with the option of a year's professional contract at its end. However he became homesick and negotiated his release. He joined Barry Town as a full-time professional and over the following years he has also played in the Welsh Premier League for Rhayader Town, Cwmbran Town, Port Talbot Town and Carmarthen Town, averaging better than a goal every other game. He joined County in November 2005 and topped the scoring charts with 11 goals in 29 games.
		Adopted by Vic Purnell


Julian ALSOP	FORWARD	Born Nuneaton 28/05/73
A powerful and vastly experienced striker Julian signed for County July 2006 from Forest Green Rovers for whom he had played in the last two seasons. He played on the non-league circuit in the Midlands for Nuneaton Borough, VS Rugby, Racing Club Warwick and Halesowen Town before a belated introduction to league football with Bristol Rovers at the age of 23. A year later he moved on to Swansea City where he spent three seasons followed by a similar spell at Cheltenham Town. He then spent a season at Oxford United, taking his league record to 60 goals from 269 games.
		Adopted by The Programme Shop & Beechwood Liberal Democrats


Charlie GRIFFIN	FORWARD	Born Bath 25/06/79
Charlie joined County on St Valentine’s Day 2007 looking to extend a prolific scoring career in league and non-league football. After being on schoolboy forms with Bristol Rovers, he played for Chippenham Town before signing for Swindon Town for £10,000 in 1999, playing in 28 league games before returning to Chippenham following spells at Yeovil on loan, Woking and Havant on loan. He has since spent two periods at Forest Green Rovers sandwiching a year at Wycombe Wanderers last season when he scored seven goals in 25 first team games.
		Adopted by The Programme Shop


Dean HOLDSWORTH	FORWARD	Born Walthamstow 08/11/68
Dean signed a short term deal with County in February 2007 to extend a career which began at Watford and in which he scored 205 league and cup goals in 622 appearances, and earned an England B international cap. He spent periods on loan for Carlisle United, Port Vale, Swansea City and Brentford before signing for the Griffin Park club and becoming a prolific scorer. Dean then spent five successful seasons at Wimbledon in their Premiership days before smashing Bolton Wanderers transfer record with a £3.5 million move to the Reebok Stadium. He has since played league football for Coventry City, Rushden & Diamonds and Derby County and in non-league for Havant & Waterlooville, Weymouth, Heybridge Swifts and Cambridge United.


Matt PROSSER	FORWARD	Born Newport 07/04/87
Matt is another to progress through the club’s youth academy and he holds the record of being the youngest player to score a first team goal - he was just 16 when he found the target in a Gwent Senior Cup tie. After 13 appearances as a substitute he was given his first start in last season’s final league game and celebrated with his third senior goal. Matt is a well built forward with a striker’s instinct.
		Adopted by The Programme Shop & Phil Gibson


Bobby MORRIS	BACKROOM ASSISTANT	Born Newport 01/08/55
A more-than-useful player in the Welsh League with Brecon in his earlier years, Bobby has also had experience of managing at that level with Llanwern and Newport YMCA. A Senior Technician in the weighing industry, he has proved a vital part of County’s training and match preparation team.


Tony GILBERT	Kit Manager	Born Newport 12/02/50
Far and away the longest serving member of the County backroom team, his experience of Newport senior football goes back to the Football League team in the 1970’s. A perpetually effervescent character, he is an Assistant Manager in the section of Newport City Council and responsible for the Newport Stadium playing surface, having extensive qualifications in Horticulture and Grounds.