The Great Escape Starting XI
On 6th May 2017, County fans witnessed the finale of one of the most remarkable escapes in Football League History. Over 7,000 County fans crammed into Rodney Parade for their legendary victory against Notts County.
From stalwart defenders to County icons, here's the matchday squad who completed that remarkable Great Escape...
Starting XI
JOE DAY
Immediately following that famous day against Notts County, Joe Day was voted Player of the Season for the 2016/17 Season. A few weeks later, Day was one of the first players Michael Flynn signed up for the new campaign.
Day would go on to play a key role in Newport's successes in both the FA Cup and the league, and famously received the news of the birth of his children during County's cup victory against Middlesbrough.
He left the club in 2019, only to rejoin in 2021 and make 55 appearances across three years.
Altogether, Day wore the County goalkeeping shirt 266 times across three stints with the club.
DAVID PIPE
David Pipe had already played 100 times for Newport between 2011 and 2014, but was brought back on-loan from Eastleigh in January 2017.
He signed a permanent one-year deal for the club in the summer of 2017, saying, “It’s what dreams are made of, to play for your local club, eight miles from where you are born."
Pipe would eventually go on to retire in 2019, an unused substitute in Newport's League Two play-off defeat against Tranmere. However, he remains part of the club in his role as Kit Manager.
SCOT BENNETT
Scot Bennett played on the right-hand side of a back three in the final game of the season.
The Cornish defender had a year left on his deal at the end of the 2016-17 season, but would go on to become one of County's most beloved presences throughout the following years.
After briefly leaving the team during the COVID-19 pandemic, he returned in August 2020 and led the club to another play-off final, albeit a loss to Morecambe.
Bennett made 300 appearances with The Exiles, and is fondly remembered by those who saw him play during his near-decade of service.
MARK O’BRIEN
Mark O’Brien had not scored for Newport until that day in May. Arguably, he saved the club by scoring the winner.
Always a dynamic presence, with his dramatic beard and battling demeanour, O'Brien's goal in the 89th minute put County back in front after a tense second-half.
Unfortunately, the Irishman's career was cut short in 2020 due to cardiac issues, and he underwent a second heart surgery as a result.
However, O'Brien is a very familiar face to all those around the club in his role as Player Liaison Officer, and can often be seen around Rodney Parade willing The Exiles on during matchdays.
MICKEY DEMETRIOU
Mickey Demetriou played for County more than any other club, and embodied all the qualities of the 'never-say-die' attitude shown during the escape.
He was signed in January 2017 from Shrewsbury Town, and notched four goals - including one on the final day - to keep County in League Two.
Having been approached to play for Cyprus and spent a season with Spanish side Jerez Industrial earlier in his career, Demetriou would spend six years in the much more variable weather of Newport until leaving in 2023.
With 26 goals in 258 games, he is another player fondly looked upon as part of Newport's rise to success throughout his duration at Rodney Parade.
DAN BUTLER
Butler signed a two-year deal with County in 2016, and was one of the few players guaranteed to be playing for the Exiles in the 2017-18 Season.
Originally from the Isle of Wight, the County support took him to their hearts instantly - so much so that he was named PFA Community Player of the Year for the club in 2017, and then again in 2019.
Butler left to join Peterborough United in 2019, but made 129 appearances and became a solid presence in the backline for Newport for several seasons.
JOSS LABADIE (Captain)
Joss Labadie's return to the 2016-17 side coincided with Michael Flynn's first match in-charge. Labadie was made captain and scored an 89th minute winner against Crewe.
He had only joined at the beginning of the season, but soon became an integral part of the team, even picking up the 'Man of the Match' award for his performance in County's 1-1 draw with Tottenham in January 2018.
Part of the team who played in both play-off finals in 2019 and 2021, Labadie played 121 times for the Amber Army, more than any other side before or since.
He left Newport to join Walsall in June 2021.
TOM OWEN-EVANS
Tom Owen-Evans' first - and only - goal at County could not have been more important, a winner against promotion candidates Exeter City that April.
Owen-Evans was a product of the Academy at Newport, first joining in 2014 before being introduced to senior football by 2015.
Despite signing a two-year contract at the end of 2016-17, he struggled to find form the following campaign, and was loaned out to Truro City in February 2018.
He left the club that summer, and has since played for the likes of Falkirk, Hereford, Chippenham Town and Kidderminster Harriers.
MARK RANDALL - 🔁72' Rigg
Mark Randall left The Exiles in the summer of 2017 after only one season, but his role in survival cannot be understated.
After being left out by Graham Westley, Randall returned to the squad when Michael Flynn took over in March, and played in several games during the run-in.
Despite two appearances for Arsenal on his record, his only County goal came in an EFL Cup defeat against his hometown club Milton Keynes.
Having handed in a transfer request in order to move closer to his family, he secured a move to join former County boss Warren Feeney at Crawley Town in July 2017.
RYAN BIRD
Ryan Bird scored 6 goals in 19 games during this season.
Joining from Eastleigh that winter, the former electrician lit up County right from his debut, scoring in a pivotal 3-1 victory over Hartlepool United.
He left the club the following summer and joined National League team Dover Athletic. Since then, he has spent spells at Maidenhead United, his hometown side Slough Town, Windsor, and Bracknell Town.
LENELL JOHN-LEWIS - 🔁72' Jackson
After picking up an injury in a pre-season friendly, Lenell John-Lewis spent a season in the physio room. He made his first appearance of the 2016-17 campaign as a substitute away to Carlisle United.
John-Lewis joined on a two-year contract in May 2015, and scored three goals during his first campaign at the club.
He started the final match against Notts County ahead of Alex Samuel, who was ruled out through injury. He blitzed the Notts County defence and was brought down in the box in the first-half to earn County a crucial penalty.
After the 'Great Escape', Lenell John-Lewis opted not to renew his contract with Newport County AFC and instead took a step up to League One, signing for Shrewsbury Town.
Substitutions
AARON WILLIAMS - 🔁83' Owen-Evans
Aaron Williams had already played for eight teams by the time he joined Newport, and his experience gifted three goals in Newport's run for safety.
Signed in January 2017, the forward had been capped for England C two years earlier, and initially reunited with former Peterborough boss Graham Westley until his departure.
Williams officially left County in January 2018, joining Brackley Town on a permanent basis. However, he made his way back to Wales in 2021 by signing with Cymru Leagues side Newtown, and has represented Colwyn Bay and Aberystwyth Town as well.
MARLON JACKSON - 🔁72' Lenell John-Lewis
Marlon struggled with injury throughout the 2016-17 season, but was subbed on in the final match of the Season to great effect.
There were an agonising FOUR minutes of added time for County fans to suffer through, but Jackson's dogged maintaining of possession saw them over the line.
Jackson came from from Oxford City in July 2016, initially as a triallist but eventually signed permanently.
After being released in 2018, Jackson played for several teams in the south-west of England, including Weston-super-Mare, Gloucester City and Yate Town.
SEAN RIGG - 🔁72' Randall
Like Joss Labadie, Sean Rigg returned to fitness around the same time as Michael Flynn took charge in 2017.
His clever, darting runs, his forward passes, and no-nonsense tackling saw him play a crucial part in the 'Great Escape'. He also scored a vital goal in a 1-1 draw against Luton Town.
Despite his abilities on the pitch, Rigg left the club in February 2018 to pursue life-long dream of being a tattoo artist, though he did ink a deal with Bath City for a year afterwards.
50 appearances and six goals for the side mean that he has a permanent place in County's achievements that season.
Special Mention
ALEX SAMUEL
Had it not been for a hamstring injury picked up in the penultimate game of the Season, Alex Samuel would likely have been one of the first names on the team sheet for this famous game.
He'd proved a handful in every match he’d played for The Exiles and his effort and work rate made him a firm favourite amongst the County supporters.
Born in Neath, Samuel actually scored against County for Swansea City's U23 team earlier that season, but would make 18 appearances during the latter half of 2016-17.
He returned to Swansea City when his loan spell at County ended, spending time with Stevenage and Wycombe before moving to Scotland in 2021.