As the Exiles prepare to travel to Crewe Alexandra on Saturday afternoon, we take a look back at our first-ever home and away win against the Railwaymen in years gone by.
History between the two clubs spans all the way back to 1962, however, with County on top in the overall head-to-head stakes, winning 16 of the 46 meetings between the two in all competitions.
The first-ever meeting between Newport County and Crewe Alexandra took place on October 6, 1962, a game which swung in County’s favour and sparked major headlines.
Taking place at Somerton Park, the former home of County, the two met in the first game of the new League Division Four season. The 1962–63 season was Newport County's first-ever season in the Football League Fourth Division following relegation from the Third Division the previous season.
In what was an impressive start to the new campaign, County ran out 5-1 winners with Ralph Hunt netting a hat-trick, followed by strikes from John Bird and Billy Herritty in a fantastic team performance.
Forward Hunt, who signed at the start of that campaign, was an iconic figure for County, going on to become the club's top goalscorer. In total, he scored 27 league goals in Division Four, finishing the season with 32 goals in all competitions.
During that debut league campaign, the club attracted an average home attendance at Somerton Park of more than 4,500 for their 35th competitive season in the Football League, while recording a season-high match attendance of 10,488 for a league match against Oldham Athletic.
Under the guidance of Billy Lucas (pictured below), County accumulated a total of 39 points from a possible 138 seeing themselves avoid relegation on goal difference against Chester. Away from league action, County reached the First Round of the FA Cup, the Third Round of the Football League Cup, and were Runner’s Up of the Welsh Cup after being edged out by Borough United in a two-legged final.
A FIRST AWAY WIN
The two clubs met regularly over the next ten seasons with County’s first away league win at Gresty Road coming on May 3, 1972.
After a fine finish to the 1971-72 season, Lucas’ side went on to win five of their last six matches in in the Football League Fourth Division, including a hard-fought 4-4 draw with Scunthorpe United at the Old Show Ground.
In a thrilling contest in the Northwest, a brace from Roddy Jones saw County triumph to a memorable 2-1 away victory in front of a crowd of 1,028. Jones, who made 323 appearances for County, celebrated just like the most devoted fans on the terraces every time he netted one of his 71 goals for the club.
Following a positive end to the campaign, strike partner, William Brown, finished the season as the club’s top goalscorer with 16 goals in all competitions. After joining County in August 1970 for a fee of £1,500, the forward became an icon figure at the club, scoring 50 goals in 168 league appearances.
Despite a 14th placed finish for County that season, the club would go on to have a memorable campaign the season after in 1972-73, finishing fifth and losing out on promotion simply by the narrowest of goal averages to Aldershot Town. A goal average of 1.455 compared to Aldershot’s 1.579 denied County promotion back to the Third Division.
