As Newport County prepare to face Colchester United on Saturday afternoon, we take a look at some familiar faces who have worn the colours of both clubs over the years.
Shawn McCoulsky
Shawn McCoulsky’s footballing journey began at Dulwich Hamlet, where his eye-catching performances quickly drew interest from several professional clubs. After trials with Millwall, West Ham United, and Southampton, it was Bristol City who secured his signature.
He made his senior debut for the Robins in an EFL Cup tie against Hull City but spent most of his early career on loan, gaining valuable experience with Weston-super-Mare, Torquay United, and Bath City. It was at Bath where he truly shone—netting eight goals in 14 games—paving the way for a move to Newport County.
At Newport, McCoulsky etched his name into club folklore during the 2017–18 FA Cup run, most notably scoring an 89th-minute winner against Leeds United in a thrilling 2–1 victory. He later had a loan spell at Southend United and brief stints with Forest Green Rovers, Bromley, and FC Halifax Town before joining Colchester United on a short-term deal.
Though his time at Colchester was brief—four appearances without a goal—he has since become a key figure at Maidenhead United, where he has tallied 22 goals in 115 appearances.
Ryan Inniss
Ryan Inniss, a former England youth international, came through the ranks at Crystal Palace and captained their youth side before turning professional in 2011. His senior development came largely through loan spells, including stops at Cheltenham, Gillingham, and Southend, among others.
He enjoyed a solid season at Colchester United during 2017–18, making 19 appearances and earning a place in the EFL Team of the Week for a commanding performance in a 1–0 win over Barnet.
Inniss later joined Newport County for the 2019–20 campaign, where he made an immediate impact. He kept a clean sheet on debut in a 2–0 win against Forest Green Rovers and scored his first goal for the club in a 2–1 victory over Bradford City—earning another Team of the Week nod.
Alex Gilbey
Born in Dagenham and raised in Colchester, Alex Gilbey is a product of the Colchester United academy, where he rose through the ranks to captain the youth team. He made his senior debut in 2012 in the Football League Trophy and went on to make over 100 appearances for the club.
In 2013, Gilbey joined Newport County on loan during a crucial period in the Exiles’ push for promotion. He made five appearances and played the full 90 minutes in the club’s historic 2–0 win over Wrexham in the Conference Premier play-off final, helping secure their return to the Football League.
After returning to Colchester, Gilbey became a mainstay in midfield and was named Player of the Year in 2015–16. His career has since taken him to Wigan Athletic, MK Dons, Charlton Athletic, and Stevenage. He’s currently enjoying a successful second spell at MK Dons, with 23 goals in 78 appearances.
Frank Nouble
Frank Nouble began his career at Chelsea before signing his first professional contract with West Ham United. During his early years, he racked up a host of loan spells—including stints at Swansea, Barnsley, and Charlton—before signing permanently for Ipswich Town.
He arrived at Newport County ahead of the 2017–18 season and made an immediate impact, scoring on his debut in a 3–3 draw with Stevenage. Nouble’s standout moment came in a 4–1 win over Chesterfield, where he bagged a hat-trick in just 13 minutes. He finished the season with nine goals in 45 appearances and played a key role in Newport’s FA Cup run.
In 2018, he joined Colchester United, scoring on his home debut and becoming a fan favourite. After a spell at Plymouth Argyle, Nouble returned to Colchester both on loan and later permanently.
Now at Gateshead in the National League, he has made three appearances to date.
Aaron Collins
Aaron Collins’ journey began with Bristol Rovers before joining Newport County’s youth setup. Initially overlooked for a scholarship, he took a job at McDonald’s before being offered a professional deal—thanks to the intervention of academy coach Michael Flynn.
Collins made 20 senior appearances for Newport, scoring twice, before earning a move to Wolverhampton Wanderers. He returned to Newport on loan in 2017 and later joined Colchester United on loan for the 2018–19 season, scoring once in 11 appearances before the spell was cut short.
Since departing Wolves, Collins has rebuilt his career impressively, with spells at Morecambe and Forest Green Rovers. Now at Bolton Wanderers, he is enjoying a standout season—scoring 18 goals and playing a vital role in the Trotters’ push for promotion to the Championship.
