Newport County’s new head of goalkeeping, Lee Kendall, is relishing the opportunity of continuing his father's legacy after joining the club where his love for football first began.
Born just a mile from the stadium, football and Newport County have always been a part of Kendall’s life. But the connection runs deeper than just geography.
His earliest memories of the game are tied to watching his father pull on a County shirt at the old Somerton Park—a place steeped in history and sentiment for the family.
“I’m absolutely delighted to be joining Newport County,” Kendall said. “It’s a club that’s always been very close to my heart. My love for football really began watching my dad play at Somerton Park. My first ever game in fact was watching him play there - and being the club mascot for the day.’’
Lee’s father, Mark, who sadly past away in 2008, made over 250 league appearances for County, representing the club through some of its most significant and turbulent times—including two separate spells during the club’s exile in Gloucester. Even after hanging up his boots and training to become a police officer, he returned to help the club once again.
“He’s been part of some incredible moments at the club and also some really tough ones,” he added. “His dedication left a mark on me. Even when his playing career ended, he came back to help. That says everything about what this club means to us as a family.”
Those memories are stitched into every corner of County folklore - from the old ground and the speedway track that surrounded it, to Paddy’s Bar across the road and the gym Kendall junior grew up peering into.
“My dad used to take me to the gym and we used to play there during the school holidays. It’s where my journey started, and those moments are still very vivid. Newport is in my blood,” he said. “A lot of my friends are County fans. They live just a few miles from here, so this move really does feel like coming home.”
The emotional pull of the club made the decision to return an easy one when the call came from manager David Hughes and chairman Huw Jenkins.
“It was a total no-brainer,” he added. “As soon as Huw got in touch and we sat down to talk, everything clicked. It just made sense.”
Kendall also spoke warmly about the many familiar faces still connected to the club, including Dai Will, a long-serving physio and kit man who worked with his father and later became a colleague at the FAW.
“There are so many people I’ve known for years, people who’ve shaped the club. It’s hard to name them all, but that community feeling is what makes Newport County so special.
“There are just so many people connected to the club who mean a lot to me. I was just talking the other day about Dai Will - he was the physio and kit man when my dad was here.
“I ended up working with him at the Welsh FA. There are too many names to mention, really, but the club is full of people and memories like that."
As well as his strong family connection to the club, he also shares close ties with the new management team. He previously played alongside Hughes at under-21 level for Wales and came up against Hatswell several times in the opposing dugout during his spells at Fleetwood and Stevenage.
“We go back a long way - me and Dave,” he recalled. “We played together for Wales at the U21 level and Cardiff City, and we've maintained a strong relationship ever since. Over the years, we've kept in touch, and it's been great to see the path he's taken in the game.
“He's someone with a wealth of experience at some big clubs, and now, having the opportunity to manage and apply all that knowledge, he's in a great position to lead Newport going forward.
“His focus is on developing the team every day, and I'm genuinely excited to be working alongside him in a coaching capacity.
“Dave has put in a huge amount of effort into his personal development to prepare for this kind of role. I think that, with the coaching staff we have in place, we form a strong group that can support one another and drive the club in the right direction
“Wayne is also a fantastic addition. He's a guy who knows the club inside out and has a lot of success here already. I've come up against him a few times as a coach and I would say he is one of the best coaches in the division regarding how he is technically, tactically and his organisation of teams.
“I’m looking forward to finally working with him this time around for what is an exciting new chapter for the football club.”