Newport County continue their pre-season campaign as they travel to Meadow Park to face Gloucester City this Saturday (July 12).
County will look to continue their winning form as they aim for a third consecutive victory.
Chris Todd will face former Newport County assistant manager and interim manager Dafydd Williams.
The Opposition
At the end of last season, Gloucester finished in third place with 82 points, finishing 10 points behind first-placed Walton & Hersham. City proceeded to beat Poole Town 3-2 in the play-off semi-final before suffering a 5-1 defeat to Farnham in the final.
So far, Gloucester have played two pre-season friendlies, defeating Bristol Manor Farm 4-1 as well as recording a goalless draw against Tuffley Rovers.
The History
Gloucester City were officially formed in March 1883 but did not play their first game until February 1884, when they lost 3-1.
1939 saw the club find early success as they competed in the Southern Football League for the first time. By 1951, Gloucester had established themselves in the league and made three consecutive first-round appearances in the FA Cup.
City’s first piece of silverware arrived in 1956 as they won the Southern League Cup final against Yeovil Town. A tremendous comeback saw them lift their first trophy in the Southern League.
Gloucester moved into their current ground, Meadow Park, in 1986 and enjoyed further FA Cup success during the 1989-90 campaign. They defeated Mangotsfield United, Barry Town, Folkestone and Dorchester Town before losing to Cardiff City after a replay.
However, after a period of success, the club faced major difficulties as the River Severn burst its banks, causing Meadow Park to flood. Gloucester were unable to hold matches at their home ground, while some players were left unpaid.
After further flooding in 2007, City eventually bounced back and returned to Meadow Park in 2020 following 13 years away.
Since returning to Meadow Park, Gloucester have been relegated from the National League North but remain a strong side in the Southern League South as they look to challenge for promotion this season.
The Manager
Dafydd Williams is a familiar name to County fans after becoming interim manager for the final two games of the 2024-25 season, as well as serving as assistant manager to Nelson Jardim throughout the campaign.
Williams began his coaching career as assistant manager for Bristol Rovers Under-18s before becoming the Under-18s manager in 2021.
The Gloucester City manager has also gained experience as an assistant manager at Gloucester and Barry Town before his time at County.
Since being appointed as City manager last season, Williams has brought renewed optimism to Gloucester supporters as they look to challenge for promotion following last season’s disappointment.
Shared Shirts
Aaron Wildig joined Newport County in the summer of 2022 after departing Morecambe and enjoyed three seasons in South Wales. During his time with the club, Wildig featured in 90 games, scoring 12 goals and providing six assists.
The midfielder captained the side during the 2024-25 season before suffering a season-ending injury. He also featured in crucial fixtures against Brentford and Manchester United.
After leaving Newport County in 2025, Wildig joined Gloucester City, where he remained for the 2025-26 season while taking on a player-coach role and helping develop his teammates.
James Waite has also shared the shirt between both clubs and could face his former side on Saturday. The Welshman joined Newport County in 2022 and played alongside Wildig, making 93 appearances over three seasons while scoring seven goals and providing five assists.
Waite also featured against Manchester United and played the full match against Brentford before departing the club.
After spells with Weston-super-Mare and Eastleigh, Waite joined Gloucester City in March and is now preparing for his first full season with the club.
