Newport County return to action this Saturday afternoon (3pm) as they welcome Gillingham to Rodney Parade for their Emirates FA Cup First Round clash.
The Exiles head into the fixture in fine form, following an impressive run of three consecutive away victories and clean sheets, including a commanding win at Harrogate Town. Having fallen to Gillingham earlier in the season at Rodney Parade, Dave Hughes’ side will be aiming to continue their momentum and gain revenge as they look to progress to the Second Round of the FA Cup.
Opponent Focus
Gillingham made a strong start to the League Two campaign under Gareth Ainsworth, going unbeaten until September 28, a run that included victory over Newport County. However, the recent absence of Ainsworth, who stepped back from his position to undergo heart surgery, has seen long-term assistant Richard Dobson take temporary charge.
Since then, the Gills have experienced a dip in form, losing their past two fixtures and going without a win in five. Saturday marks the start of their FA Cup journey, and like County last season, Gillingham faced a tough First Round draw in 2024, bowing out 2-0 to Blackpool.
The First Round provides both sides with a chance to move one step closer to that coveted Third Round tie, and with key players such as Bradley Dack, Sam Vokes, Jonny Williams and the return of former County loanee Seb Palmer-Houlden, Gillingham present a formidable test for Dave Hughes’ men at Rodney Parade.
Head-to-Head
Newport have a proud record against the Gills, with the first meeting between the two sides taking place in 1920, a Division Three (South) encounter that ended in a 1-0 win for Newport.
Across 87 meetings, County have claimed victory 41 times, suffered 27 defeats and shared the spoils on 17 occasions. Prior to last month’s 3-1 loss to Gillingham at Rodney Parade, the Exiles had enjoyed a dominant run of seven straight wins spanning six years. Hughes’ men will look to reignite that winning record when the sides meet again on Saturday.
Memorable Encounter
A standout meeting between the two clubs came on January 11, 1958, when the Ironsides ran riot in front of a 6,206 crowd at Somerton Park. A brace from centre forward Pat Terry and goals from John McSeveney, Gordon Brown and Harry Harris sealed a commanding 5-0 victory over Gillingham.
Newport went on to finish 11th in the final season of the Third Division South before the regional third tiers were merged into the national Third and Fourth Divisions. County’s mid-table finish secured their place in the new Third Division, while Gillingham were relegated after finishing 22nd.
Shared Shirts
Michael Flynn began his career with his hometown club Newport County, making 20 appearances before moving to Barry Town for the 2000/01 season, where he memorably scored in a 3-1 Champions League qualifying win over Portuguese giants FC Porto. In 2005, he joined Gillingham and became a key figure in midfield, making more than 100 appearances during his two years with the Kent side. Flynn later returned to Newport in 2012, again passing the 100-appearance mark for the Exiles before eventually returning to Rodney Parade as player-manager to begin his successful coaching career.
Frank Nouble has represented both clubs during his career. He arrived at Gillingham in 2016 from Chinese side Tianjin Songjiang, scoring five goals in just 14 appearances. The powerful forward moved to Newport County the following year, where he made 52 appearances and netted 10 goals, quickly becoming a fan favourite during his single season at Rodney Parade.
Seb Palmer-Houlden, who is set to feature for Gillingham this weekend, spent the 2023-24 season on loan with County from Bristol City. Palmer-Houlden scored nine goals in 40 appearances and played a key role in Newport’s memorable FA Cup run that ended with a Fourth Round tie against Manchester United.
