As Newport County get set to lock horns with Salford City, we take a closer look at the Ammies.
What’s their story?

Founded in 1940 as Salford Central, Salford City’s early years were spent competing in local leagues. In 1963, the club made its first significant step forward by joining the Manchester League. A pivotal moment came in 1989 when the club rebranded as Salford City, signaling its growing ambitions.
A new era began in 2014 when Manchester United legends Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Paul Scholes, and David Beckham acquired a 10% stake each in the club. Their combined vision and investment accelerated Salford City's rise, culminating in promotion to the English Football League (EFL) in 2019, following a dominant 3-0 victory over AFC Fylde in the National League play-off final.
Salford’s momentum didn’t stop there. The following year, they secured their first major trophy by winning the EFL Trophy. In a dramatic final against Portsmouth, delayed by 11 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ammies triumphed on penalties to lift the silverware.
This season, Salford City have had a mixed start, earning two wins, three draws, and two losses from their opening seven games, placing them 16th in League Two with nine points.
Who’s the boss?

Salford City’s manager, Karl Robinson, was appointed in January 2024. Born in Rainhill, Merseyside, Robinson had a long playing career in non-league football, featuring for clubs such as Bamber Bridge, Marine, and Warrington Town, with stints in the League of Wales at Caernarfon Town and Rhyl. Initially a "big, powerful" striker, Robinson later transitioned to midfield as his playing days wound down.
Robinson’s managerial career began remarkably early, at just 29 years old, when he took charge of Milton Keynes Dons. Over six years at the club, he led them to promotion to the Championship in 2015. After a brief spell with Charlton Athletic, Robinson spent five years at Oxford United, guiding them to two play-off campaigns and earning a reputation as a tactically astute manager. Now at Salford City, Robinson brings a wealth of experience and ambition, aiming to guide the Ammies toward greater success.
Who’s the captain?

Jamaican international Curtis Tilt captains Salford City. At 33, Tilt has vast experience, with much of his career spent in the lower leagues of English football. He started at Gornal Athletic in 2012 and worked his way through clubs like Tipton Town, Halesowen Town, and AFC Telford United before making a breakthrough at Wrexham in 2016, where he made 36 appearances.
After a brief spell at Forest Green Rovers, Tilt established himself at Blackpool, where he became a key defensive figure over three seasons, making 111 appearances. He then joined Rotherham United for the 2020-21 season, but after limited opportunities, Tilt had three loan stints at Wigan Athletic before signing permanently for the Latics. In 2023, he moved to Salford City and has since become an integral part of the team.
Key Players

A key player for Salford City is their top scorer, Cole Stockton. The experienced forward, who joined from Burton Albion in the summer, has had an impressive career journey. Having overcome a serious battle with septicaemia, Stockton began his footballing career at Tranmere Rovers. His senior debut came on loan at Vauxhall Motors during the 2011–12 season, before he turned professional at Tranmere in April 2012.
Over the years, Stockton has gained valuable experience with a number of loan spells. In 2015–16, he spent time at Southport and Morecambe, and the following season, he rejoined Morecambe for the first half of the 2016–17 campaign. He later returned to Tranmere, where he helped the club reach the play-off final, although they were beaten by Forest Green Rovers.
In 2017, Stockton made the move from the National League to the Scottish Premiership, signing with Heart of Midlothian. However, his time in Scotland was short-lived, and he returned to England, joining Carlisle United in January 2018. After a brief stint at Carlisle, Stockton rejoined Tranmere Rovers, before heading out on loan to Wrexham for the second half of the 2018–19 season.
He made a permanent return to Morecambe in June 2019, where his career truly flourished. In the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons, he scored six and 15 goals respectively. However, it was the 2021–22 campaign where Stockton truly made his mark, netting 26 goals in 50 appearances. This remarkable tally earned him two successive League One Player of the Month awards, Goal of the Month accolades, and a well-deserved place in the PFA Team of the Year.
Now a key figure for Salford, Stockton's experience, leadership, and goal-scoring ability are invaluable to the team.