Newport County AFC has teamed up with Matchbox, bringing together the club and the local padel and pickleball venue as part of a new partnership for the 2026-27 season.
As part of the partnership, the Newport County squad and coaching staff recently visited Matchbox, where they had the opportunity to try their hand at both padel and pickleball.
The visit gave the players and coaches the chance to experience something different away from the football pitch, with the group getting involved in a competitive session and putting their skills to the test.
The visit also provided an opportunity for players and coaches to experience Matchbox and learn more about the facilities on offer.
Speaking about the recent visit, a representative from Matchbox said: "It was brilliant having the Newport County players down at Matchbox. They completely filled the place and there was a great atmosphere throughout.
"It's always good seeing people try padel and pickleball for the first time, but it was particularly interesting watching professional athletes pick up new sports so quickly. They were competitive pretty much immediately!
"We loved having them here and we're looking forward to getting them back down again."
The partnership will provide opportunities for Newport County players, staff and supporters to experience padel and pickleball at Matchbox throughout the season.
Speaking about the partnership, a representative from Matchbox said: "We're really excited to be partnering with Newport County. We're a local business, they're our local professional football club, so being able to support the team while introducing more players, staff and supporters to padel and pickleball feels like a great partnership.
"We're looking forward to doing plenty together with County over the coming season."
The partnership forms part of Newport County's continued work with local businesses and organisations, creating opportunities for the club to connect with its community beyond the football pitch.
At its heart, the partnership brings together Newport County and Matchbox through a shared connection to Newport, while giving players, staff and supporters the opportunity to experience padel and pickleball.