As we take the trip to Salford City, let's take a look at some players who have played for both Newport County and the Ammies over the last few years.
Liam Shephard
Liam Shephard, who returned to the Exiles this season, has played for Salford and Newport for the last six seasons. The Welshman’s first stint at the club was in Newport’s 2021-21 season where Shephard was a key figure in the side featuring in 42 league games as well as three playoff games where the Exiles narrowly missed out on promotion after a 1-0 defeat to Barrow in the playoff final.
After his phenomenal season with County, Shephard joined Salford in which he spent the next four seasons at the club. During his time at the club, he faced further playoff defeat as Salford narrowly missed out on the 2022-23 playoff final after losing to Stockport on penalties. However, it wasn’t all misery for Shephard as the Ammies defeated Leeds in the 2023-24 season on penalties in the EFL Cup
However, at the start of this season Shephard returned to the Exiles for his second stint at the club in which he scored in first league game back at Newport in a 2-1 win against Crawley Town.
Tom King
Tom King who now plays for Everton as well as formerly playing for Wolves used to play for Newport and Salford. The Wales international first joined County in 2019 from League One side AFC Wimbledon and in his first season at the club kept 14 clean sheets in 35 appearances. Furthermore, King was the starting keeper in the playoff final against Morecambe in the 2020/21 season.
However, King is best known for his world record goal that he scored against Cheltenham with the score ending 1-1. To this day King still holds this record in which he scored from 96.01 meters away from goal.
The following season, the goalkeeper would join Salford in which he would also spend two seasons at the club where he would feature in 64 matches keeping 26 clean sheets as well as also playing alongside current County man Liam Shephard.
Shane McLoughlin
Shane McLoughlin first joined the Greater Manchester side in January 2023 after he signed from Morecambe. The Irishman would only feature eleven times that season with Newport picking him up in the Summer of 2023.
McLoughlin would become a key player for the next coming seasons for the Welsh side as he would feature 82 times in all competitions including the unforgettable FA Cup game against Manchester United in which he would play a full 90 minutes. During the 2023-24 FA Cup run McLoughlin would score three goals as well as getting two assists in six matches.
In his second and final season for the club he would go on and captain some of the league games that season in what was a critical season for Newport in staying in EFL football.
