Newport County: The Exiles' Football League Return and a City's Pride

On a matchday afternoon, the streets near the River Usk fill with amber and black as supporters head for Rodney Parade. The scarves, the chatter and the smell of food from the stands tell you that Newport County AFC is playing at home. Behind that familiar routine lies one of the most determined comebacks in Welsh football.

Early Days and a Proud Heritage

Newport County was founded in 1912 and joined the Football League in the years after the First World War. For much of the twentieth century the club played at Somerton Park, a ground that was central to Newport football for generations.

The high point came in 1980, when the club won the Welsh Cup and qualified for European competition. In the following season's Cup Winners' Cup, County reached the quarter-finals before losing to Carl Zeiss Jena of East Germany. The run is still remembered with affection in the city.

Relegation, Collapse and a Fresh Start

The 1980s brought hardship. County lost its Football League place in 1988, and in 1989 the original club went out of business. For a city with such a long football tradition, it was a bitter blow.

Supporters did not let the story end there. A new club, Newport AFC, was formed and started again at the bottom of the non-league pyramid. Because Somerton Park was no longer available, the team had to play home games outside Newport, which gave rise to the nickname the Exiles. The name has stayed with the club ever since.

Rebuilding Step by Step

The years that followed were about patience rather than glory. The club worked its way up the non-league ladder, played for a time at Newport Stadium in Spytty, and restored the County name in 1999. Volunteers, local businesses and loyal fans kept the club going through lean seasons.

• 1989: the new club is formed after the original County folds.
• 1999: the name Newport County is restored.
• 2012: the team returns to Rodney Parade.
• 2013: promotion back to the Football League.

Wembley and the Return to the Football League

The return to Rodney Parade in 2012 brought the club back into the heart of the city. The next season, under manager Justin Edinburgh, County finished high enough in the Conference Premier to reach the play-offs.

In April 2013 the Exiles beat Wrexham 2–0 in the play-off final at Wembley, a result that