Exeter City return to Devon nine unbeaten and next up, Newport County at SJP.
So ahead of the game, here's a chance to reaquaint ourselves with the Welsh side.
- Founded: 1912
- Nicknames: The Exiles
- Honours: Division 3 South (1938/39), Welsh FA Cup (1979/80), Conference South (2010/11)
- Home Kit: HUMMEL Amber shirts with Black trim, black shorts and amber socks.
- Away Kit: HUMMEL Light blue shirt with dark blue sleeves, light blue shorts and socks.
- Form: LWLWD (13th in League Two)
In 1912 Newport County were formed following a meeting at the Tredegar Arms Hotel as a replacement for the deformed Newport FC (1907).
The South Welsh city lies just off the Severn Estuary and is one of Exeter’s nearest League away trips this season. The City was founded after the Norman Invasion and in the height of the industrial revolution was Wales’ leading coal port. In 1963, Newport Rugby Club beat the touring New Zealand All Blacks. Newport was given city starts in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.
The first season as Newport County was in the second division of the Southern League. In 1920, Newport were elected as founding members of Division Three. In 1938/39 Billy McCandless guided the Welsh outfit to their only Football League honour as the Exiles won the Division 3 title.
In 1980 Newport beat Shrewsbury Town 5-1 on aggregate to win the Welsh Cup after seeing off Cardiff City and Wrexham en-route. This qualified Newport for the European Cup Winner’s Cup where they were edged out in the Quarter Final’s by East German side Carl Zeiss Jena.
Just seven years later Newport were relegated out of the Football League, and in 1989 went out of business all-together and from the ashes Newport AFC were born. Starting down in the Hellenic League they eventually gained promotion to the Conference in 2011 and beat Wrexham in an all-Welsh tie in the 2013 play-off final.
Not quite hitting the heights that earned them a play-off spot last season, Newport are currently in 13th ahead of the meeting on Saturday.
Manager
Currently, Newport are without a first team manager, due to Michael Flynn leaving his post last week.
Last League fixture
Newport County 0 Bradford City 0 | Rodney Parade | October 9, 2021
Stadium
- Name: Rodney Parade
- Capacity: 8,700 (7,850 for football)
- Year opened: 1877
- Record Attendance: 9,836 (vs Spurs, FA Cup Third Round 2018)
- Address: Rodney Road, Newport, South Wales, NP19 0UU
Owned by the Welsh Rugby Union, County moved into the multi-purpose Rodney Parade in 2012 and groundshare with Newport Gwent Dragons and Newport RFC.
The second oldest sports venue in the Football League (after Preston’s Deepdale), in the 1800’s the Parade was the Welsh Rugby home ground- and the stadium has hosted South Africa and New Zealand in Rugby Union matches early in the 20th Century.
In 2007 plans were drawn up and accepted to extend the stadium to 15,000 capacity though the capacity remains just under 9,000.
One To Watch
Alex Fisher
City’s ex-striker is finding his feet in South Wales after leaving SJP in the summer, already hitting the net for Newport.
Fish played 38 times here at Exeter with three notched, including last year’s goal of the season, with a 95th minute pearl of an equaliser against Southend United.
The journeyman began his career at Oxford and has travelled Europe throughout his time. He’s played in Spain, Italy, Scotland and now Wales. The 31-year-old opened his account for the Exiles with a strike against Tranmere in August.
Head-to-Head
It is even readings for Exeter City against all variations of Newport County. This will be the 127th meeting between the two clubs and almost 350 goals have been scored in that time.
Exeter City are unbeaten in the last four meetings. Like ourselves Newport are almost stumbling over the proverbial line making Saturday’s game the season defining moment for one of these teams.
Exeter City wins: 44
Draws: 38
Newport County wins: 45
Recent encounters
Exeter City 0 Newport County 0 | Sky Bet League Two | St James Park | April 24, 2021
Honours ended even as both play-off chasing sides cancelled each other out.
Newport County 1 Exeter City 1 | Sky Bet League Two | Rodney Parade | February 16, 2021
The 9-men Grecians showed proud resilience to pick up a point at Rodney Parade. Ryan Bowman netted and saw Red as Newport’s late equaliser stripped Exeter of a memorable victory.
Exeter City 1 Newport County 0 | Sky Bet League Two | St James Park | Boxing Day 2019
Lee Martin smashed home an early goal as Exeter claimed the Festive Cheer.
And Finally
Although most club’s chose to kick off Saturday games at 3pm, after floodlights were fitted at Somerton Park, Newport would start games at 3:15 to allow steelworkers to attend. It was only following relegation to the Conference in the mid-80’s that County switched to three o’clock kick offs.