Newport County AFC
Newport County AFC are the amber-and-black Exiles of South Wales. Their story connects a club founded in 1912 with a supporter-led rebirth in 1989, a famous European adventure and a long journey back to the Football League.
From Somerton Park to the Football League
The original Newport County was founded in 1912 and became a founder member of the Football League’s Third Division in 1920. The club won the Third Division South title in 1938/39, earning promotion to the second tier, although the outbreak of the Second World War interrupted that chapter almost immediately.
Somerton Park served as County’s home until the original club went out of business in February 1989. Supporters formed Newport AFC a few months later, beginning a determined effort to protect the club’s identity and restore professional league football to the city.
The Exiles and the Road Back
The reformed club began life outside Newport and became known as the Exiles. After spells playing home fixtures in England, it returned to the city and adopted the Newport County AFC name in 1999, reconnecting the new organisation with the history of the original club.
County completed the long road back to the Football League in 2013. Managed by Justin Edinburgh, the Exiles defeated Wrexham 2–0 in the Conference Premier play-off final at Wembley, ending a 25-year absence from the League.
Welsh Cup Winners and European Quarter-Finalists
The 1979/80 season remains one of the greatest in Newport County history. The club earned promotion from the Fourth Division and won the Welsh Cup, beating Shrewsbury Town 5–1 on aggregate in the two-legged final.
That cup victory took County into the 1980/81 European Cup Winners’ Cup. The Ironsides reached the quarter-finals and drew 2–2 away to East German side Carl Zeiss Jena before a narrow 1–0 defeat at Somerton Park ended a celebrated European run.
Tommy Tynan
Rodney Parade
Newport County have played at Rodney Parade since 2012. Located close to the city centre and the River Usk, the historic multi-sport venue is shared with rugby and first opened in 1877.
Rodney Parade has staged many of the club’s defining modern moments, including the dramatic final-day victory that completed the 2016/17 “Great Escape” from relegation and memorable FA Cup ties against leading clubs.
Amber and Black
Amber and black are Newport County’s traditional colours. The familiar combination has appeared through amber shirts, black shorts, contrasting trim and occasional striped or hooped details, while away kits have explored a wider range of colours.
This FanFile covers Newport County as a club rather than one particular jersey. Check the crest, sponsor, manufacturer label and product code on your own shirt to identify its season and whether it belongs to the original County or the post-1989 era.
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