Newport County A.F.C.

1912–1988

Rise through the league

Newport County, originally nicknamed The Ironsides due to Newport being home to Lysaght's Orb Works steel works, started out in the Southern League in 1912 at Somerton Park. The official name of the club was The Newport & Monmouthshire County Association Football Club, although the shorter Newport County was soon adopted. The club were reformed in 1919 and were first elected to the Football League in 1920. They were not re-elected after the 1930–31 season but rejoined for 1932–33. After almost 20 years in the Third Division South, the club finally clinched promotion to the Second Division as champions in 1939 under manager Billy McCandless.

Second Division

Hopes were high that the championship-winning side could prosper in the Second Division, but only three games were played of the 1939–40 season due to the outbreak of World War II. Newport County managed a 1–1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur and a 3–1 win over Southampton, finishing joint ninth out of 22 in the abandoned season. The War League operated for the remainder of the 1939–40 season and County finished 10th in the South-West Division. After the war, the club reformed and competed in the temporary Football League South for the 1945–46 season. On the resumption of national league football for the 1946–47 season Newport resumed their place in the Second Division but the reshaped team suffered a host of defeats – including a joint Football League record…

League

Third Division South (level 3) Champions: 1938–39 Fourth Division (level 4) Promoted: 1979–80 Conference Premier (level 5) Play-off winners: 2013 Conference South (level 6) Champions: 2009–10 Southern League Midland Division Champions: 1994–95 Hellenic League Champions: 1989–90 Cup

FA Trophy Runners-up: 2011–12 Welsh Cup Winners: 1979–80 FAW Premier Cup Winners: 2007–08 Runners-up: 2002–03, 2006–07