Newport AFC 1989-90

This page that looks back on Newport AFC's first season which was played in the Federated Homes League Premier Division though programmes and other memorabilia from that season 20 years ago!

With special thanks to Dave Smalldon for the photos

After Newport County went out of business in February 1989, a group of supporters lead by David Hando, a month or two later, at Lysaght's Institute, formed a new club Newport AFC. It seems the odds were stacked against us, refused permission by Newport Council to use Somerton Park- then the hammer blow of being refused to play in the English pyramid by the Welsh F.A. The idea looked dead in the water but of course there was a solution..........play 75 miles away at Moreton-In-Marsh!

THE CLUBHOUSE AT MORETON TOWN

LONDON ROAD

At a press conference on June 10th former County stalwart John Relish was appointed manager and soon began assembling a squad of mostly locally based players, on 5th August AFC played their first game a friendly at Kidlington where goals from Chris Lillygreen (2) Norman Parselle and Mike King saw us win 4-0. Further friendlies were played at Ellwood (1-1) then two matches in Newport, Caerleon (0-0) and Llanwern (won 3-2). On Saturday 19th August 1989 594 supporters, the vast majority from Newport gathered at London Road to witness AFC's first competitive match when Hereford based Pegasus Juniors were the visitors, a Norman Parselle goal was enough to win it as AFC started on a winning note.

AFC's team that day was Bird, Spink, Stanton, Rogers, Pratt, Parselle Vassello, Richards, Evans, Relish, Lilygreen Subs King, Nelson.

Hundreds of supporters paid £10 for shares as the AFC bandwagon gathered pace

A Season Ticket from London Road

Below is a fixture list from this first season, we certainly needed our maps in these pre sat-nav days to find places such as Kintbury, Shortwood and Wantage etc but what a great adventure it turned out to be!

AFC got off to a reasonable start and settled into Moreton quickly, however a clash of fixtures meant a home Welsh Cup tie was played at Gloucester City's Meadow Park (A taste of what was to come a couple of years later!), the opposition Brecon Corries were beaten 1-0.

One of the games supporters looked forward to was the "local derby" with Moreton Town, Moreton will never be forgotten in the history of AFC and it was very sad that some years later the club folded.

After that Brecon win in the Welsh Cup, AFC were drawn to play Cardiff City away at Ninian Park, supporters could not believe that a trip back to a football league ground had come so soon and nearly 1,000 fans made the short journey and a rare chance to see AFC play in Wales! The match ended 1-0 to City but AFC gave a very good account of themselves.

One of the best signings made during the season was David Jarvis a lad who as a youngster was connected to the old Newport County, in this picture below taken by Dave Smalldon Jarvo is seen in action against Sharpness at Moreton

Back in Newport there was a great debate going on as to the future of Somerton Park with polls conducted in the Argus as well as the local Lliswerry councillors' newsletter. Many letters were written by supporters to anyone who would listen! and a group of fans went to the Civic Centre to demonstrate at a Council meeting.

The AFC story was well covered by the media including Sky News, BBC Wales, ITV Wales, Staint & Greavsie, and magazines such as Shoot! (dated 10/3/90)....

...and The Mail On Sunday Non League Football Magazine (No.3)

It's interesting to look back now and see how the club communicated with it's fans (pre-Internet days of course) here below we see a Newport AFC News from December '89

Top scorer was Chris Lillygreen seen here slotting home a penalty at Wantage

On Boxing day AFC played another rare fixture in Wales when they travelled to meet Barry Town at Jenner Park in a friendly

During the season AFC's shirt sponsor AFG Newport pulled out of the deal, however another car dealers Newport Ford took over which meant these blue patches had to be sewn onto the players shirts!

After Christmas AFC put together a great run and won the championship on a never to be forgotten night on the 2nd May 1990 at Abingdon with a 3-1 win, goals of course from Lillygreen and Jarvis. 400 delighted supporters invaded the pitch at the final whistle Newport football was back!

AFC made good progress in the Federated Homes League Cup, here we see the programmes for the semi-finals and the final which is a story in itself!

In the semi played at Moreton we played.....Moreton! (goodness only knows who was in the home changing room!) after beating our landlords we played Abingdon United in the final at Almondsbury, in Bristol in front of a huge gate of 1,780 fans (95% of them from Newport) after a nervy 1-1 draw in which the highlight a female topless streaker from Abingdon, they refused to play the replay at Moreton, despite it being the chosen venue for any such match if needed, as it was also our ground, so the final was delayed until the start of the following season, we won the replay at Hounslow 1-0 with a goal by left back Robbie Painter.

During the season AFC played a few fund raising games in Newport as part of a charm offencive including games against The Orb, and these two matches (below) v The Gwent Select and a team of County All Stars at the Gleblands a venue that the Council had offered AFC at the being of the season.

The players who did it in that historic first season were...ALEX BEATTIE TONY BIRD RICHARD EVANS DEAN HERRITY DAVE JARVIS MIKE KING CHRIS LILLYGREEN PAUL MALLENDER ADAM MOORE ROB PAINTER NORMAN PARSELLE MIKE PRATT BRIAN PREECE JOHN RELISH DEAN RICHARDS KEVIN ROBERTS GRAHAM ROGERS STEVE ROWBERRY RICHARD SMITH GARY SPINK CHRIS STANTON A. THOMAS BARRY VASSELLO and RICHIE WILLIS.

After the final match of the season against Rayners Lane (see action pic above), AFC supporters took on a team from Moreton at London Road

Back Row L to R TONY SALTER MARTYN TALYOR ?? KEVYN WITCHARD ?? TERRY SHEEHY COLIN JONES

Front Row DAVE SMALLDON ?? ?? HYWEL LLOYD ALAN CORDING IAN BARTLETT

Can you fill in the missing names? If so e-mail me at chrisshingler2003@yahoo.co.uk

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