The EXILE 11 - Newport County AFC v Colchester United

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Chairman: Gavin Foxall

Directors: Bob Herrin, Joe Crocker, Kevin Ward, Mark Crook, Mike Everett, Paul Marks, Peter Madigan, Shaun Johnson.

Sporting Director: Darren Kelly Honorary Club President: David Hando Manager: Graham Coughlan Assistant Manager: TBA First Team Coach: Jarred Harvey Goalkeeping Coach: James Hollman

Senior Physiotherapist: Ryan Harrison Analyst: Conor McGaharan

Man: Neil Leek General Manager:

Secretary:

Manager:

Manager:

Manager:

GRAHAM COUGHLAN

Firstly, I would like to say how delighted I am to be here as Manager of Newport County AFC and welcome to you all for what is my first game in charge of the football club today against Colchester United in League Two.

This has been an intense few days for myself as well as the football club but I was happy to get things sorted and finalised during the middle of the week so that I had time to prepare and focus on today’s game. I’m really looking forward to experiencing the Rodney Parade atmosphere from the home dugout and I am so excited to get started.

I am really looking to build on the connection between the club and its fans. This is a community club and I’ll certainly be looking to embody the club’s motto of ‘One Club, One County’. I want to build an energy around the club where opposing teams go back to fearing visiting Rodney Parade because they know what awaits them – a united club with ferocious intensity.

I am taking on a good squad with lots of quality and it’s my job to work hard to get the best out of my players and staff on a consistent basis. That is one of the reasons why I was so enthused about this role as there is quality here, what with the pitch, the fanbase and the facilities on offer here there is definitely the opportunity to build something really positive here and I’m really looking forward to the challenge ahead, although all of my focus at this stage is towards the next game.

Leading onto today, it will prove to be another competitive game against a team who have also recently appointed a new manager after having a difficult start to the season. As with any team in this league, Colchester have some good players and we will need to be focused on putting in a strong performance in order to come away with the result we want. On that note, I want to welcome Matt Bloomfield, the technical staff, directors, players and supporters from Colchester United and hope they have a safe journey to and from Rodney Parade.

Hopefully we can get a good atmosphere at Rodney Parade today and deliver a performance that gives you all something to feed off. The link between a team/club and its fans is symbiotic relationship where you can really affect the players on the pitch with the support you give and vice versa, if we perform how I know these players can, it can really give something for you to get behind and feel positive about. Let’s remember we are all in this together.

Enjoy the game and get behind the lads.

Graham

AMBER FROM THE ATTIC

A warm Rodney Parade welcometo all once again, and in particular our visitors from Essex today, Colchester United…

The programme we have re trieved from the dusty amber attic this afternoon is from a Division Four clash at Somerton Park some 49 years ago, and a repeat of the 1-0 home win the Ironsides gleaned back then will go down very nicely with the majority inside the ground today, I’m sure!

The six-pence-priced ‘Tangerine Topic’ boasts one of my favourite County programme covers from across the years and features two exciting action shots, as well as a great snap of our majestic Transporter Bridge. This issue is action-packed inside too, with 12 pages of news, views, stats, and a pleasing dollop of nostalgia served up too!

We start with ‘Topic Talk’ and it’s a most upbeat piece. It opens by suggesting if the last match of 1972 is anything to go by then “1973 is going to be an interesting year for us.

” That match was a 2-0 away win at Chester on Decem ber the30thand coupled with our 1-0 Boxing Day win over Reading, it had certainly proved a very happy festive period,even though Little Jimmy Osmond had topped the Christmas charts with his eardrum-piercing tune ‘Long Haired Lover from Liverpool.’ Mind you, looking at some

of the photos from that Reading game that are printed here there was certainly plenty of long-haired footballers around at the time!

Mention is given that Colchester boss Jim Smith had made a couple of signings recently to try to guide them away from the “Re-election zone, ”and we’ll be hearing more of that later.

Notice is also hereby given of a “Football Special” organised by dear old British Rail that was leaving Newport Station at 9:30am for our FA Cup Third Round clash with Millwall at the Den the following Saturday. Hmmm, not for the faint hearted that one!

Over on page four we learn the names of The U’s new signings. One is striker Bobby Svarc who was signed from manager Smith’s former side, non-league Boston United for £6,000, after the 26-year-old had notched 52 goals in 18 months at that level. The other new man in town was Stan Brown who had arrived at Layer Road on a free from Fulham.

At that time, we had a fairly even record with our op ponents with our 11 wins from the 34 league and cup games played being slightly edged out to their 13 victories with 10 drawn.

Both clubs however had scored 49 goals against each other, coincidentally. United’s last visit to Somerton Park had seen us win 2-1 on August the 31st, 1971, with 4,168 side burn sprouting supporters witnessing Martyn Sprague and Willie Brown scoring the all-important goals. Brian Lewis netted a consolation for the newly crowned Watney Cup winners.

Page five brings a few snippets of news; Sheffield-based fan Derek Sargeant gets a name check after travelling over to watch that 2-0 success at Sealand Road, Chester, and there is also an injury list update. Both Graham Col drick, who was our man-of-the-match in a recent Welsh League match with former club Cardiff City recently, and Jeff Thomas were both back in full training; but back-up ‘keeper Terry Lynch was due to enter the Royal Gwent hospital on January the 10th for an exploratory knee operation.

A few flicks of the pages bring us a look at the league table; one that obviously hadn’t included any Friday night encounters. It saw Newport County squatting in a lofty 5th spot to Colchester’s 23rdposition. Our top scorer was Falkirk-born, the ever-popular Willie Brown who was on 13 league goals, while the danger man in blue was Mick Mahon who had notched a crediblenine times.

In ‘Press View,’ Gwilym Evans delivers an amusing view by recalling his own experience of being tactically substituted in a Sunday league match, watched by “A small boy with a dog, our team’s coach, and our midfield player’s girlfriend.” It gives the feeling of a player who has had the shepherds crook from the manager. From 0-1 down at half time, when his number was up and in his mind going on the transfer list, to his side going onto win 5-2 without him;yet from utter despair came great hope, and a swift move off that transfer list as the manager asked him if he was “OK for next week” as he intended to start the same side as today’s game!

Our nostalgia piece in this issue certainly couldn’t go back any further as it looked at the New Yearof 1913 amidstthe Ironsides’ first ever season! Apparently, we had sustained several injuries and at times, with a small playing staff, and a lot of our first-team players who plied their trade in the Southern League also had to fill in at Welsh League level as well and play ties in various cup competitions!

What would Jürgen Klopp make of all that?! Volunteers were also spending time working on our primitive pitch and apparently, we had experienced a few fixtures being called off resulting in some cash flow issues.

A trio of new signings however had lifted the gloom; these included Welsh amateur international Ernie

Hammett, who was a schoolmaster at Eveswell, and Ike Fyfe. Hammett had scored on his debut in our home 3-1 Southern League win over Llanelly and both players were on target in our 2-1 home victory over Aberdarein our first Welsh League match of 1913.

So, back to this first home match some 60 years later then, and it was Willie Screen that grabbed the only goal to secure the vital two points on offer that day. A satisfied 3,465 had clicked though the turnstiles on that chilly, early January afternoon to see County maintain their promotion push. Sadly, we cruelly missed out on goal average to Aldershot come the business end of the campaign, while the U’s did have to go cap in hand to the other league clubs after all as they finished in 22nd spot with just Northampton and Darlington below them. How ever, along with Crewe, the other bottom-four club, they were all duly re-elected as league clubs in that summer.

Teams:

County: John Macey, Peter Passey, Martyn Sprague, Roddy Jones, Steve Aizlewood, Willie Screen, Wynne Hooper, Bob Summerhayes, Willie Brown, Len Hill, Andy White.

Sub: Dai Jones.

Colchester (As printed): John McInally, Micky Cook, John McLaughlin, Stan Brown, Stuart Morgan, Bobby Moss, Phil Thomas, Steve Leslie, Lindsay Smith, Bobby Svarc, Mick Mahon.

Sub: Phil Bloss.

View From The Boardroom

A warm welcome to all the Directors, Players, and Officials of Colchester United for this afternoon’s home game in League Two.

It has been a challenging couple of weeks at the Club as I am sure everyone can imagine. Parting company with a manager is never an easy thing to do for obvious reasons.

However, we are in a performance and results business and unfortunately the results weren’t what we needed. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank James and Carl for their work at the club and wish them every success in the future.

Since their departure, the club has been focused on searching for a replacement manager.

The Board wanted to share the process with supporters it undertook in the appointment of our new manager Graham Coughlan.

Our Sporting Director, Darren Kelly, led the process and was supported by Paul Trollope who has acted in an ad visory capacity, drawing on his many years of experience within the game. We adopted a two-stage approach for the 26 applications we received. Firstly, we drew up a long list, where applications were assessed against our requirement(s). The long list candidates were invited to a zoom interview with Darren and Paul. Here Darren and Paul took the candidates through a process where they could get an understanding of the applicants and their suitability for the managerial position.

We then created a second stage short list, and this was shared with Board members who were going to be involved with the face-to-face interviews. The face-to-face interviews were held with the delegated club group of Gavin Foxall, Paul Marks, Shaun Johnson, Peter Madigan, Mike Everett, Mark Crook, and Darren Kelly all part of the panel.

Alongside the interview stages a robust due diligence exercise has been undertaken and this included all those

that were part of the second stage of the interview pro cess. The full Board has been involved throughout the process with all members being made aware of all ap plicants. Those not involved in the face-to-face interview process have been kept updated throughout.

Our thanks to Darren and Paul for their handling of the recruitment exercise.

Welcome to Graham. We are delighted to have him on board. I know he will be given a warm Amber Army welcome and supporters will get to know him well over the coming months. I am sure we will have a meet the manager evening to do so. Watch this space!

Focusing on today’s game

Our Charity of the Day today is SARA Rescue. SARA is a volunteer lifeboat and inland search and rescue charity, with 7 lifeboat and rescue stations along the length of the River Severn. In 2021 SARA was called out 113 times. SARA is a registered Charity CIO (No 1193634), and all of their specialist equipment is funded via donations and money which they raise. It costs approximately £130,000 a year just to keep their operation running, and this is before they look at replacing any of the current equip ment. SARA depends on the support of the public and organisations across our area to maintain our operational service. You can help SARA by visiting their webpage at www.sara-rescue.org.uk/donate/.

We would like to extend a big welcome to Abertillery Bluebirds as our Club of the Day today. The Bluebirds run various youth teams in the Blaenau Gwent area and further information on how to join them can be found on their Facebook page.

Good luck to Graham and lads this afternoon.

Gavin

APPEARANCES & GOALSCORERS 2022-23 SEASON

League Cup Total

DRYSDALE

BOWEN

CLARKE

WILLMOTT

DOLAN

BOGLE

ZANZALA

(0)

(2)

(1)

(0)

(5)

(1)

(3)

2 (2) 0 0 0

James WAITE 6 (5) 0 2 0 2 (2) 3 0 0 8 (7) 3 2 0

Aaron LEWIS 9 (2) 0 0 0 3 (1) 0 0 0 12 (3) 0 0 0

Scot BENNETT 11 (0) 1 6 0 1 (1) 0 0 0 12 (1) 1 6 0

Chanka ZIMBA 0 (12) 0 0 0 4 (0) 2 0 0 4 (12) 2 0 0

Thierry NEVERS 5 (3) 1 1 0 2 (0) 0 0 0 7 (3) 1 1 0

Hayden LINDLEY 3 (2) 0 0 0 0 (0) 0 0 0 3 (2) 0 0 0

Lewis COLLINS 2 (9) 0 0 0 3 (2) 1 1 0 5 (11) 1 1 0

Nathan MORIAH-WELSH 8 (3) 3 2 0 1 (3) 0 1 0 9 (6) 3 3 0

Aaron WILDIG 7 (1) 0 0 0 2 (1) 1 1 0 9 (2) 1 1 0

Adam LEWIS 7 (3) 0 2 0 4 (0) 0 2 0 11 (3) 0 4 0

Mickey DEMETRIOU 13 (0) 0 1 0 2 (1) 0 0 0 15 (1) 0 1 0

Will EVANS 8 (5) 1 2 0 3 (0) 2 1 0 11 (5) 3 3 0

Nick TOWNSEND 12 (0) 0 0 0 1 (0) 0 0 0 13 (0) 0 0 0

Team

P W D L F A GD PTS

Today’s Mascot

MATCH-BY-MATCH

COUNTY IN THE COMMUNITY

College Programme

Have you just started year 11? Do you love football?

Interested in starting a career within the sports industry?

Then join us on Thursday 10th November at Llanwern High School for our Football & Education ‘Open Evening’ to meet the team and find out more about the exciting opportunities that we can offer. You will have the opportunity to;

• Represent Newport County AFC

• Play in the EFL CEFA League

• Be a part of a professional club

• Gain A-Levels or a BTEC Level 3 in sport

• Register today by emailing David Lewis on the address below:

• Dave.lewis@newport-county.co.uk

For more information contact Liam Jenkins liam.jenkins@newport-county.co.uk

Newport County AFC Soccer Schools

This coming half-term the Newport County AFC Soc cer Schools are back! We will be returning to Llanwern High School on Monday 31st October, Tuesday 1st and Wednesday 2nd of November. During the days, both boys and girls will be able to take part in fun football activities and compete against each other in football matches. The morning soccer school will consist of both boys and girls aged 5-11 years old, while girls aged 5- 16 years old can also get involved in our girls only soccer school too, both being delivered on Llanwern High School’s 3G pitches. In the afternoon, the Goalkeepers soccer school will then be delivered for all aspiring goalkeepers from the ages of 8-16. The times for all camps can be seen below:

- Boys and girls mixed camp: 10am – 12:30pm

- Girls only camp: 10am – 12:30pm

- Goalkeepers camp: 1:30pm – 4pm

For further information please contact Deinioldeiniol.parselle@countyinthecommunity.co.uk

Hope to see you all there soon!

Soccer Tots

Soccer Tots sessions are up and running again Tuesday 4.30pm – 5.30pm Aged 3–6-year-olds Llanwern High School Hartridge Farm Road Newport NP18 2YE £4 per session

Contact Cori for more information cori.busuttil@ countyinthecommunity.co.uk

Newport County have won just one of their last seven matches against Rochdale in the Football League (L6), winning 2-1 in May 2014 under the late Justin Edinburgh.

FACTS & TOTAL CARDS

Rochdale completed the double over Newport County in League Two last season, keeping a clean sheet in both victories (2-0 away, 3-0 home).

TIMES

ENGLISH FOOTBALL LEAGUE - LEAGUE TWO TOP FIVES

ASSISTS

CHANCES CREATED

SUCCESSFUL PASSES

SAVES

FOOTBALL LEAGUE - LEAGUE TWO SPOTLIGHT

in 11 league

since the start of last

player (21).

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in 10 league

for Doncaster this season (3 goals, 2 assists). He is averaging a goal or assist every 52 minutes.

SUPPORTERS' TRUST

WHAT IS THE SUPPORTERS' TRUST?

The Newport County AFC Supporters' Trust is one of more than 140 Supporters' Trusts that exist under the umbrella of Supporters' Direct, a national body that provides assistance to supporters "who wish to play a responsible part i n the life of the football club they support".

The Trust was originally formed in 2001 and took a controlling stake in the foot ball club in October 2015 following a communi ty share issue which saw County supporters raise a magnificent £236,000 in just a month.

Since then, Newport County AFC has been a supporter-owned, communi ty-based club.

The primary purpose of the Trust is to provide funding to the club. Our aim is to donate at least £100,000 a se ason to the club.

As well as being owners of an EFL club, Trust members receive a range of benefits depending on their membership tier. All members have guaranteed priority tickets for cup matches.

More details about the Trust can be found on our website: www.ncafctrust.org

WHO IS ON THE TRUST BOARD?

The Board of the Supporters' Trust cur rently consists of seven elected directors and two co­opted directors. As the Trust is the majority shareholder i n the club, all Trust directors ore also registered with the Football League as directors of the club having passed the EFL's Owners and Directors Test.

Your Trust/Club elected directors are: Paul Marks (Trust chairman), Gavin Foxall, Shaun Johnson, Mike Everett, Joe Crocker, Bob Herrin and Kevin Ward. The two co-opted directors are Mark Crook and Peter Madigan.

HOW CAN YOU HELP THE TRUST?

There are a variety of ways in which County supporters can help the Trust.

BECOME A MEMBER: Becoming a Trust member guarantees you a range of benefits and helps the Trust donate more money to the club. Our aim is to donate £100,000 a season to help the manager.

The membership packa ges are as follows Bronze: £5 a month; Silver: £10 a month; Gold: £20 a month; Plat inum: £50+ a month.

Corporate membership is available at £1,000 a year or £600 for six months. More details here: www.ncafctrust.org/joi n

EASYFUNDRAISING: Join eosyfundroising and you can collect free donations for theTrust (and therefore the Club) every time you buy something online. It won't cost you a penny extra. Just start your online shopping first at www.eosyfundraising.org.uk/causes/ncafctrus t/, then shop as normal. Retailers will then make a small donation to say 'thank you'.

T here are more than 3,200 retailers to choose from and so far this scheme hos raised almost £18,500 for the Trust.

VOLUNTEER: T he Trust and t he Club appreciates the many outstanding volunteers who give up their time to help in a variety of ways. If you have the time and skills you think could benefit the club, then please email info@ncafctrust.org

CONTACT THE TRUST

If you have any queries, suggestions, questions or proposals for the Trust, you can contact us via email info@ncafctrust.org or our website www.ncafctrust.org/contact-us

Join the Supporters’ Trust

BRONZE

SILVER

month (or £120 per annum)

Benefits include: a Voting rights a Regular Trust news & emails a Priority tickets for selected fixtures a Be a member of the Trust that owns & runs Newport County AFC All Bronze benefits, PLUS

a 5% Club Shop discount a Invites to selected training sessions

All Silver benefits, PLUS

(or £240 per annum)

month (or £600 per annum)

a Monthly ‘Golden Ticket’ draw a One free hospitality experience

All Gold benefits, PLUS a Player appearance at business or club a Opportunity to purchase cup final tickets a ‘Director for a Day’ experience

For local businesses:

a Logo advertised on Club/Trust websites, teamsheets and programme a Advertorial in two programmes a Player appearance at business a Two boardroom experience places

Exciting bespoke memberships for our younger supporters:

a Clwb Spytty: 0 to 11 years of age a #TeenExiles: 12 to 16 years of age

There is a Trust membership for everyone. To join, just go to www.ncafctrust.org/join or scan this QR code on your mobile:

With

years

provide the same level of

Rob

whether

want a single bedroom

or a range of ooring

for a full working environment. With a fantastic range of

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for

to choose from, we o er free consultations, visiting your home at a time that suits you.

Barnardo’s Cymru believes that every child deserves a happy and healthy childhood, no matter who they are or what they have been through. We work with vulnerable children, young people, families, and communities across Wales, helping them to build a better future.

Around 1 in 3 children in the UK are now living in poverty and we continue to support families across Wales with advice and support such as food vouchers and specialist support through our partnership with Citizen’s Advice. We have launched new helplines including one for Ukrainian refugees, and online advice to support parents through our virtual Barnardo’s Family Space and teachers through the Barnardo’s Education Community.

We are very proud to provide a range of support across Newport including family support, mental health and wellbeing, disability support, young carers, care leavers, domestic abuse, child sexual exploitation victims and Fostering.

It is fantastic to have the support of Newport County AFC who have helped us provide opportunities for young people and families to attend matches, get involved more in their communities as well as supporting us directly in our services. Thank you, Newport County!

barnardos.org.uk/wales

RICHARD

INTRODUCING COLCHESTER UNITED

Welcome …

COLCHESTER UNITED, like recent opponents Rochdale, Crawley Town and of course ourselves have parted company with their managers this term and, in ‘U’s’ case, it resulted in the customary ‘bounce’, with new Head Coach Matt Bloomfield going three matches unbeaten before last week’s 1-0 defeat at Swindon Town.

FACT FILE…

Formed: 1937.

Ground: JobServe Community Stadium, United Way, Colchester CO4 5UP.

Capacity: 10,105 (all-seated).

Previous Ground: Layer Road (1937-2008).

Best League Position: 10th Championship, 2006-07.

Best in FA Cup: Quarter-Finalists, 1970-71.

Best in League Cup: Quarter-Finalists, 1974-75 and 2018-19.

Best in EFL Trophy: Runners-up, 1996-97.

Best in FA Trophy: Winners 1991-92.

Record Win: 9-1 v Bradford City, Division 4, De cember 1961, and v Leamington, FA Cup Round 1, November 2005.

Record Defeat: 0-8 v Leyton Orient, Division 4, October 1988.

Record Crowd: 19,072 v Reading, FA Cup Round 1, November 1948.

Record Appearances: Micky Cook, 700 games (1969-84).

Record Scorer: Martyn King, 136 (1956-64)

Record Signing: Steve Gillespie, £400,000 from Cheltenham Town, July 2008.

Record Departure: Greg Halford, £2.5m to Reading, January 2007.

Most Capped Player: Luke Gambin, 11 (includes 2 on loan at Newport County) (34) Malta.

1937-2022

1937-50 Southern League; 1950-58 Division 3 (S); 1958-61 Division 3; 1961-62 Division 4; 1962-65 Division 3; 1965-66 Division 4; 1966-68 Division 3; 1968-74 Division 4; 1974-76 Division 3; 1976-77 Division 4; 1977-81 Division 3; 1981-90 Division 4; 1990-92 Conference; 1992-98 Division 3; 1998-2004 Division 2; 2004-06 League One; 2006-08 FL Championship; 2008-16 League One; 2016– League Two.

LAST 10 SEASONS …

Season League Position

2012-13 League One 20 3529

2013-14 League One 16 3735 2014-15 League One 19 3886 2015-16 League One 23 (rel.) 4135

2016-17 League Two 8 3637 2017-18 League Two 13 3185 2018-19 League Two 6 (p/off) 3361 2019-20 League Two 21 3606 2020-21 League Two 20 BCD 2021-22 League Two 15 2813

BACK STORY …

Colchester United were formed in 1937 in an attempt to bring professional football to the Essex town, joining the Southern League immediately. The amateur Colchester Town had existed since 1873, winning 11 Essex Senior Cups as well as the North Essex, South Essex, and Middlesex league titles. ‘The Oysters’, resplendent in their pink playing kit, were even founder members of the Eastern Counties League in 1935 but their refusal to turn professional left local football enthusiasts fearing that their town club would never challenge the likes of nearby Ipswich Town who had recently started paying players. Nine months after United’s formation, the writing was on the wall for Town, as the majority of their players joined United’s newly-established reserve side. Blue replaced pink as the town’s footballing colour as Oysters sank without trace.

United gained election to the Football League in 1950 following their second successive Southern League Cup win. However, there was despair in South Wales, as Southern League champions Merthyr Tydfil failed in their bid to return Football League status to the Valleys town following Merthyr Town’s failure to gain re-election to Division 3 (South) 20 years earlier.

It is now approaching 52 years since Colchester produced possibly the greatest FA Cup shock of all time as Don Revie’s all-conquering Leeds United were put to the sword at Layer Road in front of a scarcely believing 16,000 crowd and an even more incredulous footballing world. League champions Leeds were missing just Billy Bremner and Eddie Gray from their star-studded line-up in February 1971, but goal scorers Ray Crawford, with a brace, and Dave Simmons were the unlikely heroes in the Sunday papers. A week later, Crawford and Sim mons were on target again, though they received less national acclaim as they helped Dick Graham’s United recover from a two-goal deficit, courtesy of George Young and Willie Brown, to defeat County 4-2.

Cwmparc born former Bristol Rovers, Ipswich, Colchester, and Wales midfielder, Geraint Williams, who later managed the Wales U21 team, led U’s to their best-ever finish of 10th in the Championship in 2007, with prolific strikers Jamie Cureton and Chris Iwelumo bagging 43 goals between them and supporters claiming local bragging rights as Ipswich Town and Norwich City both left Layer Road pointless.

PAST MANAGER …

WAYNE BROWN, who departed the Colchester Community Sta dium hot-seat last month, had three spells in charge at U’s, though first came into contact with County as manager of eighth tier Maldon

& Tiptree in the Second Round of the FA Cup in November 2019.

‘Jammers’ had won 2-1 at Leyton Orient in Round 1 and it needed an injury time winner from Padraig Amond to secure the victory for County in front of the BBC cameras. Barking-born Brown, who had made 142 appearances for U’s, was no managerial novice, having had a brief spell as caretaker boss at his former club in League One in 2015-16, while he had also enjoyed a successful spell in charge of the Under 18s and later the Under 21s. His success at Maldon once more alerted his ex-employees, who invited him to return to the Community Stadium as interim manager in 2021. However, with just one win in 10 games, including a 2-0 home defeat to Michael Flynn’s play-off bound County, Brown left his post, only to return again 10 months later after his successor Hayden Mullins was relieved of his duties. It seemed a case of third time lucky as the ‘new’ head coach steered his side away from relegation danger to a 15th place finish and a 2-1 victory over a lack-lustre County at Rodney Parade. However, following a disappointing start to the current campaign, the 1-0 home defeat to Grimsby Town brought the curtain down on the latest Brown era.

UNITED TODAY … Akinde’s Approval

Striker John Akinde has been a scourge of County in seasons past,scoring within seconds of coming off the bench in U’s 2-1 win at Rodney Parade six months ago. The 33-year-old was also a thorn in our side for Barnet and Lincoln City, and the ex-Portsmouth, Bristol City and Crawley Town front runner is hoping to enjoy a new lease of life under recently appointed head coach Matt Bloomfield, explaining to the Essex-based ‘Daily Gazette’:

‘He was the same as a player as he is as a manager. He has desire, hunger, works really hard and you can see that every day when he is in training. There are certain individuals who you think might go into management so when he became a coach, I was not surprised. He is very clearcut, he knows what he wants and I think the boys are responding. Since he has come in, we have played well and I am sure it will continue - he demands that so the pressure is on the boys to keep performing. He has told us a style that he wants and we have to go out and play it.’

HEAD COACH’S VIEW …

COUNTY v UNITED Season Competition H A

1950-51 Division 3 (S) 2-0 (16021) 1-1 (8230)

1951-52 Division 3 (S) 0-1 (6821) 1-2 (7729) 1952-53 Division 3 (S) 0-1 (8989) 3-3 (6200) 1953-54 Division 3 (S) 1-1 (7596) 2-2 (6434) 1954-55 Division 3 (S) 0-0 (5612) 0-1 (8691) 1955-56 Division 3 (S) 0-0 (5588) 1-2 (8225) 1956-57 Division 3 (S) 1-0 (12426) 0-1 (9705) 1957-58 Division 3 (S) 2-2 (8866) 1-1 (7472) 1958-59 Division 3 0-1 (4702) 2-3 (7271) 1959-60 Division 3 3-2 (4332) 1-2 (6620) 1960-61 Division 3 3-2 (6186) 1-1 (6732) 1965-66 Division 4 2-1 (2905) 2-3 (3593) 1968-69 Division 4 1-0 (3262) 1-2 (3532) 1969-70 Division 4 4-1 (2996) 1-1 (4679)

1969-70 FA Cup Round 1 2-1 (3800)

1970-71 Division 4 1-3 (1973) 2-4 (6444)

1971-72 Division 4 2-1 (4168) 3-2 (4311)

1972-73 Division 4 1-0 (3465) 3-1 (3639)

1973-74 Division 4 1-3 (3304) 1-4 (3523)

1976-77 Division 4 1-2 (1575) 0-5 (4614)

1978-79 FA Cup Round 4 0-0 (10329) 0-1 (7029)

1980-81 Division 3 1-0 (4619) 0-1 (2160)

1986-87 Division 4 1-2 (1200) 0-0 (1784)

2016-17 League Two 1-1 (2397) 0-0 (3088)

2017-18 League Two 1-2 (2704) 0-2 (2874)

2018-19 League Two 2-0 (3512) 0-3 (3213)

2019-20 League Two 1-3 (2955)

2020-21 League Two 2-1 (BCD) 2-0 (BCD)

2021-22 League Two 1-2 (5989) 1-1 (2401)

Matt Bloomfield reflecting on his first three weeks at Colchester: ‘I think the boys have been great, the application in training and in the meetings, the little tactical stuff we have been trying to implement in the games, their desire to go out and get a result, the work rate, some of the quality we have shown on the ball has been really pleasing. We want to get as many points as possible but we can’t run before we can walk; we need to take it one game at a time. It is a boring football cliché, but it is how I have lived my life and how I will continue to do so.’

FAN’S VIEW …

U’s supporter Doug Fenner outlining his hopes to ‘FourFourTwo’ magazine.

‘With most of last season’s squad still contracted, improvement has to come through better tactics and motivation. I will not be happy until I do not have to work out how many points the clubs below us can get.’

RECENT RESULTS …

F-A Att:

30 July: Northampton Town A 2-3 5463

06 Aug: Carlisle United H 1-1 3137

09 Aug: Ipswich Town(League Cup R1) A 1-0 11654

13 Aug: Stockport County A 0-1 7826

16Aug: Bradford City H 1-0 3011

20 Aug: Leyton Orient H 1-3 4340

23 Aug: Brentford (League Cup R2) H 0-2 5516

27 Aug: Tranmere Rovers A 0-2 5041

03 Sep: Hartlepool United H 1-1 2983

06 Sep: Brighton & HA U21s (EFL Trophy) H 2-1 479

13 Sep: Walsall A 1-1 4327

17 Sep: Grimsby Town H 0-1 3167

24 Sep: Rochdale H 0-1 2784

01 Oct: AFC Wimbledon A 1-2 7328

04 Oct: Charlton Athletic (EFL Trophy) H 2-1 880

08 Oct: Harrogate Town H 2-1 2750

11 Oct: Gillingham (EFL Trophy) A 1-1 828(won 5-4 on pens.)

15 Oct: Swindon Town A 0-1 8632

Scorers: Chilvers 3, Nouble 3, Akinde 2, Appiah 2, Eastman 2, Sears 2 (1 pen.), Hannant 1, Lubala 1.

PHIL TANNER MEET THE PLAYERS & MANAGEMENT OF

COLCHESTER UNITED

01 Sam Hornby

GOALKEEPER

Signed permanently in the summer from Bradford City after eight games on loan last season as cover for Shamal George, who is now in the Scottish Premier with Livingston. Sam also made six appearances in L2 for Bradford last season as well as playing three Trophy ties. After a youth career with Hednesford and Redditch he turned pro at Burton Albion in 2015. He has also played on loan for Brackley, Kidderminster and Chester.

03 Ryan Clampin

DEFENDER

With United since he was eight years old, coming through the club’s development centre and academy. Before his debut off the bench in September 2018 Ryan spent all of 2017-18 on loan locally at Maldon & Tiptree where he was an almost ever-present and scored 10 in 41 appearances. The left back’s 2021-22 campaign was curtailed by a serious knee injury in November but he has returned to fitness this term.

04 Luke Chambers

DEFENDER

Joined in June 2021 afterleaving Ipswich Town. Luke was a near ev er-present last season and now has more than 800 senior games to his name. The move reunited him with former Ipswich teammate Tommy Smith. His career began in 2003 in his home county with Northamp ton. He joined Nottingham Forest in 2007 and had five years at the City Ground before nine at Ipswich, for whom only eight players have made more appearances.

05 Tommy Smith DEFENDER

Club captain. The Ipswich Town academy graduate, primarily a centre back, topped 240 games for them before moving on to MLS side Colorado Rapids, Sunderland in February 2020 and Colchester in August that year. Tommy lived in New Zealand as a child and after England youth caps became the All Whites’ youngest ever captain, featuring for them at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and the 2012 London Olympics.

06 Tom Dallison

DEFENDER

January 2022 arrival from Crawley Town, where he made almost 100 appearances. Tom was with West Ham and Arsenal as a junior before spending five years at Brighton from 2013. His EFL debut came on loan with Crawley in 2015, with other loan spells at Cambridge and Ac crington. Leaving Brighton in 2018, he spent half a season with Scottish Championship side Falkirk before rejoining Crawley on a permanent basis in 2019.

07 Luke Hannant

MIDFIELDER

Summer 2021 signing from Cam bridge United. Luke was with them as a youth player before a schol arship at Northumbria University, where he graduated in 2016 in Sport and Exercise Science. While studying he played for Dereham Town in Nor folk and for Team Northumbria in the Northern League. He moved on to Gateshead and spent 18 months with Port Vale before returning to Cambridge in 2019.

08 Cole Skuse

MIDFIELDER

One of numerous experienced former Ipswich Town players in the squad. Cole was United’s first summer signing of 2021-22after spending eight years at Portman Road and played 41 times in L2 last term. He began his career at hometown Bristol City and made his debut for them as a sub - against Colchester - in 2005.He went on to clock up more than 300 appearanc es for the Robins, followed by almost 300 for Ipswich.

09 Kwesi Appiah

STRIKER

August loan signing from Crawley, where he netted 11 in 18 + 12 ap pearances in League 2 last season. Kwesi spent the previous year in the Indian Super league. Before that he spent three years with Wimbledon, who signed him from Crystal Palace.

Palace spotted him at non-league Margate in 2011-12 and he had no fewer than eight loans away from Selhurst Park including one in Norway. Seven full caps for Ghana.

10 Alan Judge

MIDFIELDER

Another ex-Ipswich man signed last summer. Dubliner Alan’s career began at Blackburn, then in the Premier League, in 2008-09 with loans to Plymouth and Notts County followed by a permanent move to Notts, then back to Black burn for a further season. He was then a regular at Brentford, helping them reach the Championship and making almost 150 appearances, and joined Ipswich in 2019. Nine caps for Ireland.

11 Freddie Sears STRIKER

Rejoined in July last year after almost six years at Ipswich Town and was top scorer with 17 in all competitions. Freddie, 32, started at West Ham where he scored on his debut off the bench in the Premier League in 2008. After loans at Crystal Palace, Coventry and Scunthorpe he initially joined Colchester on loan in 2011-12 with the move made permanent that summer. He netted 36 goals before making the switch to Ipswich.

13 Kieran O’Hara

GOALKEEPER

Ireland cap signed in the summer who contests the shirt with Sam Hornby. The Mancunian, 26, spent the second half of last season with Fleetwood and played four games. He came through the academy at Old Trafford and had numerous loans including the whole of 2018–2019 at Macclesfield and 2019–2020 with Burton Albion. He then joined Burton permanently and had an emergency loan to Scunthorpe a year ago.

14 Noah Chilvers

MIDFIELDER

Local lad with the academy since he was playing at U9 level. Noah signed on as a scholar in July 2017, captained the U18 side in 2018-19 and became a regular in the U23s. He made his senior debut off the bench against County in March 2019.After a loan to National League South side Bath City in 2019-20 he nailed down a regular place and he has now passed a century of appearances in all competitions.

Beryly Lubala

STRIKER

Twenty-four-year-old Blackpool striker who will be with the U’s until the end of the season after being signed close to deadline day. Bez progressed through the ranks at Birmingham City’s academy before making his Championship debut in April 2018.He signed for Crawley Town in the summer of 2019, scoring 13 before the season was curtailed. Blackpool then paid an undisclosed fee to take him to the Northwest in summer 2020.

17 Ossama Ashley

MIDFIELDER

Summer signing after he was freed by West Ham. Ossama joined AFC Wimbledon’s youth set-up in 2017 after a spell in the Fulham academy. He made a single Trophy appear ance as a sub. When he was released by Wimbledon he was picked up by the Hammers after a successful trial and spent two seasons there, with a loan to Colchester’s neighbours Bill ericay Town in NL South. Recently featured at right back.

18 Tom Eastman

DEFENDER

Having signed in the summer of 2011, Tom is by far the club’s longest serving player and has made more than 450 first-team appearances while still only just turned 31. He began with the academy at Ipswich Town, where he started aged eight and came through the ranks to play 10 league games. Soon after joining United he had a brief loan to Crawley Town. He has collected the Player of the Year award four times.

19 Alex Newby

MIDFIELDER

Joined United on an initial two-year deal after being released by Roch dale earlier in the summer. Alex’s career began at his hometown club with Barrow, after a spell in Bolton’s youth set-up. He played almost 100 games for Chorley and helped them win promotion from National League North before getting his first EFL move to Rochdale in 2020. He played 43 games in his first year at with Dale in League 1 and 39 in League 2 last term.

22 Junior Tchamadeu

DEFENDER

Became the youngest player ever to start a first-team game for United when he made his debut in a win against Grimsby Town in December 2020, when he was just short of his seventeenth birthday. Junior played youth football for Charlton before joining Colchester. He signed a three-year contract extension ahead of last season and became a regular last term, earning a divisional Apprentice of the Year nomination.

23 Daniel Chesters

MIDFIELDER

One of numerous West Ham young sters getting valuable game time via a loan to League 2, signing late in the August window. Not turning 21 until April, Daniel played for the Hammers’ U21 side in the EFL Tro phy over four campaigns up to last season. He made a single Premier League appearance late last term off the bench at Anfield and also featured in the UEFA Conference League.

24 John Akinde

STRIKER

Netted what would have been the fastest ever goal here - timed at 23 seconds - for Barnet in 2016, only for it to be expunged as the game was abandoned. John scored 87 goals that did count for the Bees and helped win promotion to the EFL. He joined last January after three seasons at Gillingham, preceded by promotion to League 1 with Lincoln. His previous substantive clubs include Crawley, Portsmouth and Bristol City.

Matty Longstaff

MIDFIELDER

Newcastle United midfielder signed on loan on deadline day in August. The 22-year-old was on loan at Mansfield Town last season and at Aberdeen in 2020-21. Matty has scored twice in 14 Premier League appearances, one winning a PL Goal of the Month award. Older brother Sean was in the Toon side which won here on penalties in the 2020-21 EFL Cup and their dad Dave was a GB ice hockey player. England U20 cap.

30 Al-Amin Kazeem

DEFENDER

Youth team graduate who is estab lishing himself in the first team this season. Left back Al-Amin is one of numerous United youngsters whose development has included time on loan at local club Maldon & Tiptree and he played against County in our hard-earned 1-0 win there in the FA Cup three years ago.

33 Marley Marshall-Miranda MIDFIELDER

Joined United as a youth player in 2019-20 from Brighton & Hove Albion and played on loan for Isthmian League Worthing in the middle of that season, making his debut for the U’s early in 2020-21. Born in Madrid, he played his first junior football in Spain and moved to England at the age of 12.

45 Frank Nouble STRIKER

Always a handful for defenders, Frank ended last season on loan at Leyton Orient. He is well remem bered by County fans for his 49 games and nine goals in 2017-18, af ter which he had an initial spell with United and then joined Plymouth. He has built up one of the longest CVs in the League since coming through the youth programme at West Ham, including loans running to more than 20 clubs, two of them in China.

MATT BLOOMFIELD

HEAD COACH

The UEFA A Licence coach took over from Wayne Brown at the end of September after a brief spell with technical director Steve Ball in caretaker charge.

Brown was fired after five defeats in United’s opening nine games left them fourth-bottom, with sporting director Dmitri Halajko indicating a preference for bringing in an outside candidate – Brown and his prede cessors Joe Dunne, Tony Humes, John McGreal, Steve Ball and Hayden Mullins were all promoted from within. Matt was one of five candidates eventually shortlisted.

Matt ended a long association with Wycombe Wanderers, where he was first-team coach under Gareth Ainsworth. He made more than 550 appearances over 18 years, having started his career at Ipswich Town. He captained the side to promotion from League One and then made

16 appearances in Wycombe’s first ever season in the second tier before taking up a coaching role. He finally hung up his boots early this year on medical advice.

During his playing days Matt gained an honours degree in Professional Sports Writing and Broadcasting and in the last year he has also gained a diploma in Football Management

FROM THE CHAPLAIN

It is often sad to say farewell to staff and in particular I want to say a "thank you" to James Rowberry and Carl Serrant for their friendship during the time they were at this club.

I especially think of chats we had at training sessions and over cups of coffee.

Best wishes to both for their futures, Keith Beardmore.

The nominated charity for today’s match at Newport AFC is the SARA Newport Lifeboat. We are an independent lifeboat service and the only lifeboat service in Gwent. We are home to SARA 14 “The Maureen Easton”, a Delta 4.8m D Class RIB, and SARA Rescue 20, a rigid flood rescue boat. Our service also includes two Land Rovers (Mobile 6 and Mobile 20). We are run entirely by volunteers, consisting of 12 crew members who are on call around the clock 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to respond to emergencies in Gwent and the surrounding areas. We are a multidisciplinary agency; as well as lifeboat operations we also undertake swift water rescues in rivers and other inland waters, and are a declared asset for flood rescues across the whole of the UK. Our crew members who are here today not only crew the boats but also do all the fundraising themselves in order to raise the money needed to cover the running costs of our emergency service, which amounts to around £15,000 each year Our lifeboat service is currently operated out of the Malpas Fire and Rescue Station as we do not have a lifeboat station of our own. We are trying to raise funds to establish our very own boathouse on the River Usk near Friar’s Walk in Newport.

Pictured with this article is our lifeboat SARA 14 “The Maureen Easton” which has served us for 6 years and has responded to dozens of “shouts” (rescue operations) in that time. We train twice per week and as an organisation SARA (the Severn Area Rescue Association) responds to around 110 shouts every year. Please say hello to our volunteer crew today and ask us any questions about our lifeboat and the lifesaving work that we do! Thanks to Newport AFC for having us!

SARA-14 “The Maureen Easton”

Newport SARA Lifeboat, Malpas Fire and Rescue Station, NP20 6YN info.newport@sara-rescue.org.uk | www.facebook.com/SARANewportStation UK Registered Charity CIO No. 1193634

but there is one that

is a game of many

must all

There is

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