Newport County
Formed 1989
Promoted to League Two 2013
Kit History
Newport AFC
1989
1989-cMarch 1990 b
cMarch-May 1990 c
1990-1991 c
1991-1992 b p
1992-1993 b p
1993-1994 b p
1994-1995 b p
1995-1996 n
1996-1997 b e p
1997-1998 b o
1998-1999 n p
Newport County
1999
1999-2001 b d m p
2001-2003 p
2003-2006 b p
2004-2005 Cup b
2006-2007 b i m
2007-2009 a
2009-2010 a
2010-2011 b f
2011-2012 g j
2012-2013 h
2013-2014 h
2014-2015 h
2015-2016 h
2016-2017 h
2017-2018 h
2018-2019 h
2019-2020 h
2020-2021 h
2021-2022 h
2022-2023 h
Background
In April 1989, a year after losing their place in the Football League, the original Newport County FC declared bankruptcy, resigned from the Conference and was wound up. Two months later a "phoenix club" was formed as Newport AFC and elected to the Hellenic League.
Like their predecessor, the club has variously worn orange or amber/gold.
Unable to secure the lease on Somerton Park (home of the original club), Newport played their inaugural season in England, at Moreton-in-the Marsh in Gloucestershire, earning the nickname of The Exiles. After winning the Hellenic Premier League 
championship and cup, they were promoted to the Southern League.
The crest designed for the new club featured the Newport Transporter Bridge, a prominent local landmark, and their new nickname.
Newport returned to Somerton Park in 1990 for two seasons. In 1992 the Football Association of Wales (FAW) launched the League of Wales and attempted to force Newport and other Welsh teams competing in the English non-league system to join the new Welsh pyramid. As Newport's ambition was to return to the Football League, they refused. FAW sanctions forced the club to play for the next two seasons in Gloucester while legal action against the FAW for restraint of trade was taken.
In 1994 County returned to their home town after winning an injunction against the FAW and moved into the brand new Newport Stadium. The following year the High Court ruled that clubs based in Wales had the right to compete in the English pyramid.
After winning promotion to the Southern League Premier Division in 1995, the club adopted the title Newport County AFC in 1999. A new crest was introduced modelled closely on the Newport coat of arms, which features an heraldic sea lion and a sea dragon, indicating the town's maritime tradition as a port.
In 2004, County were placed in Conference South when the top tiers of the non-league system were restructured and in 2008 they won the first ever FAW Premier Cup, beating The New Saints in the final and narrowly missed out on promotion. During their successful cup run, the team wore a special shirt sponsored by local rappers, Goldie Lookin' Chain. The "medallion" in the centre of the shirt 
closely resembled the crest of the original Newport County as it appeared from 1979. The design proved popular and in 2007 a modified version replaced the coat of arms.
In 2010, County achieved promotion to the Conference National with a record 103 points, 28 points clear of their nearest rivals. In 2012, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the original club, Newport County reached the FA Trophy for the first time but lost to York City.
In May 2012 County agreed to a ground-sharing arrangement with Newport RFC and moved into Rodney Parade which is also the home of the Newport Gwent Dragons regional rugby team. Although the capacity is 11,676, this is reduced to 5,511 for football matches. Euromillions Lottery winner, Les Scadding, took over as club chairman.
After finishing third in the Conference National 2012-13 season, County met Wrexham at Wembley, the first time that two Welsh teams had contested the play-offs final. A 2-0 win ensured that Newport would have a team in the Football League after a gap of 25 years.
The 2019-20 shirts were without sponsorship, part of a promotional campaign by bookmaker Paddypower (who were County's official sponsor that season) to "reclaim football shirts for the fans." The shirt itself was designed by a supporter, Neil Heard.
Sources
- (a) Newport County Photos
- (b) Old Football Shirts
- (c) Flickr
- (d) Classic Football Shirts
- (e) The Non-League Club Directory
- (f) DAFTS
- (g) Wealdstone FC Official Website
- (h) Newport County FC Official Website
- (i) Napit.co.uk
- (j) Newport County Photos
- (k) North West Football Memorabilia
- (l) YouTube
- (m) Mark Hughes
- (n) Liam Jenkins
- (o) Anthony Borrett
- (p) Non-League Club Directory
Crest are the property of Newport County AFC.