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Post by mcf86 on Oct 1, 2014 12:54:24 GMT
Early threads deserve a little extra effort, so at my own expense and time I have copied and pasted a few paragraphs relating to our Welsh opponents for your delight and delectation. In the summer of 1989, months after Newport County FC had been wound up amidst acrimony and absurdity, 400 proud Newportonians met at the Lysaght Institute to re-form the club. Even the building they met in encapsulated the town's defiance. Built by the firm of John Lysaght to commend the contribution of its workforce to the area's largest employer the Ord Steelworks, it opened in 1928, became a vital part of the community and even boasted a ballroom with a maple wood dancefloor. (The club's original nickname was the Ironsides, a nod to the area's strong steelmaking tradition.)
Yet by the start of the 21st century the Lysaght had fallen into disrepair. Plans were made to replace it with housing - similar to what had happened to County's historic ground at Somerton Park, which is now a residential area. Yet the locals roused themselves to prevent such an iconic building being razed: the venerable old building has had a re-fit and once again sits proudly in the city's consciousness.
There was standing room only at the Lysaght that hot June night in 1989, as the supporters of County refused to countenance their city without a football club. Their determination led to the re-formation of Newport AFC (they would become Newport County AFC in 1999) with their long-term goal of returning league football to this depressed, staunchly working-class area of South Wales. But being back among the 92 seemed a remote possibility when Newport AFC started their inaugural season in the Hellenic League, five tiers below the Football League.
Building a club from nothing was hard. Newport were compelled to play their first season in the improbable location of Cotswold market town Moreton-in-Marsh, their enforced expatriation to Gloucestershire earning them a new nickname of 'The Exiles'.
'Every game was effectively an away game,' recalled Newport president David Hando. 'Even though we had 400-plus supporters follow us up to Moreton in the beginning we needed to come back to Newport. We've fought a lot of battles to get back.'
Read more at www.fourfourtwo.com/features/strange-story-newport-county#BcbGfhtXCTEfKs2o.99
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Post by mcf86 on Oct 1, 2014 13:41:11 GMT
Just had a thought after my previous posting. Perhaps, 'we' could have a thread consisting of a pre-match 'programme' for each U's match, with contributions from forum members? They could be 'lifted' information, personal stories or anecdotes, and pictures etc? Just a bit of fun so if Martin B reads this I hope he doesn't go into a rage!! ?
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Post by malcolmnl on Oct 1, 2014 14:42:09 GMT
Sort of... *** Pre-Match thread - opponents name here ***
Nice idea.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2014 14:55:32 GMT
Great idea mcf86. Here's a story.
I can't remember which season it was, but Oxford played at Somerton Park in a league match that ended 1-1. I'm guessing it was a promotion season in the 1980s because there were loads of Oxford fans there (about 3,000 springs to mind). I remember an incredibly drunk guy chanting "we hate Pompey" at the Newport fans. No matter how many times his mates told him we weren't playing Portsmouth, he kept singing it until some over-zealous Gwent coppers threw him out. I came a whisker away from a batoning that day, even though I'd done nothing but sing for the team.
OK, not a great story, but some of those away days were brilliant, weren't they?
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Post by foley on Oct 1, 2014 15:06:04 GMT
Great idea mcf86. Here's a story. I can't remember which season it was, but Oxford played at Somerton Park in a league match that ended 1-1. I'm guessing it was a promotion season in the 1980s because there were loads of Oxford fans there (about 3,000 springs to mind). I remember an incredibly drunk guy chanting "we hate Pompey" at the Newport fans. No matter how many times his mates told him we weren't playing Portsmouth, he kept singing it until some over-zealous Gwent coppers threw him out. I came a whisker away from a batoning that day, even though I'd done nothing but sing for the team. OK, not a great story, but some of those away days were brilliant, weren't they? I went to that game. Yes it was near the end of the season when we were promoted. I think that we had just signed John Aldridge from Newport (unless my mind is failing)
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Post by mickyd on Oct 1, 2014 23:00:23 GMT
That was first OUFC away day for me and mates as young nippers with no adults in tow, remember it well. Getting to Newport with a sea of yellow everywhere was fantastic, always loved our away days. Correct re John Aldridge, yellow legend.
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Post by bicesteryellow on Oct 2, 2014 6:00:31 GMT
I'm glad you rectified the title
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Post by saddletramp on Oct 2, 2014 7:08:04 GMT
Great idea mcf86. Here's a story. I can't remember which season it was, but Oxford played at Somerton Park in a league match that ended 1-1. I'm guessing it was a promotion season in the 1980s because there were loads of Oxford fans there (about 3,000 springs to mind). I remember an incredibly drunk guy chanting "we hate Pompey" at the Newport fans. No matter how many times his mates told him we weren't playing Portsmouth, he kept singing it until some over-zealous Gwent coppers threw him out. I came a whisker away from a batoning that day, even though I'd done nothing but sing for the team. OK, not a great story, but some of those away days were brilliant, weren't they? Are you getting confused with your Newport days ? Yes we drew 1-1 with an Aldridge goal in our promotion season,but in my (ageing) memory the crowd was a disappointing,4500 total,and the atmosphere tepid. But the previous year when we won 2-1 with a Trevor Hebbard double,we took shed loads down including a special train. Their was trouble in the pubs before the match,it was lively with the Taffy OB during the match,(who were seriously p*ssed that loads off the train got away from the escort) and the train got bricked on the way home as it went behind Somerton pk. The crowd was 5,800 with Oxford filling the away end. P.S.As ive posted before,Newport brought 350 to Wantage,first year in the Hellenic !(mind you its probably closer than Moreton in the Marsh where they played their home games)
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2014 7:49:13 GMT
I'm glad you rectified the title Oooh .... just noticed that! Wasn't me though, must have been one of the administrators. My money's on Steve.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2014 7:50:41 GMT
Great idea mcf86. Here's a story. I can't remember which season it was, but Oxford played at Somerton Park in a league match that ended 1-1. I'm guessing it was a promotion season in the 1980s because there were loads of Oxford fans there (about 3,000 springs to mind). I remember an incredibly drunk guy chanting "we hate Pompey" at the Newport fans. No matter how many times his mates told him we weren't playing Portsmouth, he kept singing it until some over-zealous Gwent coppers threw him out. I came a whisker away from a batoning that day, even though I'd done nothing but sing for the team. OK, not a great story, but some of those away days were brilliant, weren't they? Are you getting confused with your Newport days ? Yes we drew 1-1 with an Aldridge goal in our promotion season,but in my (ageing) memory the crowd was a disappointing,4500 total,and the atmosphere tepid. But the previous year when we won 2-1 with a Trevor Hebbard double,we took shed loads down including a special train. Their was trouble in the pubs before the match,it was lively with the Taffy OB during the match,(who were seriously p*ssed that loads off the train got away from the escort) and the train got bricked on the way home as it went behind Somerton pk. The crowd was 5,800 with Oxford filling the away end. P.S.As ive posted before,Newport brought 350 to Wantage,first year in the Hellenic !(mind you its probably closer than Moreton in the Marsh where they played their home games) Oh, I could quite easily be getting confused, but foley and mickyd seem to remember exactly the same game so maybe not. Whichever game it was, it was a fun day out!
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Post by dabigfella on Oct 2, 2014 8:07:50 GMT
Towards the end of the season it was. I remember that the away end (that was us) seemed to be about half a mile from the pitch. Difficult to raise an atmosphere like that.
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Post by McVicar on Oct 2, 2014 9:02:08 GMT
The promotion season game at Newport was a boiling hot day, loads of Oxford fans there, could well have been 3000 even in a crowd of only 4500 - the week previous we had taken 4000 to Bristol Rovers where the crowd was 6397 - I can remember getting onto the London Road coach after the Bristol Rovers game and the radio had a report from the game which confirmed that "Oxford fans took up two thirds of the attendance"...the Newport game the previous season as mentioned was won 2-1 with 2 goals from Hebberd, I was on the football special train - it was an evening game, we played in red, Roy Burton made a rare appearance, it was Xmas time and in fact was my first away game without adults! Good one to pick, I remember the police escort from the station to the ground and back again, loads of Oxford, yes and remember the train getting bricked on the way back (Cardiff fans?).
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2014 9:05:34 GMT
The promotion season game at Newport was a boiling hot day, loads of Oxford fans there, could well have been 3000 even in a crowd of only 4500 - the week previous we had taken 4000 to Bristol Rovers where the crowd was 6397 - I can remember getting onto the London Road coach after the Bristol Rovers game and the radio had a report from the game which confirmed that "Oxford fans took up two thirds of the attendance"...the Newport game the previous season as mentioned was won 2-1 with 2 goals from Hebberd, I was on the football special train - it was an evening game, we played in red, Roy Burton made a rare appearance, it was Xmas time and in fact was my first away game without adults! Good one to pick, I remember the police escort from the station to the ground and back again, loads of Oxford, yes and remember the train getting bricked on the way back (Cardiff fans?). I think that confirms it was definitely a late season 1-1 draw I was thinking of. It was certainly a Saturday and baking hot. The Gwent police that day made those at Luton last weekend seem like pussycats - they were obviously up for a scrap, although to be fair there were plenty of Ox fans in similar mood!
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Post by mcf86 on Oct 2, 2014 11:37:43 GMT
Sort of... *** Pre-Match thread - opponents name here *** Nice idea. Maybe start it for the next match after Newport, already there's been some interesting contributions and links to Newport on this thread -which is the sort of thing I had in mind?! UTM.
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Post by amershamdave on Oct 2, 2014 11:57:36 GMT
Talking of Newport........The first game of the '77 or '78 season was away to Newport. I went there. Me and a rather large lad called 'Harry' from Bicester (wonder where he is today.........hmm!) walked through their main side (where their lads were), to get to the end where our lot were. We we untouched. We lost the game I think - 2-1. I also remember the Bristol Rovers away game where we had 3,000 fans and Aldo made his debut, I think. Weird things happened after the game.
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Post by Robin Shater on Oct 2, 2014 12:19:48 GMT
I'm off to Cider country tomorrow to replenish my cellar. If anyone from Firoka would like me to bring some back for the Manor Bar, I would be quite happy to supply it at cost, on the condition that they charge no more than £3.50 a pint (that will still be more than a 250% mark up). The same offer applies to any pub near to the ground that welcomes Oxford United fans.
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Post by mcf86 on Oct 2, 2014 14:51:57 GMT
Talking of Newport........The first game of the '77 or '78 season was away to Newport. I went there. Me and a rather large lad called 'Harry' from Bicester (wonder where he is today.........hmm!) walked through their main side (where their lads were), to get to the end where our lot were. We we untouched. We lost the game I think - 2-1. I also remember the Bristol Rovers away game where we had 3,000 fans and Aldo made his debut, I think. Weird things happened after the game
Don't keep us in suspenders Dave, C'mon spill the beans!!
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Post by amershamdave on Oct 2, 2014 15:12:41 GMT
Er, all I can say is that, after the game, a monster-sized Rovers wurzell attacked a lot of Oxford fans, so I politely asked him to refrain from such bad behaviour.......I think they removed his face from his buttocks later that evening.
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Post by bicesteryellow on Oct 2, 2014 15:17:43 GMT
I'm glad you rectified the title Oooh .... just noticed that! Wasn't me though, must have been one of the administrators. My money's on Steve. It looks like it was Malcolm who has preserved my sanity. Thanks go to him.
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Post by docholiday on Oct 2, 2014 15:18:35 GMT
1 Box of Happy Daze please.
Have not had a decent pint of cider before the match, since the Priory shut.
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Post by Junior on Oct 2, 2014 15:32:17 GMT
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Post by londonroader on Oct 2, 2014 21:47:33 GMT
Talking of Newport........The first game of the '77 or '78 season was away to Newport. I went there. Me and a rather large lad called 'Harry' from Bicester (wonder where he is today.........hmm!) walked through their main side (where their lads were), to get to the end where our lot were. We we untouched. We lost the game I think - 2-1. I also remember the Bristol Rovers away game where we had 3,000 fans and Aldo made his debut, I think. Weird things happened after the game. Harry is around and a ST holder, you just won't recognise him nowadays.
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Post by dabigfella on Oct 3, 2014 9:16:25 GMT
Coming back to tomorrow's match, part of me desperately wants to believe that this is the one that really kick start the season. But the rest of me is a lot more pessimistic and thinks that a 0-0 draw is the best we can hope for.
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Post by gottagetbetta on Oct 3, 2014 10:57:54 GMT
I ought to be looking forward to the game tomorrow, but I'm not. So I figure if I go with low expectations, say 1-2 to Newport then I can tell myself I told myself. The crowd tomorrow? "We few, we happy few..."
PS if the wheels do fall off against Newport then surely the sands of time will have run out for Appleton? I applaud what he is trying to do, play Rolls Royce football, but not with the engine from an Allegro?
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Post by dubaiyellow on Oct 3, 2014 11:59:44 GMT
think it will come together tomorrow, expecting a clean sheet, collins and howard to shine. Barnett and Hylton to score - 2-0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2014 12:25:21 GMT
Great idea mcf86. Here's a story. I can't remember which season it was, but Oxford played at Somerton Park in a league match that ended 1-1. I'm guessing it was a promotion season in the 1980s because there were loads of Oxford fans there (about 3,000 springs to mind). I remember an incredibly drunk guy chanting "we hate Pompey" at the Newport fans. No matter how many times his mates told him we weren't playing Portsmouth, he kept singing it until some over-zealous Gwent coppers threw him out. I came a whisker away from a batoning that day, even though I'd done nothing but sing for the team. OK, not a great story, but some of those away days were brilliant, weren't they? yeah I was at that game all I remember was that they shut nearly all the pubs, wrote f*ck OFF OXFORD in big letters on the away end wall, there was barbed wire surrounding the away fans (weren't the eighties great?), John Aldridge scored, and it was very exciting because we had all but clinched promotion.
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Post by sarge on Oct 3, 2014 12:58:43 GMT
Great idea mcf86. Here's a story. I can't remember which season it was, but Oxford played at Somerton Park in a league match that ended 1-1. I'm guessing it was a promotion season in the 1980s because there were loads of Oxford fans there (about 3,000 springs to mind). I remember an incredibly drunk guy chanting "we hate Pompey" at the Newport fans. No matter how many times his mates told him we weren't playing Portsmouth, he kept singing it until some over-zealous Gwent coppers threw him out. I came a whisker away from a batoning that day, even though I'd done nothing but sing for the team. OK, not a great story, but some of those away days were brilliant, weren't they? yeah I was at that game all I remember was that they shut nearly all the pubs, wrote f*ck OFF OXFORD in big letters on the away end wall, there was barbed wire surrounding the away fans (weren't the eighties great?), John Aldridge scored, and it was very exciting because we had all but clinched promotion. Didnt aldo get voted newports player of the season, even though wed just signed him? ...due to the massive amount of votes submitted by the travelling oxford fans ( why we were given voting forms for Newport player of the season when going through the away turnstiles is beyond me?!!!)...twas a good away day ...like most were back then :-D
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Post by sarge on Oct 3, 2014 13:02:49 GMT
got a similar 'good vibe' feeling as I had prior to the home game with ' Stanley.... reckon were in for an impressive, if not emphatic, home win tomorrow, 3-0 Oxford... with Clarky playing (OR 2-1 Oxford with Long playing)
Besides 'we' owe Newport, thier 3-2 win last season finished our unbeaten away run AND marked the start of a huge slump in form that'we' are still struggling to recover from!
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Post by oxfordkne on Oct 3, 2014 22:44:51 GMT
I ought to be looking forward to the game tomorrow, but I'm not. So I figure if I go with low expectations, say 1-2 to Newport then I can tell myself I told myself. The crowd tomorrow? "We few, we happy few..." PS if the wheels do fall off against Newport then surely the sands of time will have run out for Appleton? I applaud what he is trying to do, play Rolls Royce football, but not with the engine from an Allegro? I had an allegro once (2 actually, a saloon and an estate), nothing wrong with the engine, the body styling was crap though !! I shall be in my normal seat in the SSU fingers crossed as usual. 2 nil to Oxford, wipe the smiles of the smug faces of the Newport away following who must think their team are invincible at the moment..
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Post by bonfireman on Oct 3, 2014 23:38:40 GMT
Talking of Newport........The first game of the '77 or '78 season was away to Newport. I went there. Me and a rather large lad called 'Harry' from Bicester (wonder where he is today.........hmm!) walked through their main side (where their lads were), to get to the end where our lot were. We we untouched. We lost the game I think - 2-1. I also remember the Bristol Rovers away game where we had 3,000 fans and Aldo made his debut, I think. Weird things happened after the game. Still in Bicester I reckon. Was at a bbq with him the other week
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