Last Update:
August 28, 2024
The Club moved to Rodney Parade, the home of Newport and Newport Gwent Dragons Rugby Clubs at the beginning of the 2012/13 season after spending eighteen years at Newport Stadium. Situated on the East bank of the River Usk, the stadium has seen some recent investment with the opening of two new stands. On one side is the Bisley Stand which was opened in 2011. This covered-all-seated stand has a capacity of just over 2,500 seats. It is single-tiered and incorporates 13 executive boxes, that run along the back of the stand. The roof is situated quite high up above the spectator’s area and incorporates a television gantry and pleasingly there are no supporting pillars to obstruct your view of the playing action. One unusual aspect of the stand is that the seats comprise several different colours, making for an eye-catching ‘polka dot’ effect. The stand has a row of four floodlight pylons protruding from its roof.
Opposite is the much older but classic-looking Hazell Stand. This covered stand has seating to the rear (with windshields to either side) and terracing to the front. There is a row of thin supporting pillars running across the middle of this stand. It does not run the full length of the pitch and has a portion of open terracing on one side towards the North End. The team dugouts are situated at the front of this stand, to one side, near the open terrace which is unused. It too has a set of four (rather older-looking) floodlight pylons protruding from its roof. Beyond the stand, you can see the supporting steelwork of the nearby bridge over the river Usk.
The North or Town End as it is also known was rebuilt in 2010. It is a small open terrace which is quite set back from the playing area. As it is small and uncovered it allows some good views across the centre of Newport and to the rolling countryside behind. In one corner between the North Terrace and Bisley Stand, there is a separate structure, that incorporates corporate facilities, offices and club shops.
At the South is a small open temporary stand of seating, which is located on one side towards the Bisley Stand. This runs for only half the width of the pitch. Behind this area is a strange-looking ‘double-decker’ type structure which I assume is used for corporate hospitality. On the other side in the corner is another strange-looking building with a large pyramid-shaped roof. This houses the dressing rooms and the teams come onto the pitch from this corner of the ground. There is an electric scoreboard mounted on the front of this building.
As Rodney Parade is first and foremost a rugby ground, then the playing area is very long, meaning that the football pitch area seems to have been dropped into the middle of it. This has resulted in quite large distances between the spectators at each end of the pitch and the goal line.
Away fans are mostly housed on one side of the Bisley Stand, where around 580 fans can be accommodated. This stand is all seated and covered and being a relatively new stand the facilities inside are good. The stand is shared with home supporters who are separated by a portion of green netting, draped over the seats. In addition, a small temporary block of open seating is also made available at the South End. This has a capacity of just over 400. As to be expected the seating in the Bisley Stand gives the better and more comfortable view of the game, but both areas share the same facilities.
The entrance Gate 6, to the away supporters section is at the opposite end of the stadium to the home areas and is accessed along Corporation Road (so no need to go through the main stadium entrance). It is poorly signposted and is a small pathway situated in between some residential houses. There are a couple of blue poles that mark the entrance, but that is about it. Outside the turnstiles, there is a small cabin that serves as the away ticket office. I noticed that supporters were being searched on entry. Even though the stand is rather new, the entrance turnstiles looked to be almost museum pieces!
I found the visit to be an enjoyable one, with the stewards certainly taking a relaxed and friendly approach. The atmosphere was good emanating from all sides and I noted a drummer in the Hazell Stand where most of the vociferous Newport fans seemed to congregate. In the undercroft behind the Bisley Stand, there is a flat-screen television mounted on a wall showing Sky Sports News.
- Excelsior Club – 209 Corporation Road, NP19 0EB
- Godfrey Morgan – 158 Chepstow Road, NP19 8EG
- John Wallace Linton – The Cambrian Centre, NP20 4AD
- Queen’s Hotel – 19 Bridge Street, NP20 4A
- Ye Olde Murrenger – 52 High Street, NP20 1GA
- Lamb Pub – 6 Bridge Street, NP20 4AL
- Cellar Door – 5 Clytha Park Road, NP20 4NZ
- Riverside Sports Bar – Clarence Place, NP19 7AB
- The Crown Inn – 18 Crown Street, NP19 8FU
There is a food outlet just inside the ground by the turnstiles serving amongst other things; Bacon Cheeseburgers (£4.50), 1/4lb Cheeseburger (£4), 1/4 Beefburger, Rollover Hot Dogs (£3.50), Bacon Rolls (£3.50), a selection of Deep Fill Pies (£2.80), ‘Monster’ Pasties (£3.50) and Chips (£2.50).
Ahead of Newport County’s FA Cup tie against Manchester United in January 2024, they provided the following travel advice to home supporters, “Home supporters are advised to approach Rodney Parade from the north end of the stadium (From the Newport Bridge direction). From here, supporters can access the Compeed Stand (Gate 2) from Rodney Road; access both the Compeed Terrace and North Terrace (both Gate 3), the North Stand (Gate 3B) as well as the Bisley Stand (Gates 4 & 7) from either the Memorial Gates or Main Entrance.”
The entrance Gate 6, to the away supporters section is at the opposite end of the stadium to the home areas and is accessed along Corporation Road (so no need to go through the main stadium entrance). It is poorly signposted and is a small pathway situated in between some residential houses. There are a couple of blue poles that mark the entrance, but that is about it. Outside the turnstiles, there is a small cabin that serves as the away ticket office. I noticed that supporters were being searched on entry. Even though the stand is rather new, the entrance turnstiles looked to be almost museum pieces!
From the North & East
Leave the M4 at Junction 24 (or from the A449 from Monmouth/Midlands) and take the B4237, signposted Newport (E). After approximately 2.5 five miles turn left at a set of traffic lights, signposted B4237 (there is also the George pub on the right-hand corner). Go under a bridge and at the next set of traffic lights turn right into Corporation Road. After passing an ATS garage on your right, you will see the away supporters entrance on your left. For the stadium’s main entrance take the next left onto Grafton Road.
From the West
Leave the M4 at Junction 26 and take the A4051 towards Newport. After going under a flyover (which is the A4042) you will reach a large roundabout where you take the 2nd exit keeping in the filter lane towards the City Centre/Railway Station (do not go up the adjoining slip road onto the A4042). At the next roundabout take the 1st exit going across the river onto the B4591 towards Maindee. At the traffic lights bear right onto Chepstow Road and then take the first right into Corporation Road. Take the next right into Grafton Road and the entrance is down on the left.
Car parking
There is no parking available at the ground for supporters and there is a ‘residents only’ parking scheme in operation in the street around the stadium. However, it is a bit of an odd scheme as far as I could see, as most nearby roads seemed to have parking restrictions on one side of the road only. Arriving two hours before kick off I was able to park across the road from the away entrance. So street parking is possible but please pay attention to any parking restriction signs. Alternatively, you can use one of the city centre car parks which are around a 15-minute walk away.
Post Code for SAT NAV: NP19 0UU
Newport Railway Station is situated around a quarter of a mile away from the stadium and is a relatively short walk. The station is served by trains from London Paddington, Bristol Temple Meads & Birmingham New Street. As you come out of the main station entrance turn left along the main (Queensway) road. Follow this road until you reach a large roundabout. Take the pedestrian underpass down underneath the roundabout and at the centre turn left towards Clarence Place/River Usk. After you have come back up to street level you should see a bridge in front of you going across the river. Cross the bridge and then take the first right-hand turn into Rodney Parade and the stadium is down this road on the left.
For fans wanting to stay overnight in reasonably priced accommodation, here are a couple of suggestions.
- Travelodge Newport Central – 66 Bridge St, Newport NP20 4AQ Wales
- Mercure Newport Hotel – Chartist Tower Upper Dock Street, Newport NP20 1DW Wales
Adult: £21-£24
Senior: £19-£20
16-21: £15-£18
U16: £12
U6: FREE
Home supporters are also able to purchase tickets online.
With Newport County’s ground only being built in the nineties there are obvious questions that spring to mind about where the club were beforehand. On formation in 1912, they had their eyes on a stadium – Somerton Park – but issues prevented them playing their games there for some time hence their nickname of the Exiles. Eventually, they moved in though and remained there until their move to Rodney Parade.
For details of disabled facilities and club contact at the ground please visit the relevant page on the Level Playing Field website.
Record Attendance
9,836* v Tottenham Hotspur
FA Cup 4th Round, 27th January 2018
Average Attendance
2023-2024: 4,394 (League Two)
2022-2023: 4,137 (League Two)
2021-2022: 3,217 (League Two)
2020-2021: 0 (Covid) (League Two)
2019-2020: 3,867 (League Two)
* Additional temporary seating was erected at Rodney Parade for this match.
Ground Layout
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Images
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Newport County v Dartford
Conference National League
Saturday, March 30th 2013, 3pm
Gideon Birch (Dartford fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
It was my first ever Dartford game outside of Kent, and there was good weather. I'd looked up the stadium on football ground guide beforehand and liked the look of the Bisley Stand
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I took the supporter's coach to Newport so finding the ground of course wasn't a problem. There was a bit of a walk to the away turnstiles from where the coach parked, but that wasn't a problem.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
I stayed in the away bar in the Bisley Stand before the game. It was modern and had the Sunderland v Man United game on TV.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The Bisley Stand was very modern and eye catching. The other stands, not so much. The Hazell stand particularly looked as if it has seen better days and both ends were uncovered.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
It finished 0-0 but it was still a good away day. The stewards were much more pleasant and helpful than at some grounds I've been to since. The only downside of the day was that they were only expecting 20 Darts fans (or at least that's what I heard) but 119 of us turned up. They ran out of food at half time.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
There was no problem getting away. Bit of traffic but that's what you'd expect after a football game.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Excluding the boring game, it was a great day out. Great stadium and a good-ish atmosphere.
Newport County v Oldham Athletic
League 2
Saturday 23rd November 2019, 3pm
Thomas Inglis (Visiting Dundee United fan)
Newport County v Exeter City
League 2
Saturday 21st September 2019, 3pm
John Baker (Exeter City)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Rodney Parade Ground?
Supporting the team.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We drove up to Newport and arrived in plenty of time to find a parking space as previous visits have told that parking spaces are like gold dust in the streets around Rodney Parade and this was the case again this season.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
It was a very hot day 24C and sunny so we went straight to the ground with the gates opening about 1:45.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Rodney Parade?
I have been to Newport several times before so I knew exactly what to expect…I have to be honest and say that the surroundings are not that easy on the eye at Rodney Parade…that said I do like the small but clean and tidy Bisley Stand down one side of the pitch with one half of it for away seating supporters where we sat…I find the rest of the ground to be unappealing with more away seating only uncovered behind one of the goals this part of the ground has a very good LCD screen though.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
It was a game of two halves with City having the best of the first half with Newport on top in the second, the game finished 1:1 with the Newport equaliser coming from a controversial penalty award a draw was a fair result in the end. The stewards were very friendly and helpful even providing jugs of water to some of the supporters who were beginning to struggle with strong sun and heat. The catering facilities behind the Bisley Stand were closed so we had to share the facilities that are next to the uncovered seating end.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We got away quite quickly as there didn’t appear to be much-queuing traffic that day.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
We were happy to come away with a draw on a lovely sunny day. But I don’t think I’d ever put Newport on my favourite away day list.
Newport County v West Ham United
League Cup Round 2
Tuesday 27th August 2019, 7.45pm
Ian Ford (West Ham United)
Newport County v Crewe Alexandra
League 2
Saturday 24th August 2019, 3pm
Andrew Davidson (Doing the 92)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Rodney Parade Ground?
As we were staying In Westbury, I wanted to tick off a new ground. At first, I had planned to go to Bristol Rovers, but as Rodney Parade is very near a railway station, I decided to opt for a trip to South Wales.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
My daughter and I traveled on the 11.10 train from Westbury to Newport, which arrived 20 minutes late at our destination. The ground is very easy to reach via the beautiful Newport City Bridge from the station and shopping area.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We ate jacket potatoes at a cafe in the city centre and had a look around the shops. The staff in the NCFC shop in town were very friendly as were all the fans we encountered.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Rodney Parade?
The ground is quite difficult to navigate around as we wanted to sit in the new Bisley Stand. On entering Rodney Parade, I liked the unusual nature of the layout, with a large gap behind one goal. The Crewe fans were at the other end of the stand and were pretty noisy.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself was played in very hot conditions and was fairly mundane, Newport not really deserving their very late winner. The atmosphere was excellent and the stewards were great, as they let us move into more shaded seats. The only downside was the food and drink service, as only one outlet was open at half time. The price of food and drink seemed pretty average. We shared some chips and had a soft drink each.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We walked back to the station, via the shops, and caught the 5.44 train back to Westbury.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
The visit was very enjoyable and I would like to go back for a Dragons rugby match. I would certainly recommend traveling by train to the ground and using the brilliant footbridge to access the stadium.
Newport County v Plymouth Argyle
League 2
Saturday 17th August 2019, 3pm
Adrian Hurst (Neutral)
Newport County v Mansfield Town
League Two
Saturday 3rd August 2019, 3pm
Sam Jones (Doing the 92)
Newport County v Mansfield Town
League 2
Saturday 9th February 2019, 3pm
Andrew Wood (Mansfield Town)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Rodney Parade Ground?
I try to see 8-10 Stags games a season, which, living 200 miles from Mansfield, and working two Saturdays on and two Saturdays off (one of which is directly after a night shift) doesn't make it easy. This, incredibly, was my first Stags game of the season, having previously been foiled by train strikes, rail engineering work, early (13.00) kick-offs that don't allow for train delays, and incredibly, international call-ups (for Stags players, not myself, I hasten to add!).
I was determined to get to this one, as despite having been to Newports old ground, Rodney Parade is a new ground for me. I booked a hotel for the weekend, and hoped nothing else could go wrong!
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Travelled on Friday, so no problems likely on the day, other than worrying the weather may have an adverse reaction on Newport's notoriously poor pitch. Lots of rain in South Wales prior to matchday, but the rain eased off and all was okay. The ground is only a short walk from the city centre and reasonably signposted (although if you follow one sign literally you'd believe Newport played in the river).
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
As I was staying in Newport, it was breakfast, check at the ground that the match was on, and into the city centre for a couple of pre-match pints in a Wetherspoon's pub that had Fulham v Manchester United on big screens. I stand to be corrected, but I think this is the first time I can remember a Wetherspoon's showing the footy? Not too many home fans about, but most were looking forward to the following week's FA Cup clash with Manchester City and were friendly enough.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Rodney Parade Stadium?
A real curio! Where to begin? As I didn't want a seat, I had to get a ticket to stand with the home fans. If you approach the ground via the smaller bridge, you have no idea where to get tickets from. As I watched fans entering the outer area of the ground from a couple of hundred yards away, I realised this was perhaps where I needed to be. I eventually got to queue up at a ticket office, where I was given totally opposite information from one of Newport's 'Here to help' stewards. Anyhow, I got a ticket for the covered home terrace.
Outside the ground, there was a large beer tent which appeared to be a fanzone. A good idea, and a nice family atmosphere in here. The ground is a mix of old and new. Behind one goal is an open terrace, not used for this game, other than by a few disabled fans, who I'd like to think are offered better facilities if it was raining. Behind the other goal is a block of uncovered seating, which I guess is bought into use if there's a large travelling support. Also behind this goal is what looks to be either a corporate hospitality box or a press box. Hard to tell, but for nostalgia fans like me, it reminded me of the curious seating area at Oxford's old Manor ground. There is also a large scoreboard in this area of the ground.
Along the two sides are the modern 'Bisley' Stand which somehow seems out of place in this old fashioned stadium. The away fans are allocated approximately 600 seats at the far end of this stand. The other side is the home terrace, which is partially covered, and crumbling in a 1980's kind of way. Behind this terrace is a large, rather old looking seated area, very reminiscent as to how grounds used to look, before virtually everywhere became all-seater and characterless. I like this ground!
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Mansfield had only lost one away league game all season, so with me making my season's debut, I knew what was coming! Stags should have taken the lead in the opening minute, with Nicky Ajose blasting over the bar from 10 yards out, but after that, we huffed and puffed, but never really looked like scoring which was unfortunate, as Robbie Willmott gave Newport the lead after 15 minutes, and that was how it stayed.
Stags had lots of pressure, but Newport always looked good on the break. It was quite a physical game, and Stags substitute Danny Rose was taken off only five minutes after coming on due to possibly getting a broken jaw, and losing teeth. Seeing his blood being mopped up from the centre circle with a towel was not a pleasant sight, and we can only hope he's ok. Fair play to the Newport fans who applauded him off.
Facilities wise, the loos were just about acceptable. Food and drink were mostly okay, giant pasties reasonably priced (although a bit too hot) at £3.50, pies were £2.80, and not your standard Pukka pie, well done Newport. Burgers though were too pricey, £3.50 for a small burger, £4 if you wanted a thin slice of cheese with it. These came ready packed and mine was lukewarm, and you couldn't get onions with it. Hot drinks all seemed to be £1.50, and there were also chips, bacon rolls and hot dogs. There were only two people serving in the busiest part of the ground, so queues were long. I did notice another food outlet on the home terrace which was closed, so would hope they open it up for big games. You can also get beer from 'Worthington's bar' in the home end. No idea of the price though, but it was doing a good trade.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
After 12 minutes of injury time, I was just glad the game ended as it was getting proper cold. Straight out of the ground and into the town centre. The crowd was just over 3000, so not too difficult to get away from the area.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Glad I got to see a new ground that has a bit of character, but sorry the Stags suffered a rare away defeat. Danny Rose's injury made for uncomfortable viewing, and his well being should take precedence. From my own point of view, I'm (rather selfishly) just glad the game wasn't rained off, and I can add the quirky Rodney Parade to my list of (200+) grounds visited. Give it a go, you won't be disappointed.
Newport County v Grimsby Town
League 2
Saturday 25th August 2018, 3pm
Kevin Dixon (Grimsby Town)
Newport County v Notts County
League Two
Saturday 17th February 2018, 3pm
David Wells (Doing the 92)
Newport County v Morecambe
League 2
Tuesday 23rd January 2018, 7.45pm
Stuart (Morecambe fan)
Newport County v Leeds United
FA Cup 3rd Round
Sunday 7th January 2018, 12 noon
Phillip Bell (Leeds United fan)
Newport County v Leeds United
FA Cup 3rd Round
Sunday 7th January 2018, 12 noon
Shaun (Leeds United fan)
Newport County v Exeter City
Football League two
Saturday 31st December 2016, 3pm
Ryan Pugh (Exeter City fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Rodney Parade?
I was looking forward to the game, as Newport were bottom, and our away record is impressive – all pointers towards an away win.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Caught the train at 10:23, arrived around 12:25, with one change at Bristol. Once we got off and looked around, finding the Rodney Parade ground was simple. We used Google maps to find the shopping centre, which had a pedestrian bridge opposite – which went straight to the stadium.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We went to a McDonalds which was close to the station, then walked around to kill some time (we had two hours). We didn't encounter any home fans, although the staff outside the ground were polite and helpful.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Rodney Parade?
From the outside, Rodney Parade is in a dull area, with nothing to offer much to the eye. Inside, the South Stand was closed, due to damages, so we were all housed into one side of the Bisley Stand. All the stands were poor, with the Bisley Stand probably being the better of the four. We eventually filled up the stand, forcing the stewards to open up part of the South Stand, so a load of us moved into there. The base of this temporary stand did not seem at all sturdy, so you could see how it was damaged so easily.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
It took us until the dying minutes of the first half to score, which knocked the stuffing out of Newport, as we went on to win 4-1, a dominant performance, you can see why they are bottom. We made atmosphere throughout the match as best we could, as the South Stand has no roof. The stewards were really pleasant, and we shared some lighthearted banter with them – top marks to Newport! Double 1/2 pound Cheeseburger was £5, and was quite nice, and I wouldn't call it a rip off.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We weren't in a rush, as we had 40-50 minutes to walk to the railway station (a ten minute walk). We had enough time to stay in the ground for a bit, take our time, and grab some more food.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall, a very good day out – and my favourite so far! Only downside is that there isn't much to do pre-match, but apart from that, Rodney Parade was an enjoyable away day.
Newport County v Plymouth Argyle
FA Cup Second Round Replay
Wednesday 21st December 2016, 7.45pm
Bryan Davis (Plymouth Argyle fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Rodney Parade Ground?
This was a "big game" as we knew that whoever won was going to Anfield to play Liverpool in the third round of the cup. Both this game and the next round were to be televised too, so this would be financially lucrative to whoever went through.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
It was easy enough to get to Newport by car and we parked at the Kingsway Shopping Centre car park. As it was an evening game it was only £1 to park. From there it's a short walk over the footbridge to the Rodney Parade ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We didn't have much time before the game, five minutes spare at the most. The weekday evening kick-off making it a bit tight to get there for kick off after work.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Rodney Parade?
There had been much talk in the press about the state of the pitch but it didn't look as bad as I feared. We were in the front row of the Bisley Stand, which is the newest stand and although covered I'm sure we'd have got wet if it had rained as the roof is very high up. Other Argyle fans were behind the goal on what I believe to be temporary seating. Opposite the Bisley is the Hazell stand which is a traditional stand, a bit dated maybe but it looked ok. I couldn't really see the facilities at the far end of the pitch.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was a hard fought affair, played in a good spirit on a bumpy pitch. Both teams had chances but couldn't find a way past the respective 'keeper. It took until the 72nd minute before there was a corner, but no goals after 90 minutes saw us into extra time. Argyle had a penalty awarded in the first period of extra time but it was driven against the post. Another penalty awarded to Argyle in the 113th minute was taken by Graham Carey and drilled home to send the 944 away fans wild. There were over 5,000 in attendance and the atmosphere throughout the match was great, both sets of fans making themselves heard. The stewards I spoke to were all fine, there was a bit of a commotion behind us after the missed penalty but I think it was sorted out without any heavy handedness. Cheese burger (£4.50) & chips (£3.00) was a bit pricey but okay. Tea or coffee £2. Facilities in the Bisley Stand are modern.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Easy getting out from the ground, some of the Argyle fans were singing as we walked towards the footbridge but there was no hassle from any of the Newport supporters. As it was a late finish getting out of town was easy.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A great evening out with some edge of your seat/fingernail biting football. I'd happily go to Rodney Parade again.
Newport County v Plymouth Argyle
Football League Two
Saturday 22nd October 2016, 3pm
Louis Sanderson (Plymouth Argyle fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Rodney Parade?
Newport County is one of the closer games for Argyle this season (crazy as that may seem) and me and my mate Fin were dead set that we would go to this match. So top of the league we booked our tickets in hope of dry weather.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The train journey from Plymouth was pretty simple. The only complicated part was changing at Bristol and that turned out to be a breeze. Can I also recommend to anyone who doesn't to look up split ticketing on trains, as it saves you tonnes. We arrived in Newport at about 1:30pm and prepared to head to the ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Before the match we had a quick look around Newport City Centre which has a lot of shops to keep you happy. I noticed a number of Argyle fans at the Lamb pub, which is very close to Newport Railway Station. I didn't see any Newport fans before the game. With our bags stoked up full of food and what not, we headed down to the river to find the bridge over the River Usk which leads to the ground (it's the footbridge with the massive steel tower at one end).
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Rodney Parade?
After buying a very large and interesting to read programme, I decided it was time to head into Rodney Parade and get some good seats. We sat in the very obviously temporary seating in the South End which looks like it was put up for one game. It's literally just some seats on a small bit of grass. The Bisley Stand looked very nice and modern, while the Hazell stand looked rather classic with standing in front, seating at the back. Not the prettiest ground on the eye overall.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Argyle got off the blocks quickly with a penalty after Newport goalie Joe Day was sent off. Newport struck back with a fab Jon Parkin volley from 35 yards, before Argyle got another penalty. Natural finisher, of sorts, Jordan Slew got Argyle's third to wrap up the game. 3-1. I ended up standing on my seat at the back of the which gave me a great view. Stewards and Welsh police were very strict on some overjoyed Argyle fans leading to a few unpleasant bust ups that were quickly sorted. But an okay experience overall. Facilities inside the Bisley Stand are very well kept, albeit drinks were a bit expensive for my liking.
Our View Of Rodney Parade
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away was a doddle as I walked back from the ground to the station with a few of my mates mates. We caught the 5:45pm train from Newport and got back about 8:45pm in Plymouth.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I thought the trip to Newport was quite a good trip as I had great fun with other Argyle fans in the Welsh town. The Rodney Parade ground may not look pretty on the eye but I definitely would come back if Argyle get the chance. It's a thumbs up from me!
Newport County v Barnet
Football League Two
Saturday 3rd September 2016, 3pm
Mark Munday (Doing the 92)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Rodney Parade?
I was looking forward to visiting the Rodney Parade ground as I hadn't been before as part of my quest to complete visits to all 92 Premier and Football League Grounds.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
It was very easy route into Newport from Junction 25 of the M4. I wasn't sure exactly where the ground was but came across it almost by accident. It was easy to park in the street next Rodney Parade.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I was with my three young boys so we spent our time visiting a local museum in the city centre, which was a short walk away. The few home fans we came across were very friendly.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Rodney Parade?
Rodney Parade certainly has lots of character. We were sat in the newer Main Stand in the family enclosure (which is located at the opposite end of the stand to the away supporters).There was an open terrace at one end, but was sparsely populated. This was not surprising due to the awful wet weather. The stand opposite us was noisy with a terraced area in front of the seats.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Considering the conditions it wasn't a bad game. However it was a shame that it was abandoned at half time due to the heavy rain. Barnet looked much the bigger threat going forward with two pacey and strong forwards.Akinde for Barnet scored almost straight from the kick off, the time of which was later given as 23 seconds!
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Very easy and I headed back towards Junction 26 of the M4 and was away within five minutes.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Very enjoyable, but a shame it was abandoned at half time. The rain was getting heavier so probably the correct decision. So be warned when visiting Rodney Parade in wet weather!
Newport County v Mansfield Town
Football League Two
Saturday 6th August 2016, 3pm
Paul Dickinson (Doing the 92)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Rodney Parade?
Having previously completed the 92, I've ended up needing to do two of the current grounds to finish it once again; Newport and the new West Ham United London Stadium Given that my team (Leeds) were playing at QPR the following day, it was an easy decision to combine both visits to Newport and QPR during the same weekend.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Due to meeting friends at Peterborough early on Sunday morning for the train down to London, I ended up driving to Burton from Leeds, getting a direct train to Newport from there….and then driving to Peterborough afterwards for an overnight stay. The ground is easy to find based on the directions in this guide – comfortable 10 minute walk from Newport Railway Station.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
As I was on my own for this game, I went straight into the ground. The home fans seemed friendly enough but the same couldn't be said for the Mansfield fans – a group of them were holed up in a pub just as you cross the river, goading Newport fans and the Police. Its sadly something I see regularly at Leeds away games but there was definitely a tense atmosphere – I discovered afterwards there had been serious trouble between these two clubs a few years ago, so feelings were obviously running high.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Rodney Parade?
I sat in the Bisley Stand just to the right of the halfway line and had an excellent view of the game. I liked the look of the stand opposite (I'm always a fan of stands that have seats at the back and a terrace "paddock" out front) but was less enamoured with the two stands behind the goal, one of which was empty and the other one miles away from the pitch!
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
It was an enjoyable game played at a good tempo, especially given it was the first game of the season and in very warm temperatures. I had to leave early to get my train back to Burton, so missed Mansfields injury time winner.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Sadly, the issue I identified pre-match was also present after the game As I came out of the road from the home end, there were a small group of Newport fans in front of me and a similar group from Mansfield approaching from the street to the right. There was the usual verbals, threats and the Police had to intervene. This left me in a very vulnerable position as I was on my own and from a Mansfield perspective, they had clearly seen me leaving the home end. As is usually best to do in these circumstances, I got my head down and arrived at the train station just in time for my train at 4.55pm.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I'm glad to have got this ground ticked off but the tension around the ground did put a dampener on the day – unless Leeds end up drawing Newport in the cup, I won't be going back! Given I've also had problems watching Leeds at Cardiff and Swansea over the years it's hard not to conclude that there is definitely an "England/Wales" issue surrounding these games.
Newport County v Plymouth Argyle
League Two Saturday
28th December 2015, 3pm
Tom Harris (Plymouth Argyle fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Rodney Parade?
Newport County was to be my first league away game of the season following Argyle. So I was excited going into this game especially off the back of a home win two days earlier against Yeovil. However I wasn't really looking forward to visiting Rodney Parade, because I had been before when Argyle lost there 2-0.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We parked in one of the multi-storey car parks in the centre of Newport and walked through the town and across the bridge from where you can see the floodlights of the ground. There are a few car parks to choose from in Newport, so no issue there.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Went straight into the stadium, got no hassle from home fans as I proudly showed off my Argyle shirt through the city centre.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Rodney Parade?
Rodney Parade is a small ground meant for rugby ideally. The away end if you didn't have covered seating was poor. Due to the heavy rain and having no cover, it was like a mud bath at the bottom. Plus the stand didn't feel all that safe as bounced up and down on it after we had scored!
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
It was a good game, felt we were the better team and were unlucky to go a goal down, but as ever with Derek Adams as gaffer we fought back and deserved the 2-1 win. The stewards were okay and the half time burger was good.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
It got a bit cramped getting out of the stadium but once out it was fine and again no hassle from the Newport fans.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A very good day out, happy to see us come from behind to win the game and to have a pleasant day at Rodney Parade.
Newport County v Stevenage
League Two
Saturday 15th August 2015, 3pm
James Walker (Stevenage fan)
Why were you looking forward to going to Rodney Parade?
I was looking forward to this game because it was the first league away game of the season, and a new ground which I had to miss last season. We also had a new manager in Teddy Sheringham and it was a chance to build on the very good display we had shown at Ipswich in the Capital One Cup the previous Tuesday night.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I took the supporters coach which left The Lamex Stadium at around 10:30am, and arrived in South Wales just before 2pm with a short services break near Bristol. Finding the ground wasn't that simple as it is hidden amongst houses and isn't clearly visable until you're right outside. Luckily we found it okay and our driver dropped us outside a little alley that leads down to the away end.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Not normally one for drinking at an away day and only having an hour until kick off, I decided to go straight in to the stadium. You just need to walk down the alley and turn right to reach the turnstiles. Before entering you will be sarched by a line of stewards, who kept saying "no water bottles allowed inside" but didn't notice me walking through with one. The is a portakabin directly opposite selling tickets for people who hadn't bought in advance. Having already bought my ticket, I went straight in to the stand, buying a matchday programme and a matchday badge on route (£3.50 each) as well as a teamsheet for 50p. I then went to get something to eat, but the catering didn't impress me a huge amount. No pies on sale in the away end, and what they did have was expensive. I ended up purchasing a sauage & chips for £5 (tasted nice but I do think the price was a bit steep) and then going to find a seat.
What you thought on seeing Rodney Parade, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
I had mixed feelings about seeing Rodney Parade. A small part of me wasn't keen on it for some reason, but mostly I liked it because it's one of those stadiums which scream 'non league' and it's always good to return to one now and then! Our stand actually looked the most modern. The seated stand to our left (which apparently is another part of the away end) was open, and so wouldn't have been good to be in had we been playing here in winter like last season! The stand to our right is an open terrace, which was the home end.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself started well for us, in a first half which we completely controlled and eventually took a deserved lead in the 39th minute through Dipo Akinyemi. The second half however was a different story from our point of view as we went 2-1 down. Luckily we equalised in the 90th minute through a Mark Hughes header, which rescued us a point The stewards were friendly and let us stand freely during the match. I didn't speak too much to them as I find the Welsh accent difficult to understand, but they were helping anybody who needed assistance, and were even helping our fans put our flags up before the game.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away from the ground was so straightforward, as we weren't held up in any stadium traffic and were back in England before we knew it. However we then got held up on the M4 due to a serious crash. This meant we arrived back at the Lamex Stadium at around 8.30pm.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall the day was enjoyable and straightforward. A nice tidy ground in lovely weather where we didn't lose. A visit I enjoyed and one where I won't hesitate in returning to next season
Half Time: Newport County 0-1 Stevenage Full Time: Newport County 2-2 Stevenage Attendance: 2,521 (102 away) Ground number: 64 of the 92
Newport vs Oxford United
League Two
Saturday 2nd May 2015, 3pm
Paul Finch (Oxford United fan)
Why you were looking forward to going to Rodney Parade?
New ground to tick off the list and with it being a end of season match always the best way seeing your team on the road for the last time that season.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
A straight forward train journey down, helped my living in Didcot we hopped on to platform 1 at Didcot Parkway and caught the main line train straight down to Newport. ( Note to anyone who travels down on a Saturday you must get off at Swindon and then wait for the next train to arrive to get down to Newport) very bizarre as it is all on the same line.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Prior to leaving the railway station we did not know what way it was to the ground but bumped in to the local Police Force who directed us into the town centre and advised on which pubs to go into. We did attempt to go into the local Wetherspoons but got turned away by the doormen for being in colours, so we settled for a pub in the next street along called the Pen and Wig. The cost of a pint of lager there was below £3 and they did a selection of food on the menu as well. After leaving the pub we headed off to the ground and followed some Newport fans on the way who was very chatty and knowledgeable about there team.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
My first impression of the ground itself was where do we go from now to get to the away end? As the ground is situated behind a housing estate with narrow alleyways and a bit of a rat run to say the least, but the stewards pointed us in the right direction. Newport must be the only ground in the country as well not to have a undercover shelter for the away fans and with it being a very wet day we had to make the most of getting soaked like drowned rats, ( Advise to anyone going down in the rain make sure to take a umbrella with you or have a big coat with a hood otherwise you will freeze.)
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself was very scrappy considering it was a end of season game with both sides not having to play for anything, Thankfully for us Oxford fans we saw one bit off magic by Kemar Roofe who scored a twenty yard shot in front of the away fans for us to be sent home very happy with 3 points and a 1:0 victory away from home. Stewards were no problem hardly noticed they were there and when we asked a question answered very honestly and helpful. We queued up for some food before the game and had a double Cheese Burger which was £4.50 and not bad value for money. Other selections included pies, burgers, and sausage rolls. A bar was available for us away fans away but was not very impressed with the selection of lagers there but anyone who likes carling then you can get a can for £3:50.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
No major delays in getting out of the ground. We headed back into town and went to the riverside pub/club which is situated next to the river and had a few more pints and chatted to a few Newport fans before getting the 18:40 train back home.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall day was very wet and windy with a scrappy bit of football on offer. Still coming home with a 1:0 win was very delightful. Plus for anyone who wants to tick off this ground then I strongly recommend going down for cheap beer and to meet some of the most friendliest fans you can meet in this league.
Newport County v Mansfield Town
League Two
Tuesday 3rd March 2015, 7.45pm
Johnnie Campbell (Newport County fan)
Why you were looking forward to going to the One Call Stadium?
After visiting last season, where the reception was rather hostile, I decided to return see if the facilities and 'welcome' had improved.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Good journey down, but there was some confusion as to where the supporters coach should park up. The coach was turned away from one side of the ground and made to turn around in a tight space. Whilst all this was going on the thirty or so Newport fans on board were not allowed to get off. Eventually we were directed to park up on the other side of the stadium. The stewards outside the away turnstiles informed us that we would not be allowed to use the bar facilities at the ground, despite us having used them last year with no trouble. We were just given some vague directions to a pub in the town centre about a 15-20 minute walk away. I decided not to bother at just enter the stadium, once opened, as I didn't feel welcome at all.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Waited for 45 mins to gain entry to the ground. Did not rally encounter any locals.
What you thought on seeing the One Call Stadium, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
Seating was good with a clear view. However the ground a strange mix of stands and hospitality.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Super game, not the best atmosphere. Pies (Steak only) cost £3 and were okay. The matchday programme was expensive at £3.50. The Stewards very good, really chatty. Best part of the visit apart from result.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
No issues, even the local constabulary were friendly.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
An 87th minute winner for Mansfield and three points made up for the uncaring welcome. The actual experience was worse than last year but the result made it a great journey home.
Newport County v Shrewsbury Town
League Two
Saturday, January 31st 2015, 3pm
Russell Teece (Shrewsbury Town fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
I had never seen Town play in Newport before and given that both teams were well placed in the league I was hoping for a decent game.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey took a little over 2 and a half hours due to a road closure on the A49. Most fans travelling from Shropshire were aware of this before travelling so it wasn't a massive issue. After reading another review on this site I did some research into car parking and found the Maindee pay and display on Chepstow Road (junction with Merriots Place) £1.50 for three hours and an easy five minute walk from the away entrance at Rodney Parade. There looked like there may have been on street parking in the same area but I did not check to see if these streets were permit controlled.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
Five of us travelled and with three being teenagers, we walked into the city centre (20 min walk) and found a Subway for lunch. There was a planned demonstration by some right-wing group going on that afternoon and there was a large police presence in the city centre. We didn't hang around in the centre for long and the only home fans we encountered were those walking to the ground. All were friendly enough.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Rodney parade is definitely one of the oddest grounds I have been to. It's an obvious thing to say but even with football nets erected it still feels like a second grade rugby ground. The Hazell Stand has an elongated clubhouse look about it. I thought it more akin to a cricket pavilion. The bloke next to me suggested it was similar to the wooden grandstand at our agricultural society showground in Shrewsbury. The Bisley Stand looks incongruous opposite the Hazell, all shiny and new. It didn't rain on the day we were there, which is a good thing as the high roof on this stand probably only protects the lucky ones sitting at the very back. Mind you that is better than the protection offered to the away fans sitting in the temporary (cheaper) seats that have been plonked at the South end of the ground. I would have preferred if this had been terracing as at the North end of the stadium, at least I could have moved around a bit to try and stay warm!
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
I was pleasantly surprised by the look of the pitch when we walked into the ground. It looked level and green, well suited for our passing game and with a strong northerly wind that would have been the wise way to play. My opinion of the pitch changed as soon as the first ball was rolled along the surface, every attempted pass along the ground bobbled and hopped. Ultimately both teams opted for a more aerial style of play with the ball then being affected by the wind. This resulted in one of the poorest games of the season so far, with very little quality displayed by either side. A draw would have been a fair outcome but we managed to nick it in the last 15 minutes with a goal, the lead up to which summed up the days "entertainment" very well.
The stewards I encountered were friendly and helpful and as we had use of the facilities in the newer stand they were more than adequate.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
With only 3,700 in attendance there were no problems leaving the ground. The car was parked on our route out of the city and we had no problems getting out and away. We were back in the 'Shire within a couple of hours.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I enjoyed attending a new ground and seeing the team pick up three important points against a promotion rival. The ground is nice and easy to get to and there were no problems with the fans, stewards or anyone connected with the club. Heated seats would have been nice!
Newport County v York City
League Two
Saturday, October 11th 2014, 3pm
Chris Richards (Neutral fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
As it was international weekend, I targeted Newport due to the fact they were relatively recent returnees to the League and playing at a ground within easy reach from the West Midlands. I always look forward to visiting a new ground along with the local area. It’s only in hindsight when, sometimes, I’m not so keen. Fortunately, Newport was a good day out.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
South Wales from the West Midlands in a car is a doddle. M5, M50 a straight run down to the M4 and off at J26. I did my homework on Google Street View and drove to the long stay car park on Godfrey Road. Lots of room but at £7.70 I should have hunted out somewhere cheaper. You live and learn. Also, you are not supposed to cross the railway lines through the station – annoying after you spent nearly £8 to park.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
As I was with wife, we took the opportunity to visit the City of Newport. Like most town centres these days it could be considered tired and has its fair share of boarded up shops but the main shopping areas are vibrant and busy. There’s a fantastic indoor market off the High Street which is well worth a look and the area on the riverside is a tidy place to stroll around and offers up fine views across the Usk.
There’s a fine choice of eating/drinking establishments in the city centre. We ended up at The John Wallace Linton on the Cambrian Road. If you’ve ever been to a Wetherspoons you will know what it was like.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
Rodney Parade is a 10 minute walk crossing the River Usk from the town centre. We entered the ground on Beresford Road into a large open space with the ground about 100 yards from the gate. It looked trim and tidy and had a “busy” atmosphere as we walked up to the turnstiles.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
On the way into the ground the weather was dull and drizzly – Now that’s the beauty of Wales. Give it 10 minutes and it was bright sunshine and as we were in the “West Facing” Bisley Stand the sun was in our eyes for the whole game. On entry to the ground, I stopped off to take a photo through some fencing. A steward approached me and I thought “this could be trouble” but he opened a gate for me and said I could get better photos from the side of the pitch. A refreshing change!
The game was entertaining enough – York made the running and were 1-0 up at half time. At the start of the 2nd half, York imploded with a sending off and Newport grew in confidence to rattle in 3 goals to secure the points.
The York fans were accommodated in the end of The Bisley Stand and the 200 or so die hards were in good voice until Newport started to go ahead. The more vocal Newport fans were in the terraces of the Hazell Stand but they were very intermittent throughout the game. The stewarding was friendly and relaxed and as the Bisley Stand is relatively new the facilities were very good. Food was reasonable and a good choice. I had a burger at £3 and a massive cup of tea for £1. Wifey had a pasty for £2.50 and said it was delicious.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We crossed back into the City via the footbridge adjacent to the ground and within 10 minutes was back in the car and heading to the M4. No queues, minimal traffic lights and well signposted.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Newport County was a decent day out. With the grounds proximity to the City centre it’s always going to do well in the food and drink stakes. Also, parking is reasonably easy and for train travellers, the ground is within walking distance. One thing I did notice, unlike some other Welsh clubs, they didn’t go overboard with Welsh flags being displayed everywhere from the kit to the grandstands. Yes, you can see dragons and leeks around the city but it doesn’t take over. The friendliness of the locals also made for a good day but then again – I was a neutral supporter.
Newport County v Exeter City
League Two
Sunday, March 16th 2014, 3pm
Myles Munsey (Neutral fan)
1. Why were you looking forward to going to the game?
I had visited Newport before on New Year's Day 1987 (which if I recall was damp and dismal) in the old Newport County's final season at Somerton Park before their sad football league demise. 27 years later same opposition – the Grecians – , different ground and a lot warmer! The attraction of attending a Sunday fixture, my first in 45 years was a novelty.
2. How easy was your journey/fnding the ground:
A straightforward train journey from Newbury changing at Reading and waiting 10 minutes at Newport for my colleague from Gloucester. The ground was not that easy to get to owing to a spate of redevelopment round the town centre and at the ground itself, our way being repeatedly blocked by temporary fences. Even the locals were confused by this!
3. What did you do before the game pub/chippy?
With plenty of time of our hands, we walked through the town centre down to the River Usk to view the transporter bridge. This structure – one of only two in the UK – was closed for winter but is still an impressive sight. It is the sort of symbol that you might think would feature on the club badge. Sadly it doesn't. Afterwards there was time for a spot of lunch at Wetherspoons and then to the ground.
4. Thoughts on seeing the ground/first impressions:
Whilst accepting that Newport are new to league football after their prolonged forced absence, I didn't find the ticketing arrangements all that wonderful. Signage seemed very scant and I repeatedly had to seek guidance from the stewards and the police. We viewed the game from the Hazell Stand (to make sure we weren't facing the bright sun). Our seats afforded a good view but were cramped, nowhere near enough leg room. For convenience to local transport Rodney Parade is a winner, but there are very few features of note. It is functional and modern.
The Away End
5. Game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies
More than a quarter century on In a bizarre twist of fate it was the away side desperately needing points in their bid for league survival, yet Exeter did not resemble a side scrapping for every point. In warm sunshine, most welcome after all the rain, an open game ensued, not a classic, but entertaining enough. No score at half time the goal the game needed arrived on 50 minutes when Harry Worley inexplicably headed past his own keeper. Newport's response was immediate when Krysiak under pressure from Zebrowski dropped the ball conveniently at the feet of Lee Minshull who gratefully accepted the gift. Scarcely a minute later the Exiles were level. Afterwards both sides went for it. Krysiak atoned for his error with a fabulous stop from Zebrowski near the end. 1-1 was a fair result, but the point, whilst of some use to Exeter in the battle to avoid the drop was not a lot of help to Newport whose late push for the play-offs looks now as if it is over.
The resident drummer in the Hazell stand made for a somewhat light-hearted atmosphere and I barely noticed the stewards so no complaints there.
6. Getting away from ground:
Easy, and straight back to the station in 10 minutes.
7. Overall thoughts on day out:
Overall I enjoyed the whole day and the game itself. Playing soccer in a rugby ground has 'issues' I guess, but the redevlopment in and around the ground and the dodging about trying to locate the ticket office and the correct turnstiles regretably means I have to 'dock points'. Never mind – a good game and another ground 'scratched off'.
Newport County v Exeter City
League Two
Saturday, March 16th 2014, 3pm
Steve Ellis (Exeter City fan)
1. Why were you looking forward to going to this ground?
This is a new ground to visit in the Football League and like Exeter City they are a supporter owned club
2. How easy was your journey?
The journey was straight forward, travelling up on the supporters coach leaving Exeter at 11am, arriving in Newport just after 1pm.
3. What did you do before the game?
On arrival at the ground went through the turnstiles, picked up my match day programme for £3.50 before heading up to the away supporters bar at the back of the Bisley stand which gives good views of the stadium and has sky sports on a few screens. Pints of lager or cider priced at £3.80, glasses of wine I was told at just over £5.
4. First impressions on seeing the ground?
The Bisley Stand looks very modern and runs the length of the pitch, the Hazells Stand opposite is old with supporting beams at the front, then there is the old style open terracing at the North End. The Synter away stand at the opposite end, is all seated and open to the elements and set on unsteady staging. The pitch looked quite well cut up in places and the line markings from the rugby were not properly erased.
5. Comment on the game, atmosphere, refreshments, stewards and toilets?
The game was fairly even and at the end the 1-1 draw was about right. The refreshments are on sale in a wooden hut behind the Synter Stand offered amongst other fayre, burgers priced from £3. The toilets for visiting fans are under the away section of the Bisley Stand and were clean and modern. Some of the stewards were friendly and helpful but most were very heavy handed.
6. Comments on getting away after the game?
Very easy walk back to where the coach dropped us off and a straight forward journey home.
7. Summary of the day out?
A good day out but would of been better with the win that we needed.
Newport County v Southend United
League Two
Saturday, October 26th 2013, 3pm
John & Stephen Spooner (Southend United fans)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
Not been to this ground before. Went to the old ground at Somerton, but it was too long ago to remember details. The Newport manager is Justin Edinburgh who is fondly remembered at Southend where he started his careen before gaining fame at Spurs etc.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
My son and I travel to games from North Wales as exiled fans so it was about 140 miles each way and 3½ hours along A5, A49, A40 and A449 though Wales using trusted satnav. The journey was straightforward via Hereford passing their football ground, despite constant drizzly rain. We used the M4 for about 3 miles and it was very slow with I guess rugby fans heading for Cardiff for the Wales v Italy Rugby League World Cup match, as well as traffic heading to Cardiff airport. We found free street parking at the rear of the Hazell Stand where 3 storey houses are being constructed and no yellow lines yet, but we did arrive early and parking around the ground is severely restricted due to permit only areas.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
We parked up and had a walk round the ground and found staff at the club friendly, advising us where toilets were and how we could collect our tickets from the away turnstiles. We then had our usual picnic prepared by wife/mum in the car listening to commentary of Crystal Palace v Arsenal match. We also met the Southend kit man who found a parking spot next to us and had a chat with him. The Newport chief executive even found time to talk to us whilst we waited for tickets from team bus.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The ground is hidden by houses and is small used mainly for the local rugby club. The away Synter end looks better in photographs than it actually is, being temporary seating of 8 rows of small plastic seats with rusting from the fixing bolts and no cover. This seating is limited to half the end from corner flag to about centre of the goal. The ground is neat enough with the 2 side stands but the home end is just concrete terracing. There is provision for covered seating for away fans in the end of the Bisley stand. The pitch looked good considering rugby is played on it. Stewards said that there had been investment last season to upgrade the pitch.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was scrappy initially and a blunder after 30 minutes by the Southend keeper gave Newport the lead, then a cracking free kick levelled it with 5 minutes of the first half to go. With injury time being played and everyone thinking about the interval Southend switched off and Newport took a deserved lead. Newport then stamped their obvious authority by scoring a 3rd in the 2nd half and could have scored more after hitting the post and forcing our keeper into several good saves. The atmosphere was good mainly due to the Newport fans enjoying a good performance and taking their goals well to ensure 3 points and carrying on their progress after promotion last season. Nearly 500 Southend fans turned up, being a new ground to visit, I guess, but left dispirited after a poor showing by the team. I found the stewards helpful and friendly, being relaxed about us standing in the uncovered end. I would urge fans to avoid the uncovered Synter end in cold or bad weather. The hotdogs seemed to sell well and prices for all food appeared reasonable. The match program of 100 pages for £3-50p was good too.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
The away fans were ushered away from the ground to keep them away from home fans and police did check us as we walked away but once satisfied we were going to our car and not to confront the home fans it was easy enough to get away. The roads were clear, and our satnav sent us under the M4 rather than along it which made for a quicker journey home despite almost constant rain.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
The result always determines our thoughts so a bad team performance and loss didn’t help our mood, but another ground ticked off our list and we had to be impressed by Newport County. The city area can be seen from the ground and on reflection we were disappointed that we had not visited and explored the city centre across the river Usk.
Newport County v Luton Town
Conference Premier League
Tuesday, December 11th 2011, 7.45pm
Paul Willott (Luton Town fan)
This was a fixture I had been anticipating for nearly 20 years, ever since I listened to my uncle regale us with a tale of travelling to watch this fixture down the then recently built M4 circa 1964. At said time, Newport County were still in the non-league wilderness, and with the Hatters in the second tier of the professional game, so such a fixture seemed a long way off in the dim and distant future.
The years rolled along, and Newport County eventually won their way back to the Conference, and with Luton finding themselves unceremoniously deposited there after a 30 point deduction, this became a fixture I highlighted.
There was the added bonus too that the club had moved lodgings to the more centrally located Rodney Parade, so I was looking forwarded to seeing this club's latest home following its nomadic and not entirely happy history since it fell out of the league in the late 1980s.
The day in question dawned bright but very frosty, and with warnings of freezing fog and temperatures barely rising above zero across vast swathes of the UK, I did question my sanity in even making the trip, but all the early indicators were that the match was still going ahead. Hence I started to head west along the M4 mid-afternoon, and as the temperatures dropped below freezing in wiltshire I must admit I started to believe I was wasting diesel, but I pressed ahead.
Once being relieved of the £6 entry tax into Wales I soon left the M4 and headed along the A48, passing the Newport Stadium, the clubs last lodgings en route. I guess I also passed the clubs spiritual home somewhere to my right, as I saw "Somerton" signed off to the right along the A48. Once at the junction with the A4042, I turned right, and started to keep my eyes peeled for a ground to my right from the A4042.
I soon recognised the 2 sets of 4 fllodlights, and encountered my only real problem of the night. Having located the ground, getting to it proved a little tricky as it is not immediately apparent where to exit said A4042 with a view to getting across the river to the stadium. I nearly ended up back at the M4 before I could turn around and have another go!
In the event it was 3rd time lucky, and I was across the river and I found a place to ditch the car right next to the ground on Rodney Road. This I must add was perhaps comparatively easy being as firstly, I was early and secondly, many I suspect decided to give it a miss for weather and mid-week reasons. In the event of crowds any significantly bigger than the 2,200 that turned up that night, parking would become a real headache. If it wasn't a midweek match, trains would be a real option too, as the railway station is nearby, and well connected.
The ground itself gives an interesting feel on first inspection; rather than a case of positives or negatives, I would say its more positives and quirkiness as the the ground clearly isn't "used" to football . . . . at least not yet. That said, there are two good covered stands alongside the pitch. The more modern one, the Bisley stand is partly given to away support. The seating is a most striking in appearance being multi-coloured and reminding me of the moquette on old london double deck buses.
Opposite is the "Hazell" stand, with a terraced paddock in front of the seated area, complete with a quaint almost seaside promenade railing type of frontage across the seated area. Interestingly, the seats were either unwanted by the home support or closed off , as the considerably noisy Newport fans congregated on that terraced area.. Although there is an open terrace behind one of the goals, few fans seemed inclined to use it, and the double deck executive box affair behind the other goal was only used by a solitary camereman.
It did indeed seem quirky to have the vast majority of all fans alongside the pitch, and almost no stmosphere behind either goal , but the aforementioned home support on the Hazell Stand paddock more than made up for that. The pitch itself when viewed from ground level clearly undulates quite considerably, and this may be an area the club looks at improving on. Once seated, another tell-tale sign of the real origins behind the ground are the rugby lines that no-one appeared to have bothered to properly erase before the evenings match ; That said, I suspect we were all grateful that we even had a match on at all given the viciously sub-zero temperatures.
Most of the stewarding was very friendly and had a wealth of knowledge on the oval balled game, and the much needed pasties of the meat and potato variety at £3 a throw were devoured a plenty by myself, complete with a coffee at £1 a cup.
The game itself was a goal-fest with the home side running out 5-2 winners returning to the top of the table in the process and no-one from a Luton perspective could really complain as Newport were the better side in all departments, complete with a physical presence that could well prove telling in the final run-in.
Although the result was disappointing from a Luton perspective, i thoroughly enjoyed my evening not only was it a bonus to even get a match played in such cold temperatures, and all credit to the ground staff at Newport for that. It was also warming from a football purists point of view to see Newport doing well. Those who remember their sudden drop from 3rd tier to 5th tier of the english game in two seasons in the 80's, followed by being clearly adrift in the conference before being wound up, will I'm sure like me not begrudge the club its hard won return to the league should they get there.