Newport County

Kit History

September 1912 a

1912-1913 2 p

1912-1913 3 a

1913-1919 a

early 1919-1920 n

1919-1923 a

1924-1932 (a)

1932-1933 a

1933-1935 a

1935-1938 a

September 1938 a

Oct 1938-1945 a

1946-1947 a

1947-1948 a

1948-1950 a g k

1950-1952 a i

1952-1954 a r

1954-1956 a r

1956-1957 a s

1957-1958 a

1958-1959 a

1959-1963 a j

1959-1963 alt n

1963-1966 a j

1966-1967 j

1967-1968 j

August 1968 j n

Sept1968-1970 j m n

Socks with white turnovers also used

Sept 1968-1970 n

1970-1972 b j m

February 1972 j l n

Feb 1972-1974 j o

Adidas

1974-1975 j

1975-1976 j

Bukta

1976-1977 e c j o

Adidas

1977-1979 d g j n o

Adidas

1979-1982 o

Patrick

1982-1983 j

Patrick

1983-1985 j

Spall

1985-1986 j

Spall

1986-1987 f j

Spall

Aug 87-Dec 88 j

Spall

Dec 88-Jan 89 j

Scoreline

Jan-May 1989 j q

Background

Newport is in the heartland of South Wales rugby union territory and the football club always struggled to survive against competition from Newport RUFC. In fact the club was originally formed by a steel magnate to cater for English and Scottish emigres who had settled in the town to work in the steel mills. This association with heavy industry led to their original nickname of the "Ironsides." Their traditional colours of amber and black are shared with the town's rugby side although County have turned out in other colours from time to time, including a set of chocolate and blue shirts donated by West Bromwich Albion and worn briefly at the beginning of the 1919-20 season.

The club joined the Southern League and became founder members of the new Third Division of the Football League in 1920.

After several mediocre seasons, County failed to win re-election in 1931 and lost their place to Mansfield Town. After a season in the Southern League, they were elected back into the Football League and were fortunate to keep their place, having to apply for re-election no fewer than three times over the next four seasons. A change of colours in the mid 1930s did nothing to improve performances.

In 1938, County reverted to their traditional black and amber with a novel hooped jersey. There was a delay in delivering the new strip and for a while the players turned out in predominantly black shirts. The new look seemed to do the trick and County won the Third Division (South) Championship in 1939. Sadly the Second World War intervened and when the League resumed in 1946-47, Newport were relegated at the end of their only season in the Second Division.

newport county fc crest 1948 A crest, based on the Newport coat of arms was adopted between 1948 and 1954 and was reinstated in 1959.

The Fifties passed in mid-table mediocrity but County did manage to scrape into the new Third Division when the regional leagues were scrapped in 1957. In 1962 the club was relegated to Division Four and could count themselves fortunate once again to retain their place, finishing in the re-election zone for three consecutive seasons between 1969 and 1971. 1969 brought a change from amber to tangerine shirts and in February 1972, the club adopted striped shorts. After mass ridicule from their own fans, the players refused to wear these items and plain black shorts were restored after only two games. In 1976, County adopted a sky blue and white strip in an effort to improve their fortunes. When the side narrowly avoided newport county fc crest 1979 relegation in May 1977, the players tossed their shirts into the crowd. The following season, Newport reverted to orange and black and then manager Colin Addison insisted on a return to their traditional amber and black for the 1979-80 season. A new crest was also introduced.

Promotion in 1980 and victory in the Welsh FA Cup heralded a successful period in the club's history. The following season European football came to Newport and they reached the quarter-final of the European Cup-Winners Cup. In 1983, County narrowly missed out newport county fc crest 1989 on promotion to the Second Division. The following seasons, however, Newport struggled and in 1987 they were relegated back into Division Four. After a catastrophic season, Newport finished bottom of the League in 1988, 19 points adrift, and were relegated to the Conference.

In April 1989, Newport County declared bankruptcy and resigned from the Conference before the season ended. A new club was formed and entered the Hellenic League and in 2013, the reincarnation of Newport County was promoted to the Football League.

Historical Football Kits

Kit History

Background

Sources