here and now
out of the top fi ve all season and we were top for a long period of time.
I don’t think the league helped us in the fi xture pile-
up. I don’t care what anyone says, that certainly took us out of the race for automatic promotion. But once we knew we couldn’t win the league, the
group had a real focus and determination to make sure we wouldn’t let this opportunity pass us by. I’ve worked with these players all season and they
Onwards and Upwards
for Newport County Newport County manager Justin Edinburgh talks about the highs and lows of the season, promotion and what Newport County’s success means to the city.
It’s been a great year for Welsh football, culminating in Newport County ending a 25- year exile from the Football League. Under the guidance of former Spurs player
and FA Cup winner Justin Edinburgh, the club has risen from the ashes and has given the city a club to be truly proud of. After a dramatic win over Wrexham at
Wembley and an open-top bus parade of the city, the manager says it still hasn’t sunk in. How did you enjoy the open top bus parade? I thought it was staggering in terms of the
number of people that turned out to show their support. It really was an amazing tribute to the players to see that so many people turned out on the night. It was a great end to what was a fantastic weekend. Have you recovered from the celebrations yet? Yeah, I think we have. You certainly have
to enjoy these moments. Times like this don’t come about very often in football and you certainly have to celebrate and enjoy them, which I told the players to do. We’ve all joined in the celebrations together and the bus parade was a fi tting way to cap it off.
18 /
WEAREVOICE.CO.UK / JUNE.2013
What are your thoughts on the game – did County deserve to win? I think so, when we had our opportunities
we took them. There’s no doubt Wrexham had good parts of the game, but so did we. As the game grew on we became more confi dent and stronger.
With Jolley and O’Connor up top we
knew as the game wore on we would get more space and be able to get in behind them. And when players like that get a chance they are going to take them. Our keeper had to make a couple of saves but that’s what he’s there for. It was two teams having a real go to try to
win the game. The league we have just left has been excellent all year. I don’t think there has been a game where
we haven’t had to be at our best to get a win, and when we haven’t we’ve been beaten. It’s a great advert for the Blue Square Premier. Were you confi dent of promotion? In football you never know and can’t
guarantee anything, but we had a great belief within the camp. We’ve had a fantastic season and the
players have had a level of consistency all year. We’re the only team that hasn’t been
@wearevoice
deserve all the success, accolades and praise they are getting. From Finishing 19th last season to getting promoted
to the Football League, I can’t remember another team doing it. It’ll be a hard feat to follow for any team. Do you think winning promotion at Wembley made it
more of an occasion for the fans? Well, there was a different feel about the club and
fans when we got to Wembley this year. Last year, when we got to the FA Trophy Final, it was
the fi rst time in the club’s history and I think everyone treated it as a day out. This time we went there with a focus to achieve
something rather than participate in a day out and I think that showed. Who was your man of the match? I think we’ve been a collective group all year. At
different stages of the season certain individuals have led us through, but again it was a very good performance
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