Over the Bridge Exiles

(Supporters of Newport County AFC)

In course of completion – please by patient.

When Newport County was re-formed in 1989 as Newport AFC, what became immediately apparent was just how far everybody had to travel to matches. Our travelling support was enormous. In fact, unless actually living in Moreton in Marsh, every Newport supporter was a travelling supporter.

But as well as supporters travelling from Newport, there were also many travelling from other places as well. Our crowds in the Hellenic League were regularly around the 400 mark; quite some figure for level 8 of the pyramid. Also notable at such a low level in non-league football (and in the very first season after being reformed) was to see Newport supporters regularly from Devon, Somerset, West Wales, London, Berkshire, Warwickshire, Hertfordshire, Essex and Buckinghamshire (will check the records and add later any I have missed out). Such a diverse and widespread fan base at such a low level of non-league football was probably unique. A letter in a non-league magazine boasted of Barnet (then in the Conference) taking 200 supporters to one away game. I wrote to the same magazine (had the letter published) pointing out that Newport, although 3 levels lower, took more than that to every away game, and in fact to every ‘exiled’ home game as well.