Following a referees pitch inspection todays match against Andover Town has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Everyone at Newport Football Club is saddened to hear of the passing of our former Chairman Paul Phelps.

Paul was a much loved Chairman at Newport where he was also a Director between 2008 and 2015. Paul was known for his warmth and humour when entertaining visiting teams and a wonderful companion on away trips.

During Paul’s time at Newport the club enjoyed cup success winning the Russell Cotes Cup in 2011, the Isle of Wight Senior Cup four times and reaching the 5th round of the FA Vase in 2013.

Paul later went on to be Chairman of East Cowes Vics.

We all send our condolences to Pauls family.

A brief update to upcoming fixtures.

Saturdays match away to Bemerton Heath Harlequins is now a 3.15pm kick off. As we are travelling out on the 1200 ferry and back on the 1930 ferry it allows us time to arrive without worrying about delays with ferries or on route and hopefully supporters can spend longer in the clubhouse before and after the game. We are taking bookings for the team coach which we expect to be busy. See our Facebook page for booking details.

We have been drawn at home to Oakfield in the Isle of Wight Gold Cup and the match is to be played at East Cowes Vics on Weds 2nd March with a 7.30pm kick off. We were hoping to play at Smallbrook under the new lights later in March but we have to get the match out of the way asap.

The postponed home match against Whitchurch United has been inserted as our last game of the season on Saturday 16th April with a 3pm kick off. This fills the gap left following Infinity coming out of the league.

Following discussions with Fawley AFC, the Wessex League and the match officials, it has been agreed that Saturdays game will again have an earlier kick off at 1.45pm. This will fit in with ferry times and Fawley’s travelling plans. Unfortunately this is the way the ferries are scheduled at present.

Get along and cheer our Reserves on at Beatrice Avenue Wednesday 2nd February – EARLY KO 7pm!

As most people are aware we will not be playing at Smallbrook, home to Verwood this Saturday as the match has been switched to Potterne Park in Verwood. There are a number of reasons for this, primarily the Smallbrook pitch still had standing water on before last Saturday night’s rain and it was even worse this Monday. With East Cowes Vics at home this coming Saturday a call had to be made on Saturday and we opted to travel to Verwood.

In light of this we have decided that we will offer 20 free seats to supporters who want to make the journey with us and get behind the team. The offer will cover coach travel and ferry travel to Verwood. You will be liable for any other expenses you incur including ground entrance unless you are a Newport season ticket holder in which case that will be covered for you ( we only have 5 Season Ticket holders anyway).

The coach will leave St.Georges Park at 11.10am and get back about 8.45pm travelling with Kardan Coaches and Red Funnel via East Cowes.

To book a seat you will need to make a phone call to 07734581648. It will be strictly limited to 20 places. We are giving people a bit of time to think about it and make their mind up as we only want people to call if they are definitely travelling

We will take your calls from 9am tomorrow and the first 20 will be guaranteed seats.

Saturdays match against Downton has been switched to East Cowes Vics Beatrice Avenue ground.
Anybody who lives in the Ryde area will know how wet the ground has become since Christmas and the Smallbrook area is particularly so.
Our players have not had a match for nearly a month and it is vital they resume playing. In order to ensure that happens we have arranged to play at East Cowes where there is a much smaller risk of the game being postponed.
Kick off will still be at 2.00pm as that fits the travel arrangements of both Downton and the match officials who have already made their plans.

Newport FC have called for independent mediation to settle a dispute that could see them have to play all their remaining games away from home this season.
The club has been hit with an eviction notice by Ryde Saints FC with whom it has been sharing Smallbrook Stadium this season.
After taking expert legal advice, Newport says the eviction notice is invalid and has called for fresh negotiations between the two clubs to reach a compromise. If that fails then they have said they would welcome the chance for mediation.
The dispute has arisen because, as part of the original ground-share arrangement, Newport FC agreed to undertake a £4,700 upgrade of the floodlights at Smallbrook.
But the quote on which that agreement was struck has since been found to be flawed with the true cost closer to £40,000. While the cost is far higher than originally envisaged by all the parties, the problem is that the only way to supply Wessex League compliant lighting would require new stanchions at the arena which Island Speedway – the principal leaseholders at Smallbrook – will not allow for safety reasons.
Newport currently pays a match fee to both Ryde Saints and Island Speedway and has agreed to purchase the club a container for storage use.
Newport has also offered a financial compensation package but this has been rejected by Ryde Saints who have issued Newport a notice to quit leaving them homeless and facing the prospect of having to fulfil remaining fixtures by travelling to the mainland as the ‘away’ team.
Pete Westhorpe, secretary, Newport (IW) FC Supporters Trust said he was shocked to read about the notice to quit on social media before receiving an official letter.
He said: “I do not believe Ryde Saints have the right to do this. We are in this position because the plan to upgrade the floodlights to the required standard – which was agreed with Ryde Saints and Island Speedway – has sadly proven to have been flawed.
“This is not something we envisaged or intended as an outcome, and as we have told Ryde Saints and Island Speedway, we certainly would not have entered the groundshare agreement if this was known at that time.
“The simple fact is the original proposal is unworkable as it won’t meet Sydenhams Wessex League requirements and an alternative solution we have explored is not possible because Island Speedway would not allow it – quite rightly – on safety grounds as it would make the track dangerous for speedway.
“This leaves us in a situation where we are contractually obliged to do something that cannot be done.
“The best solution for all parties is to sit down and negotiate a new arrangement to the benefit of all using goodwill. Newport leaving Smallbrook will mean lost revenue for Ryde Saints and also Island Speedway. That’s not productive for anyone.”