QUOTING THE ODDS

The odds...

When it comes to sport half the problem is anticipation, before a sporting season begins, especially, when it comes to following a Welsh Football team. Having clinched the play-off spot in an unbelievably tense 90 minutes at Wembley last May (2013), now Newport County face a fresh season in League Two. Here’s hoping that Wrecsam Town get promoted this season and join us. Perhaps this season there will be a degree of more reasonably balanced coverage from BBC Cymru / Wales. Putting Football tribalism aside it was a pretty good year for the other Welsh football clubs (and Welsh football period what with the prospects of the Cymru / Wales participating in the next European Championships). I was pleased that Swansea City not only retained their Premiership status and won the League Cup, which means that they are in with a shout of qualifying for the Europa League. I was also chuffed that Cardiff City joined them in the Premiership by winning the championship title. I was also pleased to see that Colwyn Bay have retained their place in Conference North and am hopeful that Merthyr Town can get back to winning ways and can get promoted this season.

ON ANOTHER MATTER...

Somewhat understandably like many Newport County and Wrecsam fans I have Wembley on my mind at the moment and am looking forward to the Blue Square Premier Play off final, which will take palce at 3pm at Wembley Staium on Sunday 5th May. While Wembley in the one hundred and first year of our existence will be a special occasion, espcially as the County are on form and there is everything to play for, it's a pity it's not being played in the Millenium Stadium, which would have made it even better. Perhaps this time there will be a degree of more reasonably balanced coverage of the build up to the game on the part of BBC Cymru / Wales this time. I think that Wales manager Chris Coleman was absolutetly right when he said that says Newport and Wrexham will both be in the Football League within two years regardless of who wins Sunday's Blue Square Bet Premier promotion final -

personally I can live with going up this year. That said, and putting Football tribalism aside it has been a pretty good year for the other Welsh football clubs (and Welsh football period what with Mr Bale and the prospects of the Cymru / Wales participating in the next European Championships). I am pleased that Swansea City have retained their Premiership status and am looking forward to them playing in the Europa league next season, as a result of winning the League CUp. I am also pleased that Cardiff City have joined them, not just getting promoted but actually wining the championship as well. I was very pleased to see that Colwyn Bay (who won six games back to back) have retained their place in Conference North and am glad that Merthyr Town have made it to their play-off final - fingers crossed they get promoted this season.

A GLASS HALF FULL...

While I am having a good Christmas with families, friends and loved ones, I am missing out on football due to waterlogged pitches with the County fixtures at Rodney Parade v Barking (on the 22nd) and Hereford (away at Edgar Street) on the 29th December falling victim to the rain. Honestly there is only so much Borgen you can watch! One belated Christmas present that did arrive was a good away win for Swansea City at Fulham, hopefully a few more wins will follow shortly. Cardiff City remain on top of the Championship, hopefully they will join Swansea in the premiership.

Newport county and Wrecsam remain (at present) respectively second and third in the Blue Square Premier (both sides meet at 7.45pm on Friday 4th January (at Rodney Parade). Football tribalism aside I want success for the other Welsh football clubs (and Welsh football period). I want to see Swansea City do well this season, and Cardiff City join them (preferably not via the play-offs) in the Premiership next season. I want to see Newport County (as Champions) and Wrecsam (as play-off winners) promoted as Champions from the Blue Square Conference this season. I hope that Colwyn Bay manage to stay in Blue Square North and see no reason why Merthyr Town can also not get promoted again this season.

Reguardless of the code, sporting success on the field is difficult enough but made more difficult by the economic situation, which hits costs and attendances. What would be nice would be better all round media coverage for Welsh football (outside of the Premiership and the Championship) for the rest of us. S4C’s Sgorio does an excellent job on Monday evenings but BBC Wales despite a significant improvement in recent months, could do better. Better media coverage would be good for the game in general and the clubs specifically. Here's hoping that the second half of the County's season continues as it has in the first half.

My optimism (the sporting kind) goes beyond the round ball game to rugby and I am ever hopeful (being a season ticket holder) that the Gwent Dragons (“Don't pass the ball to opposition players and kick it between the posts, not past them”) and Newport RFC will turn the corner between now and the end of the season. At a regional level I think that we need central contracting with the WRU running the show, with four regions along the Irish model - while they may not know it - the time of big egos and big moneymen has passed.

NEWPORT COUNTY AND WEMBLEY

Somewhat understandably as Newport County fan I have Wembley on my mind at the moment and am looking forward to our appearance in the FA Trophy final with York City on Saturday. Wembley in the one hundred year of our existence should be a special occasion. Football tribalism aside I actually want success for the other Welsh football clubs (and Welsh football period). I am pleased that Swansea City will stay (somewhat comfortably) in the Premiership; I am disappointed that Cardiff City did not join them. Hopefully they will make it next season, preferably not via the play-offs). The County avoided the drop and things will be much better next season. I was disappointed that Wrecsam did not get promoted from the Blue Square Conference this season. I can see no reason why three clubs are not directly promoted from the conference into League two with a third place play-off. I was pleased to see that Colwyn Bay survived in Conference North and was pleased to see Merthyr Town get promoted this season.

THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING

There is much in the old adage that you don’t chose your football club it chooses you. I have been a long time football fan ever since as a small (and impressionable) child I saw Newport County win three games in a row and put West Ham United out of the FA Cup. That was enough and I have been a supporter ever since, through thick and thin, rain and shine, promotion, relegation, bankruptcy, and rebirth, and even two periods of exile, one of which paralleled my own personal economic exile in London (between 1991 and 1998).

Coming home in a sporting sense as well as an economic sense in 1998 meant that I could watch the County more regularly and as some might say further hone my football related disorder. Since 1998 there have been highs - Blackpool in the FA Cup, Cardiff City (at Spyty and at Ninian), Swansea City and Wrecsam in the old FAW Premier Cup, and promotion with Dean Holdsworth. There have been lows – let us never speak of Caernarfon Town in the FAW Premier Cup (unless you support Caernarfon Town at least), or Bangor and Merthyr in the old Welsh Cup and Bath City away on Tuesday evening last (and so far in truth much of the current season).

I had a good Christmas with families, friends and loved ones, but, what I would have wanted most as Christmas present was three (precious) points). In my heart of hearts, when it comes to both politics and football despite everything I remain an optimist and firmly believe that Justin Edinburgh can save us from relegation (although it won't be easy). Avoiding relegation aside my one hope is that the club wakes up and takes seriously the sporting opportunity that is our participation in this seasons Welsh Cup.

One belated Christmas present that did arrive was Swansea City’s first away win – which was a long time coming – but which will soon hopefully to be followed by a few more. Cardiff City also seem to have got themselves back on form with a few back to back wins. And Wrecsam’s form continues to shine as they sit on top of the Blue Square Premier (County had enough opportunities to win the game outright, rather than draw, when they played up in Wrecsam earlier this season).

Tribalism aside I want success for the other Welsh football clubs (and Welsh football period). I want to see Swansea City stay in the Premiership, and Cardiff City join them (preferably not via the play-offs) in the Premiership next season. I not only want to see Newport County avoid the drop (and at a push finish the season mid table) but also want to see Wrecsam promoted as Champions from the Blue Square Conference this season. I also hope that Colwyn Bay can make the play-offs from Blue Square North and see no reason why Merthyr Town can also not get promoted this season.

Sporting success (or even competence) on the field is difficult enough but made more difficult by the economic situation, which hits costs and attendances. What would be nice would be better all round media coverage for Welsh football (outside of the Premiership and the Championship) for the rest of us. S4c’s Sgorio does an excellent job on Monday evenings but the BBC could do better. Better if not improved balanced more detailed coverage would be good for the game in general and the clubs specifically.

Here's hoping that the second half of the County's season is better than the first half and everybody else's is as good as the first half of their season was. My sporting optimism goes beyond the round ball game to rugby and I am ever hopeful (being a season ticket holder) that the Gwent Dragons (“Try not to pass the ball to opposition players and try to kick it between the posts, rather than past them”’) and Newport RFC will turn the corner between now and the end of the season.

A WELCOME RETURN!

Newport County AFC in action last season

I warmly welcome the news that Newport County will play in this seasons Welsh Cup after they accepted an invitation from the FAW to play in the Welsh Cup. County, Wrecsam and Merthyr Town have signed up, but, sadly Colwyn Bay, Cardiff City and Swansea City have foolishly in my opinion declined their invite. Historically Newport County have played in 3 Welsh Cup finals and won the cup in 1980 beating Shrewsbury Town over two legs in the final.European glory followed with games against Crusaders and Haugar followed by an epic couple of games against Carls Zeis Jena in 90/91. Newport County finished as runners-up twice (the last time was in 1987). County have not played in the competition since the 1991/92 season when they were forced into exile following their refusal to join the newly formed League of Wales. The 12 Welsh Premier League clubs, as well as County and Wrecsam, have all received byes into round three, Merthyr go in in round two. Bring it on!