Newport! Newport!

Soon the British public will over-dose on Newport. Lucky public.

The spoof video has attracted a near million hits. The full version is packed with images of the city and made for £100 (most of that was the cost of Gwent Dragons’ fleece) it will provoke curiosity about the venue of the Ryder Cup.

As Newport does not take itself too seriously the well-wicked spoof is liked. The GLC should do the next. The city’s charms are due to be discovered. Then there's the mounting excitement about the Ryder Cup in the first week in October.

Great.

Songs for un-sung heroes

A splendid celebration last night for Newport's Albion Rovers. 

Without any outside help they have built their own club house. It is an entrance to Kimberley Park and the soccer pitch that they have made their own. The current Newport Mayor Bill Langsford has had a long association with the club and recalled many fond memories in his speech. 

The mayor was supported by AM Rosemary Butler, his wife Sue, Albion Chairman Terry Wilkins, and  Councillors Paul Cokeram, Bob Poole  and Herbie Thomas.

 Entertainment was by the beautiful talented Newport soprano Holly Hollyoak. It was a great send-off for more successful seasons for Albion Rovers. Today the Reds take on Stoke City managed by Newport Boy Tony Pulis. It is probably the biggest game in Albions' 73-year history.

Well deserved congratulations.

Their website recalls their recent history:

Off the pitch Albion has built up a strongsocial side, including annual tours, Gentlemen�s Dinners, Race Nights etc. Here are a few of the committee men at the fore front of these occasions: Lyndon Mort, Peter Ellis, Phil Beckett, John Scannel, Ray Smith, Dave Couch, Mike Lyons, Neil Denbury, Bill Dowselll, Graham Jackson, John Smith, John Thorne, Mark Rowlands, Neil Swift, Mike Desmond, Andy Inson and our longest serving chairman Terry Wilkins plus many more. 

 
In 1993 Albion won the Gwent County 1st Division enabling us to apply for Welsh League Football. We had failed to gain access for many years, as Crindau Park did not meet the correct ground criteria. This time however the application was a success as the first team home games were to be played at the newly built Spytty Stadium. We stayed in Division 3 of the Welsh League for 4 years eventually gaining promotion to Division 2 in 1997. After a few tough years in Division 2 we started to struggle for the quality of players required to push on up the league, we also struggled with not having the resources of other clubs and in 2001 we were relegated back to Division 3. We battled for a further 4 seasons but in 2005 our luck finally run out and we were relegated to the Gwent County 1st Division. The team was managed by Michael Chick, Nicky Newell, Martin Elwick, Kevin Davis, Gary Spinks, Mark Price, Adrian Smith, Richard Howells, Jason Tyler and Terry Wilkins. Martin Elwick returned to the helm as 1st team manager for the third time in 2006/07, assisted by Jason Tyler. They took them to the County Motors Cup Final and a 7th place finish.

Comments

[D.G.]

On Newport! Newport!:

Will it not be a tad embarrassing when fans start wandering around the place looking for the non-existant Debenhams?

[HuwOS]

They will be not notice the lack of Debenhams DG, as they will be so dazzled by the pound shops and blown away by the charity shops.

[HuwOS]

btw article in the Guardian today with information provided by wikileaks, apparently, US and UK et al have been lying about and covering up civilian casualties in Aghanistan, that is amongst those they are bothered to record in any way.

I know that is a shock, just take a deep breath and sit down for a moment.

The best bit I think is where the US compilers complained in relation to one group of killings
"Investigation controlled by the British. We are not able to get [sic] complete story."

[Paul Flynn]

I was puzzled about the reference to Debenhams. Had I missed something? You're correct Huw , I had not.

[DG]

Re: Debenhams

Perhaps it's a joke, like the reference to our new shopping centre.