NEWPORT IoW HISTORY

League record

NEWPORT was formed in January 1888. Like many others around in these times it is inaugurated from a public meeting, this one being held at the Warburton Hotel. Once more, a vote was taken whether to play rugby or soccer. The earliest recorded game was on 7^th March when the team was defeated 2-1 by Lugley House School. The first ground was ‘Wells Field’ which became known as Church Litten, their home for 100 years. In 1911 the club merged with another side to become Newport United, but that title lasted for just the 1911/12 season, when the club were beaten finalists in the Hampshire Junior Cup. Port were one of the Wessex League’s founders and are current members having re-joined in 2008.

The modern Newport IOW Football Club, with its well-appointed St George's Park facilities, (which the club officially vacated at the end of the 2018/19 season), presented a different picture from that conjured up by the club’s origins on January 27^th 1888.

The actual date of formation can be established from the original minute book, which is still in the club's possession. At that time, over 130 years ago, Newport played on a piece of land known as Well’s Field, which later became known as Church Litten. Those early days meant a walk from the local public house, where the players changed, to a field, in order to clear the cows before play could commence. Newport became founder members of the Isle Of Wight League in 1898 and were League Champions on four occasions.

In 1927 the club became members of the Hampshire League, taking over the fixtures of the defunct Gosport Albion Club in mid-season and within three seasons Newport had won the County League championship for the first time. The 1930's saw further wins in the Hampshire League and also the Hampshire Senior Cup being won in 1932. The 1935/36 season saw Newport reach the 2nd Round of the FA Cup for the first time, bowing out at Southall.

In the 1960's we had further Hampshire Senior Cup wins in 1961 and 1966 and in the 1970s a hat trick of Hampshire League titles in 1979, 1989 and 1981 and two Hampshire Senior Cup successes in 1980 and 1981

In 1986, Newport became founder members of the Wessex League, finishing a creditable fourth place in that debut season. In the 1989/90 season Newport were promoted to the Southern League. The 2000/01 season saw us win the Dr Martens League Eastern Division Championship. However we found the top flight too much and returned the Eastern Division after just one season.

Soon after in the 2003/04 season the club was in administration and the fight to keep the club alive was taken up by the supporters, with The Save Newport (FC) Action Group saving the club. 2004/05 saw Newport make its debut in the Isthmian League.

The 2006/07 season saw a return to the more familiar Southern League, playing in the South and West division. On 1st August 2007 The Port played a friendly against a full strength Portsmouth team which drew 3112 supporters to St George’s Park, the highest crowd ever to watch a match at the ground. The club was relegated back to the Wessex league at the end of the 2007/08 season after finishing bottom of Division One South and West of the Southern league. The club then remained in the Wessex League Premier Division but went on to win the Russell Cotes Cup in 2010/11.

Andy Sampson took over at the start of the 2015-16 season with the club finishing 7^th in the Wessex Premier, followed by 10^th and 15^th in the two following seasons. At the end of the 2017/18 season the club was relegated to Wessex Division One. Soon after the start of the 2020/21 season Andy stepped down, with Stewart Shepherd and Steve Brougham taking the reins as joint managers.

In recent seasons the club had been under pressure to leave St George's Park and although receiving an eviction order in 2016 was given a reprieve at the last minute. The Port are hopeful of moving to a new stadium in time for the start of the 2021/22 season, but in the interim will be playing on a ground-share basis at Beatrice Avenue, the home of East Cowes Victoria, for which we thank our friends at Vics. After 30 years, 2018/19 was the last season at St. George's Park as we now plan for the future at the planned new ground: WightFibre Park, at the Racecourse on the outskirts of Newport on the Wootton Bridge road.

Local County FA Senior and other cup competitions- winners in the Wessex era.

These are wins only whilst the club were members of the League.

Russell-Cotes Benevolent Cup 2010/11

Isle of Wight Gold Cup 1986/87, 1987/88, 1989/90, 2008/09, 2010/11, 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16,

2016/17, 2018/19

FA CUP

Furthest progress - 1989/90 3rd Qualifying Round - Marlow

Record victory - 2014/15 Preliminary Round - Winterbourne United 5-2

FA VASE

Furthest progress - 2012/13 5th Round Replay - Ascot United

Record victory - 2017/18 1st Round - Bovey Tracey 5-0

The FA Cup and Vase records here are the best achieved whilst in League membership.

Where this has been on more than one occasion, only the last time it was achieved is shown here. Newport reached the 1^st Rou d proper of the FA Cup in 1994/95 losing by the odd goal in five against Aylesbury United and took Enfield to a replay at the same stage the next season, ending with a 2-1 loss at Enfield. The Island side have reached the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Cup three times whilst a member of the League, all in all a notable achievement.

In the FA Vase they’ve reached the 3^rd Round on seven occasions.

Local County FA Senior and other cup competitions- winners in the Wessex era.

Russell-Cotes Benevolent Cup  - 2010/11

Isle of Wight Gold Cup - 1986/87, 1987/88, 1989/90, 2008/09, 2010/11, 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16,

2016/17, 2018/19

These are wins only whilst the club were members of the League.