Manager Michael Flynn’s Exiles take on the ‘Fraud Squad’ in Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup first round tie at Imber Court.
Metropolitan Police FC are a team who are regular targets for banter mickey-taking and chairman Des Flanders says: “Rival teams have started calling us the Fraud Squad.
“Good banter that, you have to laugh.”
That nickname stems from the fact that, despite the badge on their blue shirts bearing the Met Police logo and despite being financed largely from the force’s staff lottery, when the team run out on pitch owned, naturally, by the Metropolitan Police Authority, not a single one of their players will be a policeman.
Indeed, the last serving officer to turn out for the side was Craig Brown, in 2012. Cops in name only.
Midfield player Ethan Chislett, aged 20, said: “You do still get the occasional terrible jokes, the ‘thought you lot played at Letsby Avenue’ type thing.”
The Met players walk out to the The Clash’s version of ‘I Fought the Law’ and manager Gavin MacPherson says: “A fantastic tune to run out to.”
The former Nottingham Forest player adds: “We’re no longer a works team. We are a community club with 26 age-group teams, including a girls’ section and a full-time academy.
“Our first team is full of ambitious, hungry young players looking to better themselves. We are a club that believes it has a chance of getting to the FA Cup second round for the first time in nearly 100 years of history.”
The Met, whose ground is five minutes from rugby union’s Twickenham near the River Thames in East Molesey, play in Southern League Premier Division South, three tiers below League Two Newport, and Flynn says: “The beauty of the FA Cup is that Metropolitan Police get a chance to be giant-killers.
“It sounds a bit strange saying Newport County are giants but, in the grand scheme of things, we are compared to our opponents.”
6 years ago I made it to the FA Cup First Round Proper with these lads .. tomorrow they do it for the first time since. Great club, great memories, enjoy the occasion and best of luck @MetPoliceFC #FACup #metpolicefc #roadtowembley pic.twitter.com/vNewAK1vps
— Jordan Bird (@JordanBird3) November 9, 2018
Police have already come through four preliminary rounds in the competition and earned £55,000 in prize money. There is £36,000 on offer to the team making progress this weekend.
“We know the importance of the financial side to the club,” said Flynn. “That’s where we’re at and any extra money we can bring in is a positive.
“And if we win and we get to the third round then we’ll have a chance of a giant-killing if the draw is good to us.”
County thrived in the FA Cup last season, beating League One Walsall and Championship club Leeds United before taking Premier League Tottenham Hotspur to a Wembley replay in the fourth round.
Flynn knows all about tricky FA Cup ties – and the trip to face the Met is certainly in that category – having incurred the wrath of manager Ronnie Jepson, now Neil Warnock’s assistant at Cardiff City, during his time playing for Gillingham.
The Kent club lost at Unibond League Burscough in 2005 when Flynn was playing alongside current County man Andrew Crofts in midfield.
“I know what it feels like,” said Flynn. “The score was 1-1 when I was sent off and we ended up losing 3-2.
“I was planning to stay up north, but after that I was made to get on the coach and go all the way back to Gillingham with my head between my legs.
“The manager, Ronnie Jepson, said ‘no chance, get on the coach – you’re in tomorrow’. That wasn’t very good.”
“Our tie against Met Police will be a test of character for us.
“We have to do the ugly part, do the basics, players must listen to instructions and we have to prepare for every game like we’re playing the team top of the league.
“Our job his to outwork them, outfight them and be courageous on the ball. They are going to be up for it and it’s going to be a lively start, we know that.”
Manager Michael Flynn has Mark O’Brien and Scot Bennett available following injuries, while Fraser Franks returns after completing his three-match suspension.
“We have had clearance to play all our loan players so that’s a positive,” said Flynn.
Crofts and Joss Labadie are both ruled out of the Newport squad, although both are making solid progress following injuries.
Newport County team, possible Newport County AFC (3-4-1-2): Day, Pipe, O’Brien, Bennett, Franks, Demetriou (capt), Butler, Willmott, Dolan, Amond, Semenyo. Bench, from: Townsend, Foulston, Cooper, Collins, Harris, Marsh-Brown, Matt, Sheehan, Forbes, Bakinson.