The Football Association have gathered a number of Newport County fans together in a tribute to their club’s cup run.
Loyal supporter Sean Edwards has celebrated County’s run to the Emirates FA Cup fourth round – and Saturday’s home tie against Spurs – in a touching poem.
Commissioned by The FA, ‘A Cup Run For All’ demonstrates how progression to the latter rounds of the competition can galvanise a club and a whole community.
A cross-section of the Newport community were brought together to recite the poem in a rousing video, filmed at iconic landmarks around the city and led by one of the city’s most famous sons – Damned United star Michael Sheen.
“This match is what cup football is all about,” said Sheen. “What a fantastic opportunity for Newport County to pull off a giantkilling.
“I’m thrilled to add my voice to all the others saying ‘Up the County’.
“The Cup really can bring the club, the fans and the whole community together.”
David Hando (Newport County president), Becky Smith (Newport County Ladies goalkeeper) and Alan Edwards (owner of Vacara’s fish and chip shop) are also featured on the video.
The poem is the latest in a series written by Edwards, a longstanding Newport regular who rose to fame among fellow fans after paying homage to manager Michael Flynn after ‘The Great Escape’ in 2017.
Just eight months later, Flynn masterminded County’s shock third round victory over Leeds United, for which they were rewarded with a home tie against eight-time winners Tottenham Hotspur.
“The bond between Newport’s community and the football club is very special and is something I’ve tried to champion in my poems,” said Edwards.
“Having followed the Exiles from the late 80s, I’ve seen this team go from strength to strength and for the world to be watching us in our tie against Tottenham is a dream come true for us all.”
Newport’s Emirates FA Cup run has been credited with helping sustain the future of the club.
County could make up to £247,800 in revenue from The FA’s prize money, broadcast and commercial fees from their fourth round tie. This is on top of over £185,000 already earned, having progressed from the first round and being selected for live television coverage twice already.
Andy Ambler, The FA’s director of professional game relations, added: “The Emirates FA Cup is a competition for all, renowned for bringing people and communities together.
“Newport County has a history which is deeply entwined with its fans and the wider city, and it’s evident that reaching this stage of the competition is an achievement that is shared by them all.”
The tie is at Newport’s Rodney Parade stadium on Saturday (5.30pm) and the attendance will be almost 10,000. BT Sport 2 are televising the match.
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