By Rob Carbon
Gavin Foxall has been a bit of a lone figure at Newport County’s 56 games to date this season.
But all that is about to change on Tuesday night at Rodney Parade.
The County chairman knows that the first leg of the League Two play-off semi-finals is going to be very different to all the rest, and not just because there is a trip to Wembley at stake.
“I’ve been privileged to be able to attend all of our games this season, but next week is going to be special with some of our fans being allowed back into the ground for the first time,” said Foxall.
“I can’t wait to see people walking up to Rodney Parade and breathing life back into the place. Only fans can do that and we’ve missed them so much.
“I had this dream all season that they would be able to come and see us win the play-off final at Wembley. I hope that is still the case, but it’s going to be great to have them back a game earlier.
“Football is nothing without fans and the players have been missing them as much as they have been missing the team.”
Last night Foxall was still finalised with the Welsh Government the final details on how many fans will actually be allowed into the pilot event when Forest Green Rovers make the short trip across the border for the opening leg.
The figure has been announced as 900.
The fact County will become the first club in Wales to welcome fans back after more than a year away from the game during lockdown means the League Two outfit will have even more eyes focussed on their game.
“We are delighted we will be the first pilot event in Wales for football and we hope we can play our part in helping to get football back to normal,” added Foxall.
“This is a positive step for the game and an important game to be a part of. It will put a bit more pressure on us, but we are happy to take it.
“I just hope the date we derive from our event and those that follow will help to get the game back to something like normality next season.
“What is important is that those people who do actually attend the game realise it is going to be different to the normal Rodney Parade experience.
“They will have to wear face masks inside the ground and sit in socially distanced bubbles in the stand.
“When you look back on our season I believe the Rodney Parade faithful would have helped us to get over the line in the cup games against Newcastle and Brighton.
“That’s what the Newport crowd can do – and have done on so many great occasions in the cup.”
The games against the two Premier League clubs were both on TV and earned the club vital revenue to keep them afloat during the pandemic. So did those fans who bought season tickets and didn’t then ask for their money back.
Newport County AFC, Dragons Rugby and Rodney Parade are pleased the Welsh Government has approved the hosting of the first pilot event at a stadium in Wales.
🎟️900 tickets will be made available for our play-off semi-final first leg.
👉https://t.co/HAg0n9rDcP#OneClubOneCounty pic.twitter.com/GWxt8d4Wml
— Newport County AFC (@NewportCounty) May 14, 2021
The play-off games are on TV as well, but the big prize will be earning promotion back to the third tier for the first time in 34 years.
To do that County will have to get past Forest Green Rovers and then go one better than they did at Wembley two years ago.
“There is a fighting spirit and never say die attitude at this club and that’s what got us through to the play-offs again this season.
“It would have been nice to have got automatic promotion, but we are still in with a chance of going up.
“We’ve got our momentum back and that’s what you need going into the play-offs. It is another great achievement for the club to get to this stage, but we are all hoping for so much more than that.”