This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-22458485
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Newport County bus parade for Football League success | Newport County bus parade for Football League success |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of Newport County fans have gathered to celebrate the team's return to the Football League after 25 years with an open-top bus parade. | |
| The club, known as the Exiles, secured their place in League Two after beating Wrexham 2-0 at Wembley in Sunday's Conference play-off final. | The club, known as the Exiles, secured their place in League Two after beating Wrexham 2-0 at Wembley in Sunday's Conference play-off final. |
| Wednesday evening's parade will include a civic reception for players. | Wednesday evening's parade will include a civic reception for players. |
| A framed scroll congratulating the side will be presented to them by Newport's mayor at their Rodney Parade home. | A framed scroll congratulating the side will be presented to them by Newport's mayor at their Rodney Parade home. |
| The players left Rodney Parade on the bus at 18:00 BST and will drive to the civic centre via George Street Bridge. | The players left Rodney Parade on the bus at 18:00 BST and will drive to the civic centre via George Street Bridge. |
| About 500 fans gathered at the stadium ahead of the parade, waving black and amber flags. | About 500 fans gathered at the stadium ahead of the parade, waving black and amber flags. |
| Police at the ground estimated that around 3,000 people would be lining the route through the city. | Police at the ground estimated that around 3,000 people would be lining the route through the city. |
| Lifelong Newport County fan Mark Fuller, 39, was at the ground with fiancée Debbie Morris, 43, along with James Morris, 16, Natalie Brooks, 22 and two-year-old Rio Jay Balfour. | Lifelong Newport County fan Mark Fuller, 39, was at the ground with fiancée Debbie Morris, 43, along with James Morris, 16, Natalie Brooks, 22 and two-year-old Rio Jay Balfour. |
| He said he could not believe he was witnessing his team rise to League Two. | He said he could not believe he was witnessing his team rise to League Two. |
| "I used to save my paper round money up to go and watch the old club," he said. | "I used to save my paper round money up to go and watch the old club," he said. |
| "So it was a bit distressing when they went bust. So I saw the old club go bust and the new one rise from the ashes. | "So it was a bit distressing when they went bust. So I saw the old club go bust and the new one rise from the ashes. |
| "It was an amazing feeling on Sunday." | "It was an amazing feeling on Sunday." |
| Stephen Dunn, a fellow lifelong follower of the club, who was at the parade with his wife Denise, 45, and Abigail, 10, said: "I used to follow the old club in the '70s. Sometimes there used to be 20 of us going [to away games]. | Stephen Dunn, a fellow lifelong follower of the club, who was at the parade with his wife Denise, 45, and Abigail, 10, said: "I used to follow the old club in the '70s. Sometimes there used to be 20 of us going [to away games]. |
| "I thought it would come but it came quickly." | "I thought it would come but it came quickly." |
| Philip Ashcroft, 61, whose two daughters are season ticket holders, added: "It's great. It's fantastic for the club and the city." | Philip Ashcroft, 61, whose two daughters are season ticket holders, added: "It's great. It's fantastic for the club and the city." |
| Balcony presentation | Balcony presentation |
| A reception for the players and coaching staff will be held at the civic centre before they return to Rodney Parade at about 19:00 BST where mayor John Guy will present the club with the framed scroll. | |
| The presentation will take place on the club's balcony in front of waiting fans. | The presentation will take place on the club's balcony in front of waiting fans. |
| Club historian Andrew Taylor said the celebration came after decades of dark days for the football side, in which the club went bust and was expelled from the Football Conference. | Club historian Andrew Taylor said the celebration came after decades of dark days for the football side, in which the club went bust and was expelled from the Football Conference. |
| "When you talk about it being a fairytale, our history reads more like Grimm than Hans Christian Anderson, to be honest," he said. | "When you talk about it being a fairytale, our history reads more like Grimm than Hans Christian Anderson, to be honest," he said. |
| "The low point has to be for me have been the point at the auction when we were seeing all of the club's belongings being sold off. | "The low point has to be for me have been the point at the auction when we were seeing all of the club's belongings being sold off. |
| "There was that feeling then that 'This is it - there is no way back'. | "There was that feeling then that 'This is it - there is no way back'. |
| "But such is the resolution and the spirit of Newport supporters, that was never going to be allowed to happen - and thank goodness we are back where we are now." | "But such is the resolution and the spirit of Newport supporters, that was never going to be allowed to happen - and thank goodness we are back where we are now." |
| Newport's parade comes only days after its south Wales neighbour Cardiff staged its own parade to celebrate promotion to the Premier League. | Newport's parade comes only days after its south Wales neighbour Cardiff staged its own parade to celebrate promotion to the Premier League. |