Newport County are the visitors to the Store First Stadium tomorrow afternoon for the first home game of 2014.
As kick off approaches, the official website takes a look at all the things you need to know.
History
Newport County AFC were originally founded in 1912, before reforming in 1989 as Newport AFC, before returning to the clubs original name in 1999.
They played their early football in the Southern League, joining an extended First Division after the end of World War One. In 1920 the Football League added a third tier which consisted mainly of leading Southern League clubs, including Newport.
In the 1938-39 season former Northern Ireland international Billy McCandless led Newport to the Division Three (South) championship. County were relegated to the Fourth Division in 1962, spending 18 seasons there, and had to face re-election several times.
The club achieved a promotion and Welsh Cup double in 1980, before being relegated back to the Fourth Division in 1987 and then dropped to the Conference the following season.
They were then expelled from the Conference in 1989, but in 2004 after five top half finishes in the Southern League Premier Division, County qualified for membership of the newly formed Conference South.
In the 2009-10 season County were promoted back to the Conference, before winning the play-offs last season to be promoted back into the Football League.
Something You Might Know About Them...
In 1980 Newport achieved promotion from the Fourth Division and also won the Welsh Cup in the same season. This enabled County to enter the European Cup Winners' Cup in the 1980-81 season. Newport reached the quarter finals where they met FC Carl Zeiss Jena over two legs, drawing 2-2 away from home before losing 1-0 at Somerton Park.
To mark FC Carl Zeiss Jena's 110 year anniversary the two sides met in a friendly this season with the match ending as a 2-2 draw.
Manager
Justin Edinburgh
Edinburgh is a former Tottenham Hotspur, Southend United and Portsmouth defender who was appointed Newport manager in October 2011.
Edinburgh led his side to safety in the 2011/12 season, also reaching the final of the FA Trophy where they lost 2-0 to York City, before leading County to promotion via the play-offs last season. He won the Blue Square Premier Manager of the Year Award along with two manager of the month awards last season.
The 43 year old has previous managerial experience at Billericay Town, Fisher Athletic, Grays Athletic and Rushden and Diamonds.
One to Watch
Chris Zebroski
The former Torquay United front man has been in fine goal scoring form so far this season and has contributed 6 goals to the Newport County cause.
The 27 year old offers a wealth of experience throughout the Football League and is a real handful for most defences in League Two.
Chris spent last season at Cheltenham Town and has also had a spell at Eastleigh before signing for County in the summer. Manager Justin Edinburgh described the striker as one of his main transfer targets ahead of the season and was delighted to get his man.
[/vc_tab]Accrington Stanley and Newport County have only met on one previous occasion and that was on the opening day of this season.
That match was a first back in the Football League for the Exiles and Justin Edinburgh's side made sure it was a day to remember by taking the three points from the Reds.
Two goals from Chris Zebroski and one each from Harry Worley and Christian Jolley gave Newport a 4-1 win with Stanley's consolation coming from striker Danny Webber. The game was also Stanley boss James Beattie's first competitive game as a manager.
This afternoon marks Newport's first visit to the Store First Stadium and Stanley will be out for revenge.[/vc_tab]Stanley ended the festive period with a 3-1 defeat at local rivals Fleetwood on New Year's Day. At the Store First Stadium the Reds have lost just one of their last eight league games.
They are currently 21st in the League Two table, two points from the relegation places and three behind York who are 17th.Newport have lost their last two games, against Burton and Northampton, but before that they'd won three consecutive league games.
They are eighth in League Two and just a point outside the play-off places.[/vc_tab]James Beattie has a virtually full strength squad to choose from with defender Rob Atkinson now fully fit following a hamstring problem and Nicky Hunt back despite sustaining an ankle injury in the defeat at Fleetwood.
January signings Kayode Odejayi, Marcus Bettinelli and Craig Roddan could all feature for the Reds.Striker Rene Howe could make his debut for the Exiles after signing for them this afternoon.
The former Morecambe and Peterborough man has been released by Burton Albion.[/vc_tab]
Stanley Top Scorers
Kal Naismith 6
Peter Murphy 5
Kayode Odejayi 5
James Gray 4
Danny Webber 3
George Bowerman 2
Newport County Top Scorers
Chris Zebroski 6
Danny Crow 5
Conor Washington 5
Robbie Willmott 4
Harry Worley 4
The Man in the Middle
Dean Whitestone (Northamptonshire)
So Far This Season: 18 games, 49 yellow cards, three reds
Last Stanley Game: 02/09/2010 – Chesterfield 5 ASFC 2[/vc_tab]
Admission Details
This is a category B, meaning that admission prices are £15 for adults, £10 for over 65s, £6 for students & under 17's and £1 for accompanied under 12's.
All supporters will be able to pay on the turnstiles on the day of the game. It is not necessary to buy a ticket in advance.
Website
@NewportCounty[/vc_tab]