County-United: Newport County vs Manchester United in the FA Cup

Words: Ryan Jewell

Images: Ryan Jewell

The year is 1990 and Manchester United have just won the FA Cup, securing their first major honour under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Meanwhile, at a ground in rural Gloucestershire eighty-three miles away from their original home of Somerton Park, the newly formed Newport AFC secure promotion from the Hellenic league at the first time of asking.

Over the course of the next thirty odd years, one of these clubs would go on to dominate global football, winning every trophy available to them. Whilst the other would fight a long and arduous battle to regain their place in the Football League.

Two completely different tales, one of a prince and the other of a pauper.

Only in cup competitions could either side hope to meet each other. And that’s exactly what happened when, on the 28th of January 2024, the boys from Manchester made the long journey down to South Wales for a Fourth-Round tie in the FA Cup.

©Ryan Jewell/ Terrace Edition. Newport County vs Manchester United.

Rodney Parade is a rare specimen in a world of soulless shoebox stadiums, its ancient terraces and rickety old turnstiles offer a glimpse into a long-forgotten past.

This is a ground made famous over the recent years for miraculous cup upsets, where foes twice the size of this lowly Welsh club have been slain.

Two hours before kick-off and the ground is already filling up, tinfoil replicas of the famous old trophy can be found dotted around the ground. Held by hopeful punters still trying to wake themselves from the most surreal of dreams.

Even after the whistle is blown and the game begins, the realisation of what is happening still hasn’t sunk in.

And unfortunately, this also is the case for the home side and within 15 minutes, the twenty times Premier League winners have put themselves two goals to the good.

For fans of other clubs this would put an end to their dreams of an impractical miracle. But for the supporters of a club who earned the nickname “the Exiles” from their struggle with the likes of the FAW and UEFA for the right to play in their hometown, the dream isn’t over until the final whistle is blown.

Just before half-time, a hopefully shot from distance sails into the bottom corner of the United goal, releasing pandemonium and chaos from the sold-out home crowd.

Then, right at the start of the second half, a low driven cross, into the box is tucked away past the sprawling opposition keeper, creating a real sense of Déjà vu from us well weathered fans who have seen this type of thing before.

But this time it’s not meant to be, in pushing so hard for a winning goal the home side have left themselves open on the break.

Two more goals for United, one in the 68th and the other in the 94th minute put to bed any hopes of yet another famous cup upset.

When the final whistle blows, we are all left with the pride of what could have been. There will be no cameras in the home dressing room, soaked in champagne poured by David as he celebrates his triumph against Goliath.

We instead salute our nearly men off the pitch, thank them for their efforts and make our way out of the ground patiently, awaiting the return to normality against Swindon on the Saturday.

You can find Ryan on Twitter: @ryantom1126

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