Newport (IOW)

Newport (Isle of Wight) FC is a non-league football club that represents the Isle of Wight county town of Newport; having been formed on January 27th 1888 and beginning life in Well's Field, which would later be renamed Church Litten.

The 'Port’ became a founder member of the Isle of Wight League in 1898, going on to become champions in 1907-08 before retaining the title for the next two seasons to make it three in a row.

A further championship was won in 1924-25 leading to a move to the East Division of the Hampshire League; followed by spells in the Central and South sections as the league was restructured. After being placed in Division One of the competition, Newport lifted the title in the 1929-30 campaign. 

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Cup triumphs ensued before becoming Hampshire League champions once again in 1932-33. In 1935-36 the team reached round one of the FA Cup; defeating Yeovil & Petters United before crashing out 8-0 away leading amateur side Southall in round two. The Port celebrated their third league title win in 1938-39.

The 1945-46 FA Cup run saw a win over Leyton Orient before a huge 12-0 aggregate defeat in the second round against Aldershot. In 1949-50 Newport won their fourth Hampshire League championship. The 1950s was a decade of success at Church Litten. 

The team were league champions in 1952-53 as well as reaching the first round of the FA Cup, going down against Swindon Town. The same opponents inflicted another defeat at the same stage of the competition in 1953-54 with the league crown being retained. In 1954-55 Newport lost 4–3 at Hinckley Athletic in the first round of the FA Cup.

A fifth Hampshire League title in ten years arrived in 1956-57. FA Cup first-round defeats followed in 1957-58 and 1958-59 to Hereford United and then Shrewsbury Town. However, the run came to an end as the team broke up.

In 1968-69 Newport were relegated to Division Two of the  Hampshire League before winning back their Division One spot in 1970-71 to win back their Division One status. A runners-up spot was followed up by another championship in 1978-79.

The good times were back at the club as further league triumphs came in 1979-80 and 1980-81 before becoming founder members of the Wessex League in 1986. In the summer of 1988, Newport left their town centre home for St Georges Park.

A Wessex League runners-up place in 1989-90 saw the club promoted to the Southern Division of the Southern League. A first FA Cup first-round appearance since the 1950s came in 1994-95 with Aylesbury United leaving the island with a win.

Enfield inflicted defeat at the same stage of the competition after a replay in 1995-96. After being transferred to the Eastern Division in 1999, the Port lifted that title in 2000-01 to win promotion to the Premier Division.

However, the step up proved too steep as Newport were relegated twelve months later. Following the re-organisation of non-league football, the club was placed in Division One of the Isthmian League in 2004.

A  further move to the Southern League Division One South & West came for the 2006-07 season before Newport dropped back down to the Premier Division of the Wessex League after finishing bottom of the table in 2007-08.

The team generally finished around the mid-table with a couple of sixth places the best showings, until relegation to Division One came in 2017-18. Andy Sampson was appointed as team manager for a third spell at the club in May 2018.

Meanwhile, off the pitch, plans were passed for the ground to build a new home ground by the Racecourse roundabout on Fairlee Road; a couple of miles north-east of the town after the owners of St Georges Park wanted to build a retail park on the site.

Beatrice Avenue, East Cowes Victoria Athletic FC

Newport's home as tenants again from the 2023-24 season

Steve Brougham and Stewart Shepherd took over as joint managers during the 2020-21 season, while the club became tenants of East Cowes Victoria Athletic at Beatrice Avenue while awaiting their new ground.

In 2021-22 the Port reached the playoffs, defeating Folland Sports before losing the final to Laverstock & Ford. The following season promotion dreams were extinguished in the semifinals of the playoffs to Petersfield Town after finishing as Wessex League runners-up. This was while tenants at Ryde Saints’ Smallbrook Stadium.

A return to Beatrice Avenue followed, a year before Joe Butcher and Martin McDonough were appointed as joint managers for the 2024-25 season. Construction on the new stadium at the Racecourse in Whippingham got underway in October 2024.

Newport (IOW) FC will play in the Wessex League Premier Division in the 2024-25 season.

My visit

Thursday 5^th September 2019

My first ever day on the Isle of Wight was going alright. I’d taken a bus from Ryde to visit the Beatrice Avenue temporary home of the Port before a good walk into town. I’d been disappointed that the Westwood Park ground of Cowes Sports was locked up, but never mind.

The scheduled number 1 bus didn’t turn up; meaning a long wait, when two inevitably turned up at once. It was soon apparent as to why the timetable was in a mess as we soon encountered road works.

The journey took far longer than anticipated before another smaller hold-up on the outskirts of Newport. I jumped out on St James’ Street so that I could have a look at the town centre; which seemed decent enough to me. England’s lethargic bowling during the Ashes Test kept me company in the meantime. 

I wandered along High Street to the main road at the end, which caused me temporary confusion before getting on the right track for St Georges Way. It took a further ten minutes before I arrived at the fenced-off entrance to the car park of the football ground. It looked like I was going to be denied any photo opportunity. I don’t give up that easily!

Further up behind one end, I saw the newly raised level Asda Superstore. I could get into the field between there and the ground by climbing over a wooden fence. My dodgy knee could have done without it, but this was an only chance opportunity. St Georges Park was a really decent non-league venue, but probably too expansive if truth be told. 

It had a covered terrace over large sections of three sides and a large clubhouse and other facilities backing onto a good-sized seated stand. The playing surface looked massive and was now becoming overgrown. It looked a sad sight; as do any abandoned venues. I carefully retraced my steps through the wild natural bush and scrub.

As I walked back round to the entrance the number 2 bus was approaching. I got on board, just about fitting onto a seat next to a local who wasn’t the most helpful on the top deck in offering me any space. Despite that, I enjoyed the scenery on the ride to Shanklin where I grabbed fish and chips before a siesta at the friendly Victoria Lodge Hotel. 

I then got ready for a walk and a few beers on the seafront and in town. I really enjoyed my first-ever visit to the Isle of Wight. Maybe I’d return one day to see some local football action?