On a cold, crisp and dry afternoon in late January Rodney Parade prepared to host it’s biggest league game of the season, Newport County against Wrexham.
The ground sat quiet up until an hour before kick-off, the hustle and bustle of a sold out stadium begins. The fans flooding in, chanting loud and proud through the clicking, clanging turnstiles.
A sea of black and amber swarm along the terrace, pointing and waving looking for a reaction from the traveling Wrexham fans who cover the South Stand in red.
As kick off approaches the young guard of honour step out, bright eyed with beaming smiles, waving their black and amber flags from side to side.
The crowd from all areas of the ground erupt as the two teams walk out the dark tunnel. The tightly packed terrace shout and cheer with excitement as kick off is now imminent.
Dressed in all black the man in charge blew his whistle with great authority, Phwwwwwhht, it’s kick off.
Wrexham fans look confident as they urge on their side. ‘The Red Dragons’ sit 2nd having not lost in the league since November.
Newport in their black and amber strip look the better of the two sides in the opening 15 minutes.
The chanting and singing of Newport fans are suddenly halted as Will Boyle lunges in fiercely taking down Shane Mcloughlin, the crowd scream boos towards the Wrexham number 25. The referee goes to his back pocket and pulls out a bright red card and waved it towards the defender.
Seconds later, ‘OOOOOHH’ shouts the Amber Army as the Wrexham keeper makes a great save to deny Newport of an opener.
A cross from the left finds the head of Seb Palmer-Houlden. One side of the ground is in absolute delirium, whilst the other are shouting and swearing towards the goal scorer who shhh’s the away fans, it’s 1-0 Newport.
It’s half time, the smell of fresh, juicy burgers fills the air. The cash register clicking open for every pint sold. Queues as far as the eye can see, 15 minutes of pure rush and chaos in the terrace concourse.
The queues slowly disappear as people push their way through the tight stairwells back to their seats. The skies turned dark, what once was white clouds is now a dark shadow, the pitch is kept alight through the glaring bright flood lights on each corner of Rodney Parade.
The Exiles are now attacking in front of the high up temporary seating. Chance upon chance Newport are denied to double their lead after fantastic saves from the red’s keeper.
As full-time approaches, most of the crowd look anxious, nail biting and looking up to the sky with their hands over their mouth in a prayer position, whilst others are imitating the sound of a whistle and shouting for full time.
*Phwwwwwhht* FULL TIME. Newport secure all three points in huge Welsh derby clash. Freed from desire blares over the tannoy as Newport fans go into a total frenzy, bopping their arms up and down in time with the music. The Newport players take a lap around the pitch as they’re cheered on by the Amber Army.
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