Justin Edinburgh - the journey continues...
On the 4th October 2011 Newport County AFC unveiled their new Manager Justin Edinburgh who took over a side placed 23rd in Conference National League.In his first season in charge Edinburgh guided County through the remainder of the season to safely avoid relegation and finish in 19th place, but that was not all from the 2011-12 season. Under Edinburgh's guidance the team reached the FA Trophy final at Wembley Stadium, although losing on this occasion a fantastic achievement for the Club.
Edinburgh's second season in charge couldn't have started much better, in August 2012 County won all five of their opening matches of the 2012-13 season and Edinburgh claimed the National Conference Manager of the Month award for August 2012. The season continued to grow from strength to strength, with County finishing in 3rd place overall in the National Conference to reach the playoffs. Edinburgh successfully guided the team past Grimsby Town in the semi-finals to reach Wembley for the second season running.
The 5th May 2013 will go down in history as the day Newport County AFC returned to the Football League after 25 years, as County travelled to Wembley to face Welsh rivals Wrexham in a tense game in front of 16,000. Late goals from Christian Jolley and Aaron O'Connor sealed the return to the Football League. Justin Edinburgh described the day as "without doubt the proudest moment of my career".
The 2012/13 season was capped off with Justin Edinburgh winning the Conference National Manager of the month for May 2013 and the Conference National Manager of the year award 2012/13.
The 3rd August 2013 and Newport County faced Accrington Stanley at Rodney Parade in the first game in the Sky Bet Football League 2, County successfully managed a comfortable 4-1 victory that day and ended the first game back in the Football League top of the table. Edinburgh enjoyed a good first season back in the Football League safely guiding the team to a mid table finish another great achievement for the Football Club. County also enjoyed success in the League Cup with a famous win over Brighton & Hove Albion in the first round before being knocked out by West Brom in the second. The Football League trophy also provided success as County found themselves reaching the Southern Area Semi Finals after beating Crawley Town and Portsmouth.
Onto the current season and County are currently sitting in 15th place in the Sky Bet Football League and on a run of seven League games unbeaten and with a Manager the club and the fans are proud of, the journey continues...
County Chairman Les Scadding commented on Edinburgh's time at the club saying "We’ve always had a good relationship and we work together well, we have a fantastic Manager in Justin Edinburgh and I respect him a lot, he has been fantastic for this Club and he will go down in history as the Manager who guided us into the Football League. Any game we play Win, lose or draw, we are proud of Justin and what he has achieved, we trust his judgement and we trust him as a person, because he always does what is right for this football club. ”