After a successful trip to Cheltenham Town this past Tuesday night, the Exiles will now focus on Saturday’s trip to Swindon and the County Ground. Here is all of the information you need to prepare for the trip.
Where is The County Ground?
The County Ground Stadium is located at:
County Road
Swindon
SN1 2ED
Where will Newport fans be during the game?
Newport fans will be located in the Arkless Stand, which is on the side of the stadium. The stand holds just over 1,300 fans. There is also an overflow section available in the stadium in the Stratton Bank Stand.
How do I get to the County Ground?
Swindon Town is one of our local fixtures, and fans should encounter very few problems making their way to Wilshere this weekend. The following are the best ways to get to the stadium.
Car
The County Ground is just under 60 miles from Rodney Parade. Depending on traffic, this journey should take around an hour and ten minutes. Fans should be aware that road works on the M4 could disrupt the journey, so be sure to look ahead of time and plan accordingly.
Train
Regular trains are going from Newport to Swindon, with direct and indirect options available. The walk from the train station to the stadium takes around 10-15 minutes, with public transport options also available.
The latest direct train that arrives before kick-off leaves Newport at 13:31 and arrives in Swindon at 14:19, which would leave you on a tight schedule. The one before that leaves at 12:34 and arrives at 13:18, providing you with plenty of time to get to the ground and soak up the atmosphere.
Post-match, there are direct trains regularly, with ones leaving at 17:40, 18:14, 18:40 and 19:15. Each one takes around 40-50 minutes.
Coach
As always, the most relaxing way to get to Swindon Town this weekend is by taking one of the official supporter's coaches arranged by the NCAFC Supporter’s Club.
Can I park near the stadium?
There is no matchday parking available at the County Ground. However, Swindon Town provides the following information on their official website: “Parking is located at multiple locations. Supporters can park at St Joseph's School behind the Ground on Ocotal Way. Alternatively, you can park at Drove Primary School or Swindon Cricket Club; spaces cost £5 and are on a first-come, first-served basis.
The postcode for St Joseph’s is SN3 3LR, Drove Primary School is SN1 3AH, and Swindon Cricket Club is SN1 2ED.”
How far is the train station to Swindon?
Swindon train station is roughly a 10-15 minute walk from the County Ground, depending on your pace. When you leave the station, head left onto Station Road and then turn onto Corporation Street. You should then turn left onto Manchester Road at the traffic lights and follow the road until the end when you can turn right into County Road.
Alternatively, you can head to platform ten and take the number 2 bus towards Covingham. Ride for a few minutes and jump off at Queen’s Drive, which is a two-minute walk from The County Ground.
Where to eat and drink locally
Swindon is an active town with plenty of options for pre-match food and drinks. Away fans are not going to be welcome in all venues, though, so be sure to find out in advance if you are heading there on the train and hoping to head to a local pub or restaurant. Is there any sort of police escort for this?
If you are peckish pre-match, there are several fast-food restaurants within walking distance of the stadium, including a Burger King, Tesco Cafe, and a Chippy.
There is also a food-stand available in the away end that will remain open until the end of half-time.
Last time out
Our last encounter with Swindon Town was a 2-1 victory at Rodney Parade in February. The game was Jody Morris’s first in charge of the club, and his reign couldn’t have got off to a worse start.
Rushian Hepburn-Murphy was handed a red card for the visitors in the 14th minute, allowing Newport to pile on the pressure for the remainder of the game. This paid off in the 54th minute when Cameron Norman headed us in front.
Calum Kavanagh doubled our lead in his debut in the 78th minute. The visitors responded late in the game, with a consolation being scored by Tomi Adeloye.
How much are tickets for Swindon Town vs Newport County?
Tickets for our trip to Swindon Town are priced as follows:
Adult - £27
Senor 65+ - £22
Student - £22
Under 21 - £15
Under 18 - £11
Under 11 - £3
You can purchase tickets for the game here.