As Newport County prepare to face Fleetwood Town on Saturday afternoon, we take a look back at six players who have pulled on the shirts of both clubs over the years.
Ryan Jackson
Ryan Jackson joined Newport County in August 2013 after a successful two-week trial. A brief contract dispute was resolved when Newport paid a small compensation fee to Macclesfield Town. He made his debut shortly afterward, helping Newport to a 3–1 extra-time win over Brighton & Hove Albion in the League Cup.
Jackson had previously spent a short loan spell at Fleetwood Town in October 2011, joining from AFC Wimbledon. He made an instant impact, scoring twice on his debut in a 3–1 win over Lincoln City. He featured in four league matches for Fleetwood before moving to Cambridge United on loan in January 2012.
John Parkin
Veteran striker John Parkin signed for Fleetwood Town in June 2012 and made his debut in a League Cup tie against Nottingham Forest. He made headlines with a hat-trick in a 4–0 win over Morecambe and followed it up with another treble in a 3–0 victory at Accrington Stanley. Parkin was an influential figure during Fleetwood’s 2013–14 promotion-winning season, which culminated in a League Two play-off final triumph at Wembley. Despite his contributions, he was released shortly after the club's promotion to League One.
In July 2016, Parkin joined Newport County, choosing the Exiles over Barrow. He debuted in a 2–1 defeat at Luton Town and scored his first goal for Newport shortly after, netting in a 2–2 draw at Hartlepool. His spell at Newport added another chapter to a long and colorful Football League journey.
Danny Rose
A Manchester United academy graduate, Danny Rose became a key figure at Newport County after signing in 2008. He played a pivotal role in the club’s 2009–10 Conference South title-winning campaign under Dean Holdsworth, helping Newport amass a record 103 points—28 ahead of second-placed Dover Athletic.
Rose made 165 appearances for Newport, scoring 36 goals, including a hat-trick against Kettering Town. In January 2012, he moved to Fleetwood Town, continuing his professional career and reinforcing his reputation as a dependable and hard-working midfielder.
Lee Fowler
Lee Fowler joined Newport County permanently following a short but successful loan spell. During the 2007–08 season, he made 34 appearances and scored four goals in the Conference South. Known for his technical ability and vision, Fowler became a valuable asset for the Exiles during his time at the club.
A former Wales U21 international, Fowler’s career spanned numerous clubs across the Football League. His time at Fleetwood Town came later in his playing days, adding another stop to his journeyman career. Today, he’s the manager of Flint Town United in the Cymru Premier.
Janoi Donacien
Janoi Donacien, a product of Aston Villa’s academy, joined Newport County on loan for the 2015–16 season. He quickly earned a starting role and made 31 appearances in all competitions, impressing with his defensive composure and versatility.
In January 2021, Donacien reunited with League One football by joining Fleetwood Town on loan from Ipswich Town. He made his debut in a goalless draw against Wigan Athletic and featured 19 times during his loan stint at Highbury Stadium.
Ben Davies
Ben Davies joined Newport County on a youth loan from Preston North End in January 2016, initially for one month. His stay was extended to the end of the 2015–16 season, during which he made 19 league appearances and impressed with his defensive maturity.
A year later, in January 2017, Davies joined Fleetwood Town on loan for the second half of the 2016–17 season. He made 22 league appearances and scored once, playing a key part in Fleetwood’s push to the League One play-offs. Although the Cod Army were eliminated by Bradford City in the semi-finals, Davies’ performances stood out.
Following these loan spells, Davies became a key figure at Preston North End. He won the club’s Young Player of the Year award for 2017–18 and scooped both the Players’ Player of the Year and Sir Tom Finney Player of the Yearawards in 2018–19.
