As the Exiles prepare to host Chesterfield on Friday night, we take a look back at our first and last win against the Spireites in years gone by.
History between the two clubs spans all the way back to 1946, however, with Chesterfield on top in the overall head-to-head stakes, winning 20 of the 38 meetings between the two in all competitions.
The 1946–47 season was Newport County's inaugural season in the Football League Second Division, having been promoted at the end of the 1938-39 season. Although the 1939-40 season began, it was cut short due to the outbreak of World War II.
The first-ever meeting between Newport County and Chesterfield took place on November 16, 1946, a game which swung in the Spireites favour as County suffered a narrow 2-0 defeat at Saltergate.
County’s first victory against Friday’s opponents came in the return fixture that season in March 1947. Under the guidance of Tom Bromilow, County secured a convincing 3-0 win at Somerton Park, thanks to goals from Frank Rawcliffe, Danny Newall, and Eddie Carr.
Throughout a challenging season, Newport faced tough competition from teams like Manchester City, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, and West Ham United. Eddie Carr emerged as the club’s top scorer, netting 19 goals in all competitions after joining from Huddersfield Town that summer. Over his time at County, Carr scored 48 goals in 98 appearances before transferring to Bradford City.
Despite being relegated along with Swansea Town at the end of the 1946-47 campaign, a memorable win for County came against now-premier league giant Newcastle United on the penultimate day of the season, as County won 4-2 at home in front of a crowd of 8,798.
County did, however, enjoy a healthy run in the Welsh Cup that season. After victories against Barry Town and Shrewsbury Town in the fifth and sixth round of the competition, a narrow defeat 3-2 to Chester denied County’s progression to the finals of the Welsh Cup.
Newport County’s last victory against Chesterfield came in August 2017.
The Exiles kicked off the new campaign with an unbeaten start under then-manager Michael Flynn, winning one and drawing two of their first three matches.
Following draws against Stevenage and Crewe Alexandra, County secured a hard-fought 1-0 win over Coventry City - their first visit to Coventry since August 1961 - before welcoming Chesterfield to Rodney Parade.
In a thrilling encounter, Newport triumphed 4-1, with a remarkable 13-minute hat-trick from Frank Nouble and a debut strike from Padraig Amond electrifying the crowd of 4,332.
Amond, who went on to score 41 goals in 162 appearances for County, finished the season as the club’s top scorer with 19 goals in all competitions.
Although Newport ended the season in a mid-table 11th place, it was primarily remembered for their heroic run in the Emirates FA Cup. After impressive scalps against Walsall, Cambridge United, and Leeds United, the Exiles pulled off a dramatic 1-1 draw at home to Tottenham Hotspur in the round four, where a late equaliser from Harry Kane forced a replay at Wembley.
Despite ultimately being defeated at Wembley in the replay, Newport's remarkable cup run marked their best performance in the Emirates FA Cup since 1979, rounding off a memorable campaign.
