Hospitality guests will take a trip down Memory Lane before Newport County’s League Two clash with Chesterfield on Friday, October 18 (8pm) to one of the most important days in the club’s colourful history.
Special guests for the evening will be Charlie Hopkins and Nick Stewart. They may not have made a name for themselves on the pitch with the Exiles, but they certainly made an impact of it as the two legal eagles who helped defeat the FAW in the High Court back in 1995.
Having been refused permission by the FAW to play their home games in Wales after being exiled to Gloucester following the club’s initial demise in 1989, Charlie, a London-based lawyer, and Nick, a commercial law barrister, agreed to help the club fight their case in the highest court in the land.
“My involvement in the court case against the FAW can be traced back to a
fateful day in early November 1993,’’ explained Charlie.
“I had travelled from London to Gloucester to watch Newport’s so-called ‘home’ game against Bilston in the Second Division of the Southern League where Will Foley got the only goal in front of 275 hardy souls.
“I was chatting to a supporter at half-time not really understanding how the
club had ended up being exiled to England. He suggested that I talk to chairman David Hando after the game, which I did. I didn’t know a lot about commercial law, but I said I'd be prepared to investigate it and see if there was anything that could be done legally about the situation.
“I roped in Nick Stewart as I needed to find a commercial law barrister
who also knew something about football. Nick fitted the bill, as I'd
met him when I was a pupil barrister, and he was also an Arsenal season
ticket holder.
“We started a legal action for restraint of trade against the FAW in April 1994 and got an injunction to allow us back to Newport for the start of the following season. A full trial lasting three weeks in the Chancery Division of the High Court in London took place the following year, 1995. The rest, as they say, is (legal) history.’’
Newport won the case, and the club was allowed to play their football in Wales again.
Charlie and Nick will be guest speakers in the hospitality lounge before the Chesterfield game as part of our Curry Friday special event.
Guests can also join head coach Nelson Jardim and the players in the lounge post-match for pictures, autographs and discussion about the game as a new feature of the club’s hospitality offering this season.
To be part of the unique hospitality experience, you can book online here for just £60 per person and enjoy fantastic cuisine, premier seating, and exclusive in-lounge entertainment that includes guests from past and present.
And if you are already a season ticket holder, you can upgrade for a discounted price of just £35 per person. Individual match ticket purchasers are also able to upgrade by emailing hospitality@newport-county.co.uk.
To book, please click HERE and confirm online.
The Bisley Lounge hospitality experience includes:
• Premium stadium seating
• Designated matchday host
• Post-match visit from the management & players *
• Past and present player appearances *
• Two-course meal
• Designated pay bar
• Complimentary half-time tea and coffee
• Exclusive lounge access
• Souvenir Newport County lanyard
• In-lounge competitions *
• Complimentary matchday team sheet
• Complimentary Wi-Fi access
• Free Parking options *
(* Subject to change / availability)
* There is a further 10% off for under-16s.
To book, please click HERE and confirm online. Queries can be sent to hospitality@newport-county.co.uk.