Ahead of our Friday night fixture against Swindon Town, we take a look back at some memorable victories over the Robins, including wins at County's former home, Somerton Park, and our more recent successes at Rodney Parade.
History between the two clubs dates back to 1920, with Swindon currently holding the upper hand in the all-time head-to-head record. Of the 97 encounters between the sides, the Robins have secured 45 victories across all competitions.
Swindon first made the trip to Somerton Park, the former home of Newport County, on 21 October 1920. However, it wasn’t until the following year that they managed to claim their first-ever home victory over the Robins.
County went into the game in good form, having lost only one of their previous five league matches, with that defeat ironically coming at the hands of Swindon just a week earlier in the first fixture.
Determined to bounce back and get one over on the Robins, County produced a thrilling performance. A brace from Billy Gaughan—who had joined from Manchester City in 1919—alongside goals from William Devlin and Jack Lythgoe, sealed a commanding 4-0 win in front of 8,000 spectators at Somerton Park.
The 1921–22 season marked only Newport County's second in the Football League. Despite a shaky start, manager Harry Parkes guided the team to safety, with County finishing the season on 34 points and a goal difference of 0.721, just edging out Exeter City’s 0.644, ensuring their survival in the league.
Away from league action, County were knocked out of the Welsh Cup at the first hurdle by local rivals Cardiff City. However, their FA Cup run was more successful, as they reached the third round before being eliminated 6-0 by Newcastle United.
County's last victory over Swindon at Somerton Park came on 18 May 1982, in a dramatic final game of the 1981–82 season. That match not only saw County secure a vital 1-0 win, but it also played a crucial role in condemning Swindon to relegation to Division Four for the first time in their history.
Mark Kendall, who made over 270 appearances for County, was outstanding in goal, keeping Swindon at bay for much of the match. It was only late on that Tommy Tynan’s composed penalty sealed the win for the Exiles in front of 5,906 spectators.
Tynan finished the season as the club’s top scorer, with 13 league goals and 16 in total, helping County to a mid-table finish of 16th in the Third Division under manager Len Ashurst. His leadership and goal-scoring ability were pivotal to County’s survival in the division.
Tynan, regarded as one of County's greatest-ever players, signed for the club in February 1979 for a then-record £25,000. Over the following years, the Liverpudlian striker became a talisman, scoring 88 goals in 229 appearances before moving to Plymouth Argyle in August 1983. At Plymouth, Tynan would go on to be named their greatest-ever player, further cementing his legacy as one of the finest strikers of his generation.
Tynan’s influence was most evident during the 1979–80 season, known as the "Season of Triumph," when he played a key role in County’s promotion to the Second Division for the first time since 1939. That season also saw the club win the Welsh Cup for the only time in their history, with Tynan contributing significantly in both campaigns.
In recognition of his incredible impact, Tynan was inducted into the Newport County Hall of Fame on 3 April 2009, becoming the first player to be honoured. His place in the club’s rich history is forever secure.
After County moved to Rodney Parade in the 2012–13 season, their first home win over Swindon came in April 2018.
In a crucial match, County dented Swindon’s play-off hopes with a 2-1 victory, snapping a five-game winless run. First-half goals from Padraig Amond and Ben Tozer put the Exiles in control, with Swindon unable to recover despite a second-half strike from Paul Mullin.
Rollin Menayese was sent off for two yellow cards as County held firm in front of 3,911 spectators.
Newport manager Mike Flynn praised his players after the match, telling BBC Sport Wales: "I thought the players were absolutely superb in the first half. They did everything we asked of them, and we could have been more than two ahead at half-time."
Most recently, County secured another win over Swindon at Rodney Parade last season. The Exiles came out on top in a thrilling 2-1 victory, just six days after their memorable FA Cup clash against Premier League giants Manchester United in the Fourth Round.
Dawson Devoy came close early on, hitting the post with a free-kick, before Paul Glatzel gave Swindon the lead shortly after half-time. However, County responded with goals from Will Evans and Seb Palmer-Houlden.
Evans netted his 20th goal of the season in the 53rd minute, before Palmer-Houlden’s late strike sealed the win for the Exiles. Despite a late scare when Harry McKirdy hit the post in injury time, County held firm and climbed to 13th in the League Two standings, while Swindon, who had struggled in the second half, remained in 17th place.
