Newport Civil Service F.C.

Newport Civil Service

Full name	Newport Civil Service Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Civil
Founded	1963
Ground	Newport Civil Service Sports Ground, Bettws
Chairman	Frank Jenkins
Manager	Ben Burrows
League	Welsh Football League Division Three
2008–09	Welsh Football League Division Three, 11th (of 18)
Website	Club home page
Home colours Away colours

Newport Civil Service F.C. is a Welsh football club based in the Bettws area of the City of Newport. The team currently play in the Welsh Football League Division Three.

Rival clubs

• Newport YMCA
• Caerleon
• Llanwern
• Cwmbran Celtic
• Cwmbran Town

History

Newport Civil Service were founded in 1963. Initially they worked their way through the Newport and District League system before achieving Gwent County League status. They made an impact at that level in the 1980s, winning Division 3 in 1987–88 and Division 2 the following season. In Civil's first season in Division 1 (1989–90) they swept to 2nd in the League and captured the Gwent Challenge Cup for the first time. After coming 3rd in the 1990–91 season they spent several years in mid-table,(though winning the Gwent Amateur Cup in 1995) and even ended in last position in the 1996–97 season, escaping relegation due to Chepstow Town's promotion to the Welsh League. This escape must have come as a warning, for Civil got things together again in the 1997–98 season to finish 4th.

In the 1998–99 season Civil were on for the treble, until disaster struck with the loss of 9 points for unknowingly fielding a player suspended in Sunday Football. They then lost Gwent Amateur Cup Final to local rivals Newport Corinthians and at the end only had the Gwent Challenge Cup to show for a season that promised so much – Civil attaining a 1–0 win over Pill, another Newport side. In the next couples of seasons Civil finished mid-table.

In the 2001–02 season Civil Service struggled for quality players all year round which ended in relegation to the Gwent County Second Division. With a new Manager in place they finished 4th in their first season in the Second Division then 3rd in theseasons 2003–04 and 2004–05, just missing promotion on the last few matches.

Things Changed once again for Civil when in the 2005–06 Season Civil finished in 2nd position to Monmouth Town, with both teams being promoted.

Once again Civil's management team changed for the new season in the first Division but they won the first Division. However, they failed to be promoted to the Welsh league due to the Civil Service Sports club being taken over by Play football(Football complex). Hence Monmouth Town, who had finished second behind Civil were promoted to the Welsh League.

Civil finally attained promotion to the Welsh Football League in the 2007–08 season. Newport Civil Service had a fantastic season, and were unbeaten for nearly a whole season, although local Malpas Rivals Albion Rovers beat them first game of the season, but it was Cwmffrwdoer Sports who put a stop to the unbeaten run. Civil applied again to be promoted to Welsh league only to be rejected twice by the Welsh League. After a lot more hard work Civil applied one last time and were accepted.

Recent history

On Tuesday The 7 April 2009, Newport Civil Service faced cross-city rivals, Newport County, in the Gwent FA Senior Cup Semi Final. The task at hand was great enough for the Civil, and they also managed to attract an attendance of 263 to the game at Shannon Close, which is the club's highest-ever attendance. Daniel Bailey was unlucky for the Civil when his shot cannoned off the bar as County keeper Keiron Blackburn slipped, but seconds later Blackburn rushed from his area but missed the ball and Bailey was able to cross to present a simple chance for Mark Millinship to score the only goal of the game in the 44th minute. Newport Civil Service controlled the game, although County side gave them a few scares. Civil adapted better to the boggy surface as they made sure that every tackle counted. Newport Civil Service took joy in victory and marched on towards their first-ever Gwent FA Senior Cup Final.

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player GK Chris Jones DF Ben Burrows DF Gareth Wysome DF Gareth Bennent DF Darren Woodcock DF Jamie Bailey MF Gareth Cleverly

No. Position Player FW Daniel bond MF James Thompson MF Matthew Palmer MF Nathan Beer MF Jordan Satchell MF Ryan Culverwell MF Steve Muir MF Lewis Sweetland MF Luke Hughes FW Mathew Lawrence FW Tyrone Tucker-Dixon FW Thomas James FW Ryan Smith

Staff and board members

• Vice-Chairman: Ken Hendy
• Secretary : Tony Burrows

External links

• Official site
• Win Over Newport County Pictures