The memories flow for Newport Town
They say people are judged by the company they keep.
And if Newport Town's 120th anniversary celebrations are anything to go by, it promises to be an occasion to remember.
A black-tie event at Harper Adams University tomorrow evening will also include the club's annual presentation, with 120 guests expected.
Former Wolves keeper and Sky Sports TV pundit Matt Murray will be a VIP guest, while his ex-Molineux team-mate and current Newport head of academy Adam Proudlock will also be present.
Newport's new special edition kit for next season, incorporating colours and styles from over the years, will be unveiled.
Former manager in the 1980s Aled Jones, Ray Locke – a player from the 80s whose son is now assistant manager to Nathan McAuley – and ex-manager from the 70s and 80s Chris Cadman will also be attending.
Recent players in attendance are to include Steve Handley, Richard Priest and Christian Slade.
Jones, now 63, was involved for 14 years as striker turned left-back, player-manager and general manager from 1975-89 after meeting his future wife Mandy, who is 57, through the club.
Originally an RAF serviceman, he was spotted by then manager Micky Jones playing in five-a-side games and was initially asked to join a tour of Belgium. "
He said: "I was scoring all these goals and the papers called me Alan Jones to start with so people used to say 'alright, Alan' when I walked around Newport!"
Micky Jones made way for Keith Evans before Tony Millington took the helm. But when Millington departed after a fall-out, it signalled one of the most uncertain periods in Newport's history.
Aled Jones recalled: "We were left without any players and no committee. I became manager rather reluctantly.
"I was playing for Newport British Legion on a Sunday at the time, so we borrowed their players to fulfil our fixtures. I was determined not to let it fold."
At this point Jones poured out the club's troubles to licensee Derek Winkle, who ran the Champion Jockey pub in the town at the time.
Winkle knew ex-Bridgnorth stalwart Micky Ward, who came in as player-manager. Jones recalled: "Micky was a class act and things changed massively.
"The club really started to take off and we won two cups. Those were my favourite memories – turning the club around.
"We came from seeing it at the bottom of the Wellington League, when it couldn't win a game and was a laughing stock, to seeing it flourish, winning promotion from Division Two of the West Midlands League.
"There was a real family feel to the club and a great social side."
That was emphasised with both of Mandy's sisters – Mel and Sue – involved on the committee, along with secretary John Tranter, John Bowsher, Fred Talbot and Geoff Price.
Jones later became general manager, concentrating on fundraising with Bernard Daley taking over from Ward as manager.
Another purple patch followed under chairman Peter Coates and boss Cadman,
Newport winning the Shropshire County Cup. But they were always held back by not being able to find a home where they could erect floodlights, needed to play in the West Midlands League Premier Division.
Jones bowed out on a high as Newport won Division One of the West Midlands League in 1988-89, repeating the feat in 2002-03 when they also reached the final of the JW Hunt Cup at Molineux.
But the club folded through a lack of support halfway through the 2003-04 campaign after being forced to relocate to Wolverhampton Casuals' ground at Coven Heath, some 20 miles away.
Phil Lewis, who took over as chairman in 2008, reformed it and in 2009-10 won the treble of Shropshire County League Division One, the Williams and Picken Shropshire Junior Cup and the Insight Ron Jones Memorial Cup.
That momentum continued and in 2011-12, they returned to the West Midlands League Division Two. Since then, their highest finish has been sixth – until this championship season.
The emphasis is now on the future, one which will surely be bright if they can move to a new ground and put up floodlights.
MedalInterest is such that Newport are setting up a reserve team for next season, alongside the academy run by Newport-born former Wolves striker Proudlock.
A winner's medal from the club's first known honour, the Shropshire Junior Cup in 1948-49, plus cup and photo, has been donated by Tony Payne, son of late former Newport player Bill Payne, who died aged 99 in January 2014.
Tomorrow's event will also feature a charity auction with boots signed by Chelsea and England star Gary Cahill, goalkeeping gloves signed by England's Joe Hart, Jack Butland and Tom Heaton, a signed picture of Wolves legends Steve Bull and John Richards, a signed 140th anniversary Birmingham City shirt and a signed Jack Butland goalkeeping top all up for grabs.
To bid before the event, email newporttown1896@gmail.com. Proceeds will go to the club and Severn Hospice.
