Saturday 12th October 2024 ko 14:00

Gwent Premier League, Premier Division

ROGERSTONE AFC 4 (Smith 30 56 Porter 59 Goodfellow 82p)

LUCAS CWMBRAN 0

Att 102 at Newport Fugitives Athletic Club

Entry & Programe £3

On occasion I’ve opined that I don’t pick my games they pick me; this was a classic example. After the glut of games that was the Kent Hop all I knew was that the last thing I wanted to watch was something English and at Steps 5 or 6. So when Rogerstone tweeted that they were opening their new ground, my mind was charmingly made up for me!

Many will remember the club from their excellent hosting during the 2018 Welsh Hop, GroundhopUK’s first foray into the Gwent League. Back then the club played at Rogerstone Welfare Grounds, a public park, which did place considerable restrictions on what they could do as hosts, and looking on from the event how thay could progress up the Welsh pyramid.

The big issue for that hop game was that alcohol was forbidden, which was a real shame when the club’s main sponsor is the Tiny Rebel Brewery whose base is in the town. In fact, I know we lost a couple of hoppers to the nearby brewery tap while we were there!

But a railed-off pitch in a public park with little or no chance of development was a real issue for a club with ambitions to progress to the Ardal (Regional) Leagues, so when the club spotted that a former rugby pitch on the other side of town was available, they seized their opportunity. They’ve moved to the back pitch at Newport Fugitives Athletic Club, the unusual suffix was coined at the athletic club’s foundation in 1933, when the the film “I am a Fugitive From A Chain Gang” was popular and founder Les Ingram, was reckoned to bear a resemblance to the lead male, Paul Muni.

That’s not to say there wasn’t a lot of work that needed to be done before Rogerstone moved in. The pitch needed a lot of work and the whole facility needed widening, just look at how the pitch’s grass changes near the near touchline. Then there was the changing rooms to refit, and a rail to construct. They’ve even built themselves a stand, and as they put it, when you’ve got no money, you have to improvise. Gloriously, wonderfully so it turns out, and I’m sure they’ll find a way to put a roof on it!

When you visit, do take heed of the club’s advice and park in the nearby Serennu Children’s Centre and cross the High Cross Road and use the alleyway entrance, there’s even a conveniently placed traffic island to help you. But’s imagine Rogerstone AFC had done nothing with the place; even then I’d recommend the place just for the view of the Bristol Channel from the banking at the far end. It really is a breaktaking place to watch a game.

The game was entertaing too, with Rogerstone always being just the bit sharper than their visitors, so the margin of victory was deserved. But the game was a small piece of the jigsaw of Rogerstone’s future, the ground is a much bigger one. I’ll watch their progress with much fondness.