Newport County

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Newport County suffered their first defeat of pre-season as they went down 3-1 at Torquay United.

The National League side stormed into a 3-0 half-time lead thanks to goals from Dylan Morgan, Jordan Dyer and Louis Dennis.

Bobby Kamwa, one of four Newport substitutes at the break, headed home late on for the Exiles as he met Lee Jenkins' cross.

Newport continue their preparations for the new League Two season with a behind-closed-doors game at Bristol City on Tuesday.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Former Newport County striker Kyle Hudlin is to try his luck in Vietnamese football following his Huddersfield Town exit.

Hudlin scored six goals in 30 Newport appearances – 16 of which were league starts – during a loan spell at Rodney Parade last season.

But after being released by parent club the Terriers this summer, the 6ft 9in frontman has signed for Nam Dinh, the current Vietnamese champions.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Newport County have appointed former defender and ex-club captain Mark O'Brien as club ambassador.

The 32-year-old's role will see him working in the community, supporting matchday hosting duties at Rodney Parade and assisting the club's commercial department.

O'Brien made more than 120 appearances for the Exiles and in 2017 his late winner against Notts County saw Newport pull off an astonishing League Two relegation escape on the final day of the season.

He was forced to retire at the age of 27 in 2020 because of heart issues that required surgery and subsequently became the club's player liaison officer.

"This club means everything to me,'' said the Irishman, who has also worked as a Radio Wales summariser since he retired from playing.

"The club and the community stuck by me when I had my heart problem and this is my opportunity to give something back for that support.

"I'm really looking forward to developing the new role, my new life and new career.

"I've been helping the club on the field, and training ground, for nearly 10 years. Now I want to make a difference off the field as well."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Moses Alexander-Walker netted a late winner as Newport County edged past Weston-super-Mare 1-0 to continue their promising pre-season campaign.

The 17-year-old academy product struck two minutes from time at the Optima Stadium, ensuring Dave Hughes' side maintained their unbeaten run in pre-season.

In a tightly contested encounter, chances were at a premium for both sides and the match looked destined to finish goalless until Michael Reindorf produced a moment of quality to unlock the Seagulls' defence.

Reindorf threaded a well-weighted pass through to Alexander-Walker, who kept his composure to fire home from a tight angle.

Newport manager Hughes handed a place on the bench to new loan signing Habeeb Ogunneye, who joined the Exiles from Manchester United earlier this week.

The Exiles continued their preparations ahead of the new League Two campaign with their fourth pre-season friendly under Hughes, who will be pleased by the resilience shown by his youthful squad.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Oliver Greaves scored as Newport County won 1-0 away to Southern Football League Premier Division Central side Worcester City in a pre-season friendly.

Greaves found the net with a neat finish from inside the box just after the half hour mark at Sixways Stadium.

The forward nearly doubled the advantage just before the interval but his effort was saved but Dave Hughes' side secured a second pre-season win.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Newport County secured victory in their second game of pre-season with a 1-0 win away to Ardal League side Undy AFC.

Anthony Glennon's header, from summer signing Lee Jenkins' cross, broke the deadlock and sealed the win.

Dave Hughes' men next face Worcester City away next Saturday (12 July).

Image source, Huw Evans Agency

Newport County have had two of their League Two fixtures chosen for television coverage next season.

The first is the Exiles' home game against Milton Keynes Dons on Saturday, 23 August, which will now kick off at 12:30 BST on Sky Sports+.

Rodney Parade will again play host to the tv cameras on Saturday, 6 September when Bristol Rovers arrive for the Severnside derby, the game also given a 12:30 BST start on Sky Sports Football.

These selections form part of the English Football League's broadcast agreement with Sky Sports, which ensures all 72 clubs will feature live at least twice by the end of September.

Image source, Getty Images

Newport County's season will kick off in July after the date of their EFL Cup tie with Barnet was confirmed.

County start the competition in the preliminary round stage following a change to the format.

They will face Barnet, who won the National League last season, for the right to take on Championship Millwall in the first round.

And the date has now been set for the game, with the Exiles heading to the Hive on Tuesday, 29 July (19:30 BST).

Coming four days before the League Two opener against Notts County at Rodney Parade, the cup tie will be Dave Hughes' first competitive match in charge of Newport after he replaced Nelson Jardim this summer.

The EFL Cup preliminary round is a knock-on from the increase in Premier League sides involved in European competition next season.

The format is designed to reduce the number of clubs in rounds one and two, in order to accommodate all Premier League clubs involved in Europe in round three.

That meant the need for a preliminary round, with the two promoted clubs from last season's National League - Barnet and Oldham Athletic - facing the clubs who finished in 21st and 22nd place in League Two - Accrington Stanley and Newport.

Should they win, Newport would host Millwall at Rodney Parade in the week commencing 11 August.

Image source, Getty Images

Newport County will host Championship club Millwall in round one of the EFL Cup if they can overcome Barnet in the preliminary round.

The Exiles enter the competition in the new preliminary stage, with David Hughes' side travelling to The Hive in the week commencing 4 August.

The winners of that tie will then take on Alex Neil's Lions in the week commencing 11 August.

Barnet will be back in the EFL in 2025-26 having won last season's National League title.

The preliminary round has been added this term to reduce the number of clubs in rounds one and two, in order to accommodate all Premier League clubs involved in Europe in round three.

Image source, Getty Images

Newport County will take on Arsenal Under-21s in the 2025-26 EFL Trophy.

The Exiles were drawn alongside Cardiff City and Exeter City in Southern Group A of the competition on Wednesday.

Sixteen invited under-21 teams from Premier League clubs were added to the groups on Thursday, with the young Gunners now in alongside Newport.

The competition will begin in September, with the top two sides from each group progressing to the knockout stages.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Newport County will kick-off their League Two campaign against Notts County at Rodney Parade on Saturday, 2 August.

County will be looking to improve upon their 22nd-place finish last season under new head coach David Hughes who replaced Nelson Jardim in May.

Hughes' first away test in League Two will be a trip to Crawley Town on Saturday, 9 August.

The Exiles will host Barnet on Boxing Day before a home match against Crewe Alexandra on 29 December.

They will play their first match of 2026 away to Bromley on New Year's Day and will end the League Two campaign with a long trip north to Barrow on Saturday, 2 May.

• Follow this link for Newport County's full 2025-26 fixture list.

*Dates and kick-off times will be subject to change.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Kiban Rai has signed for National League Aldershot after being released by Newport County.

The 20-year-old made a total of 30 appearances for the Exiles, scoring once, having made his senior debut at the age of 17.

But after his contract was not renewed, the attacking midfielder or forward has joined a Shots side who finished 16th in the fifth tier last season.

Aldershot boss Tommy Widrington called Rai "a really exciting prospect".

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Kieron Evans has joined National League side Eastleigh following his release by Cardiff City.

Evans, 23, played 39 games and scored three goals during a loan spell with League Two Newport County last season.

But having left Cardiff this summer, the midfielder has dropped down a division to sign for Eastleigh, who finished 13th in the fifth tier last season.

Eastleigh say they "fought off competition from EFL clubs" to land former Wales youth international Evans, who made 11 senior appearances for Cardiff after coming through the club's academy.

Image source, Getty Images

Cardiff City and Newport County will face each other in next season's EFL Trophy.

The Welsh sides, along with Exeter City, are in Southern Group A of the competition, which was won by Peterborough United last season.

The group's fourth team will be one of eight invited under-21 sides from Premier League clubs, which will be confirmed on Thursday, 26 June.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Forward David Ajiboye, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Newport County, has joined Carlisle United.

The 26-year-old will join the Cumbrians – who were relegated to the National League last season - as a free agent on 1 July when his contract with Peterborough United expires.

Ajiboye, who also had a previous loan spell at York City, scored two goals in 21 league appearances for County after arriving on loan last January.