Established back in 1961, few at the time would have envisaged Newport Corinthians AFC becoming the largest grassroots football club in Newport and potentially one of the biggest in Wales.
The Corries were founded by Alan Merton and Hedley Morgan who just wanted to set up a football team their friends and family could play for. Their changing room at the time was an old blue tin shed, in those early days the club’s foundations that remain today were built on team camaraderie, from social events to football tours, even venturing on the clubs first overseas tour to Holland in 1967 taking Johan Cruyff’s mighty Ajax team.
It was not until 1990 that their current clubhouse was built and funded by players and supporters of the club. Located in the shadow of Newport’s famous Transporter Bridge, Newport Corinthians or more affectionally known as “The Corries”, is home to 28 football teams with over 450 male and female players aged from 6 to 54 from across the City of Newport currently gracing the hallowed turf of Coronation Park every weekend.
The gradual growth from 1 to 28 teams has taken decades to achieve but The Corries ambition is showing no signs of easing as their First Team currently competing at the top the Gwent Premier Division and are hoping and planning to get promoted to the Welsh League for the first time in its history. Such an achievement was something the club has always dreamed of, but it is now a real possibility if they can win the league this season and work complete the required upgrade and improvements to their facilities at Coronation Park in time.
The Corries have also ensured that the foundations of the club are strong by investing in their coaches and support staff over the years with over 80 FAW qualified coaches and volunteers. They were also one of the first volunteer football clubs to purchase and install their very own Defibrillator.
As with many grassroots community football clubs the past few years have been difficult. They have experienced many disruptions at Coronation Park from break in’s, vandalism, travellers setting up camp throughout the season, the Pandemic and finally ongoing flood defence work next to their playing pitches. But with these disruptions the club have continued to show their resilience and determination to achieve their ambitions and provide a safe, fun environment for all players, volunteers and spectators.
The Corries is more than just a football club, it has become a football community for the hundreds of players who proudly represent the club from the junior section right up to their veterans team. Whilst playing football is at the core of the Corries, they have also made sure the Club has become a community hub for family and friends of the current and former players of the Club ensuring their clubhouse is a lighthouse and corner stone within the community where everyone is made to feel valued, welcome and creating a sense of belonging. They have also made national headlines and attention by having their very own unique kit design in partnership with Tor Sports, sponsored by Newport’s famous groups ‘Goldie Looking Chain’ and ‘Skindread’. In 2019, The Corries achieved a milestone as the first grassroots club in Wales to produce its own album. Produced in collaboration with the Spanish company Cromogal, the album boasted glossy full-colour stickers showcasing every player.
Beyond the excitement and drama, the football matches created every weekend the Corries have invested within the local community knowing that football is more than a game but a way of life. In collaboration with local charity ‘Tidy Butt’ they hosted a mental health and wellbeing sessions, to empower people to better understand and talk about their own mental health and over the past decade have supported homeless charities by donating money and food throughout the year, they have also raised thousands of pounds for charities such as Prostate Cancer Uk, The British Heart Foundation, supported and hosted ‘Man vs Fat’ events. The Corries are also renowned for hosting footballs festivals and tournaments for all ages, with the longest standing mini & junior football festival, being one of Wales largest and the growing Veteran’s tournament creating memories to last a lifetime.
For over 60 years the Corries have been playing football at Coronation Park, it’s their home and it’s the soul of the football club. They hope there will be players wearing and kissing the badge of Newport Corinthians AFC in another 60 year’s time with smiles on their faces whatever the result with the River Usk flowing past them and the iconic Transporter Bridge looking down upon them whatever the weather.