By Rob Cole
Newport County boss Michael Flynn hopes his side can sock it to Cambridge United for a second time in a fortnight on Saturday.
County’s 2-0 FA Cup second round win over The U’s earlier in the month had a bizarre start when the home side were forced to change their socks in a row with match officials over their standard black kit.
They ended up wearing black and amber hooped socks, as used by Newport rugby club, and are now unbeaten in two games in them.
“I didn’t like the all black socks we had in the first place, but every game, because they were white at the bottom, the linesman or fourth official made the players tape up the white bits around the ankle,” said Flynn.
“It was crazy, the worst rule I have ever seen in football. I told them that the white bit was actually a part of our sock, not another one underneath a cut off stocking, but they wouldn’t accept that and we were still told we had to tape them up.
“So I asked if there was any way we could do anything different and they allowed us to use other socks. Fair play to the kit man, he found some black and amber hooped socks and we wore those.
“I haven’t got a clue where he got them from, or whose socks they were, but we’ve worn them in the last two games – and I like them.”
Flynn, whose side are bidding for promotion this season having staved off relegation with a last minute goal on the last day of last season, believes the strict enforcement of the league’s kit regulations are getting in the way of the player’s comfort.
“It’s a nightmare and it was doing my head in,” admitted Flynn.
“Some players will wear ankle socks because they feel comfortable and they look good. Unfortunately they forget to tape up the bottom part because you aren’t supposed to show a different colour to your sock.
“But ours were actually the sock – plain black with white heels. Every time they were going out they were being told to tape over the white bits and it was adding three or four minutes to their preparation.
“I think the regulation is there just to annoy managers. As if we haven’t got more important things to think about – I cannot for the life of me tell you what the rule is for.
“It’s crazy and it’s the same in the Premier League. You see players in the tunnel being forced to tape up their ankles.”
