Newport County players will run out onto a brand new playing surface at Rodney Parade today (Saturday).
They take on Chesterfield in their opening home match of the new season and manager Michael Flynn says: “The pitch is green instead of golden sand. It looks fantastic.”
A new £750,000 Desso pitch was installed over the summer after the Welsh Rugby Union takeover of Dragons and this is County’s first chance to use the new surface.
They have been unable to train on the surface before their League Two match against Chesterfield, but Flynn says: “There are no concerns.
“If anyone uses that as an excuse they are kidding themselves. We will do the warm up and will be ready to go.
“There are no excuses because Chesterfield have not been on it either.”
The old Rodney Parade surface was a mixture of thick mud and sand. It was one of the worst in the Football League and there were three home games abandoned or postponed.
“It might take us one or two games to get used to, but we are hoping we can play some good football and keep the fans on the edge of their seats.”
Newport have played all five of their league and cup away games away so far and they are expecting a big attendance with 3,300 tickets already sold.
“Playing away has not been ideal, but the players have been fantastic and taken things in their stride,” said Flynn.
New signing Padraig Amond will make his Newport debut. The Irish striker has joined County from Hartlepool United.
Ben Tozer and Tom Owen-Evans are available after recovering from injuries.
Newport County, probable: Day; Cole, O’Brien, Demetriou, White; Labadie (capt), Dolan; Willmott, Rigg, Nouble, Quigley or Almond. Bench, from: Bittner, Butler, Bennett, Pipe, Tozer, Owen-Evans, McCoulsky, Reynolds, Almond or Quigley.
