Newport County 1912-1989

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COMPILIED BY PHIL MOODY

Phil is a lifelong Scunthorpe United supporter my thanks to him for this edited version of an excellent article he wrote on Brian.

Birthplace: - Flint: - 1 May 1940

Inside Forward

Started League career at Everton after signing from Flint Alexandra

Signed for Everton May 1958 [59-60] 1 apps 0 goals

Signed for Scunthorpe June 1960 [60-63] 87 apps 24 goals

Signed for Preston N.E. October 1963 [63-67] 121 apps 1 sub 52 goals

Signed for Aston Villa September 1967 [67-71] 139 apps 4 sub 22 goals

Signed for Bristol Rovers May 1971 [71-73] 79 apps 2 sub 16 goals

Signed for Newport County June 1973 [73-75] 117 apps 1 sub 14 goals

Totals 544 apps 8 sub 128 goals

WALES UNDER 23 AND FULL INTERNATIONAL

Brian made his League debut for County in the opening day fixture at home in the Division Four match against Reading on 25^{th August 1973, which ended 0-0 and was watched by just under 5,000.}

County started the 1973/74 in disappointing form, three draws, in the opening three matches, were followed by four consecutive defeats. Dumped out of the League Cup by Swindon, after drawing 3-3 at the County Ground, and finishing the stronger team, County were struggling at the foot of the table.

Things improved, when Crewe were beaten 4-2, with two goals apiece from Jarman and Aizlewood. The next game, with Rotherham, was won by a Roddy Jones goal.

From 9th November, the side won five League matches in a row. In the middle of this run, however, came another ignominious F.A.Cup defeat, by Isthmian League side Wycombe Wanderers 3-1. Wanderers scoring all three goals in an 8 minute spell. But in the League County climbed to 7th position, and young centre-half Steve Aizlewood was proving a real asset, along side vastly experienced Godfrey, scoring goals as well as stopping them.

Then County’s League position started to deteriorate from late December, the side having a four-match spell of conceding three goals a time. The surroundings did not help and at Workington, a "crowd" of 749 watched Newport.

In January, Brian Harris was made Player Manager, with Lucas moving to General Manager; however, a series of low scoring games failed to enthuse the fans. After the previous season it was an anti-climax after having just missed promotion on goal average in 1972/73.

With little to play for, the run-in held only couple of matches of note. Against Workington at home on 25th March club Captain Godfrey scored a hat-trick in the 4-0 win.

A 0-5 defeat by Bury meant a far different end of season from the previous year, when the same side had been beaten 4-3, as they finished in 9th position. Brian was an ever present making 46 League appearances scoring 7 goals.

For the new season, Harris decided to quit playing and concentrate on management. The 1974/75 season got off to a decent start, for after an initial defeat at Hartlepool, a fine Woodruff shot beat Torquay in the League Cup. This continued with a 2-1 win over Darlington and two Roddy Jones goals finished off Doncaster. A Woods debut goal helped to defeat Swansea 3-0.

High winds on the Severn Bridge prevented Woods and Godfrey from arriving and playing in the next match, the side losing 2-4 to Shrewsbury. The team suffered the same scoreline in the League cup-tie, away to Chelsea. After an unhappy game at Reading, with a controversial penalty-and Aizlewood sent off for handling-the team bounced back with three successive wins. County were above midway in the table at this time.

A 1-2 defeat at Barnsley proved to be Brown’s last first team outing, for with White back and Woods a regular, he could not get a place. Despite the reasonable League form, gates were moderate, and the hoped Cup boost did not materialise. A good F.A.Cup victory at Exeter was followed by a 1-3 home defeat by Walsall.

In the final match of 1974, County lost 0-3 at League leaders Mansfield. Aizelwood was injured early and would be out of the team for months.

Brian chalked up his 500th League match against Bradford City on 4th January 1975 as County won in style 2-1.

Of the first five games of 1975, four were won. But a 1-4 defeat came at bottom club Scunthorpe United on 11th January, with Dudley Robert’s scoring a

hat-trick for the home side. Chester [League Cup semi-finalists] were beaten 3-0. Against Stockport, County drew 1-1. They were now third placed, but badly missing Aizlewood, Newport soon went into a steep slump, going eight games without a win-promotion disappearing with it.

After the league game against Barnsley at home, which was watched by only 1,773, the disillusioned Harris resigned.

County now reverted to the inevitable Lucas, and the only remaining memory from the end of season was Wynne Hooper’s hat-trick against Rochdale. After initial success under Lucas, the team gathered only two points for the last six matches. Eddie Woods finished top scorer with 21 League goals, as County finished 11th in the League. Brian played 36 league games scoring 5 goals for County during the season.

By now he was a crowd favourite who used to enjoy his long distance attempts to try and hit the top corner of the goal. He was also noted for his strong free kicks, though the ball was apt to end up in Cromwell Road.

During the summer of 1975 Brian teamed up again with his former Villa manager Vic Crowe, signing for Portland Timbers in North American Soccer League. They played their games at the Civic Stadium, Portland, Oregon, in the Western Division. Brian just had the short spell with Portland Timbers, under Crowe, only playing for just the one season in the North American League.

Back at Newport, although Lucas remained as General Manager during 1975/76, the experienced defender Dave Elliott was brought in as player-manager, and Alastair Love came with him from Southend. That was the only signing, while three players departed. There was nothing to inspire the fans’ confidence, and matters were not helped when Brian missed the first two matches of the season. He was late returning from playing with Portland Timbers, in America.

County made an incredible start, beating Lincoln 3-1 and Workington 2-1. The first time County had won their opening two League matches since 1934!

A 2-0 victory over Southport saw Newport joint top, with Reading. After a 0-2 reverse at Bournemouth, the side travelled to Swansea, where Aizlewood put the team two up in 15 minutes, but the match ended in a 2-2 draw. The next three games were won, and County were back in fourth place. On 18th October Newport travelled to Huddersfield, County lost the eventful match 1-2, having had a goal disallowed, while one of Huddersfield’s was clearly offside. Huddersfield’s Bobby Campbell broke his leg in the match.

County enjoyed a five match unbeaten spell, but suddenly everything went wrong at Doncaster, where the side conceded five goals in six minutes, to lose 1-5. In the F.A.Cup, County two goals up against Swindon with Brian netting one, but eventually only drew, and the replay was lost 0-3.

At Hartlepool, County lost 1-4, and in the last three matches of 1975 produced one point, against 10 man Crewe.

As the year turned, County were at least unbeaten at home, but this did not last long. In the first match of 1976, Newport lost 1-5, Tranmere’s Ronnie Moore scoring four-the heaviest home defeat since 1953. From the end of January till the beginning of March the team only took one point from seven League matches and was plunging headlong down the table.

In February, with the crisis worsening, Elliott was removed as Manager. In came Jimmy Scoular, who after a wonderful spell with Cardiff City had been out of football for two years. It could not be said that Scoular waved a magic wand, for of his first ten matches, nine were lost!

As soon as Elliott left, Aizlewood was sold to Swindon, for a record fee.

Things had turned sour for supporters and, after a 1-0 success against Brentford, there were six successive defeats. With many fans disenchanted by Elliott’s treatment and appalling form under Scoular, gates hit rock bottom; the attendances for the Brentford and Watford matches were 1,150 and 1,092.

One point was secured from the final five matches, and Newport finished 22nd in the Fourth Division and had to apply for re-election at the end of the season. Apart from Elliott and Love, departures included Godfrey, Macey, Passey, Preece and Hancock.

Brian played 36 league games scoring 2 goals and his last ever Football League appearance came for County at home on 24th April 1976 against Workington in a 2-3 defeat.

After leaving Newport at the end of the 1975/76 season, he decided to try his hand in management cutting his teeth when appointed manager of southern Premier League side Bath City in July 1976. [Brian did sign for Clevedon Town on 13th May 1976, its not known if he played for them]. During the mid 90's Brian was appointed Chief Scout to Newport AFC working with then manager Tim Harris.

Brian now lives in Cyprus.

Copyright Phil Moody 2009. Not to be reproduced with permission