Newport County 1912-1989

An early morning phone call all too often brings bad news and that was sadly the case when picking up the phone in the early hours of 2^{nd May, 2008 to be told by former County player Grant Davies that Mark Kendall had passed away late the previous evening. The shock of this has still not passed and the sense of loss for all those who watched Mark’s heroics in goal and for those fortunate to have known him, never will. What we are left with is an abundance of memories of spectacular saves and of a player whose personality and humour formed an especially close bond with supporters and made him a true Newport County legend.}

During our days of exile in Gloucester I would often sit next to Mark on the team coach – and journeys have never seemed so quick thanks to Mark’s constant clowning and larger than life character. Just last week I was in Dawlish and my mind immediately turned back to our FA cup tie there in August 1992 and a pre-match image of Mark on the road outside Harrisons Amusement Centre – directing the traffic! The passing motorists took it with the good humour it was intended and as we walked back to our coach Mark told me ’I’m joining the Police so I thought I’d get some practice in!’ Like many other things Mark set his mind to, he did just that and excelled – being named National Police Trainer of the Year in 2007 and receiving two commendations, one for an off-duty arrest when he witnessed an assault by four men and one for bravery when he was confronted by a man wielding a chainsaw. "Appearing at Wembley wasn’t such an adrenalin rush as having that saw jabbed at me," he said.

It was another ambition achieved, when Mark joined his boyhood favourites County, for a club record £45,000, in 1980 and this had softened the blow at leaving Spurs and team mates of the like of Ardiles, Villa and Hoddle. As Mark told me and in his words;

Mark had picked up an unwelcome reputation from his time at Spurs for being a little overweight and he would tell a comical story about trying to cope with Len Ashurst’s obsession with this.

"In pre-season at Aberystwyth they put me on a salad diet with no meat. Myself and ‘Vaughanie’ decided to take a stroll into town and go to the ice-cream parlour! I ended up with a ‘99’ with the flake in it and lots of nuts and was just about to eat it when who turns up but Mr Goodfellow and Mr Ashurst! The next night I went down and bought a pastie and chips – and who turns up again – Mr Goodfellow and Mr Ashurst! Before they could see me I put it on the side of a parked car and stood back – and the car drove off!"

The prospect of European football that season was a major attraction for Mark in taking the step down to join County, but Ashurst kept faith with Gary Plumley. Mark, whilst admitting that this was his biggest disappointment, always maintained a respectful and professional approach to this.

"That said a lot about the commitment that they showed to the players that got them there and although I desperately wanted to play, that loyalty was basically what made the club what it was at that time."

That professionalism though could never suppress Mark’s ability to find humour in the midst of battle. One such instance was the heart breaking late equalizer by Everton’s Kevin Sheedy, to deny County a giant killing scalp in the FA cup in 82/83.

At Oxford, Mark was under a different kind of fire!

"We had some supporters who walked to the game to raise money and so many fans were throwing money at me from behind the goal I went and collected it for their bucket and found £2.37 in small coins and a couple of oranges and an apple!"

Mark stayed loyal after the disappointing near miss on promotion in 82/83 and then the break up of the squad which saw the end of the golden years and the onset of financial problems heralding the club’s demise.

Mark joined Wolves, then languishing seventh from bottom of the 4th Division, but where he had his most successful spell between 1986 and 1990 adding 147 appearances to his 272 for County, winning back to back promotions and lifting the Football League Trophy at Wembley, as well as setting a club record 28 clean sheets in a season.

Next stop was an unhappy spell at Swansea including a brief period on loan at Burnley but where he did have the opportunity to pit his wits against Arsene Wenger’s Monaco in European competition, before rejoining us; by then reformed and known as ‘AFC’.

Mark’s playing colleagues of course remember him with equal fondness.

As centre half, Captain Keith Oakes had a particularly close playing relationship on the pitch:

Nigel Vaughan was also a close team mate and friend of Mark’s at Wolves:

"He was a superb bloke on and off the field, a fantastic family man and friend and an absolutely tragic loss. I still can’t believe it. He was larger than life and always jovial. When we first went to Wolves we would travel up together and all the way he would be joking and singing. You would never believe two hours could go so fast. I already knew Mark before he joined County and can remember bumping into him coming out of Len’s office when he signed and saying to him, ‘what the hell are you doing here!’ He was a superb signing for us."

 The best wishes of everyone at the club go to Mark’s wife Gaynor and children Lee and Lori and their families.

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 ^{The word ‘legend’ is perhaps used too lightly by modern day supporters hungry for heroes and we are perhaps living in an age where nostalgia is treasured to the point of occasionally exaggerating past times, events and achievements. Who should be regarded as a legend? A player with hundreds of appearances for your club to his name? A terrace hero for his exploits on the field, or loved for a special relationship that bonded him forever with all who saw him and whose reputation endures with subsequent generations? For me, a ‘legend’ is most likely to be all of these things, but most especially, a loyal and wonderful performer and personality. In other words, Len Hill – a player and man who truly justified and indeed personified the accolade.}

Midfielder Len, signed for County, his boyhood favourites, from Lovells Athletic in November, 1962 and told me, ‘I desperately wanted to join’. After suffering the frustration of an early broken ankle, Len made his debut at Torquay in February; the first of 421 appearances during which he scored an exceptional 74 goals.

Len’s tally would have been even more impressive, had he not joined Swansea City for £4,950 in July, 1970. Len didn’t want to move but was told, ‘do you want there to be a County? The only way to keep the club going is for us to sell you.’ So with heavy heart Len, not that long married and with a child on the way, found himself leaving his spiritual home. He told me, ‘To be honest my heart was never in it at Swansea, although it was a quality club, a lovely place to live and I had good mates there like Dave Gwyther – but I always wanted to go back to Newport.’

During 1971/72, Len’s wish was granted and he returned to Somerton, initially on loan and then for a fee of £2,500. The following season was County’s best since the war, thanks in no small part to ever-present Len’s influential midfield orchestration.

Programme Editor, Ray Taylor, was privileged to see most of Len’s appearances in County colours as well as many of his performances in the whites of Glamorgan Cricket Club; Len’s sporting prowess also extending to his second love.

Ray reflects, "Len was one of the most talented County players I have ever seen. He was certainly good enough to play at a higher level and was a Newport County man through and through. I can still remember my keen disappointment when he was sold and the delight when he returned. I was fortunate to get to know him personally and a more genuine guy you could not meet. For me and many like me, this is a very sad day."

Ray’s sentiments are echoed by Dave Gwyther, "I was stunned when I heard. He was such a good mate of mine at Swansea. We shared many interests and bought fishing nets together. And what a pro and a player he was too – a bit in the Billy Lucas mould – he really could play! Such a nice man."

George Young was not only a team-mate, but a workmate for many years as building contractors and the closest of friends. "He was a real all rounder at sport and as a builder but what Len will be missed most for is as a friend. He was straight as a die but always had a twinkle in his eye and a tremendous sense of humour."

Albert Derrick adds, "Len was probably the best all-round sportsman to come out of Gwent. We all know about his football and cricket but he was also a category 1 golfer and a superb tennis player. I will miss him ever so much."

Len left County in 1974 but played on until he was 42. County though never left his heart and for certain he will never leave ours. Greatly missed but never forgotten, by all those who had the pleasure to see him play, by those who had the good fortune to know him and by his loving wife ‘Toots’ and family.

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 LEN COMLEY –  One of our oldest County legends, Len Comley, who sadly passed away on 5^{th August, 2007.}

Len was a huge favourite with County supporters and was the classic example of a player whose popularity was gained, not only through endeavours on the pitch, but because his personality shone through and formed a bond that transcended the touchline and onto the terraces. In a word, a ‘character’ and that was certainly Len.

I am unaware of any photo of Len from his playing days, that didn’t look as though he had been up to or was plotting mischief and that love of life still shone through when I had the privilege to get to know him many years after he had hung up his boots – and his enthusiasm held no bounds as he talked about his days at ‘the County’.

A product of Swansea Schools, Len signed for his hometown club, where he was known as ‘Tricky’, just before the war but when hostilities ceased he fell out with them and joined Milford United. Despite interest from other clubs, Tom Bromilow tempted him to Somerton Park from his job at the Docks and Len told me, "it was the best thing that could have happened to me – I had a great time at Newport."

Len made his debut in a 2-1 defeat at Northampton on 23rd October, 1948 and a week later scored on his home debut in a 4-3 win against Norwich. That was to be the first of 36 goals in 87 appearances until leaving for Scunthorpe in March 1951.

The highlight of his spell was of course County’s greatest ever FA Cup run in his first season, which culminated in a heartbreaking and heroic 5th Round 3-2 defeat at Portsmouth, then the top team in the country, in front of 45,581 astonished spectators. Len had set County on their way with two goals in the 3-1 1st Round win at Brighton although he more fondly remembered his assist for Reg Parker’s goal, "As the ball came to me I shouted ‘Reg’ and let it go straight through my legs to him. Lovely little dummy it was!"

Another goal from Len helped dispose of non-league Leytonstone, although of that tie Len remarked, "would you believe it that was the toughest game we had!" Next up were Leeds at Elland Road in front over 31,000. Yet again Len found the net in a 3-1 win. The 4th Round brought on 1st Division Huddersfield and Len got the third in a 3-3 draw at a fog bound Somerton, packed to the rafters with 22,500 ecstatic fans. The replay went even better winning 2-1, but strangely Len didn’t score which may have been due to the sight of Alec Grant in an ice bath before the game, "It was perishing and there he was in a freezing bath! He said to me and Harold Williams ‘come on in, it will do you good.’ We ran like hell!"

‘Pompey’ were top of the 1st Division and the game has gone down in County folklore. Len remained frustrated by the thought of being so close to stopping their winner. "I was no more than four paces away when Froggatt scored. If only!"

As important as those goals were, Len’s favourite was when he ‘Bent it Like Beckham’ at Exeter. "Their keeper kicked the ball out and it came to me on my left leg as I was standing on the half way line. I volleyed it first time right over his head!"

Unfortunately Len didn’t get on with new manager Fred Stansfield who was insisting he moved to Newport and he was deeply sorry to leave County, but it never tainted his love for the club.

The last time I heard from Len he was still chuckling over having predicted the correct score for my programme feature in last season’s Swansea Cup game, although he had, as ever, been supporting the players in amber shirts that day - even though he was taking a risk against his home town club!

Len had been poorly since mid June and passed away on the morning of Sunday 5th August, leaving a loving family and wonderful memories for those who had the good fortune to see him play.

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©Andrew Taylor 2008