The story of Newbridge Football Club – gone but not forgotten

The fact the Penbont Field club folded entirely represented a huge blow to football in the county - leaving the village without a football club for the first time in decades.

Football had been played intermittently in this village on the upper River Wye for the best part of 80 years but the club was not formed until 1988.

A number of local footballers, whom were playing elsewhere at the time, decided to form a club to represent their village and duly joined the Mid Wales League (South).

Newbridge Football Club. 1900/01 season.

The Wyesiders enjoyed several finishes amongst the upper echelons during their first few seasons in membership, without ever challenging for the title, in an era dominated by the legendary Vale of Arrow team of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

In 1995/96, Newbridge reached their first major final, but lost the League Cup final to their Gladestry rivals by the only goal of the match.

Four years later, the Penbont Field outfit reached their inaugural Radnorshire Cup final, dismissing higher-graded Presteigne St Andrews and Rhayader Town en-route, before succumbing to local rivals Llandrindod Wells.

Mid-table finishes ensued over the next three seasons, before finishing third behind St Harmon and Rhosgoch Rangers in the 2003/04 campaign, in what was the Wyesiders' highest final placing since reforming.

The following term saw the villagers embroiled in a tense title race with Rhosgoch Rangers as both teams looked to be crowned champions for the first time.

The protagonists met on the banks of the Wye in their penultimate league fixture as the Crows held a single-point advantage.

Penbont Field, home of Newbridge FC. Picture by Andy Dakin.

It was Newbridge that prevailed and victory at Bucknell saw the Wyesiders secure the crown for the first time with an unbeaten league record. Despite speculation in the local press, Newbridge decided not to seek promotion, as title-winning manager Kevin Price stood down and was replaced in the dugout by former Llandrindod Wells boss John Jones.

The 2005/06 campaign was even more competitive as the previous season's top-two were joined in the title race by Builth Wells, Hay St Mary's and Llandrindod Wells.

Newbridge, with three matches remaining, held a single point advantage over Rhosgoch but defeat at home to Hay handed the advantage to the Crow Lane men, who went on to secure their inaugural crown.

Despite failing to retain their title, Newbridge applied for promotion to the Mid Wales League, after having declined the opportunity 12 months earlier.

Waterloo Rovers’ Andrew Gwilt tests Newbridge goalkeeper Dave Thomas. Picture by Darren Laurie.

While the Wyesiders' headquarters did not meet the league criteria, they were allowed to share with Rhayader Town, until their own facilities were upgraded.

The ground improvements saw the Penbont pitch fenced-off, dugouts installed and a wooden stand constructed.

Subsequent improvements saw the changing facilities upgraded and a clubhouse erected on the land leading between the playing area and nearby farmhouse.

The villagers built upon their opening season by finishing in seventh position during the following term and reached the last four of the Central Wales Challenge Cup for the first time in their history.

The Radnorshire club made their inaugural foray into the Welsh Cup during the 2007/08 campaign but suffered a 4-3 home reverse at the hands of Newcastle Emlyn in their preliminary round clash.

Newbridge repeated their league finish 12 months later and reached the Radnorshire Cup final for good measure. However, local rivals Rhayader eventually prevailed to secure the county cup, after requiring a penalty shootout to prevail.

The 2009/10 campaign saw the Radnorshire outfit struggle in the lower reaches but they did enough to avoid relegation back to the recreational football.

Newbridge v Waterloo. Picture by Darren Laurie.

Newbridge stabilised in the security of mid-table 12 months later, before experiencing a change of fortunes during the 2011/12 season, when the club brought in a number of players from Herefordshire to strengthen the squad under the management of Adriano Girolami.

The Radnorshire men were unable to match this form the following term and were relegated from the top tier of the Mid Wales League.

Newbridge continued to struggle in the second division with a squad primarily consisting of young, local players as they finished bottom of the table at the conclusion of the 2013/14 campaign and found themselves in the lower reaches over the next two seasons.

The club were invigorated by new manager Scott Davies with Newbridge one of six club from the lower echelon of the MMP with Norman Lloyd Mid Wales League to apply for membership of tier three with the main upgrade required at Penbont the addition of 100 seats in the stand and hard standing along at least two sides of the playing area.

Bridge then signalled their ambitions to climb the domestic pyramid once again and ensure this village community on the upper Wye is represented in the higher echelons of Welsh football over the coming years.

However, amidst a turbulent period for local football due to the outbreak of Covid-19, Newbridge suffered more than most. Davies departed to join Monmouth Town and the club failed to find a replacement which led to the departure of a clutch of players to local rivals and their decision to fold - bringing to an end three decades of football at Penbont. Hopefully their hiatus is a brief one.