The Sale of Rodney Parade Cricket Ground
In 1990, when the Cricket Ground at Rodney Parade was sold, there was a major question mark 
as to whether Newport Cricket Club had a future. With the rugby dominated Newport Athletic Club 
offering No financial assistance from the Sale, and with No Home, the future looked bleak, to say 
the least.

From the depths of despair, a loyal band of volunteers began the fight to Save the Club and with 
the help of Newport Borough Council and Grants from various sporting bodies a plan to develop
a new ground at Spytty Park was begun.

It was a long road with many bumps and bruises along the way and the Tribute Stone recalls those 
worrying days with a series of peaks and troughs.

Led by Eddie Mogford, Mike Grace, Dave & Mike Knight, the club slowly began to take shape. A boggy 
wetland covered by Football and Rugby park pitches, was to be the Centre piece of a new 
International Sports Village for Newport.

From the days of laying 2 new pitches, levelling the outfields and building a new pavilion, the four 
named above were the driving force that every good club needs, and along with other volunteers 
a vision for the future was planned.

The Opening Match at Spytty Park (Sunday, July 12th, 1992)

Over the years the Cricket Club have seen many major developements going on all around them. 

Newport Stadium, the Tennis / Swimming Pool, the Welsh FA Trust, not to mention the Velodrome 

have all been built around the Sports Village, but one Question remained on everyone's lips....

Would County Cricket ever return to Newport?

Cricket at Rodney Parade was etched with many historic moments, including many 1st Class Cricket 
records, Although several One Day matches were held at Rodney Parade in the closing days of the 
late 1980's along with the Final 1st Class match against Yorkshire in the Refuge Assurance 40 over 
competition in 1990, there had to be a question of would Glamorgan ever return to Newport to play 
County Cricket?

The Challenge was set - THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM!

It's taken over 30 years, but the grounds and surroundings have matured and developed and currently 
the ground is as good as it has ever been. Major events and matches have been played, with many 
milestones passed, but one thing that has remained constant are the 4 named volunteers who began 
the journey way back in the late 1980's..... Eddie Mogford, Mike Grace, Dave & Mike Knight.

In 2019, (May 14th - 17th) Glamorgan returned to Newport to play a 4 Day, 1st Class County Championship 
match, against Gloucestershire. 54 years since the last County Championship match was held in Newport. 
The 4 Days proved a great success, and the match in itself was a tribute to the hard work of many.

Thanks to a Heritage Lottery Fund Grant a 'Tribute Stone' has been purchased which reflects the huge efforts of all involved in 
setting up the Spytty Park ground 30 years ago. 
The 'Tribute Stone' and will be the centre piece of a fantastic patio area creating a historic landmark to commemorate - 
The Impossible Dream....MADE POSSIBLE!

Dave and Mike Knight were awarded BEM's (British Empire Medals) in the 2021 HM Queen's New Years honours List,
for their Services to Newport Cricket Club. A legacy not to be forgotten.

The 'Tribute Stone' sits proudly on a newly created seating area, on the boundary edge in front of the scoreboard.

The seats bearing the names of many of the club's volunteers who have worked tirelessly to create a fantastic Cricket Club.

Who knows what the Future will bring, but one thing is for sure, the Club is in a fantastic position to look forward to it!

Thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund for their support to the 'Commemorative Corner' Project.