Here are the welcome notes from tonights program as we welcome the visitors Bristol Rovers to Newport Stadium tonight for our first round league cup match, kick off 7:45pm
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Welcome to Newport Stadium!
I’d like to give a warm welcome to the fans, players, and officials of Bristol Rovers for tonight’s League Cup match. This is the first time I’m writing in the program since Damien and I took over the club last September, and what a year it’s been! The support from the community has been nothing short of incredible, and both Damien and I are truly grateful for all the love that’s been shown.
When we took over, our goal was simple: build a solid foundation that would allow this club to naturally grow towards achieving Championship status. To do that, we’ve looked at every part of the club, from top to bottom.
I also want to take a moment to recognize Michele, Karen, Kerry, and everyone else who has been involved with the club since 1975. The work they’ve put in over the past 50 years is simply incredible, and I genuinely believe that this is one of the greatest Welsh sporting success stories of our time.
When Damien and I were approached back in May 2024, we knew this was a project we could really get behind. We were stepping into a legacy, standing on the shoulders of giants, and we’ve been determined to carry that vision and energy forward.
In just 12 months, we’ve rebranded as Gwalia United, moved to a world-class training venue, drawn crowds of over 1,200 at our new home at Spytty Park, and reached out to so many in the community—all while maintaining our place in tier three. These achievements feel like miracles, and we couldn’t have done it without everyone’s support and dedication.
This season, we’re ready to push on. We now have a squad of 22 talented players, each with the right to play. Not only have we increased the quality within the squad, but their fitness levels have also seen a dramatic improvement. We’ve already seen these positives in the league. Take the Billericay Town game, for example—despite the 4-0 loss, we played well enough to win that match nine times out of ten.
There’s so much to look forward to as we continue to work tirelessly for this great club. The key is to stay level-headed—not too high when we win, not too low when we lose—and to focus on steady, sustainable growth. With that, we’ll watch this club organically grow into the Championship.
Enjoy the game!
Julian
