Newport County bus parade for Football League success

Newport County have had to wait 25 years to return to the Football League

Newport County fans will take to the streets later as the team celebrate a return to the Football League after 25 years with an open-top bus parade.

The club, known as the Exiles, secured their place in League Two after beating Wrexham 2-0 at Wembley in Sunday's Conference play-off final.

Wednesday evening's parade will include a civic reception for players.

A framed scroll congratulating the side will be presented to them by Newport's mayor at their Rodney Parade home.

The players leave Rodney Parade on the bus at 18:00 BST and will drive to the civic centre via George Street Bridge.

A reception for the players and coaching staff will be held at civic centre before they return to Rodney Parade an hour later where mayor John Guy will present the club with the framed scroll.

The presentation will take place on the club's balcony in front of waiting fans.

Club historian Andrew Taylor said the celebration came after decades of dark days for the football side, in which the club went bust and was expelled from the Football Conference.

"When you talk about it being a fairytale, our history reads more like Grimm than Hans Christian Anderson, to be honest," he said.

"The low point has to be for me have been the point at the auction when we were seeing all of the club's belongings being sold off.

"There was that feeling then that 'This is it - there is no way back'.

"But such is the resolution and the spirit of Newport supporters, that was never going to be allowed to happen - and thank goodness we are back where we are now."

A spokesperson for Newport council, said: "The council would like to congratulate Newport County on their achievement and promotion.

"It is great news for the city which prides itself on being an ambitious sporting city."

Newport's parade comes only days after its south Wales neighbour Cardiff staged its own parade to celebrate promotion to the Premier League.