Newport’s long history of sporting achievements: The 5 May 2013 will become another day, long remembered in the sporting history of the City of Newport.

Newport County manager Justin Edinburgh and winning goal scorers Christian Jolley and Aaron O’Conner; together all the other players, will be remembered as the team that brought League Football back to our City after the first Wembley final contested by two teams from Wales.

They will join great names form our sporting past. People like Dick Uzzell, who dropped the goal that beat the All Blacks in 1963; or Keith Jarrett, who on his International debut against England in 1967, broke from behind his 22 metre line and ran most of the length of the pitch to score a try; or boxer Ken Evans, who won the welterweight silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Games.

Not forgetting the immeasurable number of “greats”, who have put on the amber jersey and played for Newport County. I recall Billy Lucas, Tony Pulis, John Aldridge and Steve Lowndes – a member of the team that reached the quarter-finals of the 1981 European Cup Winners Cup.

We all hope that the success of Newport County on the field will result in increased opportunities for the City of Newport off the field, and that the future holds both further economic and sporting success for our region.

We should not only be inspired to support all our local sports men, women and teams, as well as those sportsmen who use the facilities in our region – The Celtic Manor golf tournaments, the velodrome, in addition to Rodney Parade; we should also be inspired to include periods of exercise into our weekly routines.

I recall a sports trainer explaining that “everyone, regardless of their ability or disability, can enhance their quality of life by undertaking regular exercise”.

We have heard so much about an “Olympic legacy” and for most of us competing in an Olympic Games will remain in our dreams; but we can set ourselves a sensible personal target and month by month seek improvements that will pay dividends in your lifestyle.

M4 Relief Road: Eagerly anticipating the Chancellor’s announcement next month, which is expected to include details of the funding of the M4 Relief Road; a vital enhancement to our transport infrastructure which is necessary if we are to realise the maximum inward investment to our region.

Newport Medieval Ship: Newport City Council must adopt innovative ways to attract funding to ensure that the Newport Medieval Ship is permanently displayed in our City.