FANS got the chance to meet some of their Newport County AFC heroes as the club’s new shop opened its doors today.

Members of the team, along with manager Mike Flynn, visited the shop in the Kingsway Centre as it opened its doors for the first time this summer this morning.

Fans were already queued up before the shop opened at 10am, and was jam-packed when Mr Flynn and the Exiles turned up at 11am to meet fans, take photos and sign autographs ahead of their clash with Hereford that afternoon.

Club chairman Gavin Foxall said he was delighted to see how many people had turned out to meet their heroes.

“It’s great to see how many people are here and it’s great that the players and management team are taking the time to come down before they go to Hereford to meet the fans,” he said.

“We are a community club, it’s important we’re out in the community, and today’s all about that.”

Mr Foxhall added the current arrangement with the Kingsway will see the shop in place for the next two months, but he hoped it could become a permanent fixture of the city centre.

“We’ll see how it goes,” he said.

“It’s fair to say we need a presence in the city centre and if it works for us, then fantastic - we’ll keep doing it.

“It’s a great way of engaging with the community.”

He added: “Thanks to the Kingsway for accommodating us, and we’ve got some great volunteers who have worked tirelessly in a very short time to make this a reality.”

Among those who got to meet some of their heroes was five-year old Mason Taylor, of Maesglas, who was lucky enough to get some of the players to sign his brand new County shirt.

“I liked meeting all the players”, he said.

“I’m going to wear my shirt every day if mum and dad let me.”