NEWPORT COUNTY FC has been blown away by the “phenomenal”

demand for County goods at the club’s new store, having sold close to £3,000 worth of merchandise in just five days.

County made the historic move away from council-owned Spytty Park last week, after calling Spytty home since 1994.

The club moved in to Rodney Parade, long-term home of the Newport Gwent Dragons and Newport rugby clubs, as part of a groundshare agreement to help take the club forward in their quest to finally return to the Football League.

The move was predominantly driven by the need for better facilities, like an improved playing surface and of course sharing the modern club shop in the sparkling new Bisley Stand was one of those facilities.

But the club has been blown away by the demand for County goods.

County shop manager, Mick White, said: “The demand has been phenomenal.

You just can’t compare it at all to what we were doing at Spytty retail wise.

Without meaning to be too unkind , there were some days at Spytty where you would be lucky to see a customer, whereas here we are selling 20 items a day.”

Before last week’s game at Rodney Parade against Bristol Rovers, one of the main positives of County’s new home for fans was its city centre location – and that appears to have played a part in the increased footfall at the store too.

Mr White, said: “We are lucky that being where we are we get a lot more people just popping in to have a look round.

“Even if they are shopping for Dragons goods [whom the club share the shop with] it means more people are in there and aware of what we are doing.

“And the shop is beautifully laid out which is appealing to shoppers as well as giving us more room for a wider range of stock.”

Hot sellers have been County replica tops, especially the club’s patriotic new red and green away strip, polo shirts and County’s DVD chronicling the club’s first trip to Wembley, which sold out all 70 copies in just the second half of Friday’s friendly against Merthyr Town.

And Mr White joked: “With the good weather, the sun has been shining in people’s eyes in the Bisley Stand so we have sold quite a few baseball caps. Perhaps I need to get some County sunglasses in!”