“ONE of the best days of his life” – that’s what former Newport County AFC chairman Chris Blight says Sunday was for his war veteran uncle Ron Jones.

Back in 2003, Mr Blight made the promise to his uncle that County would be back in the Football League by the time Mr Jones reached the age of 100.

On Sunday that promise was finally fulfilled as Mr Jones, 96, sat in the Royal Box at Wembley and watched the team he had supported for 89 years claim a 2-0 victory and put an end to a 25-year battle.

Mr Blight, who stood down from the role last July after almost ten years, said: “It was a very, very special day for both of us for different reasons.

“For Ron, he has been a fan for the past 89 years and for him to witness the exultation of going back into the Football League was wonderful.

“For me it was the culmination of the efforts of a party of people.”

He added: “I wasn’t always confident the promise would be fulfilled.

It’s very much a case that you say these things not knowing if they’ll come to fruition.

“I was with Ron in the car after the game for two and a half hours and all he wanted to do was reminisce.

It was one of the best days of his life.”

The Argus reported how Mr Jones, who has been a member of Newport County for 89 years, was taken prisoner during the Second World War. In October 1943, he was sent to a camp next to the death camp at Auschwitz where he said football helped him through his darkest moments.

Mr Blight travelled to Wembley last year where he watched County lose out to York City in the FA Trophy final.

He said: “I went with a high degree of confidence last year and had the worst journey home on that day that I’ve ever experienced in the past 11 years. It was awful going back along the M4 without that trophy.

“This time I had a pensive attitude and thought what will be, will be. I was therefore absolutely ecstatic when that final whistle was blown.”