I’D LIKE to add my tribute to Allen Wood. Apart from his sterling service to the old county as a player and coach, and later as chairman of the Former Players’ Association and regular supporter at Rodney Parade,

Allen was a great help to Newport AFC when it was formed, after the sad demise of Newport County.

He coached our reserve and youth players  and was ready to undertake a new role when we forced into exile a second time. 

He agreed that we needed to have a team playing in Newport as the first team had to play in Gloucester. 

Clearly the FAW wouldn’t allow a Gloucestershire club run a team in Wales so we set up a new club, AFC Newport, with Eddie Wulff as chairman and Allen as manager. 

We were admitted to Newport and District Premier X with the aim of climbing the Welsh Pyramid. 

Predictably, the FAW would have none of this and Allen was summoned to Westgate Street to “explain himself”.  

As you can imagine, he gave as good as he got!  

Rest in Peace, Allen.

David Hando 
President
Newport County AFC