Boss James Rowberry to thrive on pressure at Newport County

A new Exiles era begins this weekend when Rowberry makes his managerial debut, in at the deep end at Bristol Rovers in a raucous atmosphere.

It will be an emotional occasion for a man who is deeply connected with the club and the city of Newport.

READ MORE: Rowberry on Flynn's legacy, Hatswell's future and County's style

Rowberry grew up in Carisbrooke Road, a short stroll from Rodney Parade, then moved to Beechwood Park area and still lives in the city.

There are the family links to the Ironsides and Exiles, his grandfather Jimmy Jenkins and father Stephen played for the club, leading to Rowberry being mascot when County were rebuilding from oblivion in the Moreton-in-Marsh days.

“That was when I had lovely blond hair! I remember walking out with Mikey Pratt and Norman Parselle, who runs the community programme now,” recalled the new boss, who at least doesn’t have to worry about going grey with the stress of management.

“I remember the team pretty well – Barrie Vassallo, John Relish, Graham Rogers, Tony Bird, Robbie Painter. I remember Mike quite vividly, because he scared a little bit when I was five.”

HAIR TO THE CROWN: James Rowberry as an up and coming County coach in 2008

Rowberry was an age-grade player for County but didn’t make it and then turned to coaching, starting out in Newport.

He watched and learned from the stands at Spytty Park, relishing the Dean Holdsworth era.

“I remember around that Conference South time and I always loved watching Craig Reid play. Also, because of the type of players they were, Jason Bowen and Kevin Cooper,” said the manager, who is now in charge of Cooper’s son Ollie.

Those Newport roots always gave Rowberry an edge when County started their job search following the surprise departure of Michael Flynn at the start of the month.

After learning his trade as a coach at Cardiff City and the Football Association of Wales, the time has come to call the shots.

Rowberry applied for the job, had his final interview on Monday and then signed the contract shortly before Tuesday night’s League Two clash with Carlisle United.

James Rowberry impressed as Cardiff City coach “It gives me goosebumps thinking about it, I am so excited to be manager of the football club,” he said.

“It’s a dream come true to start my managerial career at a club that I have lots of connections to.

"Being from Newport and having lived in Newport my whole life, I am ecstatic to get going.

“I always think that if the football club is doing well then the city thrives. I’ve got a responsibility to push that forward with the staff around me.”

Rowberry got the boots on to take training on Wednesday morning, holding a talk in front of those that played on Tuesday before putting the rest of the squad and some development players through their paces.

Things will be very different in Newport than they were in Cardiff, Rowberry has gone from putting suggestions forward to Mick McCarthy to being the man who has the final say… and he is loving that.

“Ultimately I am the one who has to pick the team and I am responsible for it,” he said. “The buck stops with me, I know that and that is the pressure that I want to have.

“I will stand and fall on my own decisions. I will talk to the players about collective responsibility so that we don’t blame each other but ultimately it boils down to me.

“It’s been easy before when I’ve been saying ‘I’d play him here and I’d play him there’ or that I’d do this or that. It’s my job now, that excites me and that’s the pressure that I have been craving.”

“The way that I work is that everybody plays a part. Whether it’s the kitman Leeky [Neil Leek], the physio, the doc, everybody has a role to play,” he continued.

“I am keen to emphasise that – everybody at the club affects the XI, it’s not just the manager. The buck stops with me and I take responsibility, but everybody plays a part in the little one per cents to move us forward.”

Rowberry is a student of coaching, talking of a ‘better never stops’ mindset and his admiration for New England Patriots boss Bill Belichick, the man with the ‘just do your job’ mantra.

Tony Pulis is a distant relation and he has already received congratulations from former Cardiff managers Paul Trollope, Neil Harris and McCarthy.

He has worked with megastars through the FAW course but Rowberry has pledged that he won’t be a tribute act in Bristol on Saturday.

“I will be myself and authentic to who I am. You take bits off everybody and learn off them in different ways but the most important thing is to be my own man,” he said.

Flynn got Newport. Rowberry intends to follow in his footsteps.