MICHAEL Flynn was part of the Newport County AFC team that made it back to the Football League 10 years ago today, and it was his return to the club that makes it possible to celebrate the anniversary without regrets.
The Exiles have had 10 seasons in League Two and have secured an 11th for 2023/24 under Graham Coughlan.
Flynn helped County to promotion as a starter in the 2-0 win over Wrexham in the 2013 Conference play-off final, although he had been substituted when Christian Jolley and Aaron O’Connor struck late.
The 42-year-old from Pill was then brought back to spearhead the Great Escape in 2017 – a drop back to the Conference that could have led to another implosion.
Promotion to return to the Football League or avoiding relegation, which was the most joyful?
“I can’t split them,” said Flynn, who also led the club on lucrative cup runs that boosted the coffers before leaving in 2021.
“The one as a player had the euphoria of what it meant to everybody that had put in such hard work to keep the club going.
“That meant everything but if we hadn’t have gone up then I think there might have been another chance the year after.
“If we’d gone down I don’t think we would have come back anytime soon… but it’s hard to separate and I’m thankful that I played my part in both of them.”
The Great Escape flashbacks can wait until 2027, it’s a decade since the Wembley win for a club that was relegated in 1988 and liquidated the following year.
“There have been so many people that have been important in keeping the club going – David Hando, Mike Everett, Lisa Savage, Norman Parselle, Jon Relish, Matt Southall, the list could go on,” said Flynn.
“In 2012 it was Tim Harris, Les Scadding and Justin Edinburgh that were almost the perfect three people to be there.
“Tim had his knowledge of the non-league scene, Les gave a big boost after winning the lottery and Justin was the catalyst.
“He was the best man manager I saw as a player; we had an unbelievable team spirit but weren’t the easiest to manage.
“Me, David Pipe, Aaron O’Connor, Andy Sandell, Ismail Yakubu, Lenny Pidgeley, Danny Crow, Lee Minshull, Max Porter – we would all say something if we felt it needed saying.
“We had some big characters and there were no shrinking violets but Justin kept us all together superbly.
“The move to Rodney Parade was crucial and it was an unbelievable season; we thought we could go up as champions at one stage, had a dip and then Justin changed the formation from 4-3-3 to 3-5-2 and we went on another good run.”
County finished third and then beat Grimsby in the play-off semi-finals to set up a showdown with Wrexham, who they had lost to at the Racecourse and drawn with in Newport.
Managing the preparations gave another chance to Edinburgh, a Wembley winner with Tottenham in the FA Cup and League Cup, to show his people skills.
“Lenny had a bit of a confrontation with another player the day before when we were training at Chelsea,” said Flynn.
“As one of the experienced players, Justin pulled me to one side and said that I’d have to room with him to make sure he was alright.
“That was no problem – Lenny’s a good lad and was superb at Wembley. I hated the build-up and the game because being from Newport I knew exactly what it meant to everyone.
“I’d come off when the goals were scored and I remember shedding a tear. I felt sorry for the Wrexham players but I was just glad to get the win… and it’s the only time I’ve ever managed it at Wembley.”
Sadly, a pair of controversial refereeing decisions in the 2019 and 2021 play-off finals denied Flynn the chance to lead County to the third tier – “Once you can sort of stomach, twice is difficult to take” – but he is a club legend for his exploits as a boss.
“The buzz around the city with the FA Cup runs is something that I will always be proud of,” said Flynn.
“Seeing smiles on the faces of people in Newport and giving them something to believe in was special. Wayne [Hatswell, assistant] played a big part in it all and we had so many good days.”
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