# 1980–81 Newport County A.F.C. season

The 1980–81 season was Newport County's first season back in the Third Division since relegation in 1962 and their 53rd season overall in the Football League.
The club finished a credible 12th in the Third Division but this season was all about County's first European competition, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

## Season review
### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 64 | 61 | +3 | 43 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 38 | 22 | +16 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 26 | 39 | −13 |
Source: rsssf.com

### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 |
| Ground | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | H | A | H | A | H | A |
| Result | D | L | W | W | L | L | L | L | W | D | W | L | L | W | W | W | W | L | L | L | D | D | D | L | L | D | W | L | L | D | W | D | D | L | W | D | D | L | W | D | W | D | W | L | W | L |
| Position | 13 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 11 | 15 | 21 | 24 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 12 |

## Fixtures and results
### Third Division

| Date | Opponents | Venue | Result | Scorers | Attendance |
| 16 Aug 1980 | Burnley | A | 1–1 | J.Aldridge | 6,715 |
| 19 Aug 1980 | Charlton Athletic | H | 1–2 | T.Tynan | 8,062 |
| 23 Aug 1980 | Millwall | H | 2–1 | T.Tynan 2 | 6,620 |
| 30 Aug 1980 | Carlisle United | A | 4–1 | J.Aldridge, K.Elsey, D.Gwyther, K.Moore | 2,859 |
| 6 Sep 1980 | Gillingham | A | 2–3 | S.Lowndes, K.Oakes | 4,712 |
| 13 Sep 1980 | Oxford United | H | 0–1 | | 5,256 |
| 20 Sep 1980 | Chesterfield | A | 2–3 | D.Gwyther, T.Tynan | 5,277 |
| 27 Sep 1980 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 0–2 | | 6,878 |
| 4 Oct 1980 | Brentford | A | 1–0 | S.Lowndes | 6,360 |
| 7 Oct 1980 | Reading | H | 0–0 | | 5,545 |
| 11 Oct 1980 | Portsmouth | H | 2–1 | K.Oakes 2 | 7,003 |
| 14 Oct 1980 | Sheffield United | A | 0–2 | | 9,776 |
| 18 Oct 1980 | Walsall | A | 0–1 | | 4,335 |
| 25 Oct 1980 | Huddersfield Town | H | 3–2 | K.Oakes, S.Lowndes, D.Gwyther | 6,403 |
| 28 Oct 1980 | Fulham | H | 2–1 | J.Aldridge, OG | 6,029 |
| 1 Nov 1980 | Blackpool | A | 4–2 | K.Oakes 2, J.Aldridge, D.Gwyther | 4,556 |
| 8 Nov 1980 | Hull City | H | 4–0 | K.Oakes, D.Gwyther, N.Bailey, S.Lowndes | 5,495 |
| 11 Nov 1980 | Charlton Athletic | A | 0–3 | | 6,911 |
| 15 Nov 1980 | Burnley | H | 1–2 | T.Tynan | 5,370 |
| 29 Nov 1980 | Rotherham United | A | 0–1 | | 5,512 |
| 3 Dec 1980 | Chester | A | 1–1 | S.Lowndes | 1,640 |
| 6 Dec 1980 | Barnsley | H | 0–0 | | 5,537 |
| 13 Dec 1980 | Chester | H | 1–1 | D.Gwyther | 4,149 |
| 20 Dec 1980 | Colchester United | A | 0–1 | | 2,160 |
| 26 Dec 1980 | Swindon Town | H | 0–2 | | 7,086 |
| 27 Dec 1980 | Exeter City | A | 2–2 | T.Tynan, D.Gwyther | 6,295 |
| 3 Jan 1981 | Sheffield United | H | 4–0 | D.Gwyther, S.Lowndes, K.Moore, T.Tynan | 6,630 |
| 10 Jan 1981 | Huddersfield Town | A | 1–4 | S.Lowndes | 9,063 |
| 16 Jan 1981 | Rotherham United | H | 0–1 | | 4,783 |
| 31 Jan 1981 | Millwall | A | 0–0 | | 4,913 |
| 7 Feb 1981 | Oxford United | A | 1–0 | D.Gwyther | 4,440 |
| 14 Feb 1981 | Gillingham | H | 1–1 | D.Gwyther | 5,172 |
| 18 Feb 1981 | Reading | A | 1–1 | S.Lowndes | 3,876 |
| 21 Feb 1981 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 2–3 | T.Tynan, D.Gwyther | 4,315 |
| 28 Feb 1981 | Chesterfield | H | 5–1 | T.Tynan 2, D.Gwyther, K.Oakes, S.Lowndes | 5,340 |
| 7 Mar 1981 | Brentford | H | 1–1 | T.Tynan | 5,224 |
| 14 Mar 1981 | Portsmouth | A | 0–0 | | 13,208 |
| 28 Mar 1981 | Fulham | A | 1–2 | D.Gwyther | 4,570 |
| 4 Apr 1981 | Blackpool | H | 3–1 | J.Aldridge 2, A.Waddle | 4,514 |
| 7 Apr 1981 | Walsall | H | 1–1 | K.Moore | 5,446 |
| 18 Apr 1981 | Exeter City | H | 2–1 | T.Tynan, A.Waddle | 5,231 |
| 20 Apr 1981 | Swindon Town | A | 1–1 | A.Waddle | 8,435 |
| 25 Apr 1981 | Colchester United | H | 1–0 | J.Aldridge | 4,619 |
| 2 May 1981 | Barnsley | A | 1–4 | D.Gwyther | 15,659 |
| 5 May 1981 | Carlisle United | H | 4–0 | D.Gwyther 2, T.Tynan, N.Vaughan | 3,748 |
| 7 May 1981 | Hull City | A | 1–3 | K.Elsey | 2,059 |

### European Cup Winners' Cup

| Round | Date | Opponents | Venue | Result | Scorers | Attendance | Notes |
| 1–1 | 16 Sep 1980 | Crusaders | Somerton Park | 4–0 | Bruton, Gwyther, Aldridge, Moore | 6,285 | |
| 1–2 | 1 Oct 1980 | Crusaders | Seaview | 0–0 | | 1,500 | 4–0 agg |
| 2–1 | 22 Oct 1980 | SK Haugar | Sakkestad Stadion | 0–0 | | 4,522 | |
| 2–2 | 4 Nov 1980 | SK Haugar | Somerton Park | 6–0 | Tynan 2, Lowndes, Gwyther, Aldridge, Moore | 8,855 | 6–0 agg |
| QF-1 | 4 Mar 1981 | FC Carl Zeiss Jena | Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld | 2–2 | Tynan 2 | 16,000 | |
| QF-2 | 18 Mar 1981 | FC Carl Zeiss Jena | Somerton Park | 0–1 | | 18,000 | 2–3 agg |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponents | Venue | Result | Scorers | Attendance |
| 1 | 22 Nov 1980 | Plymouth Argyle | Home Park | 0–2 | | 6,719 |

### Football League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponents | Venue | Result | Scorers | Attendance | Notes |
| 1–1 | 9 Aug 1980 | Hereford United | Edgar Street | 0–1 | | 7,745 | |
| 1–2 | 12 Aug 1980 | Hereford United | Somerton Park | 5–0 | Vaughan 2, Aldridge 2, Gwyther | 5,683 | 5–1 agg |
| 2–1 | 26 Aug 1980 | Notts County | Somerton Park | 1–1 | Vaughan | 6,708 | |
| 2–2 | 2 Sep 1980 | Notts County | Meadow Lane | 0–2 | | 4,714 | 1–3 agg |

### Welsh Cup

| Round | Date | Opponents | Venue | Result | Scorers | Attendance | Notes |
| 3 | 17 Nov 1980 | Worcester City | Somerton Park | 2–2 | Moore, Elsey | 2,937 | |
| 3r | 24 Nov 1980 | Worcester City | St. George's Lane | 3–2 | Oakes, Lowndes, Aldridge | 3,015 | |
| 4 | 6 Jan 1981 | Ton Pentre | Somerton Park | 3–0 | Gwyther 2, Moore | 2,949 | |
| 5 | 10 Feb 1981 | Bangor City | Somerton Park | 3–1 | Oakes, Vaughan, Tynan | 3,018 | |
| SF-1 | 25 Mar 1981 | Hereford United | Edgar Street | 1–2 | Moore | 5,251 | |
| SF-2 | 31 Mar 1981 | Hereford United | Somerton Park | 1–1 | Lowndes | 5,994 | 2–3 agg |

## League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Rotherham United | 46 | 24 | 13 | 9 | 62 | 32 | +30 | 61 |
| 2 | Barnsley | 46 | 21 | 17 | 8 | 72 | 45 | +27 | 59 |
| 3 | Charlton Athletic | 46 | 25 | 9 | 12 | 63 | 44 | +19 | 59 |
| 4 | Huddersfield Town | 46 | 21 | 14 | 11 | 71 | 40 | +31 | 56 |
| 5 | Chesterfield | 46 | 23 | 10 | 13 | 72 | 48 | +24 | 56 |
| 6 | Portsmouth | 46 | 22 | 9 | 15 | 55 | 47 | +8 | 53 |
| 7 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 19 | 14 | 13 | 56 | 44 | +12 | 52 |
| 8 | Burnley | 46 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 60 | 48 | +12 | 50 |
| 9 | Brentford | 46 | 14 | 19 | 13 | 52 | 49 | +3 | 47 |
| 10 | Reading | 46 | 18 | 10 | 18 | 62 | 62 | +0 | 46 |
| 11 | Exeter City | 46 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 62 | 66 | −4 | 45 |
| 12 | Newport County | 46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 64 | 61 | +3 | 43 |
| 13 | Fulham | 46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 57 | 64 | −7 | 43 |
| 14 | Oxford United | 46 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 39 | 47 | −8 | 43 |
| 15 | Gillingham | 46 | 12 | 18 | 16 | 48 | 58 | −10 | 42 |
| 16 | Millwall | 46 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 43 | 60 | −17 | 42 |
| 17 | Swindon Town | 46 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 51 | 56 | −5 | 41 |
| 18 | Chester | 46 | 15 | 11 | 20 | 38 | 48 | −10 | 41 |
| 19 | Carlisle United | 46 | 14 | 13 | 19 | 56 | 70 | −14 | 41 |
| 20 | Walsall | 46 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 59 | 74 | −15 | 41 |
| 21 | Sheffield United | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 65 | 63 | +2 | 40 |
| 22 | Colchester United | 46 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 45 | 65 | −20 | 39 |
| 23 | Blackpool | 46 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 45 | 75 | −30 | 32 |
| 24 | Hull City | 46 | 8 | 16 | 22 | 40 | 71 | −31 | 32 |
* Division Champions
* Promoted
* Relegated