THE last football used in a match at Somerton Park has returned home after spending 17 years in an Australian garage.

Somerton Farewell was held at Newport County’s old ground in 1993 and featured a game consisting of past and present County players watched by around 3,500 people.

Lifelong County fan Darren Broadribb was speaking to his cousin, Craig Porter, whose family emigrated to Australia in the 1980s, when Mr Porter mentioned he had the ball used at the Somerton Farewell stored away in his garage.

Mr Porter’s grandmother handed the ball over to her grandson after she won it at a raffle held to raise funds for the club.

Derek Porter, Craig’s father, finally returned the ball to Newport during a brief visit in 2010 to see the Ryder Cup.

The ball is now being kept with the Somerton Farewell match programme at Rodney Parade’s main office.

Mr Broadribb said: “I was talking to my cousin about County, as I often do, and he mentioned the ball his grandmother had given him before he moved back to Australia years ago.

“I was just amazed that he had this historic match ball. I think my cousin used it for a kickabout in Australia for fun without realising the importance of it. Then he chucked it in the garage.”

John Payne, who organised the Somerton Farewell, said: “After 25 years, everything is coming together for the club.

It’s amazing that the ball has ended up back home after all this time.”