AGAINST the backdrop of a derelict grandstand and a dilapidated terrace a club was reborn last night.

For seven of the last ten seasons Abergavenny Thursdays have been relegated, but thanks to a newly formed supporters' trust, the seeds of a new future have been sown.

Conference National hopefuls Newport County were the visitors to this footballing equivalent of a maternity ward and although they smacked the baby's bottom with a 10-1 victory, the real winner was the community-run club, currently languishing in the George Ford Gwent County League Third Division.

Paul Bailey, one of the main men behind the Thursdays Trust, the supporters-based business consortium that now runs the club, was delighted with the 320+ turnout which sets the ball rolling for the future.

Bailey joked: "It is about 300 more than we had on average last season. But tonight was about the match and it was a great turnout and people were very generous and we have to thank Newport County.

"We have raised some good money for the Trust, which is vital because we are going to invest a lot of money in this place (Pen-y-Pound Stadium) over the next few years. Plus a lot of interest has been re-kindled in the town."

Phil Hemmings, one of the coaching team at Thursdays, is also looking forward to the future. "This gets the ball rolling and hopefully as the ground improves we can start attracting the local players to come and join us.

"It is a massive challenge ahead of us but this is only the beginning," he said. The outcome of the match was never in doubt but at 1-0 to County at half-time, Thursdays were putting on a spirited performance and making the visitors sweat for their openings.

But with a raft of changes on both sides and the lower league side tiring, County punished them at will in the closing half hour, although the highlight of the evening was a 25-yard screamer from the boot of Richard McCarthy that soared into the back of the net to peg County back to 5-1.

Newport County boss Peter Nicholas said his club were happy to oblige Thursdays and that the match had helped his side that included the likes of Scott Young, Jason Bowen and Scott Morgan.

Nicholas said: "Tonight was all about helping Abergavenny and it was a good night. It was another game under our belts at this early stage in pre-season and another chance to look at some of the new players and some of the youngsters."

County's focus will be elsewhere in the coming weeks but for Abergavenny Thursdays the road back to Wales' top division has only just begun and with so many committed people at the helm, the top does not seem so far away.

For information on the Thursday Trust logon to www.thursdaystrust.co.uk.