NEWPORT County AFC captain David insists that today’s historic return to the Football League is not the end of the journey – it is the beginning of an even bigger adventure.

The skipper is fully aware of the club’s painful 25-year League exile and he’s delighted to be back in the big time with County but he won’t let himself or any of his teammates rest on their laurels this season.

Pipe has been waiting for today’s home clash with Accrington Stanley ever since the final whistle of the Conference play-off final at Wembley in May.

Most footballers enjoy the summer break but the 29-year-old couldn’t wait to get back to training and back on the pitch at Rodney Parade.

“I’ve been waiting since we lifted that trophy to be honest,” he said.

“I don’t like the break, it grinds on me. Six weeks is a long time and I couldn’t wait to get back involved and I know the boys have been the same.

“It’s nice to sit back and see what you’ve achieved but at the same time you want to get back into it. Have your holidays, get away but then just come back and get ready for a new season.

“It’s not about resting on your laurels, it’s about taking the club even further forward if we can and see if in a few years time we can look back to this point as we look back to important points in the past now.”

Pipe is aware that the players need to shut out the hype and the emotion of the occasion and concentrate on getting three points on the board today.

“If your thoughts are elsewhere, off the pitch, you won’t be ready,” he added.

“Standing in that tunnel you have to be ready to go – and if you’re not there’ll be a few if us ready to drag you through to make sure you are.

“I’ll be very focused at that point about those next 90 minutes, being prepared to do what it takes to get those three points.

“I couldn’t tell you exactly what I’ll say because I don't know myself. I’ll be very nervous because I am before games, but I’ll use that nervous energy and translate it on the pitch.

“But whatever I’ll be ready to lead my team out onto the pitch.”

And the former Wales international is expecting the crowd to help their side on a day when excitement will be flowing all around Rodney Parade.

“I’ve played at a lot of stadiums over the years and some sound louder than others – 5,000 at Rodney Parade makes it sound like it’s 12,000,” he said.

“The more people and the louder the better for me, hopefully teams will come here and underestimate us like they did last year and we’ll turn them over.

“It could be a special day. I’m quite confident we can get three points – that’s not me being cocky but if we play and apply ourselves like we have been doing the win can be in our grasp.

“Going into the League is a big achievement because the Conference is a hard league to get out of but I think the top six in the Conference could all be equipped in League Two if you make the right steps and I believe we’ve made those steps and we’re definitely not there to make up the numbers.”