THE Vanarama Conference play-offs get under way tomorrow night with Newport County AFC waiting to see which of four sides will join them in League Two next term.
And while the clubs in question are geographically split across Britain, there is a Newport connection at all four.
So ahead of Wednesday night’s clash between Forest Green Rovers and Bristol Rovers, and the Thursday night tie between Eastleigh and Grimsby, Argus Sport examines the men with a Newport connection bidding to reach to the Football League and a reunion at Rodney Parade.
Forest Green Rovers
Newport connection: David Pipe
The man who skippered Newport to success at Wembley Stadium in the play-off final could repeat the trick at Forest Green.
Pipe, who penned a two year deal at the New Lawn last summer, has been a big hit at his new club, playing 34 league games as the club sustained by the financial assistance of a green energy tycoon, despite their lowly average attendance.
Seemingly always the bridesmaid, Forest Green have enjoyed their strongest campaign for years and were pretty much never out of the top five.
Pipe, who has featured more for his new club as a midfielder than defender, is excited by the challenge of achieving a Wembley double.
“We saw it out, we’ve made the play-offs and did what we needed to do,” he said.
“I look forward to playing Bristol Rovers again, I’ll get a good reception there and we should take a good crowd with us.”
Bristol Rovers
Newport connection: Ellis Harrison
Standing between Pipe and another trip to Wembley is Newport-born youngster Ellison Harrison, who has enjoyed a splendid bounce back campaign, just like Rovers.
Harrison has scored 13 league goals in 36 games this term and was a pivotal reason why Rovers ran Barnet so close throughout the campaign, ultimately only missing out on the title and automatic promotion by a single point.
He’s been constantly linked with a move to County and considering his former agent is now an Exiles director (Nathan Blake) perhaps Harrison will be on Parade next term whatever happens in the play-offs, because you can take the boy out of Newport...
Grimsby Town
Newport connection: Christian Jolley
A Christmas departure from Rodney Parade saw Jolley return to the Conference looking to rekindle his best form that has long since eluded him.
One goal last season has been matched by just a solitary strike this term, but Grimsby are still in promotion contention and Jolley will have extremely happy memories of playing at Wembley in the Conference final.
“I had a few options and picked Grimsby; I am very positive and feel like I made the right choice, the best move for my career.
“I came to the club to give myself the best chance possible of getting back to the Football League.”
Eastleigh
Newport connection: Yemi Odubade, Jamie Collins, Craig McAllister and Chris Todd
The ex-County connection is better served at Eastleigh than anywhere else with a quartet of former Spytty Park men now plying their trade in Hampshire.
Odubade and McAllister were both key players under Anthony Hudson, while Jamie Collins was integral to Newport's Conference South winning side, before following Holdsworth to Aldershot.
Former Swansea defender Todd, as famous for his incredible work raising awareness and funds for Leukaemia research as he is for a career in football, is also part of the squad at Eastleigh.
Like Collins, Todd was promoted from the Conference South with Newport, though it is arguable whether he’ll still be with Eastleigh next term irrespective of what division they are in, having only played once since December.
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