‘It’s a season of transition for Newport’ Former Carmarthen and Newport City player & coach Geraint Passmore previews Welsh Cup game
Newport City take on Carmarthen on Saturday in the Welsh Cup. It is one of the biggest games in recent years for the Steelmen.
I took the opportunity to catch up with a former Newport City and Carmarthen man in Geraint Passmore.
Firstly, how is life treating you in Singapore?
“Thanks for getting in touch Owen. Singapore is great thank you! Hot and humid but lots of fun. There’s a very outdoor lifestyle here in Singapore, with lots of people running, cycling and hiking but unfortunately, there hasn’t been much football here in the last few years due to covid. However, I played my first 11-a-side game last week, the first time since I played and stepped in to manage Newport City against Goytre in a pre-season friendly a few years ago. I remember it well, it was freezing and the rain was coming sideways! But great memories nonetheless.”
Newport City host Carmarthen in the Welsh Cup next month. What were some of your favourite moments at Carmarthen? Are you still in contact with anyone at the club?
“Carmarthen was a wonderful time for me. I had a close relationship with the fans and the board there and still keep in touch with some of the players when I can. I follow their results and hope to see them back in the Welsh Premier before long. A club of their stature and history needs to be represented in the top tier. I had some great memories there, playing alongside some fantastic footballers and friends – Mikey Lewis, Nick Harrhy, Sasha Walters, Corey Thomas, Kieran Howard, Nicky Palmer to name a few. Tomi Morgan was the manager at the time and he was someone I had known well from my time at Aberystwyth and alongside him was Matty Davies, a Welsh Premier legend who I’m still very close friends with.
I loved playing at Richmond Park, a proper football ground and scoring at home in front of the fans was always special. The magic about Carmarthen was the people behind the scenes, the reserve team manager, the stadium announcer, the cook, the bar staff and EVEN the board – it had such a family feel. I always enjoyed having a pint and a debrief after the game with Jeff Thomas and the late GO Jones, a wonderful man who will be sorely missed, not only by Carmarthen Town but by the whole Welsh football family. I often pop in to ‘Lolfa’ in Carmarthen to catch up with Steff Hughes when I’m down in West Wales. I had such great memories there and look forward to seeing them back in the Prem soon.”
How do you see the game going on 20 October? What memories do you have of playing in the Welsh Cup?
“The Welsh Cup was always a competition I looked forward to as a player, more so when I was playing in the Welsh League. When playing with Aberystwyth or Carmarthen, we often come unstuck against opposition from lower divisions and found the games very difficult. I think that’s the magic of the cup.
There’s such talent all around Wales and unfortunately, there are many players that don’t make the Welsh Prem for one reason or another. The Cup gives people the opportunity to play against the best, and even know the quality of the side and know that they will push Carmarthenn though Carmarthen aren’t in the Welsh Prem at the moment they have a squad that should be pushing for promotion this year. Having played with Newport and coached there too, I know the quality of the side and know that they will push Carmarthen all the way.
Dean Clifford is a player that could play in the Welsh Prem and with the right service could cause some problems this weekend. It’s a season of transition for Newport City, hopefully, this game can springboard them towards a change in fortune in the league. My prediction is a 1-1 draw and a team to win on penalties! (Is that sitting on the fence enough?!)”
You had a spell at Newport as a player/coach. How did you find that experience (going into coaching)?
“The problem I have is I still want to play! So being on the sidelines knowing that others are better, fitter and faster than I am is really painful to stomach! I loved coaching for the brief time I was at Newport. The community feeling that Sam [Houldsworth] has created at the club makes it such an enjoyable experience and players love turning up to play on that special pitch. The amount of work Sam has done and with others alongside him is fantastic to see. We now need others to support and build the club even further.”
Do you see any similarities between the two clubs and are there any ways that Newport could learn from Carmarthen?
“Newport City have everything they need to be successful. A fantastic stadium, a great youth, girls and a reserve setup and have such an enthusiastic team pushing things forward off the pitch. They are still in a building and developing phase but with some work over the next few years and backing off the pitch, Newport City could build to be a successful club in the Welsh League and create a legacy like Carmarthen have. Carmarthen’s success is based on community and feeling part of the family, that’s what made playing for them so special. Newport are not a million miles away.”
Make sure to come down and support the team on the historic day. U18s get free entry.