Newent Town

Newent Town AFC was established in 1920. Through history they have played in the North Gloucester league and were promoted to the Northern Senior League in the 1970s. Then spent a while bouncing down and back up again, before finally reaching the Gloucester County League and becoming a founder member.
They remained in the Glos County League for 6 years.
After a tumble, the big push started in 2012 when Newent won the North Glos Premier League Title on the last game of the season. Milkwall were top, 2 points clear of Newent. But the 2 teams played each other in the very last fixture. So a draw was enough for Milkwall, but Newent needed all 3 points to become Champions. It all came down to a last minute header, to win the last game of the season 1-0. Moving Newent from 2nd place to Champions in a flash.

They then completing a back-to-back promotions from Northern Senior 2 the very next season. They spend 3 years in Northern Senior 1, with a best place finish of 3rd, picking up the League Cup twice in a row.

Having spent considerable money and work on the facilities, Newent were invited into the Hellenic League system in Div Two West (playing best teams across Hereford, Glos, Oxford, Staffs, Bristol & Wiltshire). Controversially, they attempted to leave a team in the Northern Senior League, claiming that the Hellenic teams was a new one. But after 6 games, an EGM was called and their ejection was voted on by the clubs. The result of the vote was 16 for ejection and 16 against. So the Management Committee took the deciding vote and they were kicked out with immediate effect.

The Hereford League threw the team a lifeline with a league place in Div 2. So the team at least had some football to look forward to, but they started with 6 games in hand. Amazingly, this team actually won the Hereford League, beating Bartestree on the last game of the season. But, as if there wasn’t enough controversy. After the season finished and Newent had completed their presentation evening. The Hereford League pulled Newent up on a rule breach and awarded then Title to Bartestree (although the Medals were never returned). Meanwhile, the Hellenic Newent 1st team, under the new Management of Ben Stringer and Martin Elton (former Newent players), finished as Champions at the first attempt. Again, they held their nerve to win it, at home on the last game of the season, edging out 2nd place by 3 points.
They were awarded a £100,000 grant from the FA, installed Floodlighting and a 75 seater stand and claimed their promotion to Hellenic Div 1 West.

With this promotion to Div 1 West, Newents other team (the Reserves) immediately rejected the Hereford Promotion and jumped across to Hellenic Div 2 West, where they still play now.
Having joined Hellenic 1 West in 2018/19 (the highest level in their history), they have adapted pretty well to the National League step 6 standard.

With Floodlights and a ground grading ‘G’, they entered the FA Vase last season, winning their first round game and then getting edged out 2-1 at Longlevens.

Next season Newent made their debut in the FA Cup, losing narrowly out at Cribbs 3-1 and putting themselves firmly on the map.