Newport County’s ‘The Kids Have Taken Over’ initiative involved a number of young fans. Luke Lewis took up journalism duties at the press conference, firing questions at manager Michael Flynn, while mini manager Ruby Bennett answered the first questions. Eliot Clague joined County as PA Announcer, while Charlie Morgan was mini chairman for the day and Ollie Edwards was kit man against Coventry.
Newport County defender and former Wales international David Pipe is enjoying a change of sport at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff this evening.
Caerphilly-born Pipe is at the Anthony Joshua v Kiwi Joseph Parker heavyweight World title unification fight and says: “It’s Joshua for me.
“I want Joshua to win because he is closest to Wales, he enjoys Wales so we enjoy him.
“I love the New Zealand side of things and the winning mentality. I’m looking forward to it and for me Joshua has the edge.”
Pipe, 34, spoke openly during Newport’s ‘The Kids Have Taken Over’ initiative when junior journalist Luke Lewis took over the pre-match Coventry City press conference and then interviewed Pipe.
Former Notts County and Bristol Rovers player Pipe, who has made well over 500 first team appearances during his career, talked about playing against Gareth Bale and alongside Ryan Giggs.
Pipe also revealed his love for Steven Gerrard and Liverpool FC, plans for life after playing football and spoke about his four appearances at Wembley Stadium.
On Bale and Giggs he said: “Gareth Bale is younger, but I trained alongside him in the Welsh camp and played against him at club level.
“I was playing on the right for Notts County and he was a flying left wing-back. We had a duel that day, but he’s gone on and on in his career.
“Ryan and I were in the same Welsh squad a couple of times.”
Gritty defender Pipe played 12 times for the Wales under-21s and captain the team, while he earned one senior cap when Mark Hughes was manager.
That came against the USA in San Jose during 2003 when the Americans won 2-0 and the Welsh team was: P Jones (Ward 46), M Jones, Vaughan, Melville, Williams, Pembridge (Robinson 79), Oster (Pipe 70), Johnson, Davies, Koumas, Taylor.
Pipe used to travel on the Liverpool supporters coach from South Wales to Liverpool when he was young and said: “It was always Liverpool for me as a youngster and I loved going to Anfield matches.
“Steven Gerrard played for his home club for so long, achieved what he did and captained his country.”
Life after football will keep Pipe in sport and football on the strength and conditioning side and he told junior journalist Lewis: “I am fully qualified in the physical and nutritional areas.”
Pipe has made four appearances at Wembley Stadium and the latest of those came when County played Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs in the FA Cup.
“I’d put that cup tie up there among my most memorable matches, in the top three,” said Pipe.
“When you consider the atmosphere, who we were playing against and the amount of fans we took to Wembley it has to be right up there.
“My first international cap for Wales, of course, is also one of my best memories.
“Another stadium I really enjoyed was Leeds United’s Elland Road. The atmosphere they create is boisterous and enjoyable.”
His other three appearances at Wembley Stadium were:
FA Trophy final 2012: York City 2, Newport County 0.
National League play-off final 2013: Newport County 2, Wrexham 0. Newport team: Lenny Pidgeley, Tony James, Ismail Yakubu, Byron Anthony, David Pipe (capt), Lee Minshull, Alex Gilbey, Michael Flynn, Andy Sandell, Christian Jolley, Danny Crow. Subs: Alan Julian, Andrew Hughes, Scott Donnelly, Aaron O’Connor, Robbie Willmott.
National League play-off final 2016: Played in central midfield for Forest Green Rovers, but they lost 3-1 against Grimsby Town. Cardiff City striker Omar Bogle, now on loan at Peterborough, scored two of Grimsby’s goals.
After watching the big Joshua v Parker heavyweight boxing clash in Cardiff this evening, Pipe will be focused on Monday’s mission for Newport in Derbyshire.
Manager Michael Flynn and his team travel to Chesterfield for a clash they badly need to win at the Proact Stadium.