Wales international David Pipe could yet end his professional playing career on a spectacular high.
Caerphilly-born Pipe, who has announced his retirement, would love a repeat of his 2013 Wembley Stadium experience.
He was Newport County captain when they earned promotion to the Football League, beating Wrexham in the play-off final at Wembley.
Less than a year later both Pipe and Michael Flynn were released by Exiles manager Justin Edinburgh, but both are back and intent on helping County climb to League One.
Pipe is back playing for Newport, while Flynn is his manager. Their team are 11th in League Two, but know that if they win their remaining three fixtures, which includes a game in hand, a play-offs spot is guaranteed.
https://twitter.com/NewportCounty/status/1121017307491389441
Lincoln City, who have already clinched the title, visit Rodney Parade on Saturday (3pm).
“I had a guy come up to me five years ago asking me to write a book regarding what’s happened in my career and my turnaround,” says Pipe.
“I told him that there would be a lot more to come and thankfully I was right.
“There has been a lot of positive stuff. Leaving and coming back was a fairytale in itself. Add in the Great Escape, then the Tottenham’s and Man City’s.
“For me to hopefully bow out in a Wembley play-off final then I wouldn’t know even know how to put that into words to be honest.”
Pipe has played at Wembley Stadium four times, three of those for County, and how he would love to make it five this season.
Over the past 12 months, Pipe has been setting up his own business to help and develop youngsters in a functional space at the Newport Indoor Football Centre.
The 35-year old is also looking to develop a mentoring programme which could be rolled out across schools in the Gwent area targeting students who perhaps struggle and find it difficult within the education system.
Speaking to iFollow Exiles, Pipe said: “I want to give my time. I want to turn up and have an actual effect.
“It is literally about changing lives.
“When you’re a teenager and you need to talk about the tough things or maybe they’re going on their way into prison then if I can stop that it would be a success.
“It’s a lot easier for me to connect with someone than it is for someone who hasn’t experienced what I have. I’m trying to target fitness with it because that’s what I specialise in, but it’s a blend of both.
“There’s not anyone I know who has had the same sort of career professional wise, but also being able to dig in to the dark murky side of not having a nice life.
“I’m not saying I haven’t had a good life, but there’s things I’ve witnessed and seen and I’ve fortunately been able to come through them.
“It’s a tough thing to try and explain to people like teachers, but fortunately for myself, kids want to listen to a professional footballer and I know I can make a difference.”
Pipe is now focused on achieving a fairytale ending to the season. Three wins from three remaining fixtures will put Newport into the top seven and keep their dream of promotion alive.
The Exiles welcome League Two champions Lincoln City to Rodney Parade on Saturday, Oldham Athletic come to South Wales the following Tuesday before the regular season concludes with a long trip to Morecambe.
“It’s still in our hands,” says Flynn. “Congratulations to Lincoln City on winning the league. We know it will be a difficult game on Saturday.”
Newport County AFC, v Macclesfield in the 0-0 draw (3-5-2): Day, Butler, Demetriou, O’Brien (cape), Poole, Willmott, Bennett (Azeez 81), Sheehan, Dolan (Kennedy 64), Amond, McKirdy (Marsh-Brown 64). Subs not used: Pipe, Matt, Randall, Bakinson
Remaining Newport League Two fixtures.
April
Saturday 27 v Lincoln City (home)
Tuesday 30 v Oldham Athletic (home)
May
Saturday 4 v Morecambe (away)
League Two current table
| | HOME | | AWAY | |||||||||||||
| P | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Lincoln | 44 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 35 | 20 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 38 | 19 | +34 | 85 (C) |
| 2 | Bury | 44 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 51 | 25 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 29 | 29 | +26 | 77 |
| 3 | Mansfield | 44 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 37 | 13 | 6 | 11 | 5 | 31 | 25 | +30 | 76 |
| 4 | MK Dons | 44 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 34 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 36 | 33 | +23 | 76 |
| 5 | Forest Green | 44 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 28 | 20 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 37 | 23 | +22 | 73 |
| 6 | Tranmere | 44 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 32 | 12 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 29 | 34 | +15 | 72 |
| 7 | Exeter | 44 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 33 | 25 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 26 | 24 | +10 | 66 |
| 8 | Colchester | 44 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 37 | 23 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 23 | 30 | +7 | 64 |
| 9 | Carlisle | 44 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 38 | 29 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 25 | 31 | +3 | 64 |
| 10 | Stevenage | 44 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 26 | 23 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 29 | 31 | +1 | 64 |
| 11 | Newport Co | 43 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 29 | 22 | 6 | 4 | 12 | 26 | 36 | -3 | 64 |
| 12 | Oldham | 43 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 40 | 28 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 25 | 24 | +13 | 62 |
| 13 | Crewe | 44 | 14 | 2 | 6 | 41 | 22 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 15 | 32 | +2 | 62 |
| 14 | Swindon | 44 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 28 | 26 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 26 | 26 | +2 | 61 |
| 15 | Northampton | 44 | 7 | 11 | 4 | 28 | 25 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 29 | 34 | -2 | 57 |
| 16 | Cheltenham | 44 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 31 | 27 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 23 | 37 | -10 | 54 |
| 17 | Grimsby | 44 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 24 | 21 | 5 | 4 | 13 | 18 | 33 | -12 | 53 |
| 18 | Morecambe | 44 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 32 | 30 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 19 | 38 | -17 | 50 |
| 19 | Crawley | 44 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 31 | 30 | 5 | 3 | 14 | 15 | 33 | -17 | 50 |
| 20 | Port Vale | 44 | 7 | 3 | 12 | 24 | 35 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 14 | 18 | -15 | 48 |
| 21 | Cambridge U | 44 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 20 | 24 | 5 | 3 | 14 | 18 | 39 | -25 | 46 |
| 22 | Macclesfield | 44 | 5 | 10 | 7 | 25 | 34 | 4 | 3 | 15 | 21 | 39 | -27 | 40 |
| 23 | Yeovil | 44 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 20 | 34 | 5 | 3 | 14 | 19 | 30 | -25 | 38 |
| 24 | Notts Co | 44 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 21 | 33 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 24 | 47 | -35 | 38 |