Newport County FC

The mighty @NewportCounty.

This crest looks simple but explodes with history the second you touch it - and even more amazingly for me - Ipswich's own Thomas Wolsey features predominantly in the tale.

Though it might not be in a way that the Exiles are thrilled about. So, let's #GetTheBadgeIn and take a closer look under the hood.

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The main feature of their badge is the golden shield with the downward-facing black chevron. This is the shield of the Duke of Buckingham, and it features on Newport City's Coat of Arms too—a more stylised version is used by Newport City FC, who play in the Welsh Leagues @NewportCity_FC.

The Buckinghams were a curious family who had three main generations: Humphrey, Henry and then another Henry. Each of whom feature in important parts of English history: The 100 years War, The Wars of Roses and Henry VIII's court - they were there at the centre of all of them.

The first one, Humphrey (Stafford) was the 1st Duke of Buckingham. He fought alongside Henry V in France during the Hundred Years' War. He was there when the English captured that troublesome French tart, Joan of Arc. Rumour has it he was so overcome with rage during her interrogation, that he had to be restrained from stabbing her there and then.

The link to Newport begins when he got home. For his loyalty Humphrey was awarded lands in Wales—including Newport. At the time it had a somewhat out-of-shape castle. He tried to patch it up a bit but ultimately ran out of time. He was killed fighting at the Battle of Northampton, one of the early battles in the Wars of the Roses.

He died protecting Henry VI, the young son of Henry V.

Humphrey's own son, Henry, took over the family business as Duke of Buckingham but took it in a totally different direction. He switched sides and supported the Yorkist Richard III. He was seen as so loyal that he even became a prime suspect in the murder of the famous "Princes in the Tower" (the two boys that Richard III was supposed to be babysitting the throne for—but who then mysteriously vanished...). Either way, Henry eventually had a change of heart (maybe he remembered which b*stards had killed his dad) and rebelled against Richard III. He was captured and executed for his troubles.

His son, also a Henry, was recognised and endorsed by the (Lancastrian) Tudors. He became a close ally, even holding the crown for King Henry VIII (yes, THE Henry VIII) during the coronation ceremony. However, working alongside common Ipswich lad Thomas Wolsey at court was a bit too much for this noble. The two argued, and eventually, Wolsey dug up some dirt (real or imagined) and convinced the King to have the Duke executed for treason. Commoners 1, Nobles 0.

What about those dates then, 1912 - 1989? These are the birth and "death" years of the original Newport County, which went bust in 1989. Known as the "Ironsides," the original team was formed by Wolverhampton steel workers who had been offered an ultimatum from their bosses: move to the new Orb Ironworks they'd just built at Newport or find another job.

Many of the workers moved, and true to their roots, named the streets after their hometowns—Dudley, Telford, and Walsall. Google it, those streets still exist in the middle of Newport. For years afterward, the local Wolverhampton paper was even sold in Newport corner shops. So when these men from the Midlands came to set up a team, there was only one choice of shirt—orange and black, just like their hometown heroes - Wolves.

After Newport’s original club folded in 89, die-hard supporters brought it back to life as Newport County AFC. However, a new hurdle popped up—the council wouldn’t let the new team play at their old stadium! This left Newport County playing "home" games 85 miles away in Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, where many away matches were actually closer than home.

Then, in 1991, a new chapter of trouble began. The Welsh FA, eager to launch a "League of Wales," tried to rope Newport County in. When Newport opted for English leagues instead, the Welsh FA banned them from playing in Wales. Newport, exiled again, found themselves back in England, earning the nickname "The Exiles"—stylishly written in lowercase, just for extra rebel flair on their current badge.

So, what looks like a simple crest is packed with history. Noble knights hacking chunks out of the French, civil war skulduggery, industrial migration stories, and overbearing bureaucracy.

The story of the badge isn't an easy one. But it's a proud one.

The Exiles have survived it all.