Newport County legend looks to get “positivity around the city”

Newport County club legend and club ambassador Mark O’Brien recently joined us on the Newport City Show to discuss his new job as Club Ambassador” 

He was asked about if he could be a link between the players and the community aspect of the club 

“I’d like to hope so,” said Mark. “I don’t think I’m going to be in this position where I still have to sit and listen and learn about certain things. I talk to Norman a lot about an understanding of why things are as they are and how to make them better and what to look out for and what not to look out for.”

“I’m still learning in so many aspects, but if it is something of mine to be able to have that Newport feel, the optimism, the positivity around the city. All businesses can thrive, but every business is then all of a sudden incorporated back into Newport because, again, over the years that I’ve known Newport and even before me, Newport probably wouldn’t be where it is without the community and without the passion that the fan base and the community itself has shown towards the club.”

“So it’s almost like having those avenues and having those bridges really, really strong that when it’s all that one place coming together. As I said, this club can go anywhere. This community can go anywhere.”

Over the off season the club started to emphasize an old saying in “One Club One County” this is something that Mark had also noticed. 

“Yeah, it’s definitely something I’ve noticed. And I think to say that the words are meaning something now is so much more. Again, as I’ve already alluded to, the club are backing the community so much more. And that can grow, and then the community, again, with the work they do, can grow and it is that one club, one county, where it’s that positive feeling. 

“And I said it always comes back to, again, the players have a responsibility and the responsibility of the players is give everything for the shirt and you give everything for that shirt anybody then can come and watch Newport and be proud of the team because they need a team that’s going to represent them as people. And to represent them as people is to give everything 110 % and play with your body on the line and they will come in their numbers to support you. And it’s relaying all of that. So now when the fans and everybody in the community are feeling as though they can be proud of something again. 

“As I said, this place is only just going to be a steady build that I was part of when I was playing, that it’s only going to go in one direction. And that’s the positive side of what I believe is great to be part of, to see that place grow and to get the success I believe a place like Newport can and will deserve.”

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