DIAMONDS FOREVER ARE
Ahead of Leeds tie, Irish striker Padraig admits he’ll never forget his night in the company of a pair of United legends at Elland Road
PADRAIG AMOND was hobnobbing with Leeds legends Norman Hunter and Tony Dorigo in an Elland Road box the night he signed for Newport County.
And while he remembers the encounter well, there is a reasonable chance the former players may have forgotten all about the 29-year-old from Carlow.
But this Sunday, Amond hopes to get amongst the goals that dumps their beloved club from the third round of the FA Cup.
League Two Newport host the Championship promotion hopefuls on a ropey Rodney Parade pith that has been through the wars this festive period. The Pro14 rugby side Dragons share the Welsh stadium and a smiling Amond said: “It might play into our hands as Leeds like to get it down.”
Amond, the former Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers attacker, signed for Newport in August from Hartlepool having also played for Grimsby, Morecambe and Accrington.
The contracts were signed in a hotel adjacent to Elland Road as Newport just happened to be away to Leeds in the Carabao Cup that night.
Amond told Mirror
Sport: “It was earmarked for my debut but it just happened a day or two late which was disappointing.
“They beat us 5-1 but PADRAIG AMOND has no plans to return to the League of Ireland any time soon.
And the former Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers striker could even stay in Britain beyond his playing days.
Amond (left) burst onto the honestly it could have been 5-5 or 6-5. Perched in the stands I was thinking ‘I’m going to get a lot of chances to score at this club’.”
Sitting with Newport’s directors, he was introduced to Hunter and Dorigo (below) as Irish scene with the Hoops back in 2006 and then he made his mark with the Bit O’red before landing a shock move to Portuguese top flight side Pacos de Ferreira in 2010.
From there he went to Accrington Stanley, Morecambe, Grimsby, Hartlepool and now they did the rounds in the hospitality suite named after the former.
“It was a lovely moment and he was an absolute gentleman,” said Amond. “I’ve family members who are Leeds fans and they couldn’t believe I met him, they were very jealous. “Hopefully we can either win and get another big draw in the next round, or get a draw and go back to Elland Road and make a few quid for the club.”
Newport are 11th in League Two but only three points off the play-offs and just five points off the automatic promotion spots.
“If we could get past Leeds, it could change the Newport County. Living just outside Cardiff, Amond said: “My fiance is also from Carlow and we are both really happy living here.
“Christmas is the tough one as you’re away from your family but I’ve so many games it helps take your mind off it.” budget for the season.
“If we could get money to reinvest in the squad, it could be the difference in getting promoted or not because it’s such a tight league.”
Amond has never played in the FA Cup third round before and doesn’t mind admitting that he feels like a big kid heading into the weekend.
“Growing up, I loved watching the third round draw and seeing which lower league clubs got the big draws,” he said.
“I feel we’ve got one of those as Leeds are massive. Some people have fallen out of love with the FA Cup, but it still means a lot to so many.”
And Amond, who has scored in each of his last two games, added: “I’m in good form and I’d love to score.”
He added: “Of course we’ll come home eventually but I can see myself here for the foreseeable future.
“I’m doing my coaching badges and further down the line, when I finish playing, there are more coaching opportunities over here.”