FRIENDLY fever hits Jenner Park on Tuesday night (25 July), as Welsh Premier League newcomers Barry Town United entertain Football League survivors Newport County in a 7.30pm kick-off.

After a difficult start, the Exiles preserved their League Two status in May by winning five of their final seven fixtures, with Irishman Mark O’Brien securing his place in Newport County folklore with a crucial 89th-minute winner against Notts County on the final day.

Aiming to avoid a repeat of last year’s struggles, Newport have moved to recruit a handful of new faces for their upcoming League Two challenge, with former West Ham United and Coventry City forward Frank Nouble and Yeovil Town midfielder Matt Dolan, joining fellow newcomers Robbie Wilmott from Chelmsford and Lamar Reynolds from Brentwood.

Both Wilmott and Reynolds were on target in last weekend’s opening first team friendly, as County turned over Southern League outfit Swindon Supermarine by four goals to three in Wiltshire.

The Newport club has furthermore secured the services of one-cap Wales international David Pipe on a permanent deal, after Pipe made more than 20 appearances on loan from Eastleigh last term.

For Barry supporters though, perhaps the most familiar name on their way to the Town this Tuesday will be manager Mike Flynn - a trophy-winning midfielder with Barry in his early playing days.

Arriving at Jenner Park in 2000, Flynn made his Welsh Premier League debut in a 1-0 win over TNS that October, scoring his first goal for the club one week later at Oswestry and rippling the Jenner Park net for the first time against Cefn Druids the subsequent weekend.

Peppering his debut season with a pair of hat-tricks, Flynn’s most famous goal for Barry arrived the following August, as the midfielder headed the Town in front in the famous 3-1 win over FC Porto.

Aged 21, Newport-born Flynn would make the scoresheet again in Barry’s 2002 Welsh Cup Final win over Bangor City, before making a summer switch to Wigan Athletic. His professional career would later take him to the likes of Gillingham, Blackpool, Huddersfield Town and Bradford City.

Flynn’s return to Jenner Park will be a cause for celebration, yet counterpart Gavin Chesterfield will have no intention of his own side rolling over, as their Welsh Premier League preparations intensify.

The Town began their own pre-season with a 1-1 draw against Goytre; striker TJ Nagi opening the scoring in the 16th minute, before counterpart Luke Prosser equalised with a mere five remaining.

The warm-up saw striker Kayne McLaggon make his first appearance in a Barry Town shirt since his move from Merthyr Town, with fellow new signing Sam Jones joining development squad talent Mikey George and Luke Sylvester in enjoying a summer run-out at Jenner Park.

A crowd of over 200 spectators turned out for this first glimpse of Barry’s Welsh Premier League squad, with a larger crowd anticipated for the visit of Newport County on Tuesday evening.

Tickets for the match are still on sale at www.ticketsource.co.uk/barry, with general admission available on the night via the Barry Road and Gladstone Road turnstiles at only £5 (adults) and £3 (concessions).

Barry’s final warm-up for Newport County comes this Saturday (22 July), as the Town tackle Welsh League Division One runners-up Penybont at Bryntirion Park (2.30pm).