Newport County have confirmed the return of experienced defender Liam Shephard, who rejoins the club on a one-year contract, subject to EFL approval.
The 30-year-old returns to Rodney Parade following a four-season spell at Salford City and brings significant League Two experience with him. His first stint with the Exiles came in 2020/21, when he made 52 appearances and played a vital role in the club’s run to the play-off final.
This time, Shephard will finally have the opportunity to play in front of the home crowd — something he missed during the Covid-restricted campaign.
🔁 A Familiar Face Returns
Born in Pentre, Rhondda Valleys, Shephard started out in the youth systems at Cardiff City and Swansea City before breaking through at Yeovil Town. He later featured for Peterborough United and Forest Green Rovers before signing for Newport ahead of the 2020/21 season.
After his season with the Exiles, Shephard joined Salford City in 2021 and made over 70 appearances across all competitions for the Ammies, showcasing his versatility by covering both right-back and centre-back positions.
Shephard’s return also carries family ties — his father Garry Shephard made 136 appearances for Newport County, scoring 47 goals between 1999 and 2005.
🗣️ Shephard on His Return
“I’m absolutely buzzing to be here and get everything over the line,” he told the club’s media.
“The first thing I’m looking forward to is being able to play in front of the Newport County fans. My first spell was during the Covid season, so I never really got to have that full experience of representing the club. So I’m really looking forward to that.”
“We’ve had some really good discussions on how and where the manager wants me to play, and we share the same values and ambitions to try and take us forward.”
“I’m not here just to play games, I’m always trying to push my ambitions and expectations as far as I can. I’m really looking forward to getting stuck in and helping the squad progress.”
🎙️ David Hughes on the Signing
Manager David Hughes added:
“I’m delighted to welcome Liam into the squad. He’s vastly experienced, he’s an outstanding character and he’ll be an excellent addition into the changing room because of his professionalism and high standards.”
“He definitely adds outstanding quality to the squad, so we’re really pleased to bring him in and to add more competition for places.”
📊 Key FotMob Stats – All Competitions (2024/25 at Salford City):
• Appearances: 26
• Goals: 0
• Assists: 1
• Minutes played: 1,846
• Interceptions/90: 1.4
• Tackles/90: 1.7
• Clearances/90: 3.2
• Passing accuracy: 80.3%
• Aerial duels won/90: 2.9
• Dribbled past/90: 0.5
• Yellow cards: 4
🟧⬛ ZONE CONFIRMED
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