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Newport City Radio – Live Right here, Right Now
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Episode 80: Why Cody Rhodes winning the World Title makes total sense
Marcus could hardly sit still. His beloved Newport County were in the F.A. Cup Final at Wembley Stadium — the biggest match in the club’s history!
He had dressed for the occasion, of course: his amber-and-black County shirt, his favourite jeans, and his lucky scarf. His red curls bounced as he jumped up and down in excitement. His one green eye shone like an emerald, while Nelson, his glass eye, glimmered mischievously in the afternoon sun.
“Behave yourself,” Marcus whispered as they found their seats among a sea of cheering County fans. “This is serious.”
But Nelson had never been serious in his life.
The teams marched onto the pitch, the crowd roared, and the referee blew his whistle to start the match. Marcus jumped to his feet, waving his scarf like mad. “Come on, County!” he bellowed.
Nelson wobbled in its socket. Marcus felt it jiggle. “Don’t you dare—”
Pop!
Nelson shot out like a cannonball, bounced off a drum, and rolled down the steps. “NELSON!” Marcus cried, diving under the row of seats.
Nelson tumbled into a bucket of popcorn, showering fans with buttery bits. Then he shot across the concrete, clinked against a steward’s boot, and — oh no — zipped right onto the pitch!
The referee spotted the gleaming ball-shaped object rolling across the grass. Tweet! His whistle screeched. The players froze, staring.
“Is… is that another ball?” one of the commentators asked in disbelief.
The Newport striker, not wanting to waste a chance, gave Nelson the gentlest nudge with his boot. Nelson whizzed in a perfect curve, spinning like he’d trained his whole life. The crowd gasped. Some even cheered!
“That’s not the match ball!” shouted the linesman, waving his flag.
Marcus clambered to the front barrier, his curls sticking out in every direction. “Excuse me!” he yelled, his voice echoing through Wembley. “That’s not a ball — that’s my glass eye!”
The entire stadium went silent for a moment. Then it erupted into laughter.
A kind steward scooped Nelson up and returned him, still twinkling proudly. Marcus popped him back into place, muttering under his breath, “You’re worse than a dodgy referee, Nelson.”
The game restarted, this time with only one ball on the pitch. Newport County pushed forward, passing with determination. Just before half-time, their striker fired a shot straight into the net. GOAL! The stadium thundered with noise. Marcus leapt in the air, hugging his scarf.
By full-time, County had won the Cup. Players lifted the shining trophy high as confetti rained down. Marcus felt tears prick his real eye. “We did it, Nelson,” he whispered.
And though Nelson stayed in place for once, Marcus could have sworn he gave the tiniest cheeky wink — as if to say, I scored the first goal, really.
By Mark “Hawkeye” Harris
Mark Harris has been a valuable and popular member of the Newport City Radio volunteer crew since 2014. He’s been the proud owner of a glass eye called Nelson since he was a small child. Despite many health challenges throughout his life, Mark has always maintained a wicked sense of humour , poking fun at himself and enjoying practical jokes. It’s one of the things we love most about him!
Mark has ticked many a surprising goal off his bucket list, all due to the fact that he believes in his own ability to make good things happen.
He keeps the crew here, entertianed with true tales about a life with Nelson the naughty eye and has agreed to share some of them as children’s stories.