From the match programme:-
"CLUB NOTES"
"Last Sunday saw the end of an historic year in the life of Newport Athletic Club, and now that the party is over and the candles on the birthday cake have been blown out, we can look forward to season 1975/76 with a great deal of excitement."
"The new Chairman Ian McJennett, who has been a great servant to the club both on and off the field, is confident that the club will commence a new era of Black and Amber Magic, to compare with the glamorous past. He is confident that everyone will give newly elected captain Colin Smart all the encouragement necessary to produce the right results on the field, while Colin is determined to ensure that the team play the kind of rugby that supporters at Rodney Parade have been used to. It is certain that everyone connected with Newport Athletic Club wishes him and his team every success during the months ahead, and are confident that provided he can steer clear of injury he must stand an excellent chance of winning his England cap. Coach John Ryan has been pleased with the teams progress during pre-season training and also during their highly successful tour to America. He has been joined on the coaching staff by Sid Jefferies, who is certain to be an asset to the Club. While on the subject of coaching, I am certain that everyone at Rodney Parade send their best wishes to John Moore, who was forced to resign as Youth Team coach due to ill health. The Youth are certainly lucky that Bryn Williams has agreed to re-occupy the position he held so successfully a few years ago."
"During their American tour the Newport team certainly showed everything that was good in rugby football. They proved wonderful missionaries and were a credit to their club and country. This season the Football Committee regret the increase in the price of admission charges, membership fees and programmes, but with costs rising like they are they had no alternative."
"WELCOME TO RODNEY PARADE"
"This afternoon it is our pleasure to once again welcome Penarth to open our season. For many years our friends from 'Donkey Island' were traditionally our first opponents in a new season and although this has changed during recent years fixtures between our respective clubs have been maintained."
"Last season under their recruit from Arms Park, Lyn Baxter, the team achieved many notable victories, and revived memories of the club back in the fifties when such personalities as Kevin Bush (still serving the club with distinction) Bernard 'Slogger' Templeman, Terry Smith and Elwyn Jones were playing. Lyn has been re-elected this season and with the aid of coach Dennis John (who played with success for Pontypridd and Pontypool) is determined that the base established last season will be built upon this season. A player who could have been the main spring of this revival is centre three quarter Jim Parsons a player of great promise, but unfortunately for Penarth it looks as if his ability is going to be used by Cardiff College of Education where he is a student."
"Rugby supporters throughout the country are well aware that Penarth has been the adopted home for the Barbarians for very many years and it is with qreat pride that the club have hanging in their club house 'the Springbok Head' the Baa Baas won by defeating Avril Malans side in 1960/61. The Penarth committee are determined that the close links between the two clubs remain, just like the one's between themselves and Newport."
"A famous 'Old Penarthian' Lot Thorne did a great deal of work with Newports Bill Everson in getting the Snelling Sevens established while on the field of play Jack Bassett is a famous old name, their contribution to the game has been great, long may it continue. Welcome Penarth, we are certain you will prove a hard team to beat in this the first game of the 1975/76 season."