THERE were some guests of honour at Newport County’s training session today.

Members of Wales’ Transplant Games football team ran out with the Exiles first team at a rain-soaked Newport Stadium as part of their preparations for the event, which will take place in the city from July 25-28.

Shaun Ruck, patient advocate for Kidney Wales, said: “Having Newport County give transplant patients this opportunity to come along, watch the training and have a kickabout is huge.

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“It’s also giving them the opportunity to see that they can play, and they can be involved in sport.”

With the games to take place in Newport this year, with the South Wales Argus as official media partners, Mr Ruck added that it was the perfect time to highlight the cause on a local level.

“We knew we had to get everybody on board,” he said.

“It was a great opportunity to source local locations to take part.”

Darren Brown training with transplant games footballers at Spytty stadium. Picture: www.christinsleyphotography.co.uk

This isn’t the first time that the Exiles have become involved in helping to promote organ donation.

Rodney Parade hosted a special football match in April 2016 to raise the awareness of organ donation, featuring teams of celebrities and organ transplant recipients - including one man who went on to become the first footballer to play professionally following a heart transplant.

The game is being played in the city after Simon Keith received his heart from a donor in Newport.

Newport County chairman Gavin Foxall said: “The club are good friends with Mr Keith.

“With Newport being the hosts of the Transplant Games, it’s important that as the only football league team in the city, we support them accordingly.”

GOAL: Ellis Thomas of the transplant games footballers at Spytty stadium. Picture: www.christinsleyphotography.co.uk

At half time during Saturday’s clash with Lincoln City, the Welsh Transplant Games team will complete a lap of honour at Rodney Parade.

“We need to get that message out there to people who might not know much about organ donation,” said Mr Ruck. “I think if people were made aware of some of the tough treatments that those waiting on the register have to undergo, such as dialysis, it might make them think ‘woah, how can I help with this?’.”

Roger Groves