Sean Newton: "I still have work to do to win back York City fans"

The 30-year-old utility man has topped our online man-of-the-match polls in each of the Minstermen’s last three games against Altrincham, Leamington and Nuneaton.

Such accolades have come since Newton’s move to centre back, as he has re-established himself in the first XI under Steve Watson.

The former Wrexham left back had previously been left out of the City squad in Sam Collins’ final three fixtures as manager, with the latter citing an internal dispute as the reason for his absence.

Unsubstantiated rumours that Newton had refused to play for the club subsequently surfaced, with the player subjected to online abuse from angry supporters.

Newton’s commitment has also been called into question this term, representing a strong departure from the esteem in which he was held when, after being brought to Bootham Crescent by former boss Gary Mills in 2016/17, a series of talismanic performances almost helped the side stave off the threat of relegation to National League North and contributed to winning the FA Trophy final at Wembley.

On his desire to get the Minstermen faithful back on side, Newton declared: “Criticism comes with the job and I don’t think I’ve got the fans back yet or done enough to get them back yet, but I’ll certainly keep doing my best to win them around.

“I think the suggestion was I didn’t want to be here, but that’s never been the case and I’m just trying to show everyone that I do. I always work hard in training every day and I never refused to play for the club.

“I just want to get a rapport back where the supporters know I want to be here and I’m giving it my all.”

Nevertheless, when he found himself frozen out of the first-team picture at the turn of the year, Newton admits that he did wonder whether his days at Bootham Crescent were numbered despite being contracted to the club until the end of next season.

“I did question whether I had a future here, as you obviously do when you’re not playing or in people’s plans,” he confessed. “I’ve never been the type of person who can just sit there and watch.

“I’ve always played 40 or 50 games a season and I was thinking, at one point, that maybe it was time to find a club. But football’s a strange game and, within a week, we lost a couple of games and the old gaffer was gone and then the new gaffer came in, so everyone got a fresh start.

“I just got my head down then and started at Stockport, where I thought I did OK, but the result didn’t go well. I then got left out against Chorley but, after that, I got my chance and haven’t looked back.”

Newton now credits former Gateshead chief Watson for the upturn in his form, adding: “It’s good to be back to where I know I can be performance wise.

“I’d had a tough eight months, but I’ve got a manager now that I feel I can bounce off and I’m enjoying my football again. I know exactly what he wants from me and he’s got me playing in one position every week.

“He’s also got me working hard every day in training and doesn’t let you drop off.”

During two-and-a-half years with City, Newton has been used in a back three and midfield, as well as at full-back, wing-back and centre forward.

Such versatility has led to different answers when he’s been asked about his favoured position in the past and, whilst evading that question for now, he is revelling in his new role in an orthodox central-defensive partnership with on-loan Mansfield recruit David Mirfin.

The duo have started four of the Minstermen’s last five matches together – the exception being when Mirfin missed the 1-0 Leamington trip with a facial wound – with Newton reasoning: “Normally, I’ve only ever filled in for one game as an out-and-out centre back and then been moved, but I’m enjoying playing with someone as experienced as Mirf with the career he’s had.

“He’s helped me massively and it’s been good. You feel that he will never really make a mistake.

“He is so calm and I’m the opposite really. I’m loud, a bit wild and like to rant and rave, so I think we suit each other really well and are a good combination.

“I don’t want to say it’s my best position now but, as long as I keep playing as I am there, I will end up saying it is and I’ve possibly been surprised that it’s gone so well. I was asked to do a job there against Ashton when a few of the lads were struggling with injuries and we kept a clean sheet and, since then, me and Mirf have gone on a bit of a roll.

“The team has conceded two goals in the four games we’ve played together, and one was from a set-play at Kidderminster, which was disappointing, but the other was an unbelievable strike against Altrincham. I just hope we can carry this form on until the end of the season.”

Newton has argued, meanwhile, that he felt it was a “joke” that Saturday’s National League North clash against FC United of Manchester was only postponed at 2pm due to a waterlogged pitch.

“I don’t think it was dealt with very professionally and it was disappointing and a joke to be honest,” he argued. “Every game around the area had been called off and, while they said the pitch was reasonably OK in the morning, the forecast was for torrential rain all day, so they should have made the call then, not when all the fans had got there, and all of us were ready in our kit.

“I think the pitch was unplayable and dangerous because the ref dropped the ball and it didn’t bounce, but I could have told people that at 12.30pm when I got to the ground. I thought it was going to be off then and I’m not sure why it wasn’t, because the fans could have turned around and gone home or might not have set off.”

City will have now had a fortnight break from action when they host Boston United on Saturday.

The team’s last match saw a winning run of four games end with a 1-0 home loss to promotion-chasing Altrincham, but Newton did not regard that contest as a major setback, believing the Minstermen should have gained a share of the spoils on the day.

“Altrincham were the better footballing side, but they didn’t get any really good chances and we probably had opportunities that were just as good,” he ventured. “I know a few of their players and, at the end of the game, they agreed a draw would have been a fair result, but it was what it was.

“We’ve still got to try and win every game and finish as strong as possible to see where it takes us because, at the least, it will give the gaffer and the club some momentum going into next season.”