Newnes was initially restricted to reserve team matches, and made his League debut for the club in the 4–2 win against Nottingham Forest on 2 January 1923.
[3] He played a total of 39 competitive matches for Nelson during the 1923–24 season, but despite scoring three goals (two of them penalties) he could not prevent the team being relegated to the Third Division North.
[3] Newnes retained his place in the starting line-up at the outset of the 1924–25 campaign and scored in the first home match of the new season, a 4–0 win over Ashington.
Newnes remained at the club for one more season, and by the time he left Nelson in October 1926 he had made 113 league appearances and scored 7 goals.
[2] Upon leaving Nelson, Newnes joined fellow Third Division North outfit Southport and spent almost two seasons with the Sandgrounders, playing 38 league matches for the club.
[2] Newnes' performances for Nelson in the 1925–26 season earned him a call-up to the Wales national football team for the match against Ireland on 13 February 1926.