Hereford United F.C.
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Hereford United Football Club is a football team based in Hereford, England. In the 2005-06 season Hereford competed in the Conference National, finished as runners-up for the third successive season and were promoted via the play-offs after a 3-2 extra-time victory over Halifax Town at the Walkers Stadium. They will play in Football League Two in the 2006-07 season. Hereford are nicknamed “The Bulls” and play their matches at Edgar Street. Over the years, Hereford have gained the reputation as a giant-killing club, particularly in the FA Cup. The club is owned and managed by Graham Turner.
History
In 1924 Hereford United was formed from the merger of two local teams, St Martins and RAOC, and started life in the Birmingham Combination League. They shared their Edgar Street ground with amateurs Hereford City. Promotion to the Birmingham League followed after four seasons and in 1939 the club became a Limited Company and joined the Southern League, in which the club spent 27 seasons. The club's first-ever match was against Atherstone United and resulted in a 2-1 defeat.The Southern League years
Hereford’s first season in the Southern League (1945-46) saw them finish second to Chelmsford City, a team who had been controversially awarded points for unplayed matches. Second place was again achieved in 1950-51 behind Merthyr Tydfil. In 1958-59 the Southern League was split into two sections: North-West and South-East. The winners of each section would contest a play-off to decide the winner of the league. Hereford won the North-West section but were beaten by Bedford Town in the play-off. A minor blip in 1964-65 saw the club relegated but this was quickly rectified with promotion the following season. Hereford finally won election to the Football League in 1971-72, after finishing second in the league, largely thanks to their excellent FA Cup run.The Football League years
In their first season in the Football League Hereford finished runners-up to Southport in the Fourth Division and were promoted to the Third Division. The next two seasons saw Hereford finish eighteenth and twelfth before taking the Third Division title in 1975-76 – the club’s greatest honour. However the following season saw Hereford finish bottom of the Second Division and they were relegated. The club were again relegated from the Third Division the following season and so were back in the Fourth Division for the 1978-79 season. Hereford were to remain in this division for the next nineteen seasons. The club generally finished the seasons in minor positions (including seventeenth for five consecutive seasons) and even had to apply for re-election to the League in 1979-80, 1980-81 and 1982-83. 1984-85 was a better season for Hereford when they finished 5th. It wasn't until 1995-96 that Hereford challenged for promotion again, when the club went from nineteenth position to sixth position in two months to secure a play-off place. They failed to progress to the play-off final, losing 2-4 on aggregate to Darlington. The following season when Hereford were relegated from Division Three. The deciding match was at Edgar Street against Brighton, a side which had seemingly been resigned to relegation a few weeks previously. Hereford had to win to survive whilst Brighton only needed a draw. An own goal put Hereford 1-0 up, but Brighton equalised to make the final score 1-1.The Conference years
After 25 years in the Football League, hopes of a swift return were dashed when Hereford were only able to manage sixth in their first season in the Conference. Relatively minor placings were picked up over the next four seasons including seventeenth position in 2001-02, their lowest position for almost forty years. The play-off system was introduced to the Conference in 2002-03, meaning two teams would now be promoted to the Football League. Hereford just missed out on a play-off position, finishing sixth again, but it was a season of promise - manager Graham Turner had retained only six players from the previous season and had built a squad on a shoestring budget.2003-04 season
The following season was the club’s best ever, statistically, in the Conference. The club were top of the table for much of the season and just missed out on the title, finishing second to Chester by just one point. The season had seen the club thrash Dagenham 9-0 live on Sky, score 103 goals and collect 91 points. Hereford met Aldershot in the play-off semi-final. The first leg saw a 1-1 draw at Aldershot while the second leg at Edgar Street sparked huge controversy. After 20 minutes, referee Andy Woolmer sent off defender Andy Tretton for a professional foul. The score was 0-0 after 90 minutes, and extra time failed to produce a goal. After playing nearly 100 minutes with ten men, Hereford lost the penalty shootout. Aldershot were subsequently defeated on penalties in the final by Shrewsbury, who had finished seventeen points behind Hereford.2004-05 season
The following season saw several key players who had been instrumental in the previous season’s title challenge depart for League clubs. The club again finished second in Conference although the statistics were not as impressive this time around. Champions Barnet won the title by 12 points, and arguably did what Hereford should have done the previous season. Just three points separated the teams from second to seventh. Stevenage were the opponents in the play-off semi-final which saw a 1-1 draw at Broadhall Way. The second leg at Edgar Street was a tense affair and after going 1-0 down, heads dropped and the game was lost. Like the previous season, their play-off opponents were beaten in the Final, this time by Carlisle.2005-06 season
Hereford's ninth season in the Conference was their most successful with the club finishing runners-up for the third season running, this time to Accrington Stanley, and finally securing promotion to the Football League via the playoffs. Hereford finished the season with the best defensive record in the Conference with 6 defeats and just 33 goals conceded, compared with Accrington's record of 7 defeats and 45 goals conceded. They did not score as many goals as in previous seasons, saving them for when they were needed in the playoffs. Hereford played Morecambe in the semi-final and drew 1-1 in the first leg, as in the previous two seasons. However they made sure it was a case of third time lucky by winning 3-2 in the second leg thanks to a header from captain Tamika Mkandawire, a lovely goal from Andy Williams and a brilliant extra time winner from Guy Ipoua which ultimately took them into the final and sparked a pitch invasion. The final against Halifax Town took place at Leicester's Walkers Stadium in front of a crowd of 15,499 (including roughly 10,000 Hereford fans). Hereford came from behind twice to force extra time thanks to goals from Williams and super-sub Ipoua. The hero this time was Ryan Green who curled the ball into the goal from 18 yards in the 109th minute. The drama was not over as goalkeeper Wayne Brown went down injured, and received treatment for several minutes. Despite this, it was Hereford who got the trophy and the Football League status they had lost nine seasons previously. However this time around they are a club that is much more financially sound thanks to the efforts of Graham Turner and his staff.Aside from the league, Hereford featured in three cup competitions. In the FA Cup they saw off Cambridge City 1-0 but lost 2-0 at home to Stockport County in the Second Round. In the LDV Vans Trophy they defeated Mansfield Town 1-0, Port Vale 2-1 (after extra time) and Scunthorpe United 2-0 before losing 2-0 to Macclesfield Town. Finally in the FA Trophy, the Bulls won 7-1 away at Bognor Regis Town and then won 1-0 at Halifax Town before losing 1-0 at Grays Athletic.
FA Cup tradition
Hereford reached the FA Cup First Round for the first time in 1932-33 where they lost 2-1 to Accrington Stanley. They reached the Second Round for the first time in 1948-49, losing 2-1 to Exeter. In fact Hereford reached the Second Round six times in nine seasons. 1958-59 saw Hereford reach the Third Round for the first time, quite an achievement for a non-league club. In the Second Round they had defeated QPR 6-1 which was a record win by a non-league club over a league club at the time. Hereford played Sheffield Wednesday at Edgar Street in front of a record crowd of 18,114 but lost 3-0. Hereford did not reach the Third Round again until 1965-66 where they were defeated 2-1 by Bedford Town.
The Newcastle Giant-Killing
The club’s most famous cup run came in the 1971-72 season when they played ten FA Cup matches, of which five were replays. In the Second Round it took Hereford two replays to defeat Northampton but the team waiting for them in the Third Round was none other than Newcastle of the First Division. Newcastle were held 2-2 at St James' Park before the replay at Edgar Street, which was covered by the BBC. Newcastle scored after 82 minutes through Malcolm Macdonald but then Ronnie Radford scored an 30-yard screamer at the Meadow End to make it 1-1, prompting a pitch invasion. Hereford had brought on Ricky George just minutes before, and it was George who scored the winner in extra time. Hereford had reached the Fourth Round for the first time in their history and their next opponents would be again First Division standard in the form of West Ham United. After a 0-0 draw at Edgar Street, the Bulls were finally knocked out of the FA Cup in the replay at Upton Park, losing 3-1 thanks to a Geoff Hurst hat-trick.Radford’s goal subsequently became one of the most famous and televised goals ever and, coupled with the commentary of John Motson, it was voted Goal of the Season. In 2002, it ranked 97th in Channel 4's 100 Greatest Sporting Moments.
Recent efforts
In all, as a non-league club, Hereford have beaten league opposition 12 times in the FA Cup. The most notable cup run in recent years was in the 1999-00 season. Hereford progressed to the Third Round after defeating Burgess Hill, York and Hartlepool. They drew then Premiership side Leicester at Edgar Street, extended highlights of which were shown on Match of the Day. Hereford fielded a team that contained three part-timers (farmer/goalkeeper Mark Jones, electrician/midfielder John Snape and teacher/striker Rob Elmes) - and 19-year-old winger Paul Parry. With minutes to go and the score at 0-0, Parry started a great run, took on the Leicester defence and shot past Tim Flowers, only to be denied by the post. It finished 0-0 but it was a great performance by the Conference side. In the replay at Filbert Street Hereford took the lead through Paul Fewings. Matt Elliott equalised for Leicester in the second half but after 90 minutes, it remained 1-1. It took Leicester until the second half of extra time to take the lead through Muzzy Izzet, but Hereford did not give up and came close to equalising through Gavin Williams.Current squad
Managers
- Graham Turner (1995 - present)
- John Layton (1994 - 1995)
- Greg Downs (1992 - 1994)
- John Sillett (1991 - 1992)
- Colin Addison (1990 - 1991)
- Ian Bowyer (1987 - 1990)
- John Newman (1983 - 1987)
- Tommy Hughes (1982 - 1983)
- Frank Lord (1978 - 1982)
- Mike Bailey (1978 - 1979)
- Tony Ford (1978)
- John Sillett (1974 - 1978)
- Colin Addison (1971 - 1974)
- John Charles (1967 - 1971)
- Bob Dennison (1963 - 1967)
- Ray Daniel (1962 - 1963)
- Joe Wade (1956 - 1962)
- Alex Massie (1952)
Notable players
- Steve Bull
- John Charles
- Ricky George
- Jimmy Harvey
- David Icke
- Guy Ipoua
- Tony James
- Dixie McNeil
- Paul Parry
- Mel Pejic
- Stewart Phillips
- Chris Price
- Ronnie Radford
- Eric Redrobe
- Dudley Tyler
- Steve White
- Gavin Williams
Records
- Biggest Win: 13-0 v Thynnes Athletic (FA Cup Preliminary Round 1947-48)
- Biggest League Win: 9-0 v Dagenham & Redbridge (Conference National 2003-04)
- Highest Attendance: 18,114 v Sheffield Wednesday (FA Cup Third Round 1957-58)
- Most Points In A Season: 91 (Conference National 2003-04)
- Most League Goals Scored In A Season: 124 (Southern League North-West 1964-65)
- Fewest League Goals Conceded In A Season: 30 (Southern League 1971-72)
- Most Appearances For Club: 456 - Mel Pejic (1980-81 - 1991-92)
- Most Goals For Club: 103 - Stewart Phillips (1979-80 - 1987-88)
- Highest Transfer Fee Paid: £80,000 - Dean Smith from Walsall (1994-95)
- Highest Transfer Fee Received: £445,000 - Darren Peacock to Queens Park Rangers (1990-91)
Honours
- Second Division (now Football League Championship): Best Season: 22nd position (1976-77)
- Third Division (now Football League One): Champions (1975-76)
- Fourth Division (now Football League Two): Runners-Up (1972-73), Play-offs (1995-96)
- Conference National: Runners-Up (2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06), Play-off Winners (2005-06)
- Southern League: Runners-Up (1945-46, 1950-51, 1971-72)
- English FA Cup: Fourth Round (1971-72, 1976-77, 1981-82, 1989-90, 1991-92)
- Welsh FA Cup: Winners (1989-90), Runners-Up (1967-68, 1975-76, 1980-81)
- Southern League Cup: Winners (1951-52, 1956-57, 1958-59)
External links
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