June 2000

June 3rd:
Hereford United are to erect an electronic scoreboard following a bequest from a long-standing supporter.

Anthony Tindall, who lived in the city, left the money to the Nationwide Conference club with the request to have the scoreboard erected.

The club have not had a scoreboard at their Edgar Street headquarters for over 30 years and are to have it installed at the Black Friars Street end of the ground, hopefully for the start of next season.

Meanwhile, Hereford have announced a price increase of £1 for matchday tickets.

Seating will cost £10 and the terracing £8, but the price for pensioners and children have been frozen at last year's prices.

June 3rd:
Shrewsbury friendly announced - August 5th at Edgar Street is the date to see Hereford United vs Shrewsbury Town, with a 3pm kick off.

Renovations - Some building work is going on at the club shop - whether this means an expansion is not yet known.

Rumours - Former Norwich, Wales and Charlton midfielder Mark Bowen may be on his way to Edgar Street as player coach. Nick Colley, the Tamworth midfielder, is also rumoured to have been negotiating terms.

Scoreboard donation announced - Anthony Tindall was the supporter who left money to the club to purchase a scoreboard. It is due to be installed in July at the Blackfriars End.

Season tickets - The discount offer has now ended - but prices are still reasonable. Adults in the Merton and Len Weston stands pay £170, concessions £106. At the Merton and Blackfriars Ends, prices are £128, £59 for concessions. For further details call the club on 01432 276666. Compared with other Conference clubs, Hereford United's prices are more than reasonable, especially in the terracing sections.

June 6th:
TWO UP TO BE INTRODUCED - BUT NOT NEXT SEASON - The Conference confirmed at their annual meeting this weekend in Stratford that two teams will be promoted to the Football League, both automatically and not using playoffs. However, this will not be implemented until season 2001/02. Clubs were hoping that it would be introduced from next season, but that will not be the case. More bad news for Hereford United as the top seven clubs will be entered into the Auto Windscreen Shield along with relegated Chester City (from Division 3) and Doncaster (McMillan Trophy winners). Hereford miss out because they finished 8th, but the final decision has not yet been rubber-stamped by the Football Association.

June 8th:
THE WRIGHT CHOICE IN TEAM OF THE YEAR - Hereford United captain Ian Wright has been named in the Nationwide Conference team of the year. The announcement was made at the Conference dinner and awards night. Wright, who made 33 league appearances for the Bulls last season, scored six times. The team of the year is : (4-3-3) Adam Sollitt (Kettering Town), Tarkan Mustafa (transferred to Rushden & Diamonds), Adie Smith (Kidderminster Harriers), Ian Wright (Hereford United), Paul Underwood (Rushden & Diamonds), Geoff Pitcher (Kingstonian), Mike Marsh (formerly Kidderminster, now Southport), Stewart Drummond (Morecambe), Justin Jackson (Morecambe), Carl Alford (formerly Stevenage now Doncaster Rovers), Warren Patmore (Yeovil Town).

Friendlies announced - Full dates below:
Oldbury United (Midland Alliance, away) July 20th - 7.30pm
Halesowen Town (Dr. Martens Premier, away) July 25th - 7.45pm
Moor Green (Dr. Martens Premier, away) July 27th - 7.45pm
Aston Villa (Premiership, home) July 29th - 3pm
Oxford United (Division 2, home) August 1st - 7.45pm
Chasetown (Midland Alliance, away) August 3rd - 7.30pm
Shrewsbury Town (Division 3, home) August 5th - 3pm
Leicester City may also play a friendly at Edgar Street, and there is still one free Saturday - 12th August, a week before the start of the league season.

June 11th:
CONFERENCE TV ACTION COULD SOON BE FOR REAL - TV coverage of the Conference could soon be a reality if recommendations by the Football Taskforce are to be implemented. The government may action on the suggestion that the Conference and leagues below should get more money from TV deals. The new Premier League television contracts may be worth £2 billion, and around 5% should be given to amateur and non-league football. Nationwide, sponsors of the Conference, are eager for more exposure for the league, and Live and recorded coverage of the game would go a long way to doing that.

Training ground - The club has loaned Belmont Abbey for £80 a week, according to HUISA. The Supporters Association will help to fund the facility.

Council now maintain pitch - Herefordshire Council Commercial Services now maintain the Edgar Street pitch, and is very good value. Colin Oliver is now free to do other tasks around the stadium.

One down, one to go! - One of the trees has died behind the Meadow End, but the other is still going strong.

June 14th:
ONE IN - BUT ONE POSSIBLY OUT OF EDGAR STREET - Matt Gardner, the Halesowen defender, has joined Hereford United on a free transfer on the Bosman Ruling. However, one of United's stars could be on his way out. A central defender, Gardner has been influencial in the Halesowen team and has joined the club following John Snape, Steve Piearce and Robin Elmes from the Grove. Full details haven't yet been released but it looks as if he will be full-time. More news on Gardner later. Rumours have been heard (again!) about Gavin Williams moving to Luton. Meanwhile, former United midfielder Mark Taylor has signed up for Nuneaton Borough.

June 15th:
GARDINER MOVE COMPLETED - MORE DETAILS KNOWN - Matt Gardiner (not Gardner as this site had originally said), the Halesowen Town central defender, has joined Hereford United on a free transfer on the Bosman Ruling. Gardiner signs on a part-time contract, and follows former Yeltz teammates John Snape, Robin Elmes, Steve Piearce and Stuart Evans, now at Hednesford Town, into Edgar Street. However, Graham Turner has announced that he expects more incoming transfers at Hereford throughout the year, and there is room in the budget after Andrew Quy, John Cotterill, Mark Taylor and Paul Fewings were all released back in May. Taylor is now at Nuneaton, whilst Fewings has signed up for Conference newcomers Boston United.

June 17th:
NO FOSTER RETURN - NO KENILWORTH ROAD FOR GAV - Rumours that Adrian Foster is to rejoin the club and Gavin Williams was on his way to Luton Town have been thrown away as rubbish by the club. Foster, the Bulls top scorer in both 1996/97 and 1997/98moved to Rushden on a free transfer that summer, but it was thought that Graham Turner could be interested in resigning him after he was available for free from Yeovil Town.

However, it was announced yesterday that no approach had been made for the striker. Gavin Williams, one of Hereford United's brightest youngsters, was also rumoured to be on the move. Reports suggested that second division Luton Town were to make an approach for him, but no bid has been received by Hereford United as yet. However, it is understood that Hatters' manager Lennie Lawrence is a great admirer of Gavin Williams.

June 21st:
THREE IN TALKS WITH TURNER TODAY - Hereford United have revealed that they are in talks with three players today. Any signings will be announced by the club later, and it is hoped that one of the players will be a midfielder, and another will be a goalkeeper as backup for Scott Cooksey.

June 22nd:
NO DEALS ANNOUNCED YET BY CLUB - After negotiations on Wednesday with three players, Hereford United have yet to reveal if any have signed for the club. It was hoped that any signings will be announced by the club on late Wednesday, but nothing has yet been heard. If any deals are announced, it is hoped that one of the players will be a midfielder, and another will be a goalkeeper as backup for Scott Cooksey. More information to follow as and when it becomes available.

UNITED COULD SECURE EDGAR STREET FUTURE - The Hereford Times has revealed that after talks between Graham Turner, Chelverton Properties and the BS Stadiums Group that Hereford United are likely to stay at Edgar Street.

Graham Turner announced : "We are all optimistic that something can be worked out and it is appearing now that the club's future could be at Edgar Street. Repayments of loans to the developers are required by May 2003. But if things are moving on by then I am sure that the future of the club can be safeguarded."

The poor financial situation of the club was pushing the club out of town, so the Edgar Street site could be sold for development. However, any redevelopment is not yet on the council agenda. Terry James, City Councillor, said that the proposals are not yet ready to go to the planning committee. "We need to differentiate between discussions and decisions," he said. However, the deal is still a council commitment.
The earliest opportunity to discuss the matter will be on July 23rd at the finances meeting, but the matter won't be on the programme.

Tory Councillor Phillips said : "I am disappointed by the leader's response to my request, I still feel there should be discussions and consultations with the public on this important development."
The deadline for plans is December 2000.

June 24th:

Hereford United boss Graham Turner went down a well worn path when he persuaded Halesowen Town's versatile Matt Gardiner to join him at Edgar Street reports the Sports Argus.

Turner has plundered the Grove in recent times to take Matt Clarke, Rob Elmes, John Snape and Steve Piearce.

Turner claimed: 'I had good reports about Gardiner. He's a utility defender who can also play in midfield and was very keen to join us when approached.'

Gardiner joins Hereford on a part-time basis and will train during the week with Snape and Elmes at Oldbury United.

Turner added: 'We did start training at Hereford on a Thursday night, but I found that it was taking more out of the senior professionals. So they will continue to train at Oldbury under John Morris.'

Turner will also be looking for a big return from hit-man Steve Piearce. The injury-prone striker is now fully recovered and the Hereford boss claims:

'I'm now looking for him to reproduce the form that made him such a hit at Halesowen. He owes us a few goals at the moment.'

Turner hopes to clinch several more signings within the next two weeks - all of which will be on a full time basis.

Turner added: 'We're much more settled this season. I've only brought in Matt Gardiner so far, most of the squad have stayed together. There's more continuity about us this time.'

At present, Turner is still waiting to hear what sort of side Leicester City will send to Edgar Street for a pre-season friendly.

Turner built-up a good rapport with Martin O'Neill during their epic FA Cup clashes last season - during which time O'Neill agreed to send his first team to Hereford.

O'Neill has since moved onto Celtic and Turner was waiting to talk with new boss Peter Taylor.

Turner said: 'We shall definitely play them - it's just a question of what side they will send.'

Hereford have already arranged home matches with Aston Villa, Shrewsbury Town and Oxford United, while they will visit Oldbury United, Moor Green, Halesowen Town and Chasetown.

June 26th:
Club shop changed - Jane Griffiths will take over the running of the shop for the new season, and it will now be open for three days of the week including matchdays. More changes are expected, and the shop has been completely renovated and painted.

June 29th:
TWO DIRECTORS QUIT BOARD TO ALLOW LOCALS IN - Tristam Richmond-Sterry and Sam Lodh has quit the Hereford United board. Both have been members since the summer of 1998 and helped Graham Turner with the legal side of the club as they are both solicitors. Graham Turner told the Hereford Times "Both have worked tremendously hard with the reorganisation of the club since they took over. They have always been very welcome in the boardroom but they felt it was now appropriate to step down and allow local people onto the board." One new director should be appointed on July 17th at a board meeting, with HLB Kidsons' Hugh Brooks likely to be named.

New signings expected soon - Graham Turner is hoping to add two new players to the HUFC squad, with a midfielder and a player/coach expected to sign. Graham Turner said: "I hope to get a midfielder by the end of the week and a player-coach in seven to 10 days."

Dodge now a physio - Ian Rodgerson has passed his FA Physiotherapy examination, and is now officially a physio at the club with Simon Thompson.