April 1999

April 3rd:

MORECAMBE 1 Hereford 0: (report form various sources)

The sad slide goes on for Hereford United.

Hereford paid the price for missed chances in which skipper Ian Wright should have put the visitors in front on a couple of occasions and then disaster struck with an own goal from substitute Matthew Cross.

After Quy had sharply palmed away an effort from Gardner, the ball rebounded back off the legs of the defender to roll back into his own goal from four yards out

The teenager could do little but shake his head in disbelief.

In truth, Morecambe did enough to win the game and they should have extended their advantage, but wasted a host of second-half chances with Darren Lyons being the main offender

April 5th:

HEREFORD 4 Forest Green 0 (report by Peter Povall)

Based on the first half performance, United looked to be heading for another defeat or no-score-draw at best.

United were the better side by failed to find the final touch required to stick the ball in the back of the net on most of their attacks. Ball after ball carried straight through to the Forest Green keeper.

Robbie Dennison was the first to make any real effort on goal when a poor clearance from Forest struck the referee and dropped nicely for Dennison to blast high over the bar from the edge of the area.

Moments later and Gavin Williams rounded a defender before sending a weak drive towards goal. This was collected easily by the Forest Green keeper.

United maintained some pressure while fending off the occasional attack towards their own goal. Midway through the first period and Forest did well to maintain a clean sheet as two successive shots were palmed away.

Just before the break Forest Green came close to breaking the deadlock when a neat little turn on the edge of the area produced a chance which was sent just wide with Andy Quy beaten.

The second period was a totally different game. I don't know what happened in the dressing room but the entire squad came out looking for the points.

Ten minutes in and John Snape headed a long ball down onto the line which Gavin Williams chased into the net. Snape claimed the goal and Williams didn't argue.

Then just three minutes later and Gary Cook received a ball to his feet in the middle of the area. He controlled the ball well before turning on the spot to fire it past Forest's diving keeper.

Ian Wright came close to adding a third when he received a free-kick which he sent just inches wide of the post.

Forest Green never looked like recovering from the deficit. In the closing minutes of the match United saw their chance to work on the goal-difference and continued to push forward. This tactic occassionally left them open at the back but the speed on Evans and Williams came into its own as they quickly caught and recovered any sray balls.

Stuart Evans was next onto the score-sheet with his first goal for the club. A powerful shot from a tight angle struck the keeper hard at the near post before rebounding into the net. Maybe this could be called an own-goal but I certainly credit Evans with it.

The icing on the cake came in the dying second on injury time. United gained a corner which Paul Parry went over to take. The crowd were calling for Ian Wright who was only just walking past the halfway line as Parry reaching the flag. With no-one marking him, Wright picked up his pace and moved straight for the back post as Parry hit a great ball in.

The rest was a classic Ian Wright header at the back post with the keeper well out of contention.

A good performance in the second half and we should be safe from the drop zone now. I would also hope that we can collect another few points before the end of the season.

April 8th:

HEREFORD 2 Kingstonian 0 (report compiled from various sources)

Hereford United gained their 13th Nationwide Conference win of the season when they beat FA Umbro Trophy semi-finalists Kingstonians 2-0 at Edgar Street and they almost certainly ensured that they would remain in the Nationwide Conference for a further season.

The first 20 minutes of the match were classic Sunday League stuff. Neither side seemed to be making much progress towards goal and plenty of "hoof" tactics were being used.

Hereford were the first to show any real pressure when Gavin Williams broke through on the Kingstonian goal. He was stopped by Nyamah with a felling tackle. The referee pointed immediately to the spot.

After some deliberation, Gavin Williams stepped forward himself to take the penalty. His concentration was being tested though as the ball refused to remain on the spot. Eventually the shot was hammered into the left corner of the net.

This goal really picked the pace of the game up. Within five minutes Paul Parry was denied by and excellent save from John from a tight angle.

United continually applied pressure for the remainder of the first period and were rewarded just seconds before the break when Ian Rodgerson had a dig from all of 35-yards out. The ball bounced at least once before reaching the Kingstonian keeper who was beaten.

The second period had the crowd wondering if the team would throw away another 2-0 lead for the fourth time this season.

Thankfully, United didn't throw this one away and looked stronger during the second period.

Robbie Dennison finally showed some committment, in which he has been sadly lacking this season, and gave the Kingstonian midfield some real problems.

Mark Taylor came close to extending the lead when he connected with a Dennison cross on the edge of the 6-yard box. The header travelling just over the bar.

Paul Parry also came close towards the end of the match after an excellent ball released him for a one-on-one with the advancing keeper. His shot curled just away from the top corner of the net.

The reduced crowd of 1,288 were in good spirits as they left and thank you to the 35 travelling Kingstonian fans who were load enough to be heard singing.

GRAHAM Turner has been able to confirm that the BS Group have deferred payment of their £500,000 loan and interest due this May says the Hereford Times.

Pending ratification by their board, the loan will not be repayable until May 2002 and the interest will be capped from 1st May and rolled into the principal sum.

Meanwhile Hereford United's left-side 18-year-old player Paul Parry will spend the first three days on next week training with First Division Huddersfield Town.
Tony James was also invited to join him but this week has been nursing an ankle injury. United director of football Graham Turner said: "It will be good experience for Paal and probably Gavin Williams will also go along with him."

Both will be on duty tonight for the Bulls' Nationwide Conference home game with Kingstonian. If Garry Cook recovers from a shin injury, Turner is expected to field the side which beat Forest Green 4-0 on Monday.

Defender Matt Clarke will need more time to recover from a groin injury and will not play again this season, but Paul Fewings is hopeful of being back in action before the end of the campaign.

Monday's victory boosted United players' pay packets as they will share £1,200. Director Mike Hancocks and an anonymous vice-president have undertaken to give £200 to the team for each point they collect until the end of the season.

April 10th:

HEREFORD United heaved a collective sigh of relief after two wins in four days ended any relegation anxiety.

The Bulls' free-fall since the turn of the year had left them heading into the danger zone but comfortable wins over FA Umbro Trophy semi-finalists Forest Green Rovers and Kingstonian into mid-table safety.

While Graham Turner and his players would have been far happier to have been involved at the top of the table, skipper Ian Rodgerson admitted: "It has lifted a weight off our shoulders."

Rodgerson netted the decisive second goal in the 2-0 win over Kingstonian in Thursday's match, firing in a 25-yard sizzler.

Ironically, it was his first goal of the season but he quipped: "I always get one a season - I might surprise everyone and get another before the season ends!"

The goal now for the Bulls is to end a season of torment with a flourish.

"It would be nice to finish in he top ten after all the problems we've had this season," said the former Blues and Cardiff man. "When you are having to sell your players to pay the bills it's unsettling."

Hereford's teenage striker Paul Parry could be on his way to a Division One club for a trial spell.

The 18-year-old, promoted form the Edgar Street youth set-up earlier in the campaign, has scored four goals this season and a number of Nationwide League clubs have been tracking his progress.

Bulls chief Graham Turner said: "There has been interest in Paul from the First Division and having discussed the matter briefly with the club concerned we wouldn't be adverse to the idea of him going.

"The training invitiation will give Paul experience and certainly assist his progress."

April 15th:

HEREFORD United Independent Supporters Association will hold a fans' forum at the Legends Bar this Monday at 8pm when all club supporters will be welcome according to the Hereford Times.

HUISA chairman Richard Tomkins said: "When we arranged it we thought United might still be in danger of relegation but, thankfully, that is no longer the case. We will be asking club chairman and director of football Graham Turner about his plans for the future and HUISA will be doing everything they can to help the club."

HUISA's player-of-the-year function will be held at the Legends Bar on Saturday, April 24 at 8pm. A few tickets are still available at £5 and can be obtained from the Legends Bar or committee members.

Turner has voiced his complaints to the Nationwide Conference about the way they have arranged their fixtures this season. He said: "From December to March only five of our 14 Conference games were at home and now, at the end of the season, six of our final eight matches have been or will be at home. A few have been caused by re-arrangements but overall it has been bad fixture planning and has not helped our cash flow."

April 15th:

THE Hereford Times says that now safe from relegation Hereford United can still have a say as to whether Welling United, who visit Edgar Street on Saturday, retain their Nationwide Conference place.

With four games left, Welling are lying third from bottom, three points adrift of Barrow who are immediately above them in the table.

Hereford will not be giving the Wings any quarter, however, as they have yet to beat them in the Conference. Last season Welling completed a double over the Bulls and the clubs drew 2-2 at Park View Road in August.

Striker Christian Roberts has returned to Cardiff City after his loan period at Edgar Street but otherwise, United director of football Graham Turner should be able to field the squad which beat Kingstonian 2-0 last Thursday.

Garry Cook is having treatment for a shin injury but he should be fit to take his place in the line-up.

But hopes that Paul Fewings, who has been on the injured list since September, might be fit enough to get a game before the end of the season, have not been realised.

Teenagers Paul Parry and Gavin Williams should return refreshed from a training stint with First Division Huddersfield Town this week. Turner said: "Both Paul and Gavin have shown great promise this season and the invitation to train with Huddersfield will add to their expertise and future development."

Commenting on the current season, Turner said: "We were concerned that we might have to fight a relegation battle but the wins over Forest Green Rovers and Kingstonian saw us out of trouble. We knew financially it would be a hard season but we have come through it and must now look to the future."

With a view to team building for next season, United are giving trials to young players who have been released by FA Premiership and Nationwide Football League clubs.

Turner has already fielded some in Central Conference games and those who show promise are likely to be invited to play in some of the reserves' remaining games.

The reserves still have a chance to bring some silverware to the club. They are in the Doxhill Cup final and will meet the winners of the tie between Bromsgrove Rovers and Stoke City.

April 17th:

HUDDERSFIELD Town have invited back Hereford United teenagers Paul Parry and Gavin Williams for a trial game.

The 19-year-old attacking midfielders spent three days training with the Division One side early this week and the Terriers were sufficiently impressed to ask the Bulls to allow them to play in their reserves against Newcastle United.

Home-grown duo Parry and Williams, who have both come through the ranks, had a low-key practice match outing for Huddersfield during their spell.

Hereford chief Graham Turner is happy to let the youngsters return - and hinted there might be a link-up between the two clubs in the future.

Turner, who collected the youngsters from the impressive McAlpine Stadium on Wednesday, said: "The general opinion was that the boys had done well. They played against a Greek touring side and Huddersfield won 2-1, with Gavin scoring one of the goals.

"What Huddersfield want to do now is to invite the boys back to play in a reserves game in the final week of the season when they play Newcastle.

"That's not a problem. I think it would be a great experience for the two lads to go and test their ability against Premiership players and Premiership fringe players.

"I'm delighted to let them go up and play."

Williams and Parry have both graduated from Hereford's own Centre of Excellence, making their names this season with Parry hitting four goals and Williams six.

Ironically, cash-strapped Hereford's enforced sale of players has enabled the youngsters to get their chances in the first team.

Turner knows selling on players is how a club like Hereford has to work to survive, but he is hoping the days of selling their best players cheaply to pay bills might be over.

Meanwhile, Hereford have bid farewell to striker Christian Roberts, who has returned to Cardiff City after his loan spell.

Roberts hit two goals in seven appearances in his month at Edgar Street.

HEREFORD United 0 Welling 0 (report by Peter Povall)

With Hereford now save from relegation this season and Welling still fighting to stay up I expected a battling sort of match. What the crowd were treated to was nearer a Sunday League match.

There were moments of excellence but the game was never going to provide any real entertainment value.

Welling made the early running when Ugbah broke through a huge hole in Herefords defence to fire wide of the target.

Paul Parry then provide Welling with the majority of their problems. With Wellings big defenders blocking the direct approach to goal, Parry found that "skinning" them in the corners and placing crosses into the box was by far the best approach.

Within five minutes Parry sent in two excellent balls. Gavin Williams failed to connect with the first at the near post and Garry Cook the second at the back post.

The biggest problem Hereford faced was the referee. He first missed a blatent "handball" in the box. Taylor was inside the area and turned to fire a cross into the box. Before it got anywhere near a Welling arm appeared to bring the ball down.

Further poor decisions included over-ruling the linesman when a ball was judged to have gone out of play even though it hadn't. Having placed doubt in the linemans mind, the next time the ball goes out of play he looked to the linesman for the decision even though the linesman didn't have a good view of the play.

That aside, Hereford continued to pressure the Welling defence again and again by using Parry on the wings.

Both Williams and Cook came close to scoring again before the end. Welling even managed to clear 3 balls of the goalline.

Not much can be expected for the rest of the season. With Rushden visiting next week and then the final match away at Woking. I'll be glad to see the back of this season and hope we can start building for the future right now.

April 20th:

JUNIOR BULL ACTION GROUP

Sponsored Walk
The sponsored walk is supported well at the moment we have 20+ people walking and we expect to raise £500-£1,000! If anyone else wants to join in then they can contact me on jamie@footballmail.com or sign up in the club office.

24hr Football Marathon 2-3rd May
The 24hr Football has been promised £2,500 so far and we expect to make £3,000 but we need your support! It starts at 12 noon on sunday the 2nd May and will go through the whole 24hr's. The gym will be open for people to sleep or rest and Legends will be open for the whole 24hr's with a live band! There will be a raffle and fun fines will be emposed for swearing, not being drunk at the bar! and loads more! Anyone wishing to help sell tickets or referee etc contact me on jamie@footballmail.com There will be a collection made inside and outside the ground this saturday to go towards the 24hr football, please donate kindly!

April 24th:

GRAHAM Turner will be searching for an experienced player with an ambition to be a manager as he plots his summer changes at Hereford United reports the Sports Argus.

Turner, the Bulls chairman and director of football, has also been looking after the players day-to-day following the exit of Keith Downing two months ago. Downing accepted the youth team coach's post at Wolves.

While Turner, the former Villa, Wolves and Shrewsbury boss, admits he has enjoyed swopping his boardroom suit for his tracksuit, he accepts he needs to fill the gap left by Downing's departure.

And he hopes the attraction of a back-room role might prove a trump card in the search for an assistant.

With pro clubs preparing to announce their retained lists, it could be that some would-be coaches find themselves looking for the opportunity that Hereford can provide

"There is a vacancy for a player-coach or a player-team manager and we are hoping it might be a means of us attracting a better quality experienced player," revealed Turner.

"The priority will be on the playing side more than the coaching. But if there is a player who wants to get involved on the first step of the coaching ladder then it might suit all parties."

Meanwhile, teenagers Paul Perry and Gavin Williams will be heading up to Huddersfield tomorrow for the second stage of their bid for a dream move into the Football League.

The 19-year-old attacking midfielders, who have both graduated from the Bulls' own Centre of Excellence, impressed in a three-day training stint last week and will now figure for Huddersfield's reserves next Wednesday.

The opposition at the McAlpine Stadium could not be more attractive, with Huddersfield entertaining FA Cup finalists Newcastle United.

Turner added: "It will be a terrific experience for both players and they will be able to test their abilities against some of the best players in the game."

HEREFORD United 3 Rushden 2 (report by Peter Povall)

United finished their home season with an excellent victory over Rushden & Diamonds.
The match started with Rushden taking most of the possession and brought their weight to bear upon United who looked like a typical side with nothing to play for at the end of the season.

It was some 20 minutes before United managed to pressure the Rushden goal. The shot was easily collected by the keeper.

The first half is best forgotten with the only interesting point being when Cooper met a Collins cross and headed powefully into the back of the net.

The second half offered a completely different performance from United. The took the game to Rushden and applied almost constant pressure.

Ian Wright brought United level with an excellent header at the back post from a Mark Taylor free kick. I continually amazes me as to why defenders don't mark Wright better when placed in this easy scoring position.

Steve Cowe gave United the lead just 5 minutes later. The goal came almost from nowhere. Cowe collected the ball and two defenders on the edge of the area. A neat little tap away and a turning drive fired a curling shot high into the net and around the outstretched fingers of Collett.

United were picking up the pace again as the third goal came from Gavin Williams. Williams collected a clearance inside the United half and set off back towards the Rushden goal.

He beat two a total of five players before reaching the edge of the area and had easy access to Paul Parry square to his left. Williams opted to go it alone though and once clearing the last defender he drilled a shot past the diving Collect from at least 15 yards out.

United then did their regular stunt of sitting back on the game for a moment and conceeded a goal against the run of play.

Rushden broke away down the right and sent in a great cross which Collins headed cleanly past Quy to a late consolation goal.

Without a doubt, if Hereford had been able to provide this sort of performance over the Christmas period we would have been a contender for promotion.

Nevertheless, we are still in the Conference and must look to rise again next year. After all, its in the Club moto...

April 29th:

HEREFORD United director of football and chairman Graham Turner and company secretary Joan Fennessy spent most of Sunday in Safeway's car park selling tickets for the club's Drop-a-Pat, Win-a-Car draw. Joan said: "It was well worth the effort. We sold £970 worth of tickets." Supporters have also been selling tickets in Maylord Orchards on Saturdays.

The winner of the star prize, a T-registered Renault Clio Grande, supplied by Overross Garage, will be decided by champion Hereford Bull Freetown Kudos at Edgar Street on Sunday, May 9 at 1pm. Each £10 ticket will buy square on the pitch and the one nearest to which Freetown Kudos will deposit a pat will collect a car.

Tickets can be bought from the club offices or club shop and also at the ground on the day of the drop. Before the match a Hereford United Independent Supporters XI will play United, kick-off 11am. So keen are some supporters to play - and hopefully impress Turner enough to earn a contract for next season - that they pledged a total of £1,500 in an auction for a place in HUISA's side at Saturday's Player-of-the-Year evening!

HUISA have 400 paid-up members and there were 25 nominations for their Supporter-of-the-Year award. It resulted in a three-way tie between the retiring Talking Bull fanzine co-editors, Nigel Preece and Elaine Harrison, and HUISA secretary and United liaison committee secretary, Penny Bayliss.

The last 12 months have been the most threatening to United's existence since 1982 and HUISA have played a vital role in keeping the club alive. Chairman Richard Tomkins said: "We have supplied funds in support of the team and, whether the club lives or dies, HUISA members can say 'We tried.'"

IT was a day of financial help for Hereford United when they met Rushden & Diamonds for their final home match of the season reports the Hereford Times.

As well as receiving sponsorship from Sun Valley, United were boosted by the Hereford Junior Bulls' sponsored walk which has raised well over £1,000.

A contingent of 20, 14 starting on a 14-mile trek from Ledbury and six from Tarrington, made the way to Edgar Street where they did a circuit of the ground before the match.

The Junior Bulls co-ordinator Jane Griffiths said: "We have banked £1,260 and still have more money to come in. The ages of the walkers ranged from seven to over 60. The youngest was Chris Davies who started at Tarrington and was accompanied part of the way by his father and by his grandfather. We are going to give him a special treat.

"We would also like to thank the Rushden supporters, quite a few of whom always travel to their last away match of the season in fancy dress. They very generously contributed to, and helped with, the bucket collection around the ground."

HEREFORD United central defender Ian Wright was awarded the club's Player-on-the-Year trophy at a well attended presentation evening organised by Hereford United Independent Supporters Association at the Legends Bar on Saturday.

Signed on a free transfer from Hull City at the start of the season, 27-year-old Wright has missed only a handful of games this campaign and is currently United's top scorer with eight goals.

The Leominster Shield, originally an award presented by the Leominster branch of the now defunct Official Supporters Club, went to another defender, 20-year-old Tony James, who came to Edgar Street last summer from West Bromwich Albion.

United director of football Graham Turner, who presented the trophies, thanked the fans for sticking with the club through thick and thin in a difficult season.

SUN Valley Foods have agreed to sponsor Hereford United for the seventh successive year reports the Hereford Times.

Sun Valley director Howard Brookman handed over a cheque for £30,000 to Graham Turner, the club's chairman and director of football, before the match with Rushden & Diamonds at Edgar Street on Saturday.

The one-year sponsorship deal is one of the largest for a club outside the Nationwide Football League.

Brookman, a Bulls supporter, said: "Hereford United is an important part of the community and we have had an excellent relationship with them over the years. The club has had a difficult time over the past three years and we hope that our continued support will help get them back on their feet."

Turner commented: "The future of the club would have been pretty bleak without the backing of Sun Valley. So we are delighted that Hereford's largest employer has continued its sponsorship of the team."

United's finances will also be boosted if, as expected, their former midfielder Gavin Mahon makes his 30th first-team appearance for Third Division Brentford against Exeter City this Saturday. This will trigger the final £10,000 payment of the £90,000 transfer deal Turner negotiated when Mahon moved to Griffin Park.

Turner would like to see the season end on a high note with the Bulls completing their Nationwide Conference fixtures at Woking this Saturday. He said: "We also ended last campaign at Woking and were beaten 3-1, so we will be aiming to do better this time."

Full-back Chris Lane is available after a one-match suspension but striker Gary Cook is injured.

Turner will have to decide which players to offer new contracts. Andy Quy, Lane, Paul Parry, Gavin Williams, Matt Clarke and Tony James are all on two-year deals, while player-if-the-year Ian Wright has been offered a new contract.

HUISA are prepared to help finance a package for Wright but Turner said: "Ian is keeping his options open."

Ian Rodgerson, who is in the throes of qualifying as a physiotherapist, will look after the treatment of the squad's injuries, as well as continuing as a player.