Feb 1996

Feb 9th:

FOOTBALL legend Ricky George has been questioned by detectives investigating a multi-million- pound fashion goods fraud.

George, who scored the winning goal for non-league Hereford in a 1972 FA Cup tie against First Division giants Newcastle, is on the board of a sports clothing business, the Bury Hill Group.

Police say the fraud, uncovered in November, is likely to be handed over to the Serious Fraud Office.

The scam began when the American Timberland company took a £4.3 million order from a British-based firm for shoes, sweatshirts and coats.

Payment was to be made via letters of credit issued by a London merchant bank. The goods were distributed from Timberland UK's Surrey headquarters last summer via a network of companies to shops all over Britain.

But when Timberland tried to cash the credit letters they found they had been obtained using forged documents. A large part of the consignment has been recovered, but thousands more items have been sold.

Mr George volunteered to be questioned by Surrey police. Several other men have been questioned and police are searching for a former senior employee of Timberland UK who is believed to have left the country.

A CID source said: "Mr George has been questioned but he has not been arrested. The matter is now likely to be taken over by the Serious Fraud Office."

Feb 13th:

LINCOLN City 2 Hereford United 1

Feb 17th:

JAMIE Pitman (mid-fielder) joins the Bulls from Swindon. Stuart Watkiss (defender) Walsall to Hereford after falling out of favour with manager Chris Nicholl.

Pitman was Bulls scout Ron Jukes first signing for Hereford United. Jukes had been asked by manager Graham Turner to bring 'some football expertise and a friendly face' to Edgar Street. They had previously worked together at Shrewsbury Town.

My first involvement in a signing for Hereford United was that of busy blonde teenage midfielder Jamie Pitman who was on the 'open to offers' list at Swindon and whom I had seen playing for Scarborough reserves at Walsall whilst he was on trial at the Yorkshire club.
Feb 17th:

GILLINGHAM 1 Hereford 1

Steve Castle's super strike capped his sparkling debut for Gills reports the Birmingham Post.

The on-loan star hit the equaliser 10 minutes into the second half, hammering a drive past keeper Chris Mackenzie from 25 yards out.

It was more than they deserved after an inept display. The runaway leaders were in low-key mood, offering up a catalogue of misplaced passes and ill-judged tackles in the first half.

So it was no surprise when skipper Dean Smith drilled a shot past keeper Jim Stannard to give Hereford a 32nd minute lead.

And even after Castle's strike Hereford might have regained the lead when Steve White's effort came back off the woodwork and Gary Pick headed the rebound wide.

Feb 20th:

HEREFORD United 1 Chester City 0 

Chester never looked like winning in one of their worst performances of the season at a frosty Edgar Street. And they were hit by a sucker punch when veteran Hereford striker Steve White capitalised on slack defending.

Feb 24th:

CHRIS Hargreaves (forward) West Bromwich to Hereford on loan.

HEREFORD 0 Scarborough 0 (report from the Sunday Mirror)

Hereford United can count themselves lucky to have increased their unbeaten run to eight games at Edgar Street.

Only two excellent saves from goalkeeper Chris McKenzie in the second half denied Scarborough.

Hereford's on loan striker from WBA Chris Hargreaves was substituted in the 63rd minute following a poor performance.

Hereford's best effort came from their new boy from Walsall Stuart Watkiss who skimmed the crossbar with a 40 yard drive in the first half.

Feb 27th:

PRESTON North End 2 Hereford United 2