March 1999

March 3rd:

COACH Keith Downing is leaving Hereford United to take up a post at Wolverhampton as youth-team coach.

Downing, who played 228 games for Wolves between 1987 and 1993, is taking over from Chris Turner who was last week appointed manager of Hartlepool.

"Keith is an excellent choice for us," said Molineux managing director John Richards. "During his years as a player here, he helped out at the School of Excellence and clearly enjoys coaching young players.

"He is a terrific character, with good experience. I'm sure he will be very popular."

March 4th:

GRAHAM Turner has secured the services of Christian Roberts from Cardiff City for a one month period reports the Hereford Times.

Christian has played in the first team this season and should prove a valuable addition to the squad for the short time that he will be with them.

Turner is also hoping to extend the loan period for Steve Cowe who scored for the Bulls in their defeat at the hands of Morecambe on Tuesday Night.

Meanwhile After a three-and-a-half-years stay at Edgar Street, Hereford United player-coach Keith Downing left the club on Tuesday to join First Division Wolverhampton Wanderers as youth team coach.

Downing, who played 228 games for Wolves between 1987 and 1993, was invited to return to Molineux by Wolves managing-director John Richards as a replacement for Chris Turner, now manager of Hartlepool United.

Downing made 45 Football League appearances for the Bulls but last season a back injury looked to have ended his playing career. This term, however, he made a come-back and has turned out regularly in midfield.

Downing, who was not under contract, was appointed youth team coach in 1997. This season, since director of football Graham Turner became chairman and main shareholder, he has also had to take on a major responsibility for first team training.

Turner said: "It's a bitter blow to lose him as he has done well for us. He has been offered a good package by Wolves and, with the uncertainties of the financial situation at Edgar Street, we can't blame him for leaving.

"At this stage of his career he is also keen on youth coaching and we wish him well."

Turner said he will have to address the question of a replacement quickly but, ideally, would like to leave it until the end of the season.

He said: "We could then see what people are available and decide whether to appoint a coach, player-coach or team manager."

Turner's first priority will be to end the Bulls' run of six games at Edgar Street without a win by beating Telford United in the Nationwide Conference this Saturday. United require another 10 points to make sure of keeping out of the relegation zone and badly need to defeat Telford who are lying fourth from bottom.

On Tuesday Hereford will face a tough task to get any reward from their visit to title favourites Cheltenham Town who won 2-0 at Edgar Street last month.

United are hoping to have a look at Boldmere St Michael's top scorer Neil Kitching in a Central Conference match against Bromsgrove Rovers this week but the game was called off because of a waterlogged pitch.

Finally from the paper Hereford United FC's preferential creditors' claims, under the Company Voluntary Arrangement agreed a year ago, should be discharged in full this month.

The CVA supervisor, Neil Hickling, of Birmingham chartered accountants Smith and Williamson, also anticipates discharging the proposed distribution of 40p in the £1 to non-preferential unsecured creditors.

The supervisor cannot make distibution to non-preferential creditors until the preferential creditors' claims have been discharged in full and this is what has been holding up the implementation of the CVA.

Following a recent inspection of the club's books, preferential creditor HM Customs and Excise have increased their claim which should now have been confirmed.

March 6th:

HEREFORD United chief Graham Turner swopped his business suit for his track-suit to return to the coaching ground this week.

The exit of player-coach Keith Downing to become youth team coach at Wolves left Turner, who also has to look after the financial side as chairman, relishing the chance to work with the players.

But the Bulls' boss and owner says the next week or so will determine whether he can continue the coaching side or whether the Conference side will look to appoint a new face.

Turner admits it would be the sort of job to tempt veteran players coming out of the League, but it might have come up eight weeks too soon.

"I would have liked to have left the options open until the end of season," Turner told the Sports Argus.

"I think that when the list of players that have been handed free transfers starts to circulate the chance to take on a coaching role or management position would be an incentive.

"But we will have to see how the situation develops in the next week or so."

Senior player and skipper Ian Rodgerson is already helping out alongside Turner.

The one-time Blues, Cardiff and Sunderland player has taken on responsibility to help injured players during their rehabilitation programmes as part of his hands-on approach towards gaining physiotherapy experience.

But Turner is aware that his attention must be focused on the team after their nightmare slide down the table.

A run of just one win in 1999 has sounded the alarm bells and straight-speaking Turner warned that the Bulls are far from safe.

They kicked off against fellow strugglers Telford today with an eight-point gap between them and the bottom three,

"We need to get some points quickly," he said. "We could be sucked into the relegation dog-fight if we are not careful."

MEANWHILE Turner has several injury problems ahead of today's game. Skipper Ian Rodgerson is still struggling with a calf problem, centre-back Tony James has groin trouble and Robbie Dennison, Turner's long-serving winger at Wolves, is doubtful with a chest infection.

HEREFORD United 0 Telford 0 (report by Peter Povall)

A generally poor performance by both Hereford and Telford resulted in a goal-less draw at Edgar Street today.

Hereford had the majority of possession but failed to capitalise on it most of the time.

Paul Parry came close after 9 minutes when a well struck shot hit the bar before the rebound was cleared.

Christian Roberts also had an effort stopped on the line by Telford keeper Williams just before the break.

The second half was much the same. The quality of play was not great. Christian Roberts and Steve Cowe both played well and Paul Parry gained "Man-of-the-Match" for his efforts. Hereford's biggest downfall was their lack of vision. Roberts and Cowe read the game well but no-one else could, leaving a lot of chances going un-used.

Tony James fluffed by far the best chance of the match in the closing minutes when he dived to head home a cross at the back post. The ball bounced before reaching the keeper and was cleared by a waiting defender. The attempted style of the finish was completely un-necessary. James could have finished the chance with any part of his body except his head.

Altogether another poor result which gives us another single point. With the closing matches of the season still requiring us to meet Cheltenham, Rushden, Woking amongst other, I cannot see where the points are going to come from.

AFTER the game which was watched by just 1592, the lowest gate at Edgar Street so far this season, Graham Turner commented: "We were much more positive than we were at Doncaster. We had the better chances and Steve Cowe should have clinched it from Christian Roberts cross. In the first half Paul Parry hit the bar."

March 9th:

CHELTENHAM 2 Hereford United 2 (report from Hereford Times)

Hereford United revived the flagging spirits of their supporters with a battling point at Nationwide Conference favourite Cheltenham Town last night.

Despite the late, and rather fortunate, nature of their leveller, there was no doubt that the Bulls deserved to hold the home side, for whom this was surely just a minor hiccup on their way to the title.

Their manager, Steve Cotterell, was naturally disappointed to see two points slip from his grasp, but was honest enough to admit: "I'm not too sure we deserved a draw."

Hereford boss Graham Turner was understandably delighted with his side, who fought back from losing experienced-backs Ian Wright and Stuart Evans with calf strains during the game to finish with seven players under the age of 21 on the field.

It seemed as though it was going to be the same old story five minutes from the break when, after Hereford had had the better of play, Gavin Williams failed with a great chance, heading a Mark Taylor cross straight at Steve Book when a goal looked likely.

The ball immediately went down to the other end of the field and Jamie Victory lashed it past Andy Quy to give the Robins the lead.

But Hereford fought back and were on level terms within 30 seconds when Taylor slipped a free-kick to Christian Roberts on the edge of the area and the Cardiff City youngster turned away from his marker, made ground and smashed the ball past Steve Book.

After a quiet period of play at the start of the second half, Cheltenham introduced their new signing from Macclesfield, Neil Howarth, on 58 minutes and sent ex-Bulls defender John Brough up to lead the attack.

The move paid off within three minutes when Brough rounded Wright and shot low past Quy into the bottom corner of the net.

After 76 minutes, Wright was withdrawn and Ian Rodgerson came on for his 200th appearance in United colours, but the game seemed to be slipping away until, 30 seconds into injury time, veteran Clive Walker, under pressure from Roberts, steered the ball into his own net to give Hereford their point.

March 11th:

BOYS who are aged 15 before next August 1 are being invited to attend trials for places in Hereford United's youth team next season with a view to achieving a YTS place after they leave school in May 2000. The standard required is high and anyone interested should write to Andy Smart at HUFC, Edgar Street, Hereford, HR4 9JU with details, of playing achievements, a contact telephone number and, preferably a letter of support from a manager or coach.

Mar 11th:

THE Hereford Times says that Referee Paul Armstrong has reported Hereford United to the Football Association for a couple of off-the-pitch incidents during their Nationwide Conference match against Cheltenham Town at Edgar Street last month which the title favourites won 2-0.

After the match former Bulls' player David Norton alleged that he had been spat at and missiles thrown at him.

United director of football Graham Turner said: "We are in the process of compiling our reply to the FA. I would hope that our previous good behaviour and our explanations of the incidents will warrant nothing more than a monitoring of the situation."

Turner has also received reports from spectators of some instances of bad language and racial abuse.

"While we know that bad language will never be totally cut out - it now occurs fairly regularly on TV - racial abuse will not be tolerated at Edgar Street," he said.

Meanwhile Hereford United will collect a further £15,000 from the transfer of Gavin Mahon to Third Division Brentford last November. The Bulls are due the latest instalment from the £90,000 package deal as Mahon made his 20th appearance for the Bees when they beat Peterborough 3-0 on Tuesday. Mahon scored one of the goals.
On-loan striker from Swindon Town Steve Cowe finishes his first months loan to Hereford on Saturday when they visit Yeovil Town in the Nationwide Conference.

Mar 11th:

HEREFORD United (1939) Limited and its subsidiaries' accounts for the year ending May 31, 1998, show the club lost £194,450. This compared with a loss of £262,844 the previous year but the overall deficit rose to £1,179,741.

The report states that in the autumn of 1997 the company did not have funds to meet its current liabilities. After additional funding to a maximum of £½million from Formsole (BS Group and Chelverton Properties Ltd, who in May 1998 advanced an interest-free loan to United up to a maximum of £½million, repayable on May 19, 2003), a creditors' voluntary arrangement was approved. Approximately £575,000 of the creditors' amounts of £1,266,849 falling due in 1998, of which £550,000 is the BS Group loan, are included in the CVA.

The BS Group £½million loan, carrying interest of 3½ per cent over Barclays Bank base rate, was due to be repaid on May 31, 1999.

During the year under review United also had to pay the BS Group £50,000 in loan interest. But last month the BS Group agreed not to call in the loan in May and has agreed to freeze the interest payments after the end of the current financial year.

Although wages and salaries were cut from £728,841 to £552,728, relegation from the Football League meant that league basic awards and sponsorship payments fell from £226,336 to £113,358. Gate revenue was £317,850 compared with £372,186 the previous year.

There was a saving of £28,551 on producing, printing and designing the club programme but its sales revenue was reduced by £12,656.

All the company's directors who held office in 1997/98 resigned in June last year.

Mar 12th:

CONTRARY to rumours and articles spread via the web over the last 3 weeks, Graham Turner has now confirmed that he has NOT repeat NOT been approached to re-form an "official" supporters club.

Indeed, he has firmly backed HUISA'S ELECTION 2000 CAMPAIGN and has re-iterated that HUISA will be the only supporters association backed by the club and affiliated to the National Federation of Football Supporters Clubs.

Strengthen the voice of supporters - JOIN HUISA - STAY UNITED.

Now is the "TIME TO BE UNITED".
a) There is no reason why anyone shouldn't join HUISA. We don't bite! Come and strengthen HUISA - BE UNITED

b) Everyone inside or outside HUISA can express their views. We have always been trying to improve communication between HUFC and ALL of its fans.

c) We can have as many platforms as you like! As we constantly stress to every supporter of HUFC "Don't wait for someone else to do it. Raise funds and hold as many events as you want to organise". Just get on and do it.

d) Every single supporter, VP, Junior Bull, Cheerleader etc should think about taking an active part on matchdays. In the 70's we used to almost totally rely on volunteers. We don't need to divide supporters into seperate groups to do this.

e) Superb - just get on and do it! Put the money into the May Day Trust Fund - that's what it's there for, or even give it to GT to pay the medical expenses bill etc.

PLEASE, PLEASE stop dividing the supporters of this once proud and ambitious football club into 'official' and 'unofficial' fans.

WE MUST SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE AND EMBRACE ALL SUPPORTERS from all walks of life and backgrounds. As one Councillor aptly put in during a Council Meeting in the Town Hall just 2 years ago:

"Why on earth do you have two seperate supporters clubs! Get your acts together. Pull together and be UNITED"

I would urge everyone to do exactly that - pull together and help fight for this clubs survival. Join HUISA and together we can make a difference.

COMING TOGETHER IS A BEGINNING...KEEPING TOGETHER IS PROGRESS...WORKING TOGETHER IS A SUCCESS

March 13th:

HEREFORD United boss Graham Turner could be relying on his young Bulls in the clash at Yeovil Town.

Turner was delighted by the performance of his young players in their 2-2 draw at title-chasing Cheltenham Town on Tuesday.

"The fact that we finished with seven players under the age of 21 bodes well for the future," said Turner as reported by the Birmingham Post.

"Players like Paul Parry and Gavin Williams looked to be really enjoying their football."

March 13th:

YEOVIL 3 Hereford 0 (report from the Birmingham Post)

AFTER battling well for 55 minutes at Yeovil today, Hereford United conceded three goals in five miserable minutes to crash to another defeat.

Hereford, with only one win in 14 matches, were without central defenders Stuart Evans and Ian Wright for today's trip to Somerset. Both were injured in the midweek match with Cheltenham.

But they could draw some comfort from the fact that Yeovil had dropped 24 home points and had failed to score in their three previous matches.

Hereford were under pressure in the early stages and in Yeovil's first attack Owen Pickard brought the ball under control with his hand and earned a booking.

The chief threat to Hereford came from big Warren Patmore, his heading ability causing problems for the makeshift defensive pairing of Tony James and Mark Taylor.

Yeovil had a chance in the 16th minute when Robbie Dennison was fouled just outside the box. The free-kick was taken by Paul Parry but crashed into the defensive wall.

Then Phil Simpson got into a scoring position only to have his run ended by a timely tackle from James.

Yeovil piled on the pressure at the start of the second half. Pickard was caught off-side when danger threatened and a timely tackle by James foiled Simpson.

Hereford had their biggest let off in the 48th minute when a Packmore header cannoned off a defender before being clutched on the line by Quy. But the defence cracked in the 55th minute - and four minutes later they were three down after a nightmare spell.

Pickard put Yeovil ahead, sweeping in a cross from Thompson, and a minute later former Hereford wing-back Fishlock got the second with the aid of a deflection.

Three minutes later Hereford defender Cross looped a header past his own keeper into the net.

March 18th:

IT looks an odds-on certainty that Hereford United's opponents in the final of the Central Conference Doxhill Cup final will be Stoke City reports the Hereford Times.

The Potteries club go into the second leg of their semi-final with Hednesford with a 5-1 lead.

The Bulls made sure of a place in the final by drawing 1-1 with Cheltenham Town in their semi-final leg at Edgar Street thanks to a goal by Matthew Pitt. United won the first leg, which was also played at Edgar Street, 2-1.

Meanwhile the paper reports that Hereford United can put relegation anxieties behind them by collecting six Nationwide Conference points from home matches against Barrow on Saturday and Woking on Tuesday.

To do so, however, they will need a big improvement in form as they have won only one of their last 15 games and have failed to record a victory at Edgar Street since November 28 when they beat Doncaster Rovers 1-0.

The Bulls, lying in 15th place are just six points clear of fourth from bottom Barrow who have a game in hand. They won 1-0 at Barrow in September but United director of football Graham Turner is under no illusions that completing a double will be an easy task.

He said: "These are two big games for us as a couple of victories would put us near safety from relegation with six games left. But Barrow have put some good results together lately and will be a tough prospect. They play a direct style of game with a lot of high balls."

At Yeovil last Saturday Turner had to field a makeshift defence but right-back Chris Lane will return after a one-match suspension and central defender Ian Wright is back in light training following a calf-muscle injury. Turner is also hoping that defender Matthew Clarke and midfielder John Snape, who have been sidelined through injury for a long period, will play some part in tonight's Central Conference reserve team fixture at Stoke.

Turner has taken striker Steve Cowe on a second month's loan from Swindon Town, saying: "He has done okay but can do better."

March 20th:

GRAHAM Turner would like to add another new signing to their ranks before the transfer deadline to pep up Hereford United's squad.

Turner is looking at bringing in an additional loan player before the Conference transfer cut-off at 5pm on Thursday.

Conference clubs are allowed a maximum of two loanees at one time in a maximum of five through the season.

And though striker Steve Cowe has extended his loan deal from Swindon Town for a second month, short term signing Chris Roberts is not considered a loan player.

Since his club Cardiff City play in Wales it is considered a cross-border move and that will allow Turner room to manoeuvre.

The Bulls chief, though, is keeping his fingers-crossed that the Edgar Street injury crisis is easing

Midfielder John Snape, who has got the all-clear from specialists after a back injury, had his first 45 minutes run-out since Christmas for the reserves against Stoke, while Ian Wright and Stuart Evans were back in contention today at home to Barrow. And striker Paul Fewings, another long-term casualty, has started back in training.

March 20th:

HEREFORD United 3 Barrow 0 (report by Peter Povall)

Hereford United finally broke the curse that has denied them a home win for over four months. The last home win was against Doncaster Rover on 28th November 1998.
Today's game saw a vast improvement in the quality of play that was presented at Yeovil last week. Having a full strength defence surely played a large part with Ian Wright and Stuart Evans both making a comeback.

Barrow looked like they were going to cause a few problems with a collection of large players and a habit of playing the long ball, but United's defence held strong throughout.

The initial pressure was exerted by Barrow as they pushed forward from the kick-off. Deep balls provided a couple of brief chances but as the crowd got behind United, Barrow were pushed back.

Gavin Williams had the first chance on goal after just 6 minutes when he headed over from close range.

United's second real chance came from no-where. Tony James blocked an assault on the edge of the United area and then raced almost the full length of the pitch, playing the ball well of himself, he reached the last 20 yards of the pitch and squared it through to Christian Roberts who hit a powerful angled shot which drifted just over the far corner.

Garry Cook was next with a chance and United found hole after hole in the Barrow defence. His volley was wide of the sticks but with the snapped shot he had been forced to take this can be understood.

Moments later and Christian Roberts was causing problems again. His attack was defeated the Barrow defence who left their goalkeeper Davies to clear the ball. He slipped and the ball dropped behind Roberts who turned and played across the goal, beat a defender and then sent his shot well wide when it would possibly have been easier to score with the keeper stranded.

Barrow weren't going to give in completely though. Dawson made an effort on 40 minutes when a mistake by Ian Wright left him an easy ball, which he sent wide from an engled shot.

The second half was anything but dull. Christian Roberts surged forward from the kick-off and immediately broke through the Barrow defence as the ball reached him. Under pressure from behind and with the keeper bearing down on him, his shot struck the near post and re-bounded across the open goal. Paul Parry was in the supporting role and was in just the right place to side-foot the ball into the back of the net.

From here on the game, football for Hereford, hand-ball for Barrow, really got started. Barrow were continually being pushed back into their own half as the United midfield pushed forward in attack. Minor fouls and multiple "hidden" hand-balls were made by Barrow but the referee either missed them or allowed play to continue as no real advantage was being made.

Garry Cook was the most disappointed as his powerful shot from the edge of the box beat the outstretched fingers of the keeper but Kennedy made a fantastic diving save, with the use of his hand which the referee missed.

Cookie was not going to be denied his goal though. He continued to press forwards from midfield and again found himself free on the ball. From about 15 yards he fired home a low curling shot to give United the two goal cushion they needed with just 15 minutes to play.

The flood gates could have opened on Barrow at this point. Gavin Williams produced a fine low drive which the keeper somehow managed to cling onto.

The final nail in Barrow's coffin came from Roberts as he gained the goal he had deserved throughout. He guided a beautiful shot from about 10 yards over the diving keeper and into the roof of the net.

Altogether the best performance I have seen from United in a long time. I actually let the ground with a smile on my face which is more than can be said for the last few months. A another 3 points from Woking on Tuesday night should protect us from the relegation battle and see that we can start and build for next season.

March 23rd:

HEREFORD United 0 Woking 1 (no report available)

March 25th:

CASH-strapped Hereford United have been given a financial boost from director Mike Hancocks and an anonymous vice-president of the Nationwide Conference club reports the Birmingham Post.

Both Hancocks and the vice-president are to donate £200 a point to help the cash flow problems at Edgar Street.

The scheme started off with a bonus of £600 when Hereford beat Barrow 3-0 on Saturday but floundered on Tuesday when the Bulls went down 1-0 to Woking.

"With seven games left and if we can persuade other directors and vice-presidents to join in it could be a valuable source of revenue," said Hancocks.

Meanwhile Hereford will hold their annual general meeting on Monday when a loss of £194,000 for the year ending May 31 1998 will be reported to shareholders.

March 27th:

HEREFORD United boss Graham Turner continued to lay foundations for next season by ensuring Tony James will remain with the club into the Millennium.

The 19-year-old defender, signed last summer after being released by Albion, has been one of the pluses in a disappointing campaign for the Bulls.

And Turner is pleased to include the teenager among his plans for next season after he agreed a one-year extension to his contract.

"He is progressing very nicely," said Turner.

"He is being forced to play at left-back at the moment which is nowhere near his best position but he always gives 100 per cent."

The Bulls have already confirmed the future of Andy Quy, Matt Clarke, Paul Parry and Gavin Williams for the start of the 21st century at Edgar Street.

But Turner still has the future of a dozen players to resolve.

The financial limitations have meant Hereford were not be able to offer long-term deals last term to avoid another turn-over of staff in the summer, though Turner hopes that it will not be as extensive as last season.

Meanwhile, the Bulls will be hoping for encouraging fitness reports on long-term casualties in the next week.

Striker Paul Fewings, who was emerging as a real talent when he got hurt, is hoping to step up his training, while defender Clarke is due to have a week's rehabilitation at Lilleshall.

Midfielder John Snape, who has been sidelined with a back injury since the New Year, returned to action with a substitute's role in the midweek defeat to Woking and reported no reaction.