October 1998

Oct 3rd:

WESTFIELDS physio Simon Thompson has accepted an offer to join Football Conference neighbours Hereford United.

GRAHAM Turner has revealed a fund raising activity which could save the Bulls well over £1000.

"The latest idea is for a "free/all pay" day for the match against Farnborough in two weeks time," wrote Turner in BullsEye.

"The plan is for all to give their services free of charge and for everybody to pay, no complimentary tickets issued at all.

"Gatemen have already agreed unanimously to give their services free of charge for which we are very grateful.

"It will mean a saving of well over £1000 which is a considerable figure in our current position."

THE MANIC Street Preachers have helped the Bulls by autographing CD's, posters and photographes whilst playing at the Hereford Leisure Centre recently. HUISA are to give supporters the chance to bid for the items.

HEREFORD 0 Yeovil 1 (report by Peter Povall)

Yeovil were greeted well by the United supporters as they enjoyed a drink and some banter in the "Legends" suite are Edgar Street before the match. It even gave me the opportunity to meet my counterpart from the Yeovil Town website, Badger. It always nice to be able to put a face to a name.

Yeovil started this match, the more positive side and were quickly testing the Hereford defence with moves down the right-wing producing the best opportunities now that Chris Boden is not there to meet them. We are missing him already.

They gained their first real scoring opportunity after 11 minutes when their big No.5 headed just wide at the back post. A golden opportunity missed.

United came back at them in quick runs, trying to catch them on the break. John Snape firing wide with his first touch.

Catching a team on the break went against United today though. Another round down the right wing put the pressure of Tony James and he failed to make a convincing clearance. The ball was collected by Thompson who single-handedly beat two United defenders, turned on the ball and curled a great shot just over Quy's outstretched fingers.

The quality of play then fell dramatically. United returned to their old habits of "hoofing" the ball past the midfield in the vein hope that a United forward might reach it before the Yeovil defenders cleared.

There was no chance of that tactic, if you could call it a tactic, working today.

Yeovil maintained their pressure throughout and gained a corner for their efforts in the 31st minute. Murrey Fishlock took a cracking kick from the flag and forced Quy to tip the ball away at the back post for a defender to clear.

The breaking run by United gave Williams the chance to lay the ball wide to Chris Lane who fired at goal with the keeper sending it out for a corner. Again the corner was not used as Tony Pennock made a simple save.

Very shortly after, United should have gained a penalty when Richard Leadbeater was flattened in the box following a push in the back. The referee played on.

Just before the break, Gavin Mahon produced some of the skill that made him the supporters "Player of the Year" last season. He moved through the midfield and out to the left wing, beating no less than four Yeovil players before sending in a perfect cross for Richard Leadbeater. Alas the shot was poor and Pennock saved easily.

Following the break, Yeovil seemed prepared to defender their lead and United looked a bit more like making the match interesting.

United applied pressure for the first 10 minutes but the quality of the passing was letting them down. The final passes which should have produced the shotting opportunities were being given away 90% of the time.

Yeovil had a few digs when the chances arose but they seemed content to allow us to bring the game to them.

Gavin Williams came close when he received a Mark Taylor cross in the middle of the area, turning his shot just over the bar.

Within the next five minutes, United were faced with two golden opportunities. The first was following a very poor clearance from Tony Pennock which left him on the egde of his area with no support. John Snape was first to the ball, but instead of controlling it and then sending it over Pennock he went for the first touch move, sending the ball well wide of goal.

The second chance came from a United corner where the ball fell at the near post and three United players failed to make the ball hit the net from the resulting scramble on the line.

Finally, in the closing minutes, Richard Walker had a chance at the back post from an indirect free-kick, but again the ball was headed wide of goal.

Although it appears that United had more of the second half than Yeovil it was a fairly even split with Yeovil content to make runs when possible but were happy to hold the ball and burn playing time.

Another poor performance by United.

HEREFORD: Quy; Rodgerson, James, Mahon, Wright, Walker, Williams, Taylor, Leadbeater, Lane, Snape. Subs: Evans, Druce, Cross.

Oct 9th:

HEREFORD United look set to save more than £2,000 following an agreement by stewards and gatemen to work for nothing at the match against Farnborough Town on October 24.

The idea was dreamed up by the cash-strapped Football Conference club in the wake of attendances falling almost 20 per cent below budget. This season's Edgar Street crowds have only averaged 2,144, down on the budgeted for figure of 2,500.

Oct 10th:

STEVENAGE 0 Hereford United 3 (report by Mark Farmer)

Two early goals from Richard Walker and a late strike from Richard Leadbeater sealed a memorble win for Hereford. From the outset Hereford looked the better team, with early efforts from Gavin Williams and Mark Taylor going close.

Stevenage are a team that likes to pass the ball and Hereford seem to relish playing teams like this as apposed to the long ball exponants, and so it came as no suprise when after a well worked move Hereford won their second corner of the game. A well delivered corner from Mark Taylor on 7 minutes found Ian Wright whose header was going wide but in came Richard Walker to power the ball in with a strong header.

Hereford carried on as they had started by appyling more pressure to the shaky Borough defence and within a few minutes of the first goal Richard Leadbeater saw his right footed drive go just over the bar when he really should have scored, the refereee adjudged the shot to have taken a nick off of a defender and awarded Hereford a corner. From this corner the ball was cleared by the Borough defence but was immediatly knocked wide by Tony James to Mark Taylor, his perfectly wieghted cross found Ian Wright whose strong header was partially cleared but only to Richard Walker who yet again finished with a very good header. 2-0 up on 16 minutes and Hereford seemed to be cruising this game.

Stevenage tried to play football but could not break down an excellent back line of Tony James, Richard Walker, Ian Wright and Chris Lane. Chances kept coming to Hereford but the scoreline stayed at 2-0 until 79 minutes when after a poor backpass from a Borough centre half Richard Leadbeater stole in and rounded the Keeper, it seemed the ball had gone too far for him to cut it back but he somehow did and the ball trickled over the goal line before being hacked away by a despairing Borough defender, the ref looked to the linesman and he gave what was probably his only good decision of the match, and it was 3-0.

Overall it was an excellent performance from Hereford United, Stevenage could only get one shot on the Hereford goal the whole match and this produced a brilliant double save from Andy Quy. To be honest Hereford could have, and should have, won this game by a far greater margin. Gavin Williams found himself one on one with the Keeper on two or three occasions and was unlucky not to score at least one of them, Gavin Mahon will be left wondering how he never scored after the ball dropped to his feet unmarked in the box with the Keeper on the floor and he construed to shoot at the goal minder! Richard Leadbeater came agonisingly close from another bad backpass where he managed to lob the keeper and watch it go just over. I cannot remember all the good chances that Hereford made!

TRADITIONAL FA Cup giant-killers Hereford United will find themselves the hunted rather than the hunters next week.

Graham Turner's Conference side will be the ones cast as the Goliath to visitors Newport Isle of Wight's David.

But Bulls chief Turner is taking nothing for granted against the Dr Martens Southern side, and he travelled south for the midweek replay when Newport overcame Wealdstone.

"We want to be as professional as we can and that was why I took the trouble to go down to Newport for the replay," added Turner.

"They are well organised and they carry a bit of threat up-front.

"We are quite capable of beating Newport but we've got prepare properly. We're certainly not taking anything for granted."

Hereford KO'd Brighton last season in front of the Match of the Day cameras on their way to a third round proper appearance against First Division Tranmere and the cash-strapped club know just how important another high-profile run would be.

The Bulls, though, expect to have to rule out Paul Fewings for next week's tie. The young striker is expected to take another couple of weeks to recover from a hamstring injury

Oct 11th:

GRAHAM Turner's Hereford United turned in the result of the day in the Football Conference with a stunning 3-0 win at promotion-chasing Stevenage.

Two-goal Richard Walker set the Bulls on their way with a first-half double to shock a side who went into the afternoon knowing they might go top if they won.

Instead, former Wolves apprentice Richard Leadbeater sealed the three points with his side's third goal 11 minutes from time to send Turner's men soaring up to seventh place.

Oct 14th:

HEREFORD United will be running the rule over Oldbury United striker Andy Wright tonight. Oldbury have given the Conference side their backing to include the 19-year-old in a reserve clash at home to Gloucester.

Oct 15th:

THE son of Hereford United boss Graham Turner faces a custodial sentence for breaking a man's nose in a brawl outside a fish and chip shop.

Student Andrew Turner (18) admitted assaulting Mr Shaun Cook when he appeared at Worcester Crown Court yesterday.

His co-defendant Paul McAleese (19) admitted the same offence and a further charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Robert Perrin.

The court heard the two men were injured outside a fish and chip shop in Stagecoach Mews, Hereford, on July 13 last year.

Judge Andrew Geddes granted the defendants bail while pre-sentence reports were prepared.

Mr Turner, Hereford United's director of football and the former manager of Shrewsbury Town, Wolves and Aston Villa, was in court to hear his son's plea.

Mr Nick Tatlow, prosecuting, said Turner and McAleese had left Doc's nightclub in Aubrey Street, Hereford, shortly before the violence erupted.

The injured men had been to a stag night celebration and had bought chips after leaving a wine bar.

They were sitting on a wall and eating and there were words exchanged between the two groups, said Mr Tatlow. This led to the violence.

Mr Perrin suffered a broken cheekbone and a broken wrist and was detained in hospital for seven days.

Turner, of Carey Court, Carey, Herefordshire, and McAleese, of Mayberry Avenue, Redhill, Hereford, were due to stand trial by jury but offered guilty pleas at the last minute.

Mr Euan Ambrose, defending, said Turner accepted that his actions went beyond selefence.

He began as a student at Hereford Technical College a fortnight ago, had no police record and lived at home with his parents, the court heard.

Turner planned to join the Army and was concerned the effect a sentence might have on his chances of being accepted, added Mr Ambrose.

Mr David Swinnerton, defending McAleese, said he was a serving soldier in the Royal Greenjackets, stationed at Tidworth, and also of previous good character.

The two will be sentenced in the week beginning November 2.

Oct 17th:

HEREFORD United 2 Newport IOW 3 (report by Peter Povall)

Hereford United's FA Cup run came to a very early close today as Newport recovered from a two-goal deficit to win the match in the closing minutes.

United had started the better team and maintained a strong grip on the game for most of the first half.

The first 10 minutes were edge of the seat (or step for those of us standing) stuff as United held the ball in the Newport half and pushed hard for an early opener.

They were rewarded when Tony James had a dig from the edge of the box in the 8th minute. The ball stayed low and curled under the diving keeper.

This should have opened the flood gates, but United found problems in getting past the Newport defence. Direct attacks down the middle failed almost everytime and crossing from the wings left a little to be desired.

Newport did have a succession of changes during the first half as they gained 3 corners but failed to capitalise on any of them.

United missed far more chances though. Two of the best coming within 5 minutes of each other. The first was a free-kick from just outside the area which was taken to the front post but poor finished allowed it to be cleared.

The second was a stunning diving header from Gavin Mahon which struck the post and was again cleared.

Gavin Williams also had a chance with his long range drive from at least 25 yards which was heading for the top corner but was saved quite easily.

Newport were still in the fight though and gained a free-kick outside United's area towards the end of the first half. The resulting shot skidded over the bar for a goal kick.

United almost gained a lucky second when a mis-hit shot bounced over the keeper, then bounced on the bar and fell back into the keepers grateful arms.

The second half should have seen Newport being dismissed quickly.

It started with a weak shot from Newport which Quy dealt with easily. The resulting break allowed Gavin Williams to get on the wing and fire a powerful cross across goal, but the Newport keeper made a great interception.

Seconds later and Williams was back. Gavin Mahon had taken the ball into the left corner and was gradually working his way back through the defenders. Once in space, he crossed the ball perfectly for Williams to fire past the keeper. A cracking goal...

Five minutes later and United should have gone 3-up, but following a goal-mouth scuffle, the ball landed in the back of the Newport net and was disallowed due to a foul.

The seemed to start the rot.

Newport immediately came back with a great run down the wing, finished with a perfect cross to the box. Thankfully Quy was waiting and made a great save to deny the Newport forward.

His goal-kick allowed the ball to be played through the Ian Rodgerson who suddenly found himself open with only the keeper to beat. He snapped at the shot and Newport's keeper made a great save high to his left.

Newport then found the luck they were looking for. A substitution brought on No. 15 who promptly beat the United defence and side-footed the ball across Quy and into the back of the net. I well placed goal which gave them heart.

United fought on but the lack of finishing earlier in the match had given Newport a chance and they were going to take it.

The quality of play degenerated into more of a scrap and hoof set of tactics which we know cause United a great deal of problems.

With just 4 minutes remaining, the crowd could see the inevitable drawing nearer. A great ball into the United box allowed Newports No.8 to fire home and equalise the match.

I was still not prepared to consider my travel arrangements for the reply and was confident that United would regain the lead.

We gained two corners and failed to use either of them. Newport on the other hand gained a corner just into extra time and sent the ball to the back post where it was hammered into the back of the net.

Some of the United supporters invaded the pitch to chastise their own team.

I am still suffering from the shock of exiting the FA Cup so early... but then again, when you consider the clubs current situation, this was bound to happen.

Oct 24th:

HEREFORD United's continuing cash-flow problems have cost them the services of Richard Walker reports the Sports Argus.

And their loss will very much be Cheltenham Town's gain after he become the fourth ex-Hereford man at Whaddon Road.

The defender, who can slot in a central role or at left-back, joined for an undisclosed five figure fee, around £10,000.

Bulls chief Graham Turner stressed that their need to find cash to pay bills left them with no option but to sell the 26-year-old former Notts County man.

"The last thing I want at this stage of the season is to see players leave us but the dire financial situation we are made the decision for us," said Turner.

"We had no alternative but to accept the money.

"It has left us a decent player short but needs must."

Turner says the money will help keep the club ticking over for the next few weeks to pay though the cost of last week's shock FA Cup defeat to Newport (IoW) has yet to filter through. Turner was succinct in his description of the consequences, describing the loss of a money-spinning Cup-run as a `disaster'.

It was after that defeat that Cheltenham manager Steve Cotterill contacted Hereford to see if Walker would be available and a deal was quickly completed.

Walker becomes the fourth ex-Hereford player at Whaddon Road. Neil Grayson also cost a fee last spring, while John Brough and Dave Norton joined on frees in the summer

Oct 27th:

HEREFORD United, who have a home tie against Hitchin in the second round of the FA trophy, have launched a plan to raise £80,000. The scheme is based on the sale of 8,250 tickets of the Edgar Street pitch. Once the £10 tickets have been sold, the club mascot, a champion bull nam ed Freetown Kudos, will parade on the pitch and wherever Kudos drops a deposit, the winning-square holder will win a car.

Oct 31st:

HEREFORD United are to re-open their plans to build a new stadium in the town.

The Conference club started its preliminary search for potential sites to construct its new home, a move from Edgar Street mooted for the past three years.

Acclaimed architect Alan Cotterill, who designed Reading's new Madejski Stadium and the development of Wolves' Molineux Stadium, has been invited by Bulls chief Graham Turner to lend his expertise.

"Alan has got excellent experience in the construction of new stadia and his designs have been widely praised in football circles," said Turner. "It's an excellent addition to our campaign for a new ground."

Work on preliminary plans is expected to start during the next month.

KETTERING 1 Hereford 1 (report by Mark Farmer)

A superbly headed goal from centre-back Ian Wright helped Hereford to a Football Conference draw on Saturday.

But United will be kicking themselves for failing to win a game they dominated from start to finish in wet and windy conditions at Rockingham Road.

The chief culprit was former Wolves striker Richard Leadbeater who missed a number of good chances, only to find the net with a header past his own goalkeeper, mark Jones, when he came back to help out the defence four minutes before the interval

The debut-making Jones had little chance to show his capabilities as Kettering did not manage a single goal effort in the first half and were scarely more productive in the second period.

The Hereford defence allowed the home forwards little space, with Wright once again dominating in the air, whilst Stuart Evans, taking over from the transferred Richard Walker, gave every indication that he will be a more than adequate replacement.

Hereford settled quickly and created the first opening after only 55-seconds when a good build-up involving skipper Ian Rodgerson and Gavin Williams provided a chance for Leadbeater, who shot narrowly over.

An excellently worked free-kick after three minutes should have brought the first goal.

Gavin Mahon and Rodgerson worked another opening for Leadbeater but the striker allowed keeper Andy Sollitt to smother his first effort and his follow-up shot was off-target.

With Hereford continuing to dominate, Mahon and Wright sent efforts wide before, in a rare attack on 41 minutes, Kettering finally forced their first corner.

Carl Adams sent in a cross and Leadbeater, in a desperate attempt to clear, headed powerfully into the corner of the net.

But United were quickly back on level terms. mahon's excellent deep cross from the right found Wright, who had stayed forward following a corner, and the former Hull defender's 50th-minute header flashed past the helpless Sollitt.

After 68 minutes Leadbeater had ample opportunity to make amends for his earlier indiscretion when he robbed Colin Vowden on the right of the area but, with a great chance to advance and shoot or square the ball to a team-mate, he tried to guide a curling effort past Sollitt and the ball dribbled harmlessly wide.

Right on time Williams looked as though he must net the winner when he rose to meet a cross from substitute Mark Druce but the young striker failed to get over the ball and headed over from a couple of yards out.

Seven players were booked, including Hereford's Wright, Rodgerson and Chris Lane.

HEREFORD: Jones; Lane, James, Mahon (I), Evans, Williams, Taylor, Leadbeater, Rodgerson, Snape, Wright (I). Subs: Druce, Cook, Cross.