May 1st:
YEOVIL TOWN 2 - 3 HEREFORD UNITED
YEOVIL Town were robbed of the chance to play in the Football League when Ian Rodgerson's last minute effort meant the Nationwide Conference Championship going to Rushden & Diamonds. The Somerset side needed at least a point to keep their chances of promotion going, but Hereford United were victorious.
Having drawn their previous four games and not lost in their last five, Hereford can't have been too confident of victory. United did Yeovil a favour a few weeks back when the beat table-topping Rushden & Diamonds 3-1 at Edgar Street, but Yeovil had to gain something from tonight's match to even have a chance of overtaking the Northamptonshire side. Rushden were three points ahead having played a game more, and with one game left to play.
Yeovil's Marcus Jones missed out with a calf injury and James Bent was on the bench. Warren Patmore also wasn't fully fit, again taking a position on the bench, but Barrington Belgrave returned from suspension. Hereford also welcomed back a suspended player, Matt Clarke playing at right-back. Jimmy Quiggin dropped to the bench as Hereford reverted to a 4-4-2 formation.
The Huish Park pitch was in fairly good condition, but the Hereford faithful were uncovered and praying that there was no downpour. It turned out that there wasn't, but there was the threat of one after a wet day in Somerset.
On the pitch, Hereford started well, attacking the home goal, but within ten minutes Yeovil had gained control of the match, something which they didn't lose until the final minute. Scott Cooksey made a good save from Terry Skiverton as Yeovil piled on the pressure.
In fact, they took eleven minutes to take the lead. After four consecutive corners, the ball was cleared after efforts from Belgrave and Darren Way, but when it fell to Nick Crittenden, Cooksey could only watch as the ball sailed into the corner. The twelve yard shot deflected off Phil Robinson. The home fans were delighted, and really got behind their side but just two minutes later, Hereford spoiled the party.
Rob Elmes popped up at the other end to equalise in front of the Yeovil fans. It was a poor peice of defending by the home side as Paul Sturgess provided a long throw on the left for Elmes, who had found space, to head high into the net.
For the remainder of the half, Yeovil were by far the superior side. Hereford made a couple of attacks, but Scott Cooksey was the busier of the two goalkeepers. Gavin Williams and Rob Elmes had weak attempts saved by former Bull Tony Pennock, but it was Yeovil who pressurised. A Michael McIndoe freekick was deflected wide following a shot from Way, and Cooksey just got the better of Barrington Belgrave to save.
With the first half drawing to a close, Yeovil should have gone 2-1 up. A McIndoe pass was picked up by Belgrave, but Scott Cooksey blocked well on the near post to keep the scores level.
The second period continued in a similar vein, but Hereford went into a shock lead after just five minutes. A Matt Clarke cross was badly cleared by Terry Skiverton, and John Snape was on hand to control well before sending a superb superb lob over several defenders to nestle in Tony Pennock's right corner. Hereford piled on the pressure, with a run of corners and a Parry header that just missed the target.
However, the Glovers fought back. Dave Piper hit back for Yeovil with thirty two minutes left. Simon Betts made a good run on the left hand side for Piper to head a low ball into the corner of Cooksey's net, who was helpless to save. The final half hour was sure to be pulsating, and resulted in a Yeovil ambush on the Hereford goal with few counter attacks. Belgrave forced a superb save from Cooksey, as did Darren Way.
With fifteen minutes left, Colin Addison sent on Warren Patmore to liven up the front line. However, it was to no avail, as Scott Cooksey played a blinder in the Hereford goal to save everything that the home side could throw at him. Patmore attempted to beat Cooksey, but failed. Belgrave also had two efforts in succession saved by the former Shrewsbury 'keeper.
In the last minute, Ian Rodgerson hit from close range to deny Yeovil any chance of Football League action next season. Rob Elmes headed goalwards from a free kick initially which was well saved by Pennock, and unmarked Rodgerson was close by to net a rebound past the helpless 'keeper. Seconds later, there were claims for a penalty for Yeovil after a foul on McIndoe, but the referee just waved them away.
Referee Mr. D. Spicer of Totten made no bookings in the game, although on several occasions he couldn't have been far off! An attendance of 4,639 turned out, including a couple of hundred from Hereford.
Yeovil must feel extremely disappointed that not only that they didn't get a point, but they didn't win. Hereford defended sturdily, although desperately at times, and managed to find enough breaks to end the championship race. Although the mathematics reveal that Yeovil can still be champions, Rushden need to avoid a defeat against Chester City on Saturday to make sure.
Despite Hereford earning £5,000 from the McIndoe transfer had Yeovil been promoted, it was a much more rewading night for their fans. The home side will be playing Conference football next season but must be title favourites if things stay as they are.
Hereford - Cooksey, Clarke, Robinson, James, Sturgess, Parry, Rodgerson, Shirley, Snape, Williams, Elmes
Substitutions - none.
Man of the Match - John Snape.
May 2nd:
MEMBERS of HUISA have voted Matt Clarke as player of the year after a good season in the Hereford side. The Leominster branch of the Supporters' Association presented their player-of-the-year trophy to striker Gavin Williams, while fellow attacker Rob Elmes won the Away Travel Supporters' award.
Richard Burkin was voted Supporter of the Year. HUISA chairman Kevin Wargen said: "The vote for Richard was virtually unanimous and he richly deserves the award."
FORMER Hereford United boss Colin Addison could be sacked as Yeovil boss in the next few days after failing to take the side to the Football League. Yeovil lost 3-2 to Hereford and chairman John Fry was critical of his manager on local radio.
Speaking on BBC Radio Bristol, he was quoted as saying "if you give someone the resources to achieve something, and then they don't do it...".
Meanwhile, Addison was praising his team despite a defeat last night. He told the Western Daily Press: "I’d like to thank all the players and staff for an absolutely magnificent season and the fans for their wonderful support.
"It’s a disappointing way for it to end, but that’s life, that’s football. It wasn’t to be for us, but we’ll look back and realise that this club has made a lot of progress this season.
"We’ve entertained a lot of people and brought a lot of pleasure for the Yeovil fans. But at the end of the day we just couldn’t do it."
STEVE Piearce scored both goals as Hereford won 2-0 at Tamworth reserves on Monday night. With the side flying high with Telford United and Kidderminster Harriers at the top of Sygnus Central Conference, the last few games will be hard-fought affairs.
Hereford reserves play at Hednesford on Tuesday and home to Nuneaton on Thursday, both kick-offs at 7.30pm.
Meanwhile, the 24 hour football marathon is to be held on the 6th and 7th of May. The winning side will play a pre-season friendly against Hereford United, and the two previous marathons each raised around £2,500 for the club and £4,000 has already been forthcoming from the fund-raising events this year.
The following clubs will be joining the Conference next season:
Stalybridge Celtic won the Unibond League ahead of Emley.
Margate won the Dr. Martens League ahead of Burton Albion.
Farnborough won the Ryman League by a huge margin.
We will welcome all to Edgar Street next season, and good luck for the other fourty matches!
Graham Turner is due to discuss new contracts with ten players to form the nucleus of his squad for next season. The ten playing staff whose contracts will expire are Ian Wright, Matt Clarke, Ian Rodgerson, Paul Sturgess, Matt Baker, Matt Gardiner, Kerry Giddings, John Shirley, Jimmy Quiggin and John Snape.
Discussions are expected to start soon.
May 3rd:
WITH several players discussing new contracts over the next few weeks, Graham Turner is expected to bring in a few new faces for next season to improve on the side as United push for the Conference title.
It is widely rumoured that a couple of players will be leaving the club in the summer, with Ian Wright and Paul Sturgess two of those who may choose not to stay. Matt Clarke has hinted that he may also be moving out, but Ian Rodgerson, Matt Baker, Matt Gardiner, John Shirley, Jimmy Quiggin, Kerry Giddings and John Snape are all expected to stay.
In the event that Wright and Sturgess do leave, Graham Turner will be forced to bring in new talent. Central defender Chris Lightfoot, currently on the books of Crewe Alexandra, is being linked with various clubs and Hereford has been one of those named, along with the likes of Shrewsbury Town, Kidderminster Harriers, Leyton Orient and his former club Chester City.
The thirty one year old may well not be ready to drop to the Conference but after failing to play a single first team match for Crewe this season, he is likely to be released in the summer.
May 5th:
HEREFORD United's Nick Plotnek, a nineteen year old defender who joined the club as part of the North Birmingham College project, is hopeful of gaining a contract with the club after playing well in the reserve side.
He made his debut a few weeks ago after coming on as a sub for Paul Sturgess, and said to the Evening News: "It was a good experience, it was a bit quicker than reserve football but I thought I adapted well and I definitely enjoyed it."
"I was with West Bromwich Albion when I was 16, but they released me at YTS level. Luckily, I was able to join this scheme when I was at college."
On the possibility of going full-time, he said: "I'd like to. I just love playing, the money's not important to me. I just enjoy training every day and being part of a club."
The North Birmingham Scheme is over for Plotnek, he expained. "It's a two year scheme and mine runs out at the end of the season because of my age," he said. "I'm coming towards the end of it and with a bit of luck I can get a proper contract here."
BOSTON UNITED 5 - 3 HEREFORD UNITED
Hereford United played their last league match of the season in Lincolnshire. With both sides stuck in mid table, it was destined to be a pretty pointless affair and that's how it ended for Hereford, with a defeat. In fact, it was their biggest league defeat of the season and also the first time that they have conceded five goals in the Conference.
Hereford got off to the perfect start when they took the lead through Paul Parry on two minutes. Paul Sturgess provided a long throw for Parry to hit a shot past Boston goalie Paul Bastock, which bounced off the far netting.
The home side soon pushed their way into the match and Ken Charley hit wide after good play from the Boston attacking line before Gavin Williams shot wide from long range. Scott Cooksey was in good form to keep Boston out, saving a Costello shot and Jamie Cook missing the rebound. However, Cook hit back and on fourteen minutes, he hit a ball goalwards from an Andy Stanhope free kick to beat Cooksey and level the scores.
Paul Parry was guilty of failing to score after beating goalkeeper and defence in an acute angle on the left. He chipped the ball over to Elmes and Williams, but neither could connect. It turned out to be a badly missed chance as eight minutes later, with thirty four minutes on the clock, Boston took the lead. Top scorer Ken Charlery received a through ball from David Town and hit home after he beat Cooksey and Phil Robinson, but hesitated before netting. It looked as if Tony James could have cleared off the line, but the shot was just out of reach.
Scott Cooksey did well to keep out an effort from Boston's David Town, and Paul Bastock made stops from John Snape and Rob Elmes, but Hereford were behind at the break.
Boston started the second period as they had ended the first - on top! Ken Charlery missed badly after a superb peice of team work on fifty five minutes and Graham Turner decided to make a rare double substitution. Paul Sturgess and Paul Parry came off, John Shirley and Gavin Williams dropped back to allow substitutes Jimmy Quiggin and Steve Piearce to assist Rob Elmes in attack.
The change immediately paid off. After fifty seven minutes, Gavin Williams crossed in from his midfield role for Piearce to knock on to Rob Elmes. He managed to get between two defenders and make the score 2-2, netting on the far post. Just six minutes later, Boston regained the lead through Jamie Cook. A cross had been headed down by a Boston attacker for Cook to beat Cooksey from close range.
Jimmy Quiggin and Steve Piearce both missed chances to put Hereford level and Boston made them pay ten minutes later when they went 4-2 up. Centre back Lee Howarth got onto the end of yet another cross from David Town to beat the helpless Cooksey once again. With seven minutes left, good build-up play allowed Simon Rusk to put the game beyond the Bulls, but the away side still fought on.
Paul Bastock was replaced by Nick Conroy in the home goal late on, and was forced to make a couple of saves, the most impressive of which came from Elmes just a yard out. However, he tripped Elmes in the last minute and was lucky not to be sent off. Steve Piearce stepped up and netted a consolation goal, but Piearce was unlucky not to have had another penalty just minutes earlier as he was clearly held back in the box.
Despite conceding five goals, Cooksey didn't have a particularly bad match and certainly prevented double figures had the Boston shots been more on target! It appears that Hereford were just a little unlucky and the scoreline didn't reflect the even, end-to-end nature of the game.
Referee Mr. M. J. Cairns of Burton-on-Trent booked Hereford's Williams for dissent, Elmes for a foul and Boston's Clifford, Howarth and sub-'keeper Conroy for fouls. An attendance of 1,836 watched the match, including over 200 from Hereford.
Boston extended their unbeaten run to six matches, whilst Hereford lost their first game in seven league outings. Hopefully, this was just a lapse after the recent run of good form including victories over champions Rushden and runners-up Yeovil Town. Let us hope that next season, the team will be more consistent with performances matching those seen against the top two teams in the last month.
Hereford - Cooksey, Clarke, Robinson, James, Sturgess, Parry, Rodgerson, Shirley, Snape, Williams, Elmes
Substitutions - Quiggin (55), Piearce (55).
Man of the Match - Rob Elmes.
May 6th:
HEREFORD United will play Barnet in next season's Nationwide Conference after the Bees were relegated from the Football League yesterday. They lost 3-2 to Torquay United at Underhill in a win or bust game for both sides, identical to that between Hereford United and Brighton & Hove Albion four years ago.
Barnet will be replaced in Division Three by Conference champions Rushden & Diamonds, who wrapped up the title with a 2-1 win at former League club Chester City yesterday. Also joining the Conference are Margate, winners of the Dr. Martens League, Stalybridge Celtic, Unibond League champions, and Ryman League winners Farnborough Town. Hednesford Town and Kingstonian were relegated from the Conference, as were Kettering Town. Hayes survived the drop thanks to a victory over Hednesford yesterday.
YEOVIL Town boss Colin Addison, formerly of Hereford United fame, resigned from his position yesterday after failing to take the Somerset side to the Football League. Hereford won 3-2 at Huish Park on Tuesday night to virtually hand the title to Rushden leaving Yeovil in second place. He released a statement yesterday which said: "Following our game against Hereford United on Tuesday night, I have read in total disbelief, the statements and comments from Chairman, John Fry. Therefore, after much thought and discussion with my family - and as a direct result of these disgraceful comments - I have been left with absolutely no alternative than to regretfully resign from my position from Yeovil Town Football Club, with immediate effect."
Southport's Mark Wright also left his post at Haig Avenue yesterday after his contract was not renewed by chairman Charles Clapham. "The chairman knew I wanted to go full-time, but that wasn't an option for him and the contract never materialised," said Wright. "Had I been offered a contract with a full-time side I would have signed it. but I was told there would be no money next season and several players will be out of contract."
Finally, spare a thought for Worcestershire side Bromsgrove Rovers. The club finished second in the Nationwide Conference in the early nineties and were the second side in the two counties after Hereford United. Now, after three relegations, they played their last match in Dr. Martens Western Division yesterday which resulted in a 2-0 defeat at home to Bilston Town. Next season, they will play their football in the Midland Alliance with the likes of Stourport Swifts, Pelsall Villa, Boldmere St. Michaels and Halesowen Harriers. With Worcester, Hereford, Kidderminster, Evesham and Redditch above them in the league pyramid, it reveals a swift demise for Bromsgrove Rovers.
GRAHAM Turner, the Hereford United director of football, has reacted to the season as a whole following yesterday's 5-3 at Boston United. A slump in form from February, where the team was fourth in the league, has seen them drop to eleventh place recording just two wins. However, these came against champions Rushden & Diamonds and runners-up Yeovil Town.
"Without a doubt our downfall this season has been our poor home results," said Turner.
HEREFORD striker Steve Piearce, who has spend much of the season sidelined through injury, is looking forward to next term as he hopes to secure a first team berth.
He came on as a sub yesterday and set up one goal, and scored another, as Hereford were defeated 5-3 at Boston United. The former Halesowen Town striker was a top scorer in the Dr. Martens League Premier Division two seasons ago before moving to Edgar Street. However, he has played just twenty four times for United, scoring seven goals.
"I have waited a long time to get another goal and when I saw the referee pointing to the spot there was no way they were going to get the ball off me" said Piearce.
"I hope now that the injuries are over for me and I can force myself back into the managers plans for the new season."
May 7th:
STEVE Evans, the Boston United manager, has told the Lincolnshire Echo of his side's 5-3 victory over Hereford United at York Street on Saturday.
"Basically we dominated the match throughout and could have scored even more goals. We showed good character to recover after falling behind in the second minute," he said.
"But that in many ways summed up our season – good in attack but prone to some individual errors at the back."
YEOVIL Town website 'Ciderspace' have announced that the club will be forced to shell out £40,000 next season on policing following several incidents by a tiny minority of followers this season. When Hereford visited Huish Park last week, they attacked a number of visiting fans and their cars, and beat up groundsman Ron Pippard, who was acting as a steward, putting him in hospital.
Every home match now has to be policed for next season , and chairman John Fry said: "These people are scum. They're not fans and we don't want them. I persuaded people to put thousands of pounds into the club and then this scum come in and destroy it all. Our steward is put into hospital after going outside the ground to retrieve a ball. It makes you sick. The directors have done everything only to have a rent-a-mob turn on them. It makes you wonder if it is all worthwhile."
Meanwhile, the same site has announced that the Football League will not discuss a second promotion place from the Conference at its A.G.M. on 9th June. John Moules, Conference chief executive, an unspecified League club would propose a resolution demanding an extra promotion place: "One League club, supported by several others, will support our campaign in Chester. Two up will definitely be on the agenda."
The Conference A.G.M. is to be held in Chester Moat House on Saturday 2nd June with four new sides to attend. Barnet, Farnborough Town, Margate and Stalybridge Celtic will help ratify rule changes for the 2001-2002 campaign.
CARDIFF City will visit Edgar Street to play Hereford United in a friendly match on Saturday, July 21st. The game is likely to carry a 3pm kick off, and it is the first friendly to be announced of Hereford's pre-season schedule. Further dates are expected soon.
HEREFORD United goalkeeper Scott Cooksey has been named in the England semi-professional squad to play a Highland League XI on May 15th in Inverness. The game kicks off at 7.30pm.
The squad in full is Wayne Brown (Chester City), Kevin McIntyre (Doncaster), Tim Ryan (Doncaster), Jason Goodliffe (Hayes), Scott Cooksey (Hereford), Gary Patterson (Kingstonian), Geoff Pitcher (Kingstonian), Stuart Drummond (Morecambe), Tarkan Mustapha (Rushden), Justin Jackson (Rushden), Paul Underwood (Rushden), Steve Brodie (Scarborough), Scott Guyett (Southport), Nick Roddis (Woking), Warren Patmore (Yeovil Town), Terry Skiverton (Yeovil Town).
STEVE Bull scored after just twenty seconds but finished off on the losing side in a match yesterday - for a Football Aid tea,.
The matches were organised for fans to pay to play on their favourite pitch and those with highest bids won the spot. The money goes to various charities, one of which supports research directed towards finding a cure for insulin dependent Diabetes.
Bull was captain of the home side at Molineux, with former Hereford player-coach Keith Downing the skipper of the away side. The Wolves record scorer netted from eight yards out with a volley, and later went in goal.
"There were no volunteers when the lad went off," Bull told the official Wolves website. "So I thought I'd give it a go and, I have to say, I was only beaten once and that shot would have beaten any keeper in the League!"
In the end, Downing beat Bull 6-3, but Bull commented on his opposing captain: "He's starting to look his age now - and I think his team carried him. The captain is only as good as the team below him - mind you, that doesn't say a lot for my team does it?"
May 9th:
THE Leominster Journal has announced that three players have been released by Graham Turner after not being offered new contracts.
Out of the ten players which required new contracts, seven have been offered deals and those that weren't considered were defenders Paul Sturgess and Matt Gardiner, and also striker Kerry Giddings.
Turner told The Journal: "We obviously need to strengthen the squad, and we need to get Wright and Clarke to agree to accept their new contracts. The quicker we can get that resolved then obviously the better it is for us to get things worked out for next season."
HEREFORD United defender Paul Sturgess, formerly of Charlton Athletic and Brighton & Hove Albion, has left Edgar Street after his contract expired. BBC Ceefax has announced this evening that he has joined fellow Conference side Stevenage Borough on a free transfer.
May 10th:
DESPITE his release from the club, Matt Gardiner could return to Edgar Street next season after talks with Graham Turner. His return depends on whether he is required in the Hereford United squad, and if Gardiner is available.
Meanwhile, Turner is hoping for a squad of around twenty players, and told the Hereford Times: "The Conference is getting ever more competitive. Boston, who were promoted a season ago, are another club who will be going full-time, so, although we have the basis of next season's squad, we will be aiming to strengthen it with some new signings."
Currently, seven players are considering new deals, with Ian Wright and Matt Clarke likely to spark the most interest from other clubs. The others are Matt Baker, Ian Rodgerson, John Snape, John Shirley and Jimmy Quiggin.
GRAHAM Turner has announced that Hereford United will play a further two friendly matches at Edgar Street this summer, against Bristol City and a Manchester United XI. The Manchester United side is expected to field one or two of the bigger names in the Premiership-winning squad. The dates for all the pre-season games are shown below:
21/07/01 Cardiff City Home 3pm
28/07/01 Bristol City Home 3pm
05/08/01 Manchester United XI Home 3pm
HEREFORD United are still waiting for confirmation that they will receive a prize of £1000 for the fair-play award. The have come top of the league, but still await confirmation as the league could also include cup matches. Yeovil Town are the nearest rivals, but have played several more cup games than the Bulls this season.
GRAHAM Turner is hoping that three vital players will sign up for Hereford United for next season. Matt Clarke is hoped to sign today, with Ian Wright and John Shirley expected to talk with Graham Turner tomorrow.
On the release of Sturgess, Giddings and Gardiner, Turner said: "We need to bring in one or two fresh faces, so we are making room for one or two to come in. I am confident that the important people we need to keep for next season will still be with us."
Also, Turner revealed he has spoken this week with three potential new signings.
Already in the squad for next season are Scott Cooksey, Tony James, Phil Robinson, Gavin Williams, Paul Parry, Steve Piearce and Rob Elmes.
May 11th:
A new website has been launched intended to raise the profile of the campaign to increase promotion and relegation between the Nationwide Conference and Nationwide Football League Division Three.
With currently just one promotion place, many think it is clearly unfair. The Fair Play For The National Game campaign was setup in the hope that the injustice can be publicised and open up the "pyramid" to allow more teams from the part-time game to progress into the Football League.
Please support the campaign by visiting their website.
It has also been announced today that Lincoln City are the club supporting the scheme for a two up-two down situation between the leagues. Lincoln dropped out of the league in 1987, but bounced back to Division Three. He also wants to see Conference sides in the Worthington Cup.
Talking in the Lincolnshire Echo, City chairman Rob Bradley said: "I have no problem with relegation but I feel once a club has dropped out of the League they are pretty much left to struggle on their own," said Bradley. "We have seen it happen to Chester and Hereford in recent years and Doncaster and Scarborough before that. They are desperate to get back up but their paths are being blocked for two reasons.
"Firstly, only one side is promoted from the Conference and secondly there is the differential income clubs receive when they drop out the League. Overheads are huge for relegated clubs as they still have players' contracts to honour and there is the huge drop in television money.
"Having been involved in the relegation battle this season I have seen how teams like Barnet and Carlisle have suffered. They were terrified of dropping out of the League because there really is no incentive to get back. Teams who go down get cut off with little done to help them reclaim their place. The League is too much of a closed shop.
"I feel the time is right to have two teams promoted and two relegated with the second, third, fourth and fifth-placed sides in the Conference playing-off for the second promotion spot," said Bradley. "This would lessen the blow of relegation and give clubs like Barnet more chance of returning to the Football League.
"In fact we might as well call it the Fourth Division – they have the same sponsor so that is what it effectively is already. This will reduce the fear factor which goes with relegation and with the play-offs increase interest. To improve links further, why not have those who finish in the top five in the Conference take part in the Worthington Cup the following season? This would lessen the blow for clubs falling out of the League and – like the play-offs – give them an incentive to help make up for lost revenue."
"Barnet now face the prospect of never returning because competition is so intense to leave the Conference with only one place up for grabs," said Bradley. "I just feel they deserve support and I will be making my feelings known at the chairmen's meeting in June."
Finally, Phil Wilson has been named as Mark Wright's successor at Southport. He has taken Stalybridge Celtic to the Conference this season but has decided to move on.
THE Official Hereford United website has revealed that Matt Clarke, the versatile defensive midfielder who was voted Player of the Season, has signed a new contract at the club for the coming season.
He is expected to again be a regular at right-back and is the first player of the seven offered new contracts to announce that he has accepted after talks with Graham Turner.
WINNER of the HUISA and Official Fans Forum player-of-the-year award Matt Clarke has been voted player-of-the-year by the webmasters and visitors of HU-FC.co.uk. Clarke won with 42% of the vote, Gavin Williams gained 22% and Rob Elmes got 15% in third.
The best match was the 4-2 victory over Dover Athletic at Edgar Street in October, probably due to the second half performance in which United scored four goals to overturn a 2-0 half time score. Second was the 4-0 win over Yeovil in the LDV Vans Trophy, with the 3-1 victory over Rushden at Edgar Street in third.
The worst match that gained most votes was the 4-1 home defeat against Forest Green Rovers in the FA Trophy, which gained over 65% of the vote. The Kettering game in the Variety Trophy was second, and the FA Cup exit at Woking in third.
The non-player of the year was a close run thing between Graham Turner and Steve Bull. Other nominees included Steve Piearce (not by me though), Joan Fennessy and Tony Ford. Steve Bull won the award with 38% of the vote, and Turner just 2% behind. Tony Ford was third with 9%.
Michael McIndoe was the clear winner of the best pre-season signing award, with 63% of the vote. Phil Robinson was second on 21%, and Kerry Giddings third with just 10%. McIndoe also won midfielder of the season with 29% of the vote for his performances before he moved to Yeovil. Jimmy Quiggin got 24% and John Snape and Ian Rodgerson tied with 19%.
The striker of the season was won clearly by Rob Elmes with 71%, and Gavin Williams gained 29%. No-one else gained a vote due to the good season had by both. Matt Clarke won the defensive award with 68%, and Scott Cooksey was the unanamous winner of the goalkeeper award.
Our contriversial 'villain of the year' award has been shared between former chairman Peter Hill and Herefordshire Council, both of whom have made it hard to progress from the current situation at the club.
May 12th:
HEREFORD United player/coach Steve Bull is considering going into full-time management, and therefore leaving his jobs at Hereford and Wolves.
The striker is not only top-scorer at Wolves but has been in a PR role with the club for the past year, and has also been helping with coaching at Edgar Street. In addition to that, he has come off the bench several times this season and scored two vital goals
Bull is circulating his CV in the hope of securing a full-time summer move into coaching or management, and it would end his links with Hereford and Wolves.
"Ideally, it's time I was just doing one permanent job," said Bull.
HEREFORD United will be reflecting this weekend on their failure to reach the cup final. No, not the FA Cup Final (Arsenal vs Liverpool in Cardiff, kick off 3pm on ITV and Sky Sports 2) but the FA Umbro Trophy final between Forest Green Rovers and Canvey Island (Sunday, 12pm, Sky Sports 1).
After a 4-1 home defeat against Rovers at Edgar Street in April, United were eliminated at the semi-final stage and Graham Turner, the Hereford boss, was quick to say that this season had not been as good as expected.
"If you look at the season as a whole you would say it was disappointing," he told the Evening News. "Having got so far in the Trophy, it was a severe blow to be knocked out in the semi-final. The league dropped off at the back end of the season and the sale of Chris Lane and Michael McIndoe had an adverse effect on the team. Not only did we lose their quality but it knocked back one or two of the other players as well.
"Once again we played better against the better sides, and defensively apart from the last game we weren't too bad and compared favourably with the top two. The main difference was that we didn't score enough goals. We need another 20 goals in the team to be able to challenge."
After spending much of the season in the top four, Hereford must have been disappointed to finish eleventh in the league and rue their failure to qualify for next season's LDV Vans Trophy. Just six home victories put paid to any hopes of a good league finish.
However, Gavin Williams had a good season but could have scored more goals, whilst Rob Elmes chipped in as top scorer. Scott Cooksey had a good season between the sticks, whilst Matt Clarke and Tony James played well for the season in defence particularly. Chris Lane and Michael McIndoe both impressed before moving out, and younger players such as Jimmy Quiggin and John Shirley both shone as the season wore on.
May 13th:
FOREST Green Rovers, the side who beat Hereford United in the semi final of the FA Umbro Trophy, lost 1-0 to Canvey Island of the Ryman Premier League in today's final at Villa Park.
Ben Chenery scored his first ever goal for Island as they beat their higher-graded opposition and became the first side to win the Trophy from outside the Conference since Bishop's Stortford's 1-0 win over Sutton United back in 1981.
May 14th:
HEREFORD United have announced that tickets for the Manchester United friendly match on August 4th will be available from next Monday. The match, which is expected to attract a large attendance, will kick off at 3pm. Tickets for the match will cost £8 for the stand (£5 concessions) and £6 for the terraces (£3 concessions), and are available from the club office.
Entry to other friendlies will cost £6 and £3 concessions, and the Cardiff match on July 21st will kick off at midday.
THE club have announced that Ian Wright has signed up for another season of Hereford United FC. He is expected to retain the captaincy and form a vital part of the back line with Tony James and Matt Clarke next season.
Information on other players who are considering contracts will hopefully be available soon.
May 15th:
THE Football Association today held a consultation meeting with the management of The Football Conference, The Southern, Isthmian and Northern Premier Leagues to discuss the future of the F.A. National League System.
In advance of today’s meeting, each league had presented their proposals to restructure the system, and these views were incorporated into the F.A National League System Committee consultation presentation.
All parties recognised that restructuring is necessary in order to meet the needs of football at this level. There has been unanimous support for the principles underpinning the review process: that clubs should have the opportunity to progress on merit and that the system must be clear and consistent.
This meeting was the latest step in a long consultation process, involving clubs and leagues. Before further work is undertaken, the F.A. Board and F.A. Council will need to approve the direction being proposed. Clubs and leagues will then be given a full role in this process.
The timing for any changes to The F.A. National League System will depend upon the results of the consultation.
GRAHAM Turner has told of his delight at securing the services of Ian Wright and Matt Clarke for next season. Club captain Wright and Clarke, player of the year, will form the backbone to the defence for next season. Both have signed new two-year deals to stay at Edgar Street.
"I'm pleased to have secured the retention of Wright and Clarke who are the lynchpins of our defence," said Turner.
"I think it is a significant movement for us because Hereford supporters will be looking to see if we have got financial problems and when you have senior players committing themselves to the club it indicates that all is not doom and gloom," he told the Evening News.
"If you look at our defensive record it is good and not far worse than Rushden and Yeovil," added Turner. "Both are key players and I'm pleased they are staying."
Talks with Jimmy Quiggin and John Snape and John Snape are due to take place this week.
THE Football League have revealed that the promotion issue of a second place from the Conference will be on the agenda at their AGM on June 7th. Pressure has forced the subject onto the agenda and the seventy two Football League chairmen will be asked to vote on the issue. 50% of the league chairmen must agree, and also 50% of the First Division chairmen.
Conference campaigners feel that many Conference teams would survive in Division Three and a change would make the top of the Conference and bottom of Division Three much more exciting.
Football League chief executive David Burns warned, however, that money will be needed to see through the change and should be provided by the Football Association. "There is a substantial financial gap that needs to be bridged," he said. "My view remains unaltered that this is a change that is in the best interests of English football and I am, therefore, equally clear that the FA should use its significant resources to support the game at grass-roots level, in the Conference, by funding this change."
The parachute payment is rumoured to be at around £200,000 a year, which the FA may be asked to contribute to.
Meanwhile, Dover boss Bill Williams has left the Crabble Ground to join relegated Kingstonian, and David Norton has left Forest Green Rovers but Nigel Spink remains as manager at the Lawn. Former Hereford goalkeeper Chris MacKenzie has secured two awards at his club, Nuneaton Borough. Manager Steve Burr chose him as Manager's Player-of-the-Year and his team-mates also voted him Players' Player-of-the-Year.
Finally, Yeovil Town striker Warren Patmore is rumoured to be discussing terms with Rushden and Stevenage after failing to agree a new contract at Huish Park. Patmore was the top scorer in the Conference last season.
SCOTT Cooksey didn't feature in the England FA XI side last night in Inverness against a Highland League XI, as Boston's Paul Bastock and Chester's Wayne Brown played half a match each.
Grant Street Park hosted the match which England emerged victorious last night. Second half goals from Tim Ryan, Geoff Pitcher and Steve Jones gave England a 3-0 victory. An attendance of just 350 turned out.
May 16th:
HEREFORD United midfielder John Shirley has pledged his future to the club after signing a new contract for next season earlier today. Graham Turner will obviously be pleased with securing another young star for next season, and will also be speaking to midfielders Jimmy Quiggin and John Snape in the next twenty four hours. Also, Turner will discuss moves with some new players who remain nameless.
May 17th:
MANCHESTER United are expected to bring a team with one or two 'big names' for the friendly at Edgar Street on Saturday, August 4th. Therefore, tickets can be purchased before the game and company secretary Joan Fennessy explains the decision.
"After talking to several clubs who have entertained a Manchester United XI we have decided to make the decision to sell tickets from next week. Other clubs have experienced crowd congestion and delayed kick-off times because of the interest shown in a Manchester United team. So, in order to avoid problems, supporters are advised to obtain their tickets prior to the match."
Prices are £8 (seating) and £6 (terracing), with concessions at £5 and £3 respectively.
Meanwhile, Graham Turner has told of his delight to the signing of Ian Wright and Matt Clarke for another two years. "Overall we had a reasonable defensive record last season and we now have Wright and Clarke on the books again, as well as 'keeper Scott Cooksey and central defender Tony James, both of whom are still under contract. I'm delighted they have signed again - it shows it's not all doom and gloom at Edgar Street and they believe we are still an ambitious club."
Turner will talk to other out-of-contract players this week, including Jimmy Quiggin who is to undergo a hernia operation soon. On strenghtening the squad, Turner said: "I have had talks with potential new players and may be able to announce a signing by the end of the week."
Hereford United have earned the Conference News Performance of the Month Award for April/May for their 3-2 victory at second placed Yeovil Town, and the reserves finished second to Kidderminster in the Sygnus Central Conference after a 1-0 win over Hednesford and a 5-0 victory over Nuneaton.
THE 'Fair Play for the National Game' campaign which ws started to push for a second promotion place from the Conference has been endorsed by HUISA Chairman Kevin Wargen.
"Every year the Football League seems to find reasons preventing more than one Conference club from being promoted," said Wargen. "The more publicity given to this unfairness the better and I would urge all United fans to support the campaign"
The main sticking point is the 'parachute payment' for relegated clubs from the third division, and Conference Chief Executive John Moules said: "The Conference has made significant proposals in terms of finance and what we want to know is what the shortfall is."
May 18th:
HEREFORD United have confirmed that Everton will play at Edgar Street on Saturday, August 11th. The game with the Premiership side from Liverpool is likely to kick off at 3pm.
May 19th:
THE Evening News has announced that Paul Gascoigne could be in the Everton XI side to play Hereford at Edgar Street on August 11th, along with Duncan Ferguson.
Graham Turner tells how the game came about. "It was all down to Ron Jukes and his relationship with chief executive, Mike Dunford, when they worked together at Derby County," said Turner. "It's not easy to arrange these matches and if you look at Everton's position they have a stack of clubs around them where they don't have to travel."
Walter Smith's side visit one week after a Manchester United XI play at Edgar Street, where some first team names are hoped to feature.
YEOVIL Town's push for a Football League place, eventually ended by Hereford in the penultimate match of last season, has forced chairman John Fry to increase ticket prices at Huish Park for next season.
"This is something we are always reluctant to do," chairman John Fry told the club's official website. "But the ever increasing demands for higher safety standards are going to significantly increase our costs. The safety of spectators must be a priority but we will be maintaining our football budget at the same level as the 2000/01 season."
The budget for last season was expected to gain Football League status, but Rushden pipped the Somerset side and Yeovil soon sacked boss Colin Addison. There have been over thirty applicants for the vacant role.
Meanwhile, Chester City have lost their appeal to award former manager Kevin Ratcliffe, now of Shrewsbury Town £200,000 compensation. The High Court threw out the appeal and City must also pay interest on the money, so Ratcliffe may pursue his threat to wind-up the club.
Former Hereford striker Adrian Foster has been released by Nigel Spink at Forest Green Rovers, and veteran midfielder Mark Taylor has been released by Steve Burr at Nuneaton Borough, one season after a move from Edgar Street.
Finally, Leigh RMI have rejected a £30,000 bid for Steve Jones, their top scorer with nineteen Conference goals, from Morecambe. The club have said that the offer was 'insulting'. Manager Steve Waywell has signed a new contract to stay at Hilton Park for another four years.
THE Worcester Evening News has announced that Hereford United have agreed new one-year deals with midfield duo John Snape and Jimmy Quiggin. Snape will stay at Edgar Street for a third season whilst Quiggin earned a new contract with a superb start to his Bulls career earlier this year.
The signings, along with those of Ian Wright, John Shirley and Matt Clarke have pleased manager Graham Turner. "We are never out of the woods financially but the fact these players are prepared to re-sign means they are optimistic about our chances," said Turner.
On Steve Bull's situation, he commented: "I don't know what Bully is doing but if he is offered managerial positions he will consider them," said Turner. "But if nothing materialises he could be back with us. I think he enjoyed his time with us. He's lost a yard or two but in training he stands comparison with anyone both for pace and the more sustained work."
May 21st:
SEAMUS Crowe, the Wolves midfielder who spent a period on loan with Hereford United last season, has been released by the first division side. The young Irishman has not played for the Molineux first team, although was a regular in the reserves.
For Hereford, he played four times and it is unlikely that Graham Turner will opt to sign him after he failed to impress in a Hereford shirt.
May 22nd:
TOTTENHAM striker Les Ferdinand has joined the campaign calling for reform of the promotion system between the Football Conference and the Football League, according to Football News website.
Under the current system, only the Conference champions are promoted to Division Three, and only if the club meets stringent financial and ground regulations. But Ferdinand, who experienced non-league life first hand with his time at Hayes during the 1980's, believes the "closed shop" system is destroying the national game from grass-roots up.
Ferdinand said: "With only one team promoted from the Conference to the Third Division, it has acted as a bottleneck for far too long and in my view destroys the entire concept of a national game from Premiership to grass roots.
"The Conference is an important breeding ground for young players who have been missed by the bigger club's scouting system. I for one will be going all out to support a change to this oppressive system."
The Conference is launching a campaign called "2-4-2" to lobby the Football League for changes at the annual general meeting in Chester in June.
THREE additional friendly matches have been announced, taking the running total to seven for the pre-season period. The games are all away against lower graded opposition. United will travel to Boldmere St. Michaels of the Midland Alliance, Tamworthof the Dr. Martens Premier League and Bilston Town, who last season competed in the Dr. Martens Western Division.
The fixture list in full is as follows:
Date Team Venue Kick off
21/07/01 Cardiff City Home 12pm
24/07/01 Tamworth Away TBC
28/07/01 Bristol City Home 3pm
31/07/01 Boldmere St. Michaels Away TBC
04/08/01 Manchester United XI (Tickets available now) Home 3pm
07/08/01 Bilston Town Away TBC
11/08/01 Everton XI Home 3pm
Jimmy Quiggin signed from Boldmere last season, a side who are located near Sutton Coldfield. Tamworth was the last place that Wayne Dyer was seen playing, but he may not still be with them. Bilston is situated near Wolverhampton and play in orange. Kick off times for the above matches are likely to be either 7.30 or 7.45pm.
Also at the Liaison Meeting last night, the terrace prices were announced at £8 next season whilst seating will cost £10. There will be a £1 increase if United are in the top 3 of the league and can still win the league. Also season tickets are still on sale at a reduced rate. Take a look at www.bulls-shop.com for more details.
Work has started on the ground, but the council are no longer maintaining the ground after a huge price increase. There will be a painting day on the 30th June, an Open Day on July 29th and pre-season training starts on July 11th.
THE Nationwide League website has revealed in an exclusive interview with David Burns, chief executive of The Football League, that he wants four promotion places from the First Division to the Conference.
Finally, the Conference has the full backing of someone in position to help the cause, but the realistic plan of two-up or three-up is much more likely to be implemented. Support may be low from the clubs in both the Premiership and Division Three but it would be beneficial to football, according to Burns.
Burns said: "All clubs and their fans have aspirations to be in a higher division, and by increasing the number of promotion places you would automatically increase the chances of achieving those hopes.
"On the other side of the coin, of course, is the fact that the chances of being relegated would also be greater - but I truly believe if that was the case then clubs would probably budget more wisely for failure as well as success.
"The issue is about competition but it's also about the financial gap between the bigger clubs and the smaller clubs. By getting into a higher division a club would share in the wealth of that higher division, so if more clubs were able to win promotion it would mean spreading the money throughout football on a much wider basis than at present.
"I appreciate that clubs in the Premiership at the moment would probably want to have less promotion and relegation rather than more, because it's so difficult to get there and once you've made it you don't want to leave.
"If you're in the first division, on the other hand, you probably want a Premiership of about 28 clubs! That strips all the way down to the Conference, where at the moment we have the debate as to whether there should be an increase in promotion and relegation with Division Three.
"My view is there should be an increase - and eventually why shouldn't we have four up, four down between the League and the Conference? I believe the Conference has become a stronger competition over the last few years and that it will continue to go from strength to strength.
"This year's champions Rushden & Diamonds will be good competitors in Division Three next season, and so would runners-up Yeovil have been if we already had two up, two down instead of just one.
"However, there is a big financial gap between the League and the Conference and it has to be understood that clubs in the third division are running businesses where it's hard enough just to break even. Many of them would argue against voting to increase the the odds of losing their League status and with it, the £350,000 a year they are currently guaranteed from the League's centralised deals.
"But I believe we will get an increase in promotion and relegation, and hopefully not just at the lower end of the League structure but at the top end too. Because that's where the golden dream of every football fan starts - they want their team to play in the Premiership.
"It's the Wimbledon dream, the dream that in the past clubs like Swansea, Carlisle and Northampton have fulfilled by reaching the top flight. Those clubs, and a lot more too, have done it and once you've been there you always have the hope and expectation that you will get back - and by increasing promotion opportunities at every level we would be opening the route that little bit wider for every club in the League and the Conference."
May 24th:
GRAHAM Turner has told the Hereford Times that the parachute payment from the third division to the Conference whiich is the sticking point in the plea for a second promotion place should be funded by the FA.
The Football League and the Conference asked the FA to find the cash but they refused, and Turner said: "I think the FA should find the money. After all they fund the `parachute payments' paid to clubs relegated from the Premiership, which is considerably more than £150,000."
Meanwhile Graham Turner has said that players are being looked at for the new season. "Shirley has signed a one-year contract and Snape and Quiggin have agreed the deals offered," he said. "We are waiting for them to sign and return their contracts. I have spoken to some players we are interested in and we shall also be inviting others to join us for pre-season training."
May 25th:
THE Daily Telegraph has revealed today that Conference officials have been invited to the League's annual meeting next month to outline the proposals for two-up two-down from the Football League using a play-off method.
The Conference want to hold play-offs involving the second, third, fourth and fifth teams. A sticking point could be League clubs' fears about the financial effects of relegation. Relegated clubs receive a `parachute payment' of 50 per cent of what is paid to Third Division teams, for a year. It is understood that if the proposal succeeds, the League will insist that both clubs receive the payment for two years.
May 26th:
GRAHAM Turner has a busy summer ahead of him as not only does he want to bring in four new players, but also has to supervise alterations to the pitch, arrange fixtures and oversee the pre-season training schedule.
However, he is looking forward to some hard work in the summer and to reap the rewards next season. "I'm looking forward to it with a great deal of optimism especially because it looks like there will be an extra promotion place to play for," he said.
The non-league shake-up announced by the FA has been welcomed by Turner, who told the Evening News: "There has to be a natural progression for progressive clubs. You have the likes of Burton and Worcester that could be very ambitious but when they reach the Conference they hit a bottleneck."
Meanwhile, Ricky George will be the special guest in the chat room over on the Official Website on June 9th (http://www.herefordunited.co.uk). It's your chance to ask him about the winning goal in that famous FA Cup triumph over Newcastle United in 1972.
May 29th:
THE AGM for the Vice President's Club is due to be held on July 2nd at 7.30pm.
May 30th:
'THE Ultimate Drop' - by George Rowland.
Rangers fans weep as their club ends a season without a trophy for the first time in 16 years. Man United fans choke on their prawn sandwiches at the thought of a Champions' League campaign that might not end in glory. Chelsea fans mourn only qualifying for the UEFA Cup. Hereford United could give them a lesson on perspective. As could Doncaster, Scarborough, Newport County or Colchester. The biggest disaster for a football fan isn't their team narrowly missing out on glory - it's abundant failure staring you in the face. The big "R", the drop - relegation - and no relegation is bigger than that from the League to the Conference.
'The Ultimate Drop' chronicles the fates of the nine clubs who have entered the abyss since automatic relegation from the League's basement division was first introduced in 1987. From the injury-time goal by the on-loan goalkeeper, to the police-dog who crucially bit a Torquay defender's groin, to the club who faced the Conference not even owning a football - each of the teams' stories are produced in gruesome detail. For the most part written by the fans of the clubs involved, it offers a perspective of football away from the glory of the world of Sky TV and eight-figure transfer fees. True stories of grass-roots support and nine clubs who paid the ultimate price, as well as 3 who escaped in last-ditch thrillers.
Available soon from Tempus publishing, priced £12.99. For further details contact george.rowland@ntlworld.com. ISBN number 0-7524-2217-0. The book is due to be launched in around six weeks and pre-orders are to be shipped on the day of release, so order your copy now.
May 31st:
Leicester City manager Peter Taylor, who has managed the likes of Gillingham, England and Dover Athletic, has given his support to the push for two promotion places from the Conference. To aid the scheme, he has written to all chairman in the Football League to hopefully gain their support.
The Football League chairmen all meet on June 7th-9th in Chester and Hereford boss Graham Turner said: "It will be the first time the matter has been on the agenda of the Football League annual meeting and a number of prominent people have given the proposition their support. But it will all depend on the votes of the Football League chairmen."
Meanwhile, the fifty third annual shareholders meeting of Hereford United FC will be held at Legends on Thursday, June 28th at 6pm. According to the Hereford Times, Jimmy Quiggin hasn't yet returned his new contract but has agreed to sign, whilst goalkeeper Matt Baker has signed up, but will be in the United States coaching this summer.
BBC Ceefax has revealed tonight that Hereford United have signed Scott Goodwin on a free transfer from Hednesford Town. A midfielder, Goodwin started with Coventry before joining Hednesford, but couldn't save his side from relegation this season. "Scott Goodwin spent 4 years at Coventry City and come highly reccomended," said Turner. "His enthusiam and attitude are excellent." Goodwin is twenty three and will benefit the Hereford team with his experience and played twenty four matches last seaosn, scoring twice.
Also coming to Edgar Street next season is Scott Voice, a striker from Bilston Town. Graham Turner said: "Scott Voice's done very well at lower levels and now has the an opportunity with us." Last season, Voice scored fourty six goals and the previous year netted twenty seven in the Dr. Martens Western Division.
Meanwhile, the FA have announced their support for the second Conference promotion place. In a statement, they said:
“The F.A. Board today confirmed its support for an increase in the number of promotion and relegation places between the Football Conference and the Football League.
“The F.A. is fully behind the Football Conference’s proposal to the Football League and will work to ensure that no League team is disadvantaged. In addition, The F.A. will support the Conference in its efforts to help its clubs to compete in the League.”
The subject will now be discussed by the Conference Board which meets tomorrow and at the Conference’s Annual General Meeting to be held on Saturday. The Conference will then present their proposal to the AGM of the Football League on June 8.
