FA Trophy Third Round Draw in full

NORTH  (32 CLUBS, 16 TIES)

1 Solihull Moors v AFC Fylde
2 Harborough Town v Carlisle United
3 Alvechurch v Gainsborough Trinity or Alfreton Town
4 Hartlepool United v Anstey Nomads
5 South Shields v Macclesfield
6 Clitheroe v York City
7 Scunthorpe United v Peterborough Sports
8 Worksop Town v Kidderminster Harriers
9 Curzon Ashton v Marine
10 Hereford v Radcliffe
11 Leamington v Rochdale
12 Southport v Leek Town
13 Tamworth v Boston United
14 FC Halifax Town v FC United of Manchester
15 AFC Telford United v Altrincham
16 Gateshead v Morecambe

SOUTH (32 CLUBS, 16 TIES)

1 Boreham Wood v Brackley Town
2 Leatherhead v Harrow Borough
3 Yeovil Town v Maidstone United
4 Forest Green Rovers v Weston Super Mare
5 Hemel Hempstead Town v Horsham
6 Chatham Town v Plymouth Parkway
7 Wealdstone v Cheshunt
8 Dorking Wanderers v Bath City
9 Woking v AFC Totton
10 Dagenham & Redbridge v Hanwell Town
11 Eastleigh v Aldershot Town
12 Southend United v Truro City
13 Ebbsfleet United v Braintree Town
14 Walton & Hersham v Sutton United
15 Gloucester City v Worthing
16 Dover Athletic v Hornchurch

Who Hereford will face in FA Trophy

Hereford have been drawn at home to Radcliffe in the third round of the FA Trophy.

Radcliffe are currently fourth in the National North League table. 

The game will be played on Saturday, 13th December.

 

Winners will receive £4500, losers £1250. 

Hereford In Northern Section For Trophy Draw

Hereford are in the Northern Section for the third round of the FA Trophy.

They have been given ball number 28.

FA Trophy Draw on TalkSport 2

The draw for the third round of the FA Trophy will be live on TalkSport 2 at 3.15pm today.

The National League clubs enter at this stage, with 32 ties split regionally - north and south.

It is unclear at this stage what section Hereford will be in. In the second round, they were in the north, but that could change depending how many 'northern' and 'southern' clubs there are.

The Bulls reached the third round after beating AFC Sudbury 5-1 on Saturday. 

Update: Hereford are in the north section. 

Alexander Confirmed As CEO For National League

The National League have appointed Phil Alexander as its permanent Chief Executive Officer. 

Alexander – who spent over two decades as CEO of Crystal Palace - had initially taken the role on an interim basis in May.

On the appointment, National League Chairman Jack Pearce MBE said: “We are pleased to have confirmed the appointment of Phil Alexander whose years of experience at the highest levels of English football will be of huge benefit to our clubs and their communities.

“The past few months have seen some great work undertaken – not least with our 3UP campaign – and we are looking ahead to what promises to be an exciting future.”

Before his move into football administration, Alexander was England U19 schoolboys captain, played professionally for Norwich City and was a place-kicker for American Football team London Monarchs – winning the World Bowl at Wembley in 1991.

During his 26 years as CEO of Crystal Palace the club won three promotions to the Premier League in 1997, 2004 and 2013 and in May 2022 he was named Premier League CEO of the Year at the Football Business Awards.

After leaving Palace in 2022 he moved on to Wycombe Wanderers as Senior Advisor and most recently Bristol City as CEO.

Phil Alexander said: “I am thrilled to be joining the National League as CEO at such an important time.

“The push for 3UP continues and being included in the scope of the Independent Football Regulator highlights the growth of the game at this level.

“The ambition to be innovative and embrace new technology will establish the League in a unique place in the English football pyramid. I look forward to working with the League’s Board, the staff, member clubs and sponsors to deliver this ambition.”

Consultation On Merton Meadow Plans On Wednesday

There will be a 'public consultation' about the plans for Merton Meadow in High Town on Wednesday.

There have been complaints from Cllr Polly Andrews amidst others that the original consulation was inadequate so this is a chance to express views about what is proposed to the Herefordshire Council.

The Council have reduced the amount of parking at the Merton Meadow car park to allow the constuction of flood ponds.

There are also plans for houses on part of the site which will further reduce the amount of car parking.

Fears have been expressed that this reduction will affect supporters of Hereford FC on match days and also the Old Market Shopping Area. 

Two Midweek National North Fixtures

Two National North League fixtures are set to take place tomorrow evening.

Darlington v Peterborough Sports 

South Shields v Oxford City 

Whilst it looks rather unlikely both Peterborough and Oxford could move above Hereford should they win their games. 

A draw for Oxford would also send them above Hereford on goal average. 

Hereford Supporters At Sudbury

A long day for Hereford supporters in Suffolk yesterday - other than for London Bulls for whom it was quite close.

But an enjoyable one, especially to see five goals. When did Hereford last score five goals in a game?

 

Osborne - I'm Buzzing

Armed with the match ball duly signed, Hereford's hat-trick hero Sam Osborne spoke to the local media after yesterday's FA Trophy tie at Sudbury.

Osborne was asked if it was signed by all the players? 

"It's a little tradition that the lads have got to sign it," said Osborne.

"There were a few nice messages and some I can't say on the air."

As for on the field Osborne said that he was getting chances from the first couple of minutes.

"We were all having chances!

"Obviously it's not the easiest of places to come, even on a day like today, to get goals so I'm buzzing with it."

For his third goal Osborne cut in to his right.

"I scored a few of them last year but playing out on the other side or in a 10 you don't get many opportunities to cut in on your right.

"As soon as I got the ball I knew what I was doing."

For his second goal Osborne chipped the keeper.

"Willo heard me shouting, he thought I was offside but I wasn't.

"Again as soon as I got the ball I knew I was going to do a little dink.

"I kept track of the goals but I can't remember the others."

Can you take this confidence and this form back into the league?

"100 per cent, the Gaffer said at half time that first twenty minutes sums our season up so far. We had chances on goal but we haven't scored and then against the run of play we've conceded. 

"It is down to a few individual errors, we know it hasn't been good enough and we have to change it.

"Tuesday and Thursday the Gaffer really put us through our paces, lads were coming off, bloody hell this has been a tough week going into Saturday.

"You train how you play, he's a big believer in that and so am I.

"We had some really good sessions, tactically some good sessions as well.

"We knew we had a week off as the game was called off on Tuesday, a week to put it right."

Asked by BBC H&W's Carson Wishart how his season was going, Osborne said that it hadn't helped that he didn't have a pre-season.

"I came in and had one game, one ninety minutes and the season was here so I had to use the first three, four games to join the new club and get settled and also get mind and mental fitness up to scrath."

When did you last score a hat-trick?

"At Buxton, I think it was against Darlo, it's always a nice feeling. As soon as you've scored two you want to score three."  

Second Half Pictures From Sudbury

A selection of pictures from the second half of yesterday's FA Trophy tie between Sudbury and Hereford.

 

Osborne Celebrates His Second Goal At Sudbury

Sam Osborne scored a hat-trick for Hereford in their 5-1 win at Sudbury yesterday afternoon in the FA Trophy.

Here's how he celebrated his second goal.

 

First Half Pictures From Sudbury

A selection of pictures from yesterday's FA Trophy tie between Sudbury and Hereford.

These from the first half:

The First Goal Of Osborne's Hat-Trick

Hereford's Sam Osborne scored a hat-trick at Sudbury yesterday.

Here's a look at his first goal.

Lawson D'Ath sent a ball forward towards Osborne who controlled it despite two defenders close by and then slotted past the on-rushing Sudbury keeper. 

Pre Kick Off At Sudbury

A few pictures from before kick-off at Sudbury.

At first glance the plastic pitch looked past its use by date but in truth it played quite well and there appeared to be few if any serious injuries to any player during the game.

The recently installed floodlights lit up the ground well given it was such a dull, damp day. 

 

Given The Attendance Of Just 315 There Was Plenty Of Space To Stand Or Sit