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Hereford are set to play eight games in January.
Next for Hereford is an away game at Alfreton on Saturday.
Tickets for the game can be purchased in advance or on the gate.
More details: https://ethicalticketing.org/alfreton-town-fc/event/63041740
Striker Theo Robinson, who scored 13 goals in 43 appearances on loan at Hereford from Watford in the 2007/08 promotion-winning League Two season, has rejoined Bromsgrove Sporting.
Kieran Phillips with Jamie Willets as Hereford faced Tamworth in 2024
The 36-year-old, who has been capped by Jamaica, was Sporting's second-highest scorer last season and his signature is one of the first under new boss Tim Flowers. The Southern League Premier Division Central outfit also have former Bulls Koby Arthur and Jordan Lyden in their squad.
Southern League Premier South side Gloucester City have cut Kieran Phillips' loan at Larkhall Athletic short. The striker, who joined Hereford on loan from Kidderminster Harriers in 2024, had scored eight goals in seven matches for the step four side.
The loan, to help him gain minutes, was ended a game early as City wanted him available as they host Evesham United at the KMM Energy Stadium.
AFC Telford United have confirmed that teenage goalkeeper Josh Gracey will remain at the club on loan for the rest of the 2025/26 season.
The 18-year-old, a Northern Ireland Under-21 international, joined from Wolves in September following ex-Bull Brandon Hall’s injury and has impressed since making his debut in the FA Cup against Kidderminster. With Hall still sidelined, Telford moved quickly to extend Gracey’s stay, with all parties happy with his progress.
Tributes are continuing to flood in after Paul Holleran’s resignation after 16 years as Leamington manager, with the Brakes currently bottom of National League North. Radcliffe joint boss Anthony Johnson praised him as “a fantastic manager” and “an even better bloke”, while Kidderminster Harriers said his tenure was “unlikely to ever be equalled”.
Omari Sterling-James has said there were no arguments before he left Hereford.
There had been speculation of a falling out between the winger and manager Paul Caddis, but this was quashed by the boss and Sterling-James has now also put to bed any suggestion of a row.
After joining step three Hednesford Town for an undisclosed fee, he posted on X: "@HerefordFC to all the supporters and everyone involved in the club, I’d like to thank for you welcoming me warm heartedly and showing continued support throughout my time here. iv enjoyed it overall all hearing and seeing the passion you all bring to Edgar street is unbelievable
"To the players staff and especially the manager who has been excellent with me since the day I arrived till I left no arguments just two honest human beings with respect for each other I wish you all the best this season and will hope 2026 brings that positive energy back
"Marz✌🏾"
Hednesford's director of football, Andrew Reed said Sterling-James "wanted to get out of Hereford", adding that he was surprised he wanted to move on as Hereford is a big club with a great fan base.
While neither Hednesford nor Sterling-James have mentioned any financial element of the deal, Paul Caddis even said that the winger had an opportunity to "almost double his money".
The winger has left the Bulls to join Hednesford, a club who are in a league lower.
Both clubs have this morning confirmed the move, with Sterling-James telling Hednesford's official website that he already knew some of the people at the Staffordshire club, and being local "made it even more appealing."
However, what is more telling is what Hednesford's director of football, Andrew Reed said.
According to Reed, Sterling-James "wanted to get out of Hereford", adding that he was surprised he wanted to move on as Hereford is a big club with a great fan base.
While neither Hednesford or Sterling-James will mention any financial appeal that may have played a part in the move, money talks. And Hereford manager Paul Caddis even said that the winger had an opportunity to "almost double his money".
While Hednesford are currently top of the Northern Premier League Premier Division and had a club record attendance of 4,784 in their last match, the fact remains they are still a Step 3 club, while Hereford - while struggling - are in the league above and can also attract such gates, as was proved on Boxing Day.
So, did it mainly boil down to money, or was Sterling-James just desperate to get out? We will probably never know.
Omari Sterling-James who has joined Hednesford from Hereford has admitted that being a local club made the move appealing.
“I know a few of the lads here and I’ve played with Lee (assistant manager Lee Vaughan) before, so that connection definitely helped. Being local made it even more appealing," said Sterling-James.
“I’ve played across the leagues and more recently at National League North, and now I just want to come in, work hard and help the team get promoted. That’s the aim.
"I’m excited to get started and be part of what’s building here.”
Andrew Reed, Director of Football, said: “When I got the call saying Omari was available and looking to get out at Hereford we wanted to jump on it.
"Obviously losing Jermaine (Hylton) left us short in that type of wide man and with Omari’s numbers this season being in the top five for assists and expected assists in the league above it was a great option.
"I was surprised to hear he wanted to move on as Hereford is a big club with a great fan base but when we get an opportunity to get a player like Omari we need to act."
Later S-J tweeted about Hereford.
To all the supporters and everyone involved in the club, I’d like to thank for you welcoming me warm heartedly and showing continued support throughout my time here. iv enjoyed it overall all hearing and seeing the passion you all bring to Edgar street is unbelievable
Hereford have confirmed that Omari Sterling-James has joined Hednesford for an undisclosed fee.
Every Christmas the club used to release a seasonal video, this one starts with a New Years Day match against Gillingham from 1990.
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| Leamington fans at Edgar Street |
While Holleran also mentioned health issues and a need to look after himself, he leaves the Warwickshire side rock bottom of National League North - seven points behind Hereford in 23rd.
Despite the poor position, the club's chair said the 55-year-old leaves a "lasting legacy that is unlikely to be matched".
First taking charge in November 2009, overseeing a 2-2 draw at Cambridge City in the Southern League Premier Division, the highly-regarded manager has managed 789 games.
After tendering his resignation on New Year's Eve, Holleran, a former Birmingham City scholar, said: "I have been on a wonderful journey with the football club and want to thank everyone for their fantastic support throughout my sixteen years.
"I just feel the time is right for someone else to take over the reins and provide fresh ideas and impetus within the dressing room. Allied to this I have a number of health appointments in the coming month and my focus in the short term has to be on looking after myself."
As a player, he featured for Alvechurch and Solihull Borough before two knee operations forced early retirement and a move into coaching.
Before joining Leamington, he was instrumental in setting up reserve and youth teams at Solihull before his first managerial role at Kings Norton Town where he guided them to runners-up spot in the Midland Alliance and a cup win.
He then had spells with Solihull, Halesowen Town and Rushall Olympic.
Brakes chairman Jim Scott said: "We always knew this day would come and there are insufficient words to express our thanks for the fantastic contribution Paul has made to the club.
"He may have had the title ‘first team manager’ but for all the volunteers, fans and those who interacted with him within the club, his efforts went way beyond his job title and he has left a lasting legacy that is unlikely to be matched.
"Following our discussions post his resignation, Paul has agreed in a number of weeks time to discuss options with the Board of Directors on a possible further role within the club."
With the new year at Your Co-op Community Stadium starting with the hunt for a new boss, current first team coach Chris Knott will take interim charge of the team away at Chorley on Saturday.
Among the well-wishes in reaction to the news, former Hereford keeper Paul White posted on X: "The word Legend is so fitting! All the best with everything coming up @Hollers07 top top football bloke & gaffer! 👌"
Highlights from last night's match between Merthyr and Hereford are now online.
It's been confirmed that Ricardo Rees is to join Forest Green Rovers for a undisclosed fee.
Rees scored one of Merthyr's goals last night in the game against Hereford.
This from Merthyr:
Merthyr Town Football Club can confirm an agreement has been reached with National League side, Forest Green Rovers for the transfer of Ricardo Rees, for an undisclosed fee. The transfer, which will become active from 1st January 2026, was reached between the two clubs after a large amount of interest from across the English pyramid.
Ricardo has simply become a club hero since he joined the Martyrs in the summer of 2022, after Paul Michael brought him from Yate Town. His appearance against Hereford in his final game for the Martyrs marked his 168th appearance for the club, in which he has scored 120 goals. I am sure many will remember his first goal for the club at home against Bracknell Town in the 2022/23 Southern League campaign, and the 118 in between, finishing with a goal in front of 4,000 supporters at Penydarren Park as he grabbed the first against Hereford last night.
The move to Forest Green Rovers, who are currently 5th in the Enterprise National League, presents a new challenge and opportunity for Ricardo in a full-time environment, as they battle for promotion to the EFL. Speaking on his time with the Martyrs, Ricardo had this final departing message to supporters, “I just want to thank everyone associated at Merthyr Town Football Club, from the staff, volunteers, my teammates and of course the supporters. Everyone has made my journey with the club such a special one, and we have created some lifelong memories together. Merthyr will always be in my heart and I class everyone there as my second family. Thank you for everything. UTT!”
Everyone at Merthyr Town Football Club would like to wish Ricardo all the best for his future and exciting opportunity, and thanks him for his service to the club over the last three and a half seasons.
A selection of pictures from after the final whistle at Merthyr last night.
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| Hereford's starting XI at Merthyr on Tuesday |
So as Hereford sit 23rd on 31st December 2025 with 21 points from 21 games, they sat 7th with 37 points from 23 games a year ago.
Looking back through the years, Hereford are in the worst position they have ever been in National League North heading into the New Year.
They are lower in the table, with fewer points and a lower points per game average than ever before.
23rd | 21 points from 21 games | Average 1 point per game
7th | 31 points from 23 games | Average 1.61 points per game
4th | 42 points from 25 games | Average 1.68 points per game
17th | 25 points from 21 games | Average 1.19 points per game
15th | 23 points from 17 games | Average 1.35 points per game
14th | 16 points from 11 games | Average 1.45 points per game
17th | 25 points from 23 games | Average 1.09 points per game
18th | 24 points from 22 games | Average 1.09 points per game
Nigel Preece was at Merthyr last night for the game against Hereford.
There was quite some hype around this fixture. Living in South Wales the attention on the upward progress of Merthyr Town FC hasn't gone unnoticed; their unexpectedly successful form in their first season at this level since they were Merthyr Tydfil several decades ago has been hitting the press for some time.
A part time squad, a mix of local and other players and a positive attitude (it can be done) has taken Merthyr into undreamt of nose bleed territory with comments voiced like they could be playing Newport (struggling at the bottom of the EFL) next season.
They've always been a bit of a second team for many South Wales valleys football fans, even their best known fan, Jonny Owen is a Nottingham Forest fan (allegedly the Forest chairman was in attendance for this) and their crowds and comparative success over the years have often been in contrast to that of Cardiff City in particular; when the latter were struggling with only a few thousand diehard regulars in the late 80s, early 90s Merthyr had, similar to now, a good side playing enterprising football. They spent several years in the Conference (I went several times) as it was then before a fairly typical crash and burn. In passing, while I may be gently ribbing their floating support, I'd just like to mention their number one fan; Mark Evans, of Dial M for Merthyr fame, FAW fixer, a real Merthyr footballing legend in my eyes.
Welsh club football is a political minefield of course and Merthyr are the last of the non EFL clubs to resist returning to the Welsh pyramid, even turning down a supposed multi million pound FAW bribe recently. I doubt there would have been such a clamour for tickets if they'd been playing Bala or, even, Barry in the Cymru Prem. Their opponents certainly helped the hype, many middle aged South Wales football fans, whether Swansea, Cardiff and or Merthyr remember their regular encounters with Hereford United.
Enough of my attempt at scene setting, other than to compare recent records; Merthyr 10 wins out of 11, in contrast to our 1 league win in a similar time frame, so only one winner likely. Football, thankfully, is not always so easy to predict.
I had a couple of beers in Cardiff before catching the train up. A pint in the Winchester (yes, the jokes were made about staying there until it's all blown over) and it was off to Penydarren Park. A fine, compact, very hemmed in football ground, though those unlit steps up towards the entrances felt rather like an accident waiting to happen.
We were on the open terrace again, thankfully a dry (albeit cold) evening, some facilities seemed improved since our visit in the Southern League. Home terraces were pretty packed in places but plenty of room in others (those furthest away from the entrance and the bar, I guess).
Our line up was Richardson, Skinner, Quansah, Howkins, Hudson, Mafuta, a welcome return for Richards, White, Edwards, Hamilton and Williams.
I was anticipating with no lack of gloom our normal slow start as we defended the goal at our end, but we had the first effort, an Edwards shot into the side netting. Nevertheless, Merthyr were seeing plenty of the ball, they looked confident (not surprising) and zipped the ball from side to side probing for openings without creating much. Richardson made his first top save of the evening after around 15 minutes off the impressive Twamley and I was starting to feel a home goal was inevitable.
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| First Yellow Card Of The Game Was Shown After A Poor Tackle On Richards |
It could have got worse, some poor finishes and more Richardson saves kept us in it but like other recent games we gradually started to get forward more often and to better effect; Hamilton wriggled through but his shot wasn't crisp enough to beat Cogman before he then hit the inside of the post (we thought we had scored etc).
Merthyr started the second half on top again, a deflected cross looped onto the bar, a long range shot smacked against the post and Richardson was again called into action. A second home goal would probably have been decisive but, with Osborne on for Edwards, gradually we started to look the more likely.
10 minutes or so into the half we found an equaliser. A corner was laid back to Hudson about 12 yards out and his crisp shot was too sharp for Cogman to keep out. This was followed by a wave of Bulls’ attacks, Williams and Osborne having decent efforts along with more corners.
A succession of game slowing subs by the home side perhaps lost any momentum they may have had but it was still a very pleasant surprise when we snatched a late leveller. Four of the minimum six minutes of injury time were up when a free kick was swung in hopefully towards the penalty spot, the home keeper came rushing out, got nowhere near the ball and Kyle Howkins’ uncontested header floated into the unguarded net.
The relief of a point was somewhat tempered by dropping another spot to 23rd and the news of the loss of Sterling-James (we knew) and Osborne (had been rumoured). On the past two showings, Hamilton needs to encouraged and given a run in the side but clearly reinforcements are needed.
COYB
Nigel Preece
A selection of pictures from the second half of last night's game between Merthyr and Hereford.
