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In this afternoon's FA Trophy tie at Edgar Street it finished:
Hereford 1 Brackley 2
Hereford failed to capitalise when ahead and Brackley deserved their victory.
Harry Tustin had to be subbed in the first half. It's thought he may have suffered acl damage and is likely to be out for a long spell.
At half time in the FA Trophy it's:
Hereford 1 Brackley 0
Cawley Cox with Hereford's goal on 14 minutes.
The striker with a high ball over the top of the keeper.
Hereford created several chances. Iwunze unlucky not to double the lead just before the break.
Looks a decent attendance for a Trophy tie.
Hereford starting eleven to play Brackley in the FA Trophy this afternoon:
Starting XI: LINE 🆙 | Hereford FC Starting XI for the FA Trophy fixture at home to Brackley this afternoon.
Richardson, Hudson, Merrett, Willis, Martin, Tustin, Cox, James, Iwunze, Phillips, Howkins.
Subs: Kandola, Waldron, Holmes, Bitemo, Muir.
In his pre-match interview with BBC Hereford and Worcester, Hereford manager Aaron Downes spoke about this afternoon's FA Trophy match against Brackley.
"Looking forward to it," said Downes.
"It is a good competition, a really good competition.
"It gives us an opportunity, if you go far in it, to get to Wembley, realistic opportunity to get to Wembley.
"It's something we will be taking seriously and I'm really looking forward to it.
"It will be a difficult game, Brackley is a good club, they've had a good couple of years.
"They are a good side and we will be taking them seriously, that's for sure."
Following on from today's look back match at Bardon Hill, a few stats from November 2015.
Eleven years ago exactly reformed Hereford played their 19th league game of their first season.
A look back to an away game at Bardon Hill (where was that?)
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| The entrance to Bardon Hill's ground |
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| The teams and match officials during the minute's silence ahead of today's game |
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| Hereford returning after the break - conditions far from perfect |
KD, Jo and Tom sit down to talk through the last few weeks and the last few games.
A mixed bag of results but still very positive. There have been goals, at both ends, and huge highs and some lows.
They discuss the impact of certain players including Lewis Hudson's return to the side and the captaincy.
Tom, KD & Jo then take a look at the next few games including the FA Trophy against Brackley Town at home. Thye look at Hereford's chances and whether the FA Trophy or the league is more important to Hereford this season.
As usual they talk about the women's team and their latest results including the game that they went to at home!
Also a mention for the fantastic Youth Team, we are all incredibly proud of them!
Thanks for listening! Come on you whites!
Links to the podcast:
YouTube: '1st the worst, 2nd the best' | The London Bulls Podcast | Ep.46
https://youtu.be/nLQPY-oO4fA
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6i1Oa7Pf6FqTvleSPTf3kg
Our links to everything else: https://linktr.ee/LondonBulls?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=3435596d-f136-4cef-991f-d9c89a399e69
Hereford FC are set to hold a Fans Forum on Friday December 4th.
The Forum will be held in Radfords and will kick-off at 7pm.
Chairman Chris Ammonds will be in charge and both manager Aaron Downes and assistant manager Harry Pell are expected to attend.
The club hopes to broadcast the event 'live'.
Hereford FC are looking for volunteers to help take the frost covers off Edgar Street tomorrow morning.
If you can help please be at the ground by 10am.
The covers were placed on the pitch at 5pm this evening to protect it from frost ahead of tomorrow's FA Trophy Tie against Brackley.
'Tipmans Tips' supercomputer has been at work predicting where teams in the National North League will finish this season.
Reportedly the computer has been fed information on every team – including results so far, injuries, potential spending, managerial rumours and more.
This is what it's come up with:
Winner and play-off positions: 1st South Shields (91 points), 2nd Macclesfield (88 points), 3rd Oxford City (78 points), 4th Morecambe (77 points), 5th Buxton (77 points), 6th Hereford (76 points), 7th Chester (74 points).
Mid-table: 8th Hednesford Town (68 points), 9th King’s Lynn Town (67 points), 10th Bedford Town (66 points), 11th Chorley (64 points), 12th Spalding United (63 points), 13th Worksop Town (61 points), 14th Hebburn Town (61 points), 15th AFC Telford United (61 points).
Escaping the drop: 16th Brackley Town (60 points), 17th Scarborough Athletic (57 points), 18th Merthyr Town (56 points), 19th Marine (55 points), 20th Harborough Town (54 points).
Relegated: 21st Radcliffe (54 points), 22nd Darlington (45 points), 23rd Spennymoor Town (45 points), 24th Southport (43 points).
Hereford FC have decided to lay down frost covers over their Edgar Street later this afternoon.
With temperatures set to drop to minus 4C, the club are hoping the frost covers will provide enough protection to allow tomorrow's FA Trophy Tie against Brackley to go ahead.
The club has asked for supporters to help lay the covers.
If you can help please be at the club for 5pm.
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Hereford FC have the opportunity on Saturday to regain a bit of home form, using the FA Trophy as a springboard to improve Edgar Street performances ahead of the visit of struggling Darlington next weekend.
Brackley Town are the visitors, and the two sides will be watched only on two sides, as the Len Weston Stand will be closed given that interest in the game won’t quite be at the level of league games so far this season. It goes without saying of course that interest in the game will nevertheless be at a level most other non-League clubs would bite your hand off for.
In what is a typically tight National League North mid-table, the Saints may be down in 18th place but they’re only eight points off the play-offs. Their form isn’t great, having lost three of their last five. Early days still of course, but at this level they’re unaccustomed to being at the wrong end of the table.
Their ex-central defender Gareth Dean is now manager, and I can only really remember Jason Cowley rattling him as a player when the sides have met at Edgar Street previously. Having said that Jason Cowley is capable of rattling a stoned rasta. Apart from that, Dean’s trips to Hereford have largely been fruitful as a player. Hopefully that will change in his role as manager.
They lost at home to Chester last weekend 1-0 thanks to not showing up in the first half and having a man sent off in the second.
This is a cracking opportunity away from the pressures of the league to prove that a/ there’s no Edgar street hoodoo, and b/ that the second half against Morecambe is the start of a long-term return to the form shown against South Shields and others earlier in the season, games in which the Bulls ran all over the opposition, but combined that constant pressing with high-quality passing football when in possession. That heady mix saw them top the table before it recently went missing a bit, but then returned with a vengeance for 45 minutes against Morecambe. If it can stay back for the rest of the season the play-offs beckon, at least, which represents a pretty astonishing turnaround in fortunes for the club.
Two games into captain Lewis Hudson’s comeback from injury, and he picked up at Morecambe from where he left off last season with his happy knack of scoring goals. Rich reward for the months he’s spent in rehab. Not THAT rehab. He’ll be looking to overtake Harrison Iwunze’s goal haul by Christmas.
Talking of which, no news yet on loan extensions for the Notts County youngsters, with Iwunze due back at the club on New Year’s Day and Kam Muir set to return before the end of this month. Fingers crossed that negotiations are ongoing and will deliver some good news soon.
Muir, in scoring the other goal on Tuesday, justified Aaron Downes’ decision to start him in the game, and it seems his potential could be about to explode all over the National League North if a deal can be done to keep him until at least Christmas. At Morecambe the lad showed signs he could play anywhere along the front line, and great defensive discipline to tuck back in when Hudson advanced.
Aaron Skinner and Billy Phillips are still injury doubts, but apart from that everyone is fit.
A quick word on Aaron Downes – some very smart tactical tweaks during the midweek game turned the tide Hereford’s way. He reads everything shrewdly and reacts quickly. His keen sense of a duty of care towards his players (which in fairness was also something Paul Caddis had in spades) and the bond he’s building with fans are really starting to build the sort of momentum that can overcome the few recent bumps in the road in terms of home form.
In terms of Trophy pedigree, Brackley won it in 2018, while Hereford reached the final in 2021. If the sides are drawing after 90-odd minutes it’s straight to penalties. Fans will recall that this was what happened last season in the competition when Radcliffe were the visitors, with the poor old pitch really starting to look at that point like it was in some serious trouble. No such issues this season – cheers Jarrod.
With the Bulls still second in the league even after recent wobbles, a 90-minute showing here of energetic hounding when out of possession and free-flowing football when in possession would bode very well for an exciting remainder of the season.
COYW
Chorley FC have released a statement confirming that manager Andy Preece has left and moved to Scunthorpe.
'Confirmation this evening that Chorley Football Club have reluctantly agreed a compensation package with Scunthorpe United, which will see Andy Preece move on to the National League outfit to become their new First Team Manager. Assistant Manager, Chris Anderson, will also be joining Andy as part of the move.
Naturally, this is disappointing news for everybody connected with Chorley Football Club, but we fully understand Andy's decision. Opportunities of this nature do not arise often and, after careful consideration, it became clear that this was one he felt he could not turn down.
Andy leaves Victory Park having made an outstanding contribution to the football club, both on and off the pitch.
He first arrived at the Club in July 2018 as Assistant Manager and Director of Football. During that time, he helped guide the Magpies to promotion from the National League North and establish Chorley among the leading clubs in non-league football. Andy stepped into the manager's position in May 2022 and has continued to drive the club forward.
Since becoming manager, Andy has consistently led the team into the promotion picture, securing play-off finishes and representing the football club with the upmost integrity. His experience, professionalism and relentless work ethic have ensured that Chorley has continued to be competitive, year on year.
Beyond first-team football, Andy's impact across the football club has been immense. He has played a major role in the successful development and growth of the Steven Gerrard Academy programme at Chorley, helping to increase participation numbers and strengthen opportunities for young people to progress through football and education.
His commitment to developing people has extended throughout the club, supporting coaches, staff, volunteers, and players in a variety of different roles and helping to create a culture where individuals have been encouraged to learn, grow and fulfil their potential.
Andy’s contributions therefore extend far beyond results, league positions and points totals. He has helped shape the modern structure of this football club and leaves behind foundations that will continue to benefit Chorley Football Club for many years to come.
The Board would like to place on record its sincere thanks to Andy for everything he has given to the Club over the past eight years. He leaves with the gratitude and respect of everyone associated with Chorley Football Club.
Football continually evolves, and this now presents an opportunity to begin an exciting new chapter.
The Board will now begin the process of identifying and recruiting a successor.
In the meantime, footballing operations will be overseen by our Chairman, Jamie Vermiglio, supported by senior members of the playing squad and football staff, until a new First Team Manager is appointed.
We would like to reassure supporters that plans for the future remain ambitious and unchanged. The football club remains fully committed to building on the progress achieved over recent years and ensuring that Chorley Football Club continues to compete at the highest level possible both on and off the pitch.
Everybody at Chorley Football Club would like to wish Andy, Chris and their families every success in the future and thank them for their dedication, hard work and commitment to the Magpies.'
Andy Preece has been named as the new Scunthorpe manager.
Just last Saturday he was in the dug-out at Chorley when Hereford were the visitors
Scunthorpe United is delighted to announce Andy Preece as the club’s new first team manager.
The 59-year-old signs an 18-month contract and joins the Iron to leave behind a long affiliation with National League North side Chorley, where he guided the Magpies to two play-off campaigns in his four years as manager, losing on both occasions to the side eventually promoted; Brackley Town and Scunthorpe, respectively. Prior to that he was both assistant manager and Director of Football at Victory Park.
Surpassing over 1,000 games as a manager, Preece comes with a wealth of experience taking charge of Bury, Worcester City, Northwich Victoria & Airbus UK (Wales), along with Chorley, with his experience at his first side Bury dating back to 1999 as a player-manager. As a player, he turned out in over 500 professional games as a centre forward for Worcester City, Wrexham, Stockport County, Crystal Palace, Blackpool, Bury and Carlisle United.
Following a rigorous and comprehensive recruitment process, the Board undertook an extensive search to identify the right candidate to lead the Club into its next chapter. The process involved careful consideration of a number of candidates, with Andy appointed after detailed discussions, interviews and thorough due diligence.
The club recognises the importance of this appointment to our supporters, players, staff and wider football community. We are confident that the new manager will bring renewed energy, direction and determination as we look to build on our foundations and achieve our objectives.
Meanwhile, Chris Anderson will also depart Victory Park to join Preece as his assistant. Joining Chorley in 2022 as Preece’s assistant when he succeeded Jamie Vermiglio, Anderson arrived after three years as manager of AFC Liverpool in the North West Counties League. His playing career took in stops at Morecambe, Lancaster City, Squires Gate and Clitheroe.
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| Andy Williams Scored A Penalty For Hereford Against Brackley In February 2025 |
Hereford are 5/8 to win their FA Trophy Tie against Brackley on Saturday.
Currently Hereford are 2nd in the National North League table whilst Brackley are 18th.
Both have played 16 games but Hereford have 30 points, Brackley have 19 points
Last Tuesday Hereford drew 2-2 at Morecambe (9th), last Saturday Brackley lost 1-0 at home to Chester (8th).
Hereford's home form is won 4, drawn 1 and lost 3.
Brackley's away form is won 2, drawn 2 and lost 4.
Goal difference: Hereford plus 14, Brackley minus 9
Recent (very similar overall) form: Hereford LWLLWD, Brackley WLLDWL
Hereford 5/8 Draw 3/1 Brackley 17/5