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| Dawleys |
Ross-on-Wye based Dawleys have extended their shirt sponsorship of Hereford FC.
“We are delighted to continue working with Roger Parckar and his great team at Dawleys for a third season and look forward to welcoming them back to matches at Edgar Street during the 2021/22 season," said Hereford commercial manager Martin Brain.
Anyone interested in becoming a commercial client of Hereford can contact Martin Brain at: mbrain@herefordfc.co.uk
Swindon FC have stopped formal communication with their supporters trust. There is talk of administration but the Trust feels there may a different solution to the club's problems.
This from TrustSTFC.
TrustSTFC were today informed by Steve Anderson, CEO of Swindon Town FC, that the football club are to stop all formal communications with the Trust.
On being made aware of current chairman Lee Power preparing an application to enable placing the club into administration, the Trust decided to put on record for the courts that there is a viable alternative to the current ownership of Lee Power and that it is supportive of Clem Morfuni’s response to our open letter and his commitment to provide the plans, vision and commitment to openness and transparency that the Trust has been asking for. The Trust provided a witness statement via the Axis legal team regarding the viable alternative to the current regime running STFC.
Following our positive support for Clem Morfuni at today’s hearing in respect of Lee Power’s application to put the club into administration or sell to “Able” (a company we still know nothing about or have not heard anything from) we have been informed by the current management of STFC that they will no longer have any communication with TrustSTFC.
After weeks of public silence from the club, punctuated by multiple futile private communications between Mr Anderson and the Trust, we are now left with no official comment re the critical issues the club is facing, both in terms of its financial viability and its future prosperity. It also leaves the community at a loss regarding more day-to-day issues that impact fans, such as the situation regarding season tickets for this season and next.
We have regularly encouraged the current management of STFC to respond to our open letter and provide financial transparency to the Trust and the wider supporter base but to date this has been ignored.
The Trust are obviously extremely disappointed but not surprised that all formal channels of communication with the current ownership of Swindon Town are now closed to us.
TrustSTFC has always been and remains owner-agnostic provided that
the owners are working for the long-term best interests of STFC, its
supporters and the local community.
Robbie Earle, one of the so-called Crazy Gang who played for Wimbledon in the 1990's, has recalled a night in Hereford whilst being interviewed for the Daily Mail.
Earle says he was made to jog naked for two miles on his first day with Wimbledon.
'We were out on a run before training and as we got to the furthest point away from our ground the lads all jumped on me and stripped me," said Earle
"It was two miles back to get more kit. I had to jog past a few old ladies and other people out on their morning strolls.
"God knows what they thought. It must have been a strange sight. And that was my first day at the club, so that was my kind of welcome to Wimbledon."
His has 'hundreds of stories' about the time he was playing with the likes of John Fashanu, Vinnie Jones and Lawrie Sanchez.
One of those is about a game at Hereford. Although he doesn't say which game it was, it looks as though it was a second round game in the Coca-Cola Cup played on September 22nd 1993. Hereford lost the game 1-0.
"We had such a fun time together and some cracking nights out as well. It's probably a good thing there was no such thing as camera phones or social media around that time or some careers might have been cut a bit short.
"I remember on the way back from Hereford once, we'd just beaten them in the Cup, and our coach had broken down. The driver told us it won't be sorted until tomorrow morning. The lads let out the biggest cheer because it meant we could have a night out in Hereford. And we ended up having a night like you wouldn't believe.
Highlights of the game: https://youtu.be/Ml6Yt3-Kh6c
"Things have changed since my days. Players can be a bit vanilla now. I know Sam Allardyce at West Brom said Covid has made it difficult for him to do some of the things he's wanted to do to try and bond the players, which is important when you're fighting relegation. We were a band of brothers at Wimbledon and that was a big reason why we were successful."
This from the National League:
Mark Ives has been appointed as the permanent General Manager of The National League.
The former Head of Judicial Services at The FA for almost two decades had initially been appointed on a three-month interim basis from January.
On the appointment, chairman Brian Barwick said: “Following the departure of long-serving CEO Michael Tattersall in December, it was important for The National League Board to use the early part of 2021 to assess the management structure of the organisation.
“Mark will be a great asset for The National League and our Member Clubs. He is very experienced in football matters, is well trusted and has a wide network of contacts across the game.
“The last three months have given him an indication of what is needed to move the organisation forward and has already made wider communication one of his objectives.
“We wish Mark well in the role”.
Mark Ives said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at The National League to date and am delighted to have been appointed on a permanent basis.
“The interim period gave me further understanding of the organisation and its members. Communication I have had with Member Clubs has been both transparent and positive.
“My priorities will continue to be helping Member Clubs manage the impact of the pandemic and to contribute towards a progressive future for The National League”.
In the run-up to the FA Trophy final, Hornchurch manager Mark Stimson has said that his side is special just like Grays Athletic whom he managed when they won the competition in 2004.
In that Grays side were players such as Gary Hooper and Aaron McLean and Stimson feels he has similar players at Hornchurch.
"This is something special, this group of people are a special group,
and I've been fortunate enough to have a couple of other groups like
it," said Stimson as reported by the Romford Recorder.
“My team at Grays were special, a lot of those players went on to play at extremely high levels, and even international football.
"These guys are part-time but they are on par with the Grays boys in terms of togetherness."
Just like Josh Gowling at Hereford, Stimson awaits information about how many supporters can watch at final at Wembley on May 22nd.
"In the mean time we’re training away, knocking down the sessions as they say, and there is still a massive buzz around the club because of the fantastic day we’ve got to look forward to.
"There's lots of
things to be done, sorting out tracksuits, and a few other exciting
bits. Once we get the announcement of the ticket allocation that’s when
the excitement really kicks in."
Stimson says his side will not be playing any friendlies in the run-up to the final.
"A player can get injured in training, but fingers crossed they don’t, and it’s less likely than it is in a match and I would be absolutely devastated for a player to get injured."
National League Wrexham have been given a grant of £100K from the Welsh Government's Spectator Sports Survival Fund.
"The club has suffered losses well in excess of this amount as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which are currently being met by the club’s owners, Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds," said a spokesperson for the club.
"The owners have committed to ensure the Club survives the financial implications of the pandemic.
"This grant helps to ensure this commitment does not compromise the owners’ proactive plans to make a positive difference in the wider Wrexham community."
Wales Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism Dafydd Elis-Thomas MS said that 'Following an exchange of correspondence with the club, they were invited to submit an application to the Spectator Sports Survival Fund 2020-21.'
"The application was deemed eligible for support and Wrexham AFC were offered a Funding Award grant in the amount of up to £100,000, which was accepted and paid in one instalment."
Steve Guinan is the next featured player. Signed by Graham Turner initially in 2002, the former Nottingham Forest enjoyed three spells at Edgar Street.
Read more here -> https://yourherefordshire.co.uk/all/news/my-hereford-united-story-steve-guinan/
Hereford FC midfielder Ben Pollock is set to achieve something his father Jamie never managed, that is playing at Wembley.
Ben should be in the Hereford squad that will play Hornchurch in the FA Trophy final on May 22nd.
The 23 year old dreamed of one day playing in the Premiership like his father but. as yet, that day seems far off.
As a youngster Ben had set-backs. At just 14, whilst with Middlesborough, he needed surgery on a knee problem. Two years later he was released. Luckily Newcastle United signed him and he went on to captain their under 18's. But at the end of his second season he was released.
Hartlepool manager Craig Hignett gave him a trial and soon Ben signed his first senior contract. However later that season the club started to have money problems and Ben was looking for another club.
As it happened father Jamie was manager at Billingham Synthonia who played in the Northern League and so Ben joined for a season.
Then a phone call from Paul Wilkinson and a trial at Truro. On the last day it was confirmed that Wilkinson was moving to Bury. He asked Ben to trial at his new club but before contracts were signed it emerged that Bury were in financial meltdown.
However Wilkinson knew Russell Slade who had just been appointed manager at Hereford.
"So I went down, I did the first session and Russell rang me straight after and asked me to sign," said Ben.
"That's how Hereford came about. I played the majority of last season, unfortunately Russell Slade got sacked but Josh Gowling took over. He was a player before he got put in as the temporary manager then got appointed permanently. He pulled me on his first day and said he wants me to play a certain role in his midfield.
"He gave me a lot of trust and to be honest it was exactly what I wanted. He played me as like a sitting midfielder and allowed me to do the things I'm strong at. He didn't expect too much at what I'm not too strong at. He offered me a contract for this season and that's where I'm at now.
"I'd be lying if I said there was ever a point when I was more excited, not just about Wembley but about my future."
Read more at: https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/ben-pollock-story-setbacks-support-20376117
Jamie Griffiths is the new general manager at Hereford FC.
His appointment has been confirmed by the club this lunchtime.
Griffiths has spent nearly all his career at Edgar Street expect for a short spell when Tommy Agombar was in charge when he took up a post with Newport County.
He returned to Hereford in June 2015 and became media and matchday manager.
"I have been fortunate to have been doing my dream job with the club for the past 6 years and hope to use my working knowledge of the club moving forward. I am very proud and excited to be given this opportunity," he told the OS.
Chairman Rob Crawford said that the club were delighted that Jamie had accepted the position.
"To us, it was a natural progression for Jamie and we are sure that the supporters will agree with us too," he said.
Read more at: https://www.herefordfc.co.uk/club-news-new-general-manager-appointed-at-hereford-fc/
This from Wembley Stadium:
We are pleased to announce the kick-off times for both the 2019/20
and 2020/21 Non-League Finals Days that are scheduled to take place at
Wembley Stadium connected by EE on Monday 3 May and Saturday 22 May
2021.
The 2019/20 Buildbase FA Vase Final between Consett and Hebburn
Town will take place at 13:00 and be followed by the 2019/20 Buildbase
FA Trophy Final featuring Concord Rangers and Harrogate Town at 17:00.
Despite our best efforts to accommodate a limited number of spectators, a
suitable date was sadly not available within the stadium’s calendar and
both fixtures will be played behind closed doors.
The 2020/21 Buildbase FA Vase finalists are yet to be decided but
the fixture will kick off at 12:15 and the 2020/21 Buildbase FA Trophy
will be contested by Hereford and Hornchurch at 16:15. A limited number
of spectators will be permitted to attend the 2020/21 Buildbase FA Vase
and Trophy Finals in line with the UK Government’s ‘roadmap’ out of lockdown and ticketing details will be provided at the earliest opportunity.
All four fixtures across the two Non-league Finals Days will be broadcast live on BT Sport 1.
The FA would like to once again thank the clubs and supporters in
these competitions for their understanding throughout this challenging
time.
Westons Cider, who are one of the biggest advertisers at Hereford FC's Edgar Street, report strong sales in 2020.
Cider sales have continued to grow despite the closure of pubs during the latest lockdown, with crafted and premium brands leading the charge, according to a new report from Westons Cider.
It said the closure of pubs, bars and restaurants played a part in the category’s success, as shoppers “swapped trips to their local for a ‘quiet night in’ and an influx of new shoppers bought in”.
Tim Williams, insight and innovation manager at Westons Cider, said the biggest cider drinking occasion in 2020 was the “big night in”, which grew from 19% to 22%, and added almost one million new shoppers into the category.
There were also some significant consumer trends that helped to grow the category. Sally McKinnon, head of marketing at Westons Cider, said that within the convenience sector there has been a 76% growth of craft cider and a 40% growth of premium cider, outperforming the mainstream cider segment which is currently seeing 25% growth.
The report also found a trend towards glass bottle and can formats, both of which are in growth by 22% and 36% respectively, and larger pack formats are on the rise.
According to the report, 10-pack value increase by 40% and even larger packs saw a 32% increase over the past year, although single glass bottles still make up the majority of cider market value (40% share).
Darryl Hinksman, head of business development at Westons Cider, said: “Over the past year, UK grocery retail has played a crucial role in maintaining presence and momentum for the cider category.
“The sheer popularity of crafted ciders, the emergence of diverse offerings within the cloudy and rosé subcategories and the growth of the online and convenience channels have played a key part in this, and we expect these factors to remain important throughout the year ahead.”
He was stopped by police near Newtown last October on suspicion of being under the influence of an illegal substance. When tested he was found to have cocaine in his blood.
"The defendant is a young man who has a multitude of personal health issues", said Robert Hanratty, defending, as reported by the County Times.
"He has had operations on melanomas, has major problems with his joints and knees and significant depression. He was self-medicating with cocaine."
De Bont was given £80 fine and banned from the road for 12 months.
He joined Hereford United in the summer of 1996 and made 27 appearances before moving to Stourbridge.
The proposers of the request for the National League to hold an EGM was submitted to the League's general manager, Mark Ives, yesterday. Maidstone and Dorking, who initiated the request, were backed by a further 15 clubs.
The aim of the clubs is to hold a vote of no confidence in the League's chairman and his board. However the chairman Brian Barwick has already confirmed he is to step down at the end of the season.
The former chairman of Darlington has died. A onetime safe-cracker, George Reynolds spent £20M on building a new stadium for the club in 1999. However the club went into administration five years later.
Hereford FC have said that friends of former player Lee Collins are putting together a book of memories to hand to his three daughters. Anyone with a memory or a picture of his time at Edgar Street, please email davinamatthews@googlemail.com
Chester striker Danny Elliot has moved to Hartlepool until the end of the season.
This from HUST:
HUST EXTENDS INVITATION TO CANDIDATES
FOR A HUST NOMINATED DIRECTOR
ON HFC BOARD
Due
to the current road map and exit from the Covid-19 Pandemic, we have
been approached by some members who have requested more time to consider
this as the current closing date aligns with the re-opening of
businesses and the Easter Break.
HUST is, therefore, extending the application deadline to : Friday 30th April 2021
HUST
invites applications from members of HUST to become one of its HNDs for
the forthcoming period. This year's successful applicant will
be appointed for a three –year term of office up to May 2024 and will
join Tony Taylor and Joanie Roberts as the 3rd HND on the Club Board.
The Club has come through some difficult ‘Covid times’ and we look forward to the new season where we can hopefully build on the work done thus far.
To download the Recruitment pack go to: https://www.hust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/HUST-HND-Pack-2021-1.pdf
Interested candidates please apply via secretary@hust.org.uk or to arrange an informal chat ahead of application.
The 2020 FA Trophy final is being held on Monday May 3rd but numbers allowed at the game are very limited.
The final is between Harrogate Town and Concord Rangers.
Concord Rangers chairman Ant Smith has commented on the numbers allowed.
'We have officially been given our numbers for the final at Wembley, Disappointingly we can only have 20 people at the game representing Concord.
For more information, email jwatts@ukfootballsolutions.co.uk
Watts is the former general manager of Hereford FC.
On the 13th April 1996 Hereford United defeated Leyton Orient 3-2 at Edgar Street. The game is notable for Steve White scoring his 200th Football League goal
Click to view Hereford United 3-2 Leyton Orient | 13th April 1996 - Steve White's 200th Football League Goal - YouTube
Several items of Hereford FC news:
John Sadler is the National North League volunteer of the month. He has won the award for his work with the online club shop.
The accounts for the year ended May 31st 2020 have been posted at Companies House and so supporters can view them at any time.
Well known supporter Scott McMenamin has passed on.
The popular left back from the 1990's is featured today.
Click for more -> MY HEREFORD UNITED STORY | Murray Fishlock | Herefordshire’s Independent Source of News & Information (yourherefordshire.co.uk)
Photo supplied by Ron Parrott
A season which promised so much but ended up being a missed opportunity. Greg Downs started the season as manager but he was replaced in September 1994. John Layton took over and steadied the ship. The team finished 16th. The current Aston Villa manager Dean Smith was club captain.
Click to view the season in full -> Hereford United 0-1 Doncaster Rovers | 13th August 1994 - YouTube
John Layton's squad
Greg Downs' Squad
Former Hereford United winger Jarrod Bowen has been warned about his future conduct and will have to complete an FA education course after he used the N word in a tweet in 2012.
However the FA disciplinary chiefs have agreed he will not be suspended.
Bowen, who now plays for West Ham, was with Hereford at the time when he posted the comment.
Hereford manager Josh Gowling has become a father again today.
The club tweeted that Sofia was born this morning (Saturday) and that both baby and mother, Rebekah are doing well.
Congratulations to the gaffer and Rebekah on the birth of baby Sofia, who was born this morning.
— HerefordFC (@HerefordFC) April 10, 2021
We're pleased to report that mother and baby are doing well!
👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/SuOMTJcvIc
Played on the Saturday of an Easter Bank Holiday weekend, this was the first time Hereford had visited the old Gay Meadow for a league game since the mid 1970's. Carl Griffiths put Shrewsbury ahead after two minutes, but Owen Pickard earnt the Bulls a point with a headed goal three minutes later.
Click to view -> Shrewsbury Town 1-1 Hereford United | 10th April 1993 - YouTube
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| Matt Healey Interviewing Former Hereford United Striker Rob Elms - Many Of 'Elmo's' Goals Are Featured On Matt's You Tube Channel |
Matt Healey's You Tube Channel has now received over one million hits.
The channel focuses on both Hereford United and Hereford FC footage
"I created the account in 2012, but only uploaded one video in the first three years," said Matt in an article on YourHerefordshire.
Matt said it been difficult finding old match footage much of which was first aired on ITV Central South.
"The regional ITV Channel back then was based in Abingdon and broadcast news on Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire. Every Monday the sports presenter Tim Russon would round up the local goals involving the region’s football teams and as a young lad I used to tape the Hereford United matches.
"Sadly my tapes had perished so I presumed that footage would never be seen again, back then if you missed it that was it, there was no catchup, or internet to see the clips once more. I contacted Tim (Russon) to see if the footage was saved, he told me it was all stored in tape containers near the old ITV Meridian studios near Southampton and they had no interest in restoring it sadly.
Hereford United 2-0 Burnley - 14th September 1991 - YouTube
"A couple of years earlier Francis Williams from Radio Hereford FC had converted some DVD footage of Hereford United FA Cup games against West Ham and Arsenal to MP4 for me and I put that on my channel and they did well. I then had the thought of seeing if I could somehow find some of that old Central News South footage of the football club, so I put an appeal out on the Bulls News fan site in 2017.
"Luckily plenty of Hereford supporters were also taping the footage in the 1990’s and subsequently I was given about 200 old VHS cassettes of Hereford United footage by various supporters. Joanie Roberts at the football club kindly sourced me and old VHS tape player. I needed the software to convert it on my laptop and Mark Farmer was able to supply me with that.
"I spent most of my spare time the next 12-18 months going through tapes and editing the Hereford United footage and then uploading it to my channel. I used Ron Parrott’s book to include the match description and then playlisted all the seasons. Ron had also a Hereford city history VHS so I converted that and split it into different sections and that did very well. It’s great having all this footage digitally restored as VHS tapes after a while disintegrate and the footage would have been lost forever.
Hereford United 1-0 Burton Albion - 10th March 2001 - YouTube
"The best part of it has been receiving messages from former Hereford United players who hadn’t seen the footage before and were overjoyed to be able to see themselves playing the game and watching it with their families. A lot of these players weren’t household names and presumed they would never see footage of themselves in a football shirt."
Read more at: https://yourherefordshire.co.uk/all/news/news-matts-herefordshire-youtube-channel-achieves-over-one-million-views/
The FSA is concerned that the proposed Policing bill could threaten matchday routine.
This from the FSA:
There’s been a lot of talk recently about the controversial
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill currently making its way
through Parliament – and this week FSA caseworker Amanda Jacks has been
looking at its potential impact on match-going fans.
With
help from civil liberties campaigners and Lochlinn Parker from ITN
Solicitors, Amanda has been looking at how the Bill in its current
iteration could see traditional supporter behaviour - such as
congregating outside grounds, pubs or town centres - curtailed by new
police powers.
"Much of the coverage has talked about how the
Bill, in its current form, will have a hugely negative impact on
protest," Amanda said.
"But why are we concerned about it? Well,
obviously football fans protest as well, but they congregate in other
ways too and unless the Bill is redrafted then we can see how easily the
legislation will be used against fans on a match day."
The FSA
will submitting evidence soon to the Joint Committee on Human Rights and
if there is anything you think we should consider including please do
get in touch with us.
UK Football Solutions was founded by James Watts in December 2020. Watts was previously general manager of Hereford FC.
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| Edgar Street In 1957 |
The Duke of Edinburgh, whose death was announced this morning, visited Edgar Street along with the Queen in April 1957.
Nevertheless, who is the Hereford player in the picture, who was the game against and on what date did it take place?
Hereford FC recently launched their new Home/Wembley shirt.
Anyone wanting a new shirt as soon as possible is reminded that orders need to be in by 4pm this afternoon (Friday).
All the details: https://www.herefordfc.co.uk/shop/product/replica-shirts/2021-22-home-shirt-wembley-special-pre-order/
