A message from your mascot...
Well here we are at the start of another season, full of optimism as usual and glad that a real sport will be on our TV's (instead of cricket). We have all been busy throughout the closed season here at the farm. The farmer has acquired a new companion for me called Benny the Bull and hopefully I can pursuade him to put in the odd (very odd) performance. I asked for a nice looking cow but there weren't any volunteers, never mind.
Between us we have painted the male toilets at the Meadow End, a nice sky blue and white to match the training tops. I have also been busy making public appearances at school, fetes and charity events, as well as taking up the job of linesman.
My latest venture is collecting international flags from our many overseas fans. It is my intention to have these made up in to giant 10 x 6 foot flags to display at the ground, so thank you to the fans who have pledged a flag.
'Billy News' will be in publication again this season, so please send me any info, jokes, birthdays etc.
Also a big thank you to Algerian Bull who has offered to be my kit sponsor for the 2002/2003 season.
Anyway I'll sign off now, lets have lots of support this season and finally shut up the "Turner Out" brigade.
Peace and best wishes,
Billy The Bull (& Benny)
Bulls
miss two for Conference opener
Hereford
are without two players going into Saturday's Conference match
against Farnborough Town at Edgar Street, kick off 3pm.
Scott Voice has
not fully recovered from his groin injury and expects to be
sidelined for another two weeks, whilst Ben Smith will not play
for around five weeks.
However, Michael
Rose, who picked up a slight hamstring strain at Evesham United
last Saturday, is expected to be fully fit for the Farnborough
match.
- By Terry
Goodwin
Supporters
club news
The
HUISA AGM is this Saturday at 12pm in the VP Club. All members
are invited to elect a new chairman and secretary.
Anyone wanting to
use away travel can do so by purchasing tickets from the club.
The bus to Forest Green Rovers on Tuesday 20th costs £8.50, and
departs Edgar Street at 5.15pm, whilst a trip to Gravesend &
Northfleet costs £18 and departs at 8.30am on Saturday, August
24th.
If you intend
driving the Forest Green, head for Stroud from Gloucester. When
you reach the town, turn left onto the A46 to Nailsworth. This
will bring you into the centre of the town, when you reach the
Information Centre take the first right at the cross roads which
goes up a steep hill sign posted Forest Green. The Lawn is on the
left. The club has car parking for members only, however there is
a spacious free car park at the adjacent college. There is also
off street parking but be aware to stay clear of the coned off
areas.
Meanwhile, the
legendary Hereford United single by Danny Lee is to be recorded
onto CD. It will be for sale in the Hereford United club shop
from September 1st.
- By Terry
Goodwin
'We
may have the biggest debt but we are not the poorest - the other
clubs don't have our support base'
Those
were the words of a confident Hereford United manager Graham
Turner when referring to the Conference teams at last night's
fans forum at Edgar Street.
The meeting was
chaired by Kevin Wargen, with questions answered largely by
Turner but also Richard O'Kelly, the new first-team coach.
Turner opened the meeting talking about finances. He told the
audience that the club hoped to pay another 10 or 20 pence of the
CVA within the next season if the money becomes available which
will satisfy the creditors. The club have to pay £1 in each
pound, and have so far paid 40p - the remainer comes to a total
of around £25,000. The club could close instantly if more debts
were accumilated, particularly to the likes of the taxman.
Furthermore,
little progress has been made in terms of the stadium development.
Turner said that there was the possibility of Len Weston Stand
being rebuilt with the Courtyard Theatre having more room below,
the Blackfriars End incorporating a Leisure Centre and the Meadow
End including a multiplex cinema. The main stand would be looked
after by the club. However, the whole situation is out of the
clubs hands and is a problem of Chelverton and the local
authorities.
Apparently, there
is movement at the Blackfriars End. The foundations are moving,
and the council may close the stand for periods during the season
for healh and safety reasons. However, it will be open for
Saturday's match.
With the local
elections next may, the future of Hereford United is likely to be
a vote-catching issue. The Richardson Brothers, who have linked
with Chelverton, did not want any involvement with this
particular project as they branded it a 'political hot potato',
according to Turner. Nevertheless, the development has the
potential to rejuvenate a city that has become a quiet backwater.
On the playing
front, the problem of obtaining a goalscorer was highlighted.
Turner said that he had spoken to Brett Angell, Don Goodman and
David Kelly but they sighted low pay, long travel distances and
the stigma attached to non-league football as reasons not to join
the club. On player even asked if Hereford could match the £1200
that he was offered as a weekly salary by a second division club!
Andy Baird has left the club, whilst Ashley Nicholls was taken by
Darlington after agreeing to spend pre-season at Edgar Street.
When Turner found out of Darlo's interest, he offered Nicholls a
contract but the ex-Ipswich trainee linked up with the Quakers.
However, there
could be a move to sign Andy Sinton. The former Spurs and Wolves
midfielder has had offers from three Conference clubs and will
speak to Turner at 5pm tomorrow after a trial at Walsall. Steve
Guinan has been offered a one-month contract but three other
Conference sides have offered season-long deals so Turner feels
he might have to improve the offer.
Overall, though,
Graham Turner said he was pleased with the squad and that it was
a great improvement on last year. Whilst most of the players were
'four inches too small', they had 'more ability that most
Conference sides'. Hopes that the likes of Scott Goodwin could
return were dismissed out of hand, as Turner is aiming for a
squad of youth and enthusiasm.
He aims fro a
squad size of eighteen but it may end up being nineteen or twenty
for the next season if players become available. Whilst the club
cannot afford eighteen players, 'hope' value is included and as a
consequence, occasionally players are sold to balance the books.
When a league club comes in for a player, they are told of the
interest (as it is part of the contract). Turner has promoted the
move of first-team football at Hereford, looking at Gavin Mahon
as an example. Mahon had two years as a first-teamer at Hereford
before joining Brentford and now Watford. Matt Baker's trial at
Leyton Orient was arranged through his agent, which angered
Turner as it is not allowed under the terms of his contract.
In terms of the
Conference this season, Turner felt the play-offs would improve
the league no end and he fancied the ex-league clubs who have
spent heavily - Chester, Doncaster, Scarborough and Barnet - to
do well, along with Yeovil.
When answering a
question from a shareholder, Turner said that the 2000/01 AGM
would be held in the next twenty eight days and the date was to
be set at a board meeting on Thursday. The reason the accounts
were late was because a director had agreed to do most of
preparation, saving the club around £5000, but he had fallen
behind. The club, as it is in the state of two companies, would
face a £200 fine.
Whilst there are
the obvious problems at Edgar Street, Turner seems eager to enjoy
the campaign and in the squad of players and coach Richard
O'Kelly, confidence is high that progress will be made.
Monday, August
12, 2002 - By Terry Goodwin
Fun
game raises £500
Hereford
United beat off a HUISA XI 8-3 in a fun-filled match at Edgar
Street this evening.
Danny Williams,
Steve Guinan, Richard O'Kelly, Ian Wright and Rob Purdie had put
the Bulls 5-0 up at the break, but a half-time reshuffle saw an 8-3
scoreline. John Grant scored a hatrick for Hereford whilst HUISA
came back through goals from Will Jones and a brace from Steve
Guinan, who was the subject of a half-time 'transfer'.
The match was
refereed by Simon Barrington, whilst Billy and Benny the Bulls
were the assistants. Billy's head was handed round by the players
during the second half, including Matt Clarke in the Hereford
goal who conceded three during the second period of a thirty
minute duration.
Elements of the
match were dubious to say the least, with HUISA having fifteen
players on the pitch at one time! Nevertheless, over £500 was
raised on the night and well done to everyone who raised money to
play in the HUISA team. Their squad read: Garry Smith, Paul
Sharp, Neil Phipps, Rob Leighton, Tristan Edwards, Dave Glinos,
Tommy Johnson, Chris Oleski, Simon Bayliss, Chris Richards, Will
Jones, Andy Bouchen, Mark Jenkins, David Jenkins and Jamie
Griffiths.
- By Terry
Goodwin
Don't
forget...
HUISA
XI v HUFC - Edgar Street - Tonight at 6.30pm. Watch the
supporters take on the team. Then at 8pm in Legends., your chance
to discuss things with Graham Turner before the season kicks-off.
Sunday, August
11, 2002 - By Terry Goodwin
Conference
win in League expansion?
Today's
Non-League Paper reports that a restructured Division Three could
mean league status for up to sixteen Conference clubs.
Since the collapse
of the ITV Digital TV deal, the Football League are considering
refinancing and restructuring options in the league and one of
the plans is for a four division, twenty team competition with
eight teams promoted from the Conference. The second involves a
regionalised 40-team Third Division with the Conference supplying
sixteen clubs.
Lincoln City have
been hit by financial problems and even went into administration
for a while over the summer. Their outspoken chairman Rob Bradley
said: "There must be an overhaul of the League structure and
regionalisation should now be higher on the agenda than ever
before. The League board and chairmen have already discussed it
and it is certainly a live option judging from discussions I've
been involved with.
"In the Third
Division, I'd say 75% of chairmen are in favour. Regionalising
will mean extra money for derby games and a reduction in
travelling costs - it's just a good idea and we need to implement
it."
Before his
resignation, League chairman Keith Harris was ready to implement
the system for the 2003/04 season. However, he needed the support
of First Division clubs, who hold most voting weight - and they
remain split.
Conference chief
executive John Moules could see his members disappear overnight
in the plan is implemented, but he said: "We've had no
formal discussions, but as I've said, the Conference is here and
ready to help out, but my main aim is to look after the best
interests of my member clubs."
Saturday,
August 10, 2002 - By Organic Bull
Are
we ready?
After
today's disappointing result at Evesham, questions have to be
asked whether Graham Turner has got the right combination of
players to make a showing in the Conference this season.
Of course with so
many new players it takes time to get everything right but United
still look weak up-front. Neither trialists Steve Guinan or Andy
Baird have looked that impressive and although GT continues to
try Paul Parry as a forward that does not seem to be working
either. Grant looks a better bet but with him suspended for the
first three games it does not look good. Maybe GT has his eye on
someone else. As he has not yet signed either Guinan or Baird,
maybe one of them will be offered a game by game deal. There
seems little point in offering either of them contracts on their
showing to date. If only Scott Voice was fit and Grant was
available!
Other than the up-front
problem (which seems to be the same each season recently) the
rest of the team looks more positive. In particular Matt Clarke
and Jamie Pitman are linking well. Michael Rose and Danny
Williams both seem useful signings; Rose looks quite dangerous on
the left side at times and Williams quite skilful. Both should
improve with more matches. The idea of a back three as opposed to
four seems to be working but there is an argument that as the
defensive record was so good with the 4-4-2 system used last
season should it been changed? Andrew Tretton, who partners Ian
Wright and Tony James, looked more comfortable today but the real
test will come next Saturday with Conference opponents
Farnborough Town.
Robert Purdie is
another new signing who has the potential to be a useful squad
member but may find it hard to command a regular place in the
team when Ben Smith returns. Rob Sawyers also may not start when
United are at full strength as there is likely to be real
competition for the midfield places. If the forward positions are
filled a space has to be made for Parry.
So who is going to
be in the line-up for next Saturday? With the assumption that no
other players are to be introduced the line up could look like
this:
Baker, Wright, James, Tretton, Clarke, Rose, Pitman, Williams,
Sawyers, Guinan, Parry.
- By Terry
Goodwin
Midfielder
confident after win
Following
today's 1-0 victory over Evesham United, Hereford United
midfielder Jamie Pitman was upbeat about the side's chances for
Nationwide Conference success.
Speaking of
today's match, he said: "They worked us quite hard today. It
was hard for us to break them down but in the end, we had a
quality move from John Grant who finished off a great move right
at the end. He's going to miss the first few games but we've
known that from early on so we've been preparing for it. The
other lads who were up-front today did quite well."
The new 3-5-2
formation has freed up members of the team, according to Pitman.
"Last year we played with a flat back four but we've come to
terms with it now, kept a couple of clean sheets and we look a
little bit more solid," he commented. "It gives us the
opportunity to get some width using Matt Clarke and Michael Rose,
and in midfield we can release someone forward."
United's pre-season
programme has been varied in terms of opposition and results.
"It's been
good in the respect that we've played a couple of sides who can
pass the ball around in Swindon and Tranmere, and then games like
we're going to get in the Conference with places like Evesham and
Aberystwyth," continued Pitman. "They give us hard work
outs and it's been good in that we can iron out a few bits that
we need to work on."
- By Organic
Bull
Hereford
scrape narrow victory
Evesham
United 0 - 1 Hereford United -
Hereford scrape
narrow victory
Evesham
United 0 - 1 Hereford United
Hereford United recorded their third pre-season
victory of the current campaign with a last minute goal
at Common Road against Dr. Martens League Western
Division side Evesham United.
The home team named former Hereford United defender Matt
Gardiner in their starting eleven, whilst Hereford
started with Steve Guinan and Paul Parry in attack as
boss Graham Turner named what is thought to be the line-up
that will begin the league season against Farnborough
Town next Saturday.
Hereford started the brighter of the two sides, but the
first half was one of missed opportunities. The Bulls had
a shot cleared off the line early on, but Evesham grew in
stature as the half progressed, pressurising Matt Baker's
goal.
Whilst the Bulls appeared fluent in their passing, the
end product was still lacking. Guinan never really linked
with Parry in attack, who was too often pulled out-wide
to the left wing. Things started to heat up towards the
end of the half where some flying tackles went in which
really weren't required in a pre-season friendly. The
half time whistle was blown just as an argument had
formed between the two teams on the pitch.
The second half opened with a goalmouth scramble. A Jamie
Pitman free-kick resulted in shots from Guinan, Parry and
Wright before the referee blew for goalkeeper Adam Moss
to receive treatment for an injury. At the other end,
Shaun Pratt knocked over a cross from the right wing for
James Brown to knock on, only for Matt Baker to dive well
and collect the ball.
Rob Purdie was the next to waste a good opening for
Hereford as his low shot was aimed at the goalkeeper, and
Hereford's Parry hit the side-netting after beating the
offside trap to collect a long-ball from defender Andrew
Tretton. On the hour mark, Evesham's Jay Powell tested
Baker with a returned clearance as the home side piled on
the pressure against their higher graded opponents.
With twenty seven minutes left, Andy Baird replaced Steve
Guinan in attack and thirteen minutes later, John Grant
was introduced for Paul Parry as neither had found the
target. Parry had an opening on sixty four minutes when
Pitman flew over a nice ball which the goalkeeper
dropped, but it fell behind the Welshman who was unable
to recover sufficiently.
The dying minutes were pretty even, and the unlikely goal
came with Hereford's last attack. Matt Clarke crossed
from the right following a good move, and John Grant was
well placed on the edge of the box to hit a half volley
past Moss in the Evesham goal.
The final scoreline was a little harsh on Evesham and
perhaps a draw would have been a fairer result.
Nevertheless, grinding out 1-0 wins like today's during
the season proper will bolster Hereford's points tally no
end.
A Farnborough Town camera was filming the game from the
far side and on this display, it's difficult to
anticipate what problems they will have picked up. Graham
Westley will be banking on an easy three points at Edgar
Street next Saturday and without John Grant in the
Hereford starting eleven, it's difficult to see where the
goals are going to come from.
Written by Terry Goodwin - 10th August
2002.
Evesham United |
Hereford United |
Adam Moss |
Matt Baker |
Russell Parmenter |
Matt Clarke |
Matt Pendleton |
Michael Rose (off,
half time) |
Matt Gardiner |
Andrew Tretton |
Jay Powell |
Ian Wright |
Nathan Jukes (off,
74 minutes) |
Tony James |
Shaun Pratt (off, 79
minutes) |
Jamie Pitman |
Darren Bullock |
Robbie Sawyers |
Steve Lutz |
Steve Guinan (off,
63 minuets) |
Danny James |
Danny Williams |
James Brown |
Paul Parry (off, 76
minutes) |
Subs |
Subs |
Scott Mullen (on, 74
minutes) |
Andy Baird (on, 63
minutes) |
Kays Sibanda |
Ken Griffiths |
Pete Sollis |
Rob Purdie (on, half
time) |
Luke Tovey |
Richard Teesdale |
Andy Smith (on, 79
minutes) |
John Grant (on, 76
minutes) |
Yellow cards |
Yellow cards |
- |
- |
Red cards |
Red cards |
- |
- |
Scorers |
Scorers |
|
John Grant (89 minutes) |
|
|
Man of the
Match |
Jamie Pitman |
Attendance |
c.400 |
Referee |
Mr. J. Raphael (Worcestershire) |
- By Terry
Goodwin
Tretton
ready for anything
Andrew
Tretton, Hereford United's central defender signed from
Shrewsbury Town earlier in the summer, is ready for whatever life
at Edgar Street can throw at him.
That's because
he's done it all before - Tretton was part of a Shrewsbury side
that won at Exeter City two years ago on the final day to
preserve their Football League status. Then last season, the
Shropshire side challenged for Third Division promotion but it
wasn't to be.
Tretton told the
Evening News: "We did quite well and should have made the
play offs because we were in those positions most of the year but
we just dropped out in the last couple of games which was
disappointing."
"I've been
here a month now and I'm really looking forward to it," he
said of his move to Hereford. "The manager has been
experimenting with three at the back and it's working quite well
so far. Looking at the players we have got in and those already
here I don't see why we shouldn't challenge near the top.
"It's hard to
make predictions but if we can keep everybody fit and add a
couple more signings then we could be in with a shout."
Tretton should
feature in the Hereford side which goes to Evesham United today,
kick off 3pm.
The Bulls, though,
will not face former attacker Richard Leadbeater who left Evesham
United earlier in the summer for Halesowen Town.
Friday, August
09, 2002 - By Terry Goodwin
Trip
to Evesham
Tomorrow,
Hereford United play their final pre-season friendly at Evesham
United, kick off 3pm.
To get to their
Common Road ground, enter the town from the south and locate the
High Street (A4184). From here, turn right into Bridge Street.
Take the second left into Mill Street before the river bridge,
and continue for around 500 metres into Common Road. The ground
is on your right.
- By Terry
Goodwin
We
are updating our news services...
You
may notice old stories appearing on the news page - please bear
with us as we will iron out problems over the next few days.
- By Terry
Goodwin
GoalRush
now official
We
are pleased to announce that GoalRush is now the Official
Hereford United Lottery.
Following
improvements to GoalRush and the official recognition, we are
writing to all previous Wyevern Pool players. We can also confirm
that accredited agents will be able to sell GoalRush for the club
and gain the following benefits:
10% commission on
all entries
Chances to win in the special agent draws
If you would like
to become an agent then please contact Peter Povall on 07970
443730 or you can e-mail him at peter@goalrush.co.uk.
More details and
entry forms can be found at www.goalrush.co.uk.
- By Terry
Goodwin
Fixture
change
The
official Hereford United website (www.herefordunited.co.uk)
report that Hereford's Nationwide Conference match at Northwich
Victoria has been moved to September 10th. This is because on
September 3rd, the Vics play a Cheshire Senior Cup tie which
takes precedence over the league.
Also, the site has
revealed three new rules that have been introduced into the
Conference this season:
> A maximum of eight loan players will be allowed this season,
of which two can be long term.
> Substitutes must wear bibs, home team wearing red and away
team wearing yellow bibs.
> Substitutions and injury time will be displayed using an
electronic scoreboard device.