Hereford United is seldom out of the news. Yesterday Five Live mentioned the club when covering the rise of Wigan and today the Sunday Times has a feature on a former loan player at Edgar Street who is playing in the final of the Gaelic Games this afternoon.
Growing up in Galway city, Seamus Crowe never dreamed of playing soccer in England or football in Galway. Hurling was his game. He won a Tony Forrestal (All-Ireland U-14) medal with Galway in 1994 and ended the competition as top scorer.
But he moved to England after being watched at a Kennedy Cup soccer game and joined Wolves.
Crowe came to Edgar Street in February 2001.
According to HU-FC.co.uk he joined Hereford on loan from Wolves for the last couple of months of the 2000-01 season. A young Irishman, he made little impact on the side but gained vital experience in the four matches he started. He was released by Wolves at the end of the season, and played one match for Telford United in 2001/02.
Steve Bull was instrumental in bringing Crowe to Hereford.
The article in todays Sunday Times says that Crowe spent some time at Sheffield United before Wolves legend Steve Bull brought him to Hereford United. He had become close to Bull and he could have tried to build a career there, but Crowe felt in his heart that his time was up.
At the end of 2000 (season), he arrived home to reality.
"It was scary," says Crowe. "I didn't have my Leaving Cert and all my friends were either in college or apprenticeships. I was thinking, 'Jesus, what do I do now?'
"I did nothing for a few months and then I started working in a factory. Nothing against that type of work but I didn't want to end up there at 21."
Crowe then spent a year with Longford Town in the Eircom League but he wanted to try something different. He immersed himself in fitness and conditioning courses and went back playing Junior C hurling with Menlo Emmetts.
A friend asked him to go training with Salthill and he joined the club in 2002. Injury and suspension meant he did not make his championship debut until last season.
Last Friday, on his 25th birthday, he was voted Galway Club Footballer of the Year.
And this afternoon his side meets St Bridgets in the Connacht club SFC final.
Text at top (next game etc)
Next Game: Rushall At Home In The League On Saturday 30th November At 3.00pm