Biggest game in the Club's history

Hereford United's top historian, Ron Parrott, has been interviewed by Terry Goodwin on BBC Hereford and Worcester about the forthcoming Play-off final, the history between Halifax and Hereford and games at the old Leicester ground, Filbert Street.

Asked about previous meetings between the clubs Parrott commented:

"I think over the years we've probably had the edge. We've won more than they have."

One of those games was at the end of the 92/93 season when the two clubs met.

"That's the ironic thing isn't it, we actually put them out of the league in effect. It was the last game of the season and they had to win to stay up. We went up there and won 1-0 and put them down. That's not strictly true as I think results from other teams went against them as well. Even if they had won they would still have gone down.

"When it comes to this game we are going to be part of Halifax's folklore no matter what happens. We are either going to be the big bad boys who put them out of the League and stopped them going back in or vice-versa. They will celebrate at our expense at the irony of us putting them out and stopping us coming back.

Reminded that Hereford have waited a long time for this, Parrott continued:

"We have indeed. It's been a long wait.

"I've got mixed views about going back to Leicester. Good memories and bad memories.

"We had a very big disappointment there back in 1970/1 when Hereford reached the semi-final of the FA Trophy playing Hillingdon. Hot favourites to win, I think we scored ten goals in two League games against them, John Charles and all. We actually lost 2-0.

"Then there was 99/2000 when we became almost the first Non-League club to beat a
Premiership side. We got to within about twelve minutes of beating Leicester in the Cup replay. That was a cracking night but it wasn't to be."

Goodwin suggested the play-offs haven't been that kind to Hereford down the years:

"No they haven't. We've had some bad experiences but I think more importantly we've had some bad luck as well. They were times when we deserved to go through but we haven't. This time I think Morecambe, certainly in the second half, out-played us. So we deserved our little bit of luck, it's been a long time coming."

He was the asked whether he thought it had been a good nine years in the Conference in terms of the club being able to rebuild itself:

"I think you must say that. We were in quite a bad way when we came out and the club has been close to going under a few times. Graham Turner has done well in that respect. It's given us time to re-group and come back even stronger."

Finally he was asked about how he thought the game would go:

"We are going to do it 2-0. I think we've got the edge on them. We're the only team to win at the Shay this year so we know how to beat them.

"We've done it once so we can do it again and I think we will also win the battle of the fans this time.

"I'm sure we're going to take more up there than they will. Two hours by coach. I'll be disappointed if we don't take at least ten, twelve thousand."

Is it the biggest game for thirty years?

"Definately, without a doubt. We fought so long and hard for our League status back in the seventies. It broke everybodies heart when we came out.

"Yes, this is the big one. Biggest game in the clubs' history."

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