Hereford pay Barnet £300 for centre forward Billy Meadows to replace John Charles in attack. Billy was one of the greatest goalscorers in Barnet's history, averaging a goal every two games in some 250 appearances for the Bees. He netted 78 when he first joined the club in 1968 but he soon became a Hereford United favourite.
In fact, Billy was a member of United's Southern League side that memorably beat Newcastle United 2-1 a match that established Barnet fan John Motson as a top BBC television commentator!
Ricky George, who scored Hereford's winner that day and played alongside Billy with both the Bees and the Bulls, recalled: “The night before, John Shrewsbury, Motty, Billy Meadows, and I went out for dinner. We returned to the Green Dragon hotel in Hereford at around 10.30 and bumped into Jackie Milburn [Newcastle's greatest centre forward, a star of the 1950s].
“He said ‘nice to meet you son, but if I was your manager I'd have you in bed by now’. I replied ‘if I come on tomorrow and score the winning goal, nobody will mind will they?” I lived in Barnet and a convoy of four cars drove back to Billy Meadows' house in London to watch Match of the Day over fish and chips and a few cans of lager.
“On the way we stopped for petrol. A very school-boyish Motty ran from his car and said ‘it’s just dawned on me that you've created history!’” Billy later returned to Barnet as player-manager and signed Jimmy Greaves, arguably England's greatest-ever goal-scorer, for the club along with other star names.
Text at top (next game etc)
Next Game: Scarborough In The League At Edgar Street On Tuesday 19th November At 7.45pm