Hereford United open their first Southern League season in 42 years with the visit of St Neots Town to Edgar Street.
The two sides have never met competitively before, having had six divisions separating them just six years ago. While the Bulls played in the third tier of the pyramid system, and have suffered a drop of four divisions since, the Saints won the United Counties League in 2011, the first of two promotions to bring them up to the SLP where they finished 16th last season.
Hereford United will field eleven debutants for the club tomorrow, most of whom have not played as high as the SLP previously. The club's lone goalkeeper, Sheridan Martinez, is one of the most experienced having played half a season with Division 1 Central side Bedworth last season as they just avoided relegation. Striker Dequon Ebanks failed to make a first team appearance for Tamworth last season, after a promising early career with Birmingham, while many others have little more than youth and amateur football in their histories.
St Neots are shorter odds to win the Southern League title this season than Hereford United are to win tomorrow's game. Reputedly big spenders, though other clubs claim Hereford's budget is double anyone else's, the Saints have a string of experienced Southern League campaigners and several with Football League experience. Among them is midfielder Matt Spring, with over 500 FL appearances for the likes of Luton and Wycombe, who arrived at the club earlier in the week.
Hereford United vs St Neots Town, Edgar Street, Saturday 9th August, 3.00pm.