Firstly we were allowed to enter the competition because of our affiliation with Hereford United and last seasons decision to disband the Youth Team set-up, they helped us gain entry last week by liaising with the FA on our behalf, for that we are thankful. We play as HUFC and have team groups from U7s up to our Youth Team (Performance group). This set-up recently unearthed talent such as Jarod Bowen who came up through our age groups and was subsequently offered a Youth Team contract with Hereford United.
Last night in our small 15 man squad we had 8 Herefordshire players playing in the HUFC shirt, some of which have grown up watching hereford and still ask me questions about my time there. The others are from slightly further afield such as Worcester, Monmouth and Wales. 9 of the players last night have come up through our age groups and we consider them to be 'home grown' talent.
Our aim is to give these boys another chance at playing the game along with an education programme incase they don't make the grade on the pitch. I was brought in by Nick Neneditch and Steve Brotherwood to offer my experiences to them and get them ready for professional or part-time football. These lads who play with passion and commitment could be the future of HUFC, they could move onto any professional club or they can leave at the end of their education ready for the real world with some great memories.
We ask all fans, past and present, to get behind the team or at least keep an eye on us for the future. We must also thank HUST for their tremendous donation at last nights game and the support they provide us. It will help us massively as we are a community and charity based organisation and rely hugely on sponsorship and donations.
Finally back to why we are here, the football. Last nights game was great for us and I am proud of every single one of them. We progress to the next round spurred on by what Peter Beadle, Steve Jenkins and the lads achieved last season. Can we match them? Maybe not this season, we currently have only 5 players over 16 but we will give it a go, and on the back of what the Hereford United Youth Team did last season, a premiership scout was at our game last night to watch us play. That in itself makes what we are doing worthwhile.
Thankyou, Rob Purdie