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Next Game: Banbury Away On Friday March 29th Kick-Off 3.00pm

Saturday, August 06, 2016

Onwards And Upwards Round Two


Hereford FC start their second season this afternoon with a long trip to AFC Totton.

The 'new' club had a successful start with promotion from the Midland League to the Southern League South and West in its first campaign.

The aim is to get into Football League as soon as possible.

But there still remains the Southern League, National League South and then the National (formerly the Conference) to get through before League Two.

So even if Hereford were to gain promotion each season for the next four seasons, it would be August 2020 before they kick a ball in League Two. No mean task.

Manager Peter Beadle only won two of his first six games in the Midland League. He put that down to not having a settled squad.

This afternoon he is expected to start the game with perhaps five of the team he started with against Dunkirk on the opening day of last season - Joel Edwards, Aaron Birch, Rob Purdie, John Mills and Pablo Haysham.

But it wasn't long before Beadle brought in Ryan Green, Jimmy Oates and Jamie Willets and the results started to come right.

And Beadle will probably select a starting eleven with just one fresh face, that of Chris Barker, when compared with the players that started most games towards the end of last season.

Martin Horsell should start in goal. The back four are expected to be Jimmy Oates, Jamie Willets, Chris Barker and Joel Edwards.

In mid-field Joe Tumelty, Aaron Birch, Rob Purdie and Ross Staley with Pablo Haysham and John Mills up front.

On the bench Mike Symons, Jamie Edge (the second new face), Anthony Robbins, Chris Parry (third new face) and perhaps Joe Phillips (if Beadle has signed him) or Jamie Cuss (fourth new face).

No doubt Ryan Green would be in the squad if he was fit.

Currently the squad looks short of a couple of players. Cover for Joel Edwards at left back and two wingers to replace Sirdic Grant and Mustapha Bundu. Again if Beadle has signed Joe Phillips then perhaps just one left sided winger.

Whoever he selects Beadle will want a better start than against Merthyr last Saturday when the Bulls conceeded in the first minute.

Around six to seven hundred Hereford supporters are expected at Totton this afternoon. Sat Nav for those driving is SO40 2AW.

For those unable to watch the game in person then Radio Hereford will have full match commentary, Hereford FC In Action video updates, and BN tweets from the game.