This from HUST:
Whilst we celebrate another promotion and rightly enjoy the success on and off the pitch (well done Beadle, the players and Management team and all at HFC), we should never forget how things could have been much different if it wasn’t for the will of the supporters to want change, even though it was painful at the time. We are now 27th March 2017 exactly 2 years into the lease on Edgar Street, and we need to count our blessings….
Many
Hereford fans would remember the visits with HUFC to Nene Park to play the then
Rushden & Diamonds in their brand new purpose built stadium on the banks of
the River Nene (pronounced Nen as I have been reliably informed). However if
one was passing the ground this weekend the depressing vision that would greet
you would be of a half demolished stadium. This stadium built in 1995 providing
the modern facilities that we would love to have especially on the Blackfriars
End, now should be held up as an example of how close we were to losing such a
valuable and loved piece of Hereford history. Had we the fans not fought to
remove the ‘business men’ (I am sure others will have much stronger words they
would call them), then heaven knows how run down Edgar Street and the football
might have been, with the real prospect of football at Edgar Street slowly
dying and being forced to seek cheaper more sustainable homes, leaving a prime
site for ruthless redevelopment before the ‘business men’ disappeared with
their spoils.
There is
a lot to be thankful for, we have a new successful team playing at the
spiritual home, whilst the phoenix club AFC Rushden & Diamonds, were forced
to ground share at the aptly named Dog & Duck ground with Wellingborough
Town but are now being forced to find a new home with Rushden & Higham
United.
I think
all fans would wish AFC Rushden & Diamonds, a fan owned club, continued
success in re-establishing themselves (they are currently 6th in the
Northern League 1st Division South equivalent to our league) and
hope they find a permanent home soon.
As the
words go ‘Football without fans is nothing’ therefore fans must ensure that
their voices are heard and the role of a Supporters Trusts is a key one. They
are not there for just the dark days they are there for all days, so if you are
a member of HUST then thank you, but if you are a lapsed member or a just a
supporter then please consider joining HUST or supporting HUST initiatives and
have a voice and help us to ensure HFC has more success on and off the pitch.