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Next Game: Pre-Season

Sunday, August 05, 2018

3-0 Flattered Blyth Said Ex-Bull Elmo



Former Hereford United striker Rob Elmes was back at Edgar Street yesterday, summarising for BBC Hereford and Worcester, alongside commentator Keith Hall.

Elmo said that he wasn't quite sure what to expect from the game, but ended up being very impressed, putting Hereford's success down to a well-gelled team.

"Great game actually. It was difficult knowing what to expect actually, a different league with different players, some of the key players from last year have moved on," Elmes told Bulls News.

"I was impressed. You could see that they'd [Hereford] had a good pre-season and they've bedded down together well, everything that Blyth didn't have. You could see, certainly in the first 45 minutes that their defence was all at sea.

"They've signed a couple of centre-halves this week and you could see that, whereas Hereford looked a lot more solid at the back and looked a threat going forwards.

"If anything, 3-0 flattered Blyth."

Elmes left Edgar Street in 2002, with one of the highlights of his Hereford career when Hereford faced First Division side Leicester City twice in the FA Cup in just 11 days in December 1999.

The Bulls drew 0-0 at Edgar Street in front of a crowd of 7,795, before eventually bowing out 2-1 in the replay at Filbert Street after extra-time.

Elmes said it's always great to be back, and that the current squad should appreciate being able to play for such a 'brilliant' club.

"It was 2002 when I left so a good few years ago, but it's great to see familiar faces," added Elmes.

"I really enjoy coming back and the fans are great. As a non-league footballer it doesn't get any better than this when you're playing in front of 2,800/3,000 every week, it's the pinnacle of every non-league football player's career.

"They probably don't know that yet, but when you get to my age you realise actually what a privilege it is to play for such a brilliant club like this."

Elmes watched the game alongside Keith Hall for BBC H&W and said yesterday's 3-0 win is a good start to getting back to non-league's top flight next season.

"I've been following Hereford for those three years, I've come back and done a few commentaries with Keith [Hall] on the BBC.

"It's great because this city deserves at minimum this level of football, and who knows if they have a good season, today was obviously a very good performance and promising, next year they could be back at non-league's top table where they belong, if not in the Football League."