Ryan Green At Hereford - 2003/2004

Ryan Green (right) And Jamie Pitman Watching Penalties In The Play-off Game Against Aldershot At Edgar Street In April 2004 - Andy Compton Picture

With Ryan Green's testimonial taking place in two weeks time on July 24th, BN looks back at his time with Hereford.

Defender Green had three spells with the club, the first from 2003 to 2006.

He started his career as a 16 year old with Wolves, spent time at Torquay, Millwall and Sheffield Wednesday before coming to Edgar Street. In 1998 he became the youngest ever player capped for Wales at 17 years 226 days, a record not bettered until 2004.

Green signed a two year deal on July 31st 2003 and featured in a friendly against Birmingham City that evening.
 
"He has moved back down to Cardiff and he asked his agent to phone to see if we would be interested and that's how it came about," said manager Graham Turner.

"It's only an hour into Cardiff so he commutes quite comfortably and he wants to settle. I think it has worked to our advantage, the fact that he has thought about us and wants to come and play for us."

Green's first league game was at Tamworth on a hot August Saturday and he nearly scored.

'Hereford could have doubled their advantage a minute later, when Ryan Green sailed a ball in from the right channel from all of forty yards out. However, it dropped over the goalkeeper Phil Whitehead and onto the crossbar, missing the target by a whisper.'   

His first goal for the Bulls came at Telford on September 23rd.  

'In the third and final minute of injury time, a chip into the box from United's midfielder Jamie Pitman was volleyed home by Ryan Green, who had run the length of the pitch to get into the postion.'  

Graham Turner was pleased.  

"I thought he had an outstanding game. He often made use of any space he could go into and for him to carry on a run after being involved in the move and finish up in the inside-left channel and finish with a volley- I thought it was teriffic play."  

Green spoke to the Non-League Paper in October in advance of the Sky Cameras coming to Edgar Street for a game against Dagenham.
 
"I played against Malta and Tunisia when I was seventeen and although I don't think the pressure got to me, I had a few injuries which seemed to set me back.
 
"Now Graham Turner has taken a chance on me so I am very grateful for the opportunity to show what I can do.
 
"This is definitely last chance saloon for me. I was nearly out of a job in the summer and it has made me appreciate football a lot more. Maybe when I was younger I used to go out a bit too much, but now I am back with my family in Cardiff and fully focused.
 
"I think I will have to get back into Division One to get picked for Wales again, but I am only 23 and haven't ruled it out. Hopefully we can win promotion this season and take it from there."  

Green's first sending off came in a home game against Tamworth on December 13th.
 
"I thought the referee spoiled the game," said manager Turner. "There was not enough out there to warrent a sending-off. Ryan said he was trying to jump out of the way when he got his second yellow."  

Green received a yellow card in Hereford's next game. But nobody really cared as the Bulls defeated Forest Green 7-1 and were second in the Conference just one point behind Chester.
 
In early February Green was injured in a game against Burton. He pulled a muscle in his hip and so missed several games.
 
But he returned for a certain away game at Dagenham. And he was instrumental in Hereford's first of nine goals that evening.  

'United's first goal was scored against the run of play following a good passing move. Ryan Green played a neat one-two with Rob Purdie and then beat Danny Shipp to the ball who tripped the wing-back in the area. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot, and showing Shipp a red card for a professional foul. Tony James hammered the ball home low to the right of the goal for his 6th goal of the season.'  

This was the be Hereford United's highest scoring season ever and in early April a place in the play-offs was confirmed. After a 5-0 win at Leigh RMI, Hereford had scored 101 goals.  

Then on April 24th Hereford defeated leaders Chester 2-1 in front of an Edgar Street crowd of 7240. 103 goals equalled the Conference record. It might have been 104 if Green had been on target.  

'In the final minute Williams found Green with a through ball who, when one-on-one, lobbed the 'keeper but the ball fell just wide of the post and denied Hereford the goalscoring record.'  

Andy Tretton And Ryan Green

And so to the play-offs against Aldershot and heartbreak for Hereford when Andy Tretton was sent off in the second leg at Edgar Street. Green played his part as usual.  

'Brown layed the ball off to Pitman who found Ryan Green on the wing. He paced down the right, played a neat one-two with Guinan, curled in a decent cross only to see Ray Warburton beat a striker to the ball and head clear. Green crossed dangerously again just minutes after, but nobody could get the final touch to the ball which went straight across the goal face.'  

However Aldershot won the game on penalties so another season of Conference football awaited Green.