No one could have foreseen the goalkeeping problems that occured in the 2008/09 season at Hereford United.
To have one keeper out of action often happens. To have two keepers unavailable seldom happens. To have three keepers out for whatever reasons must be virtually unknown.
At the start of the season manager Graham Turner must have thought he had signed two adequate keepers. Darren Randolph was signed on a season long loan deal from Charlton and Craig Samson joined the club after several seasons in Scotland.
Turner had noted Randolph the previous season especially when he kept goal for Bury against Hereford. And whilst the youngster didn't start his career with the Bulls very well - disappointing display at Kidderminster pre-season for example - he soon established himself as the first choice. His display against Leeds at Elland Road will be remembered by Bulls fans for sometime.
For his first league appearance for the Bulls Samson kept goal at Bristol Rovers. He must have wondered what had happened when the Gasheads put six goals past him. After that Randolph got the nod until just before the FA Cup game against Dagenham and Redbridge on November 8th, other than the Paint game against Swindon.
What was said between Turner and Randolph on that Saturday may never be known. But the arrival of Wolves keeper Matt Murray had leaked out. Suffice it to say Randolph blotted his career by refusing to play and Samson was brought in with just two hours before the kick-off.
Murray's arrival was warmly welcomed. A first class keeper who was on his way back to full fitness after a string of injuries. His command of the area was first class. Turner had brought in a gem.
Then that game at MK Dons on November 25th. Everything was going well until early in the second half when Murray was injuried after going down on his left leg and was carried off.
To have one keeper out of action often happens. To have two keepers unavailable seldom happens. To have three keepers out for whatever reasons must be virtually unknown.
At the start of the season manager Graham Turner must have thought he had signed two adequate keepers. Darren Randolph was signed on a season long loan deal from Charlton and Craig Samson joined the club after several seasons in Scotland.
Turner had noted Randolph the previous season especially when he kept goal for Bury against Hereford. And whilst the youngster didn't start his career with the Bulls very well - disappointing display at Kidderminster pre-season for example - he soon established himself as the first choice. His display against Leeds at Elland Road will be remembered by Bulls fans for sometime.
For his first league appearance for the Bulls Samson kept goal at Bristol Rovers. He must have wondered what had happened when the Gasheads put six goals past him. After that Randolph got the nod until just before the FA Cup game against Dagenham and Redbridge on November 8th, other than the Paint game against Swindon.
What was said between Turner and Randolph on that Saturday may never be known. But the arrival of Wolves keeper Matt Murray had leaked out. Suffice it to say Randolph blotted his career by refusing to play and Samson was brought in with just two hours before the kick-off.
Murray's arrival was warmly welcomed. A first class keeper who was on his way back to full fitness after a string of injuries. His command of the area was first class. Turner had brought in a gem.
Then that game at MK Dons on November 25th. Everything was going well until early in the second half when Murray was injuried after going down on his left leg and was carried off.
Turner managed to bring in Chris Weale from Bristol City. Weale had
already played for the Bulls early the previous season although for only one
game. Then he was recalled because of a keeper crisis at City.
His first game was on December 6th at Colchester. He had a good game bringing off several great saves late in the game as Colchester pressed for an equaliser.
Then on December 11th an injury to his thumb at training ruled him out for up to six weeks.
His first game was on December 6th at Colchester. He had a good game bringing off several great saves late in the game as Colchester pressed for an equaliser.
Then on December 11th an injury to his thumb at training ruled him out for up to six weeks.
Turner had to wait until transfer window opened in January to bring in another keeper. But he managed to bring in a young keeper who is now playing for RB Leipzig.
So how did Turner bring Peter Gulacsi to Hereford?
At the time Turner's Chief Scout had a brother in law who was a Liverpool season ticket holder. And, as it happened, he came from Chester and knew both Ian Rush and Michael Owen as well as some of the backroom staff in the Liverpool Academy
Talking to them he said that Hereford were looking for a loanee goalkeeeper. Peter Gulacsi was mentioned and his name was then given to Turner by his Chief Scout.
Coming from Ellesmere Port Turner had connections around Liverpool and at one time played alongside Terry Owen, Michael's father, at Chester. So the Hereford United manager rang Liverpool and the loan deal was done.
"Gulacsi is very highly
rated by Liverpool and, despite his age, is rated by the staff there as
one of the most mature players they have worked with,” said Turner
Looking back Turner gave Gulacsi his first senior game, a 3-2 win at Cheltenham on February 14th 2009, and it's probably fair to say helped him on his way to the Champions League Semi-Final.