Although a heartbreaking result on Saturday, the whole day was overshadowed by the sad news of the deaths of two former Hereford United players. Club Historian Ron Parrott takes up the story:-
"First of all, the sad news reached me on Saturday that local lad Tony Rosser had finally lost his fight against dementia and had passed away earlier that morning. I remember watching him in my late teens and he was a more than useful footballer although I must confess to feeling a bit sorry for Tony because he was frequently asked to deputise for the great John Charles and obviously, they were difficult shoes to fill. Off the field, I got to know him quite well from frequent Saturday nights at the Cock of Tupsley, when along with Garth and Hedley Lawson, we always seemed to have lively and animated debates on all things football. Rest in peace Tony."
The following is Ron's pen-picture of Tony:-
Born Hereford and died in Hereford 28th August 2021
A local lad, Tony was signed from Herefordshire League football in the summer of 1967 and spent three seasons at Edgar Street. Although not the tallest of players, Tony spent much of his time deputising for John Charles at centre-forward. He was a popular member of the squad and also played frequently for the Reserves. During his three seasons with the club, Tony made 47 first-team appearances but only managed three goals. He was released at the end of the 1969/70 season and despite receiving offers from other clubs, Tony returned to local league football, partly because he was getting married and partly because he wanted to forge a good career with his employers, Henry Wiggin & Co.. It turned out to be a good move not only because he had a long and happy marriage but also because he got his head down and grafted his way up from apprentice to manager. Tony was also a popular figure in the Cock of Tupsley, where he was proud of being a regular visitor and drinker for over 40 years. He could be relied upon for a good football yarn or two and when those tales ran out, Tony had many more stories of his handyman exploits to relate. Sadly, later in life, Tony developed dementia and spent his final days in a local care home.