Stanley Is A 'Real Handful'

 

Connor Stanley, who has signed for Hereford, was with the Bolton B team twelve months ago having joined from Manchester United.

Matt Craddock was his manager at the time and he told the Manchester Evening News about the young midfielder.

"He is a Man United product and Connor technically is fantastic. We are doing a lot of work with him at the moment because he gets in really good positions to break the lines and sometimes will play back in, rather than playing forward and getting at people.

"I think what we saw tonight in flashes was that bit and that is what I am really pleased about. I will keep harping on about it but that is what our job is.

"We have got to look at individual players and how we can make them better, and that was one thing that we have been talking with Connor about and he showed that today, so I was really pleased with him. He just showed off how technically good he is.

"He probably had a couple of chances to get a shot off in the first half, which he didn’t. But he will learn from that and I was really pleased with his performances today, he looked a real handful."

Caddis Brings In Stanley

 

Hereford manager Paul Caddis has boosted his squad with the signing of midfielder Connor Stanley.

However, at present, it is only a short-term deal.

"Connor came in to train with us a few weeks ago and we knew from the very first session that he was a player we’d like to add to the squad," said Caddis.

"As a result of our passionate supporters turning up in huge numbers for the Aston Villa pre-season friendly, we have now signed Connor on a initial short-term deal which is fantastic news."

22 year old Stanley has been training with the Bulls for several weeks.

After Saturday's game at Redditch Caddis said that he liked Connor.

"It's whether we can try and get something sorted."

And the good news is that they have. 

Is There More Money Around Edgar Street?

There appears to be a little bit more money around Edgar Street at the moment given the news that there will be an overnight stay for the players ahead of the opening fixture at Kings Lynn on Saturday.

Last season overnight stays before games were curtailed by the club. Even the trip to Blyth Spartans on the last day of the season was done 'on the day'.

So it came as some surprise when manager Paul Caddis revealed in his post-Redditch interview that the club was looking for accommodation on the night before the Kings Lynn game.

"We are trying to get accommodation sorted for the night before especially as we are down to bare bones when travelling four or five hours," he said.

"We are trying to do things as professionally as we can but we're trying to get over a few hurdles with things like that." 

It isn't known whether the cost of the accommodation will come out of the football budget. It may be that some of the 'profit' from the Aston Villa friendly will be used to pay for the stay.

And it could be that Caddis feels an overnight stay will help with team bonding.

Nevertheless accommodation not booked well in advance for the squad won't be cheap given it's the first Friday in August. 

Bulls Hope For Big Turnout On Darlington Day

Hereford chairman Chris Ammonds is hoping for a big turnout of supporters for the visit of Darlington on August 12th.

Given 2324 watched the friendly against Aston Villa last week, Ammonds thinks a gate of 3,000 is quite possible. 

Before then is the first away game of the season at Kings Lynn and the home team will probably be favourites to win the game, especially given Hereford could be without five first team players.

However, whatever the result, if reports suggest that manager Paul Caddis's men put on a workmanlike performance, then demand for tickets for the Darlington game should be very good.

Tickets for the game are now on sale at: https://herefordfc.ticketco.events/uk/en/e/darlington2023  

Meanwhile the club have confirmed that there will be a event featuring Paul Caddis on the evening before the game, August 11th.

The event, in the Hereford Suite, will start at 7.15 and tickets will cost £15 which includes 'hot food' and a drink.

Tickets are on sale at: https://herefordfc.ticketco.events/uk/en/e/an_evening_with_paul_caddis

 

Tickets For Kings Lynn

Tickets for Saturday's National North League fixture between Kings Lynn and Hereford are now on sale.

Please note supporters will be segregated.

Adult terrace tickets are £18, seated are £20.

This from Kings Lynn:

Tickets can be purchased in person at the stadium box office or via our online shop.

After due consideration and advice from the local police and security advisors, all King’s Lynn Town FC first team fixtures this season shall be segregated.

150 seats in the main stand will be made available for each game, to away supporters who require a seat. There will also be 985 standing tickets available to visiting fans in a designated area of the terrace.

Going forward and as part of the clubs rapid growth, we are investigating how the club can provide segregated seating in the away section.

In the meantime, with the exception of those seated away fans in the home section previously mentioned, any other away fan trying to obtain or purchase a ticket for the home section,  will find their tickets cancelled and they will be refused entry into the ground.  No refunds will be available for cancelled tickets as advised in our terms and conditions.

 

Hereford Women start Pre Season with a defeat

The reformed Hereford Women's football team made their debut this afternoon as they began pre season by hosting FA National League Reserves Midland Division side Stourbridge at Hereford Leisure Centre. Unfortunately the game ended in defeat for Hereford in front of crowd of around 70. 

Hereford return to action next Sunday when they travel to Wales to face Genero Adran South side Cascade YC. 

Around Redditch

A selection of pictures from around Redditch yesterday where Hereford won 2-0 in their last pre-season game for 2023/24.

Hughes Wants A Couple More Players Before Hereford Visit.

Like Hereford, Kings Lynn played their final pre-season friendly yesterday afternoon.

Unlike Hereford they were at home and failed to score against lower league opposition Corby Town.

However according to reports one should not read too much into the performance as manager Mark Hughes decided to rest some of his players to avoid more injuries.

And he, just like Hereford's Paul Caddis, is hopeful of adding to his squad before next Saturday's game between the two clubs.

Lynn played with a diamond formation as Hughes looked at a number of trialists. He is said to be wanting a striker and a left-back.

Second Half Pictures From Redditch Friendly

A selection of pictures from the second half of yesterday's friendly at Redditch.

These include pictures of the Hereford trialists.

Comfortable on Plastic

Keeper Can Only Look As Livingstone's Free Kick Sails In

Yes really, comfortable on plastic. Hereford strolled through the afternoon looking the better side throughout. Could it be that the Caddis changes mean that the Bulls will be picking up more points on 4G? Perhaps, Redditch looked more than a level below and were also trying players out.

Hereford lined up with Pond; Southern, captain Cameron, Derricott, Cranston, Anaebonam, Babos, Teixeira, Livingstone; Mendes, Arthur. On the bench were Skinner, Rooney, Stanley, White, and a Trialist. Hereford were the better team throughout with their players looking comfortable. 

Koby Arthur

Neither side looked to be fully “at it”. Several players on both sides were unattached and without contracts they would not want to get injured. Hereford took the lead when good work from Southern resulted in a cross which Mendes had to pivot and turn, a fine striker’s finish.

At half time Hereford took off Cranston, Cameron, Teixeira, and Arthur. Skinner came on and took the armband alongside Stanley, White and a trialist. Southern moved from full back to centre back. Anaebonam went up front, Skinner played left back. Hereford attacked consistently with the trialist showing their skills. Both Stanley and White looked good, getting dangerous crosses in. 

Livingstone converted a free kick just outside the box, Harrison barely moving so clean was the strike. Rooney replaced Babos, Anaebonam dropped back into midfield. 

Skinner was particularly impressive the skipper driving forward on the left having a shot which was handled which would have probably been a penalty with VAR, drawing a fine save from Harrison and having shots and crosses blocked. He was almost unplayable for fifteen minutes or so, cutting in from the left clearly suiting him.

On this form you would sign any of the trialists but Redditch were one of the weaker friendly opponents and former Bull Matt Clarke looks like he has a hard season ahead as manager. The crowd was about five hundred with about half of those present from the Shire. Man of the match was Derricott who strolled through the game. To my rheumy eyes he seems an inch taller and definitely more muscular. In the first half a Redditch forward gave him a shove as Mark shepherded the ball back. He took the hit and turned with the ball as if nothing had happened. He looks very much at home for the physical battles.

From what I have seen a first choice eleven ( assuming every one was fit) would be something like this:

Pond has done nothing wrong, good distribution. A low laser drop kick down the right in the first half almost broke the lines.

Skinner, this was his best performance but he battles hard even when playing tough opponents.

Cranston who looks a Rolls Royce at this level no wonder Fylde went up.

Cameron organises the lines.

Derricott the youngster looks at home.

Mendes flexible and full of energy.

Babos and Teixeira are the central partnership. Tidy players but for my liking a little too similar.

Williams I know he’s injured but quality behind ideally Cowley and Rooney.

The team need a loan striker for a few months and no doubt efforts will be made.

I would like a more muscular player in the middle of the field to take on the rough and tumble which half the division will engage in.

The Bulls have a good run of fixtures to start. Kings Lynn are operating to a lower budget, Darlington are tough. The next run though of Rushall, Blyth, Peterborough Sports and Tamworth are all likely to be bottom half sides and it would be no surprise if one or two of these were relegated.

Early September well give a clear indication of where the Bulls are at. Southport are the sort of nasty where necessary merchants who the Bulls have struggled to beat and Chester away will be the first really hard challenge. By then Hereford should easily be top half and really in the play off positions. Yet injuries and the challenges of signing cover players and the right sort of loanee will see Caddis diving into the deep end.

The organisation, structure and attitude so far mean the Bulls May no longer be treading water in National League North.