Jack Discusses The Bulls

 

In the build up to tomorrow's FA Trophy game TorquayTalk interviewed BN's Jack about all things Hereford.

About me:

I’m Jack and I’ve been supporting Hereford for as long as I can remember. Cliché, I know, but growing up my dad would take me to games – the first I remember was the 2006 play-off final at Leicester City, where of course Hereford United beat Halifax 3-2 as they fought their way back to the Football League. There were no doubt games at Edgar Street before then, but that day sticks in everyone’s minds! By day I work in the media industry and then volunteer with Bulls News, a website dedicated to covering the club.

Form:

I think one word to sum it up would actually be surprising. At the end of last season, the club appointed a rookie manager, Paul Caddis who has never even been a coach in men’s football, and he made an instant impact by telling most players they were being released… that was before being thrashed 5-0 at Blyth on the last day of a forgettable season.

But oh my, what a season it’s been so far. In December, we won all but one game – a 5-1 defeat at home to highflyers Scunthorpe – and sit firmly in the play-offs despite, effectively, a complete rebuild over the summer. If you said to any Hereford fan before the season ‘would you take a play-off place, an FA Cup first round proper place one in the fifth round of the FA Trophy?’, they’d have snapped your arm off!

The main thing for me this season is that if the Bulls fall behind, they have the character, desire and hard work ethic to fight back and still get something from the game – something most recently seen at Gloucester City on Boxing Day.

Paul Caddis has repeatedly said he wants his side to show character, hard work and desire and they definitely do.

Highlights:

I’m not sure every fan will agree with me here, but for me it was the 2-1 home win over Spennymoor in December. Like my answer to question 2 pointed out, Hereford fell a goal behind but didn’t resign themselves to defeat. Caddis threw the kitchen sink at the winner and Andy Williams made his National League North debut. The Bulls were his first club before he moved onto Bristol Rovers, Swindon Town and Doncaster Rovers among others, returning to Edgar Street after 14 years away after leaving Walsall. Seeing him back on the pitch was great and despite being 37, has still got what it takes. He’s only played 102 minutes since returning from a knee injury which had kept it out from pre-season, but has already scored three goals.

Key Players:

Normally I’d say Jason Cowley, he’s a right little nuisance for defenders – but he was sent off at Scarborough at the weekend so won’t feature. Andy Williams is another obvious call, he’s still got the speed and his Football League experience shines through. Elsewhere on the pitch you’ve got the likes of Yusifu Ceesay and Lassana Mendes, wingers who most recently left Gloucester City struggling to contain their pace. Paul Downing, ex-Walsall and MK Dons, brings a level head at the back and is very comfortable with the ball at his feet and, in midfield, Scunthorpe loanee Tom Pugh is a consistent performer, breaking things up.

The Phoenix Club

You could write a book on this so for all the history of Hereford United folding, it’s worth reading the Timeline of Events on Bulls News. Since the club was reformed, we went on a sterling run of three championships in three season before sacking Peter Beadle nine games into the first season at step two. It was perhaps surprising but the fanbase has moved on.

What followed though wasn’t easy, the club adopted a Director of Football/head coach approach which, frankly, was almost guaranteed to fail as they lacked the experience to really take the club forward. Then came Russell Slade, a big name, but no National League experience and he didn’t last the season. Then came Josh Gowling, a nice enough guy, but without the real ability to manage a NLN club. His technical, statistic-led approach, along with negative and defensive football and getting through dozens of players each season, irked supporters. He did lead us to our second Wembley final since reforming but it was the latest episode in the series of stagnating at step two.

Off the field, board members and chairman have come and gone but it now feels we have a solid pair of hands in Chris Ammonds as chair, along with returning commercial guru George Webb to try and stop the big losses the club’s been suffering… it had only around £6,000 of the initial funds used to launch the club left towards the end of last season.

The supporter trust owns 50 per cent of the club, something it had been striving for since the club was founded, which means there will, in theory, never be a majority shareholder to do as they wish with the club. So while we’re not really fan-owned there is, also in theory, supporter representation on the club board. They are, however, sometimes thwarted by not being able to speak candidly about what’s going on.

The Manager

Scotsman Paul Caddis – his first job in management and probably best known as a player from his time at Birmingham City and Swindon. Tactics can very from game to game so I’ll leave you guessing on this one!

Pre-Match Refreshments

Taken from the Football Ground Guide, you can head to Radfords or Addisons at the club which normally welcomes away fans (though don’t take this for gospel as it can vary).

One contributor, Scott Lyndon, said the Oxford Arms near to the ground on Widemarsh Street is friendly and then towards the city centre there’s the Herdsman or Wellington. If you like your ales then on Eign Street around a five-minute walk from the visitors’ turnstiles is the Beer In Hand. This modern small bar serves a number of beers directly from the cask.

Trophy Run

We’ve played step four Redbridge (no Dagenham) who left Edgar Street on the wrong end of a 4-1 score-line, then fellow step four side South Park were beaten 1-0 in what was, many fans would admit, a poor afternoon of football. This season though, Hereford have only had home draws in cups. Torquay will be our third in the Trophy and that’s on top of four home draws in the FA Cup before being knocked out by League Two Gillingham in the first round proper and two in the Herefordshire FA County Challenge Cup, and another home tie in the semi-final if they get through the last eight.

Prediction

I run the Bulls News Prediction League but I’m languishing mid-table – proof I’m not cheating! I’ve got to be optimistic though and a lot will depend on the injury situation after a tough game at Scarborough on their artificial pitch last weekend. I’ll go for a 2-1 Hereford win though. Up the Bulls!