POSITIVE AND SUCCESSFUL – HUST REVIEWS SEASON 2023-24
It started with a home attendance of 3,000 and finished with a home attendance of 4,000. Something must have been good! Indeed, it was.
Stig (Chris Ammonds) became HFC Chair and during the close season the Club selected a new manager. HUST’s Chair, Richard Tomkins (and for a very brief period, we had our ‘fourth HFC Director’!) was invited to the final round of interviews that agreed to offer the job to Paul Caddis. Paul has brought a new spirit between himself, the team, and supporters.
The playing style is what Hereford fans are eager to see. We were in contention for a play-off place right to the end and even snuck in good cup runs getting to an FA Cup First Round against Gillingham and in the FA Trophy it took the eventual finalists, Gateshead, to beat us. Supporters provided a great voice throughout the season both home and away. We thank them for creating such a wonderful atmosphere during matches.
Off the field there were some enterprising developments with the extended lease, to 2070, on Edgar Street and the commencement of the re-development of the Blackfriars Street End. Very timely following HUST’s strong case that delivered the renewal of our ground as an Asset of Community Value.
HUST was delighted to launch the Social Inclusion Project where exiled Bulls donated ticket/s monies of various denominations to “pay it forward” enabling over 100 seats to be used by organisations supporting Dementia, Veterans, Herefordshire Mind, Refugees and the Disabled. The Project has allowed so many that would not normally have had access, to enjoy live football and the thrill of large crowds.
A huge thank you to all fans who have donated and made those visiting welcome at every match. We are also pleased that replica shirts and a few season tickets have now been purchased for the 2024/25 campaign following a visit to Edgar Street. We still have some of those donated funds left over which we will continue to use next season.
We will be relaunching this again, in the coming weeks, ahead of the season.
We must thank the hardworking HUST members who volunteer on matchday, and behind the scenes, to deliver the sales of 50/50 Draw and Golden Goal tickets. Over 40 hours a week is spent to make this the success that it is. We are pleased to report that the HFC board have confirmed that HUST will continue with the service, under licence to HFC, for next season.
HUST continues to make monthly payments to HFC of the profits from the 50/50 Matchday Draw and Golden Goal and we dusted off our ‘Big Cheque’ again in April, to do a celebration presentation of the latest donation of the proceeds for January, February and March 2024.
Thank you all for your support with this season's Matchday Competitions. Amazing ticket sales meant we awarded £27,500 in prize money over the season. Some of these prizes were even donated back to the Club! This makes the total HUST donation for the season £28,757. A major injection of cash when it was most needed.
In addition, HUST continues to fundraise via the Prize Bull 500 Club, HUST Unity Lottery & Easyfundraising.
With HFC eliminating a paper version of the Matchday Programme and going digital, HUST has emailed this digital product to HUST members ahead of matchday to read directly from their inboxes, in a magazine format. If you have missed any programmes this season, you can find them all listed, alphabetically, by Club, on the HUST website.
The London Bulls has been re-launched this season and HUST was delighted to support them to get the group up and running! Other groups are in the process of being set up, Manchester Bulls, Derby Bulls and a generic Northern Bulls initially. We are also working on overseas versions too! These will be hosted on the HUST website for Bulls fans around the globe to access a group near them! If you are keen to set one up or find fellow Bulls in your area, please get in touch with us.
Three HUST Board members visited Exeter City Supporters’ Trust to view their club model. It’s taken 20 years of development down there, and we believe we will be able to purpose elements of it for our Club. One being that we can work with the Club by contributing towards infrastructure projects which will have a lasting benefit for supporters, given the excellent news of an extended lease on Edgar Street to 2070, and the forthcoming re-development at the Blackfriars End. We have requested the Club provide us with a list of infrastructure developments and likely costs, so that we may invest in that direction.
The HUST Board worked well behind the scenes. Currently comprising Mike Langford, Tony Taylor, Joanie Roberts, Gerry Harrison, Justin Ratcliffe and Richard Tomkins. We are sad to lose Simon Wright and Mark Nottingham who made the decision to stand down at the end of the season to attend to personal projects. They continue to fully support HUST, as members, and we thank them for their valuable contributions.
The FSA now delivers a series of Director training sessions covering Governance & Your Board, Planning & Purpose, Finance, AGM’s & Elections. These are useful for HUST Directors to keep up to date with latest thinking and changes in boardroom legislation.
The Annual Nominations for Directors onto the Hereford FC board is now open and members have been invited to apply. Mike Langford stands down by rotation as a HUST Nominated Director on the Club Board and he has indicated he will be a candidate for the renewal process. Closing dates for applications is Friday 24th May 2024.
HUST & HFC Director, Joanie Roberts, was elected to the Board of the National League in June 2023 serving an initial term of 3 years. The National League, led by its new General Manager, Mark Ives, is embarking on a programme of change to its operation. The Fan Led Review of Football panel discussed the National League which HUST Chair, Richard Tomkins, participated in. Joanie’s election is as significant to our Club today as when Len Weston was appointed to the Southern League. Get your history books out for that one!
HUST contributes to the wider world of football through its membership of the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) where Richard Tomkins is one of three National Game representatives. The Parliamentary Bill for a Football Regulator has seen its second reading in the House of Commons. So many MPs wanted to speak in support they took 5 hours to applaud it!
Finally, the battle is on to save FA Cup replays. Perhaps the FA did not realise the warmth the fans have towards their competition. Heritage is only something you cherish when you’ve lost it. It’s a tough fight to get it back. Something we know only too well at Edgar Street!
