Result: 1-2 Loss (HT 1-1) Rudge 6; Moody 7, Silvester 90.
Attendance: 7,138
Hereford United: Hughes, Radford, Naylor, McLaughlin, Tucker, Bell, Rudge, Tyler (Lee), Redrobe, Brown, Evans.
Opposition: Webster, Worthington, Dyer, Elliott, Townsend, Moody, Coulson, Brace, Guthrie, Silvester, Johnson.
League Position: 19th 35 games in (11 to go), Hereford are four points above the drop (2 points for a win).
On the Pitch: Described in the good book as a drab encounter, this would be the only home game of the season that Hereford would lose after going ahead through what is described as a fine goal by David Rudge.
Click on photos to enlarge.
Colin's Comments: The combination of a good showing in the FA Cup and winter weather meant that Hereford had to fit in 8 matches during March 1974. This sounds ridiculous just 50 years later, but that caused problems due to them not being able to power their floodlights, apart from this game - courtesy of Smart and Brown Lighting Ltd., whose general manager Stan Hetherington gets a shout out from Colin Addison for loaning the club their generator. He goes on to reveal that they have been a good friend to the club over recent years. Below is a We Grew Up in Hereford article on the company.
https://www.herefordtimes.com/news/24255835.former-workers-share-memories-hereford-factory/
Third Division Round Up: Brian Clough hogs the limelight in this edition, which is fair enough - he is still the gift that keeps on giving thanks to an anecdote-laden internet. Back in his prime, he provided entertainment both on and off the pitch wherever he went. His disastrous spell at Leeds was worthy of a film, though his time at Brighton was also a blip on his otherwise magical 1970's. The league table shows Brighton in 10th place in an admittedly congested mid table. Brighton would go on to finish up in a lowly 19th, winning just 12 of their 32 games with him at the steering wheel. Perhaps bizarrely, this would earn him the short lived "throw all your medals in the bin" spell at Leeds.
In the Opposition: During this era, it was common for the players to go round a reasonably close-knit local circuit. So in this case you would think that the Southend team would be well stocked with players from Colchester, Ipswich, West Ham, Orient and so on. Instead, this team seems to have a very North East vibe going on.
Chris Guthrie was on Newcastle's books in the 1971-72 season, making 3 appearances. Newcastle born Willie Coulson was also on their books during "that match", although he never made their first team before moving to Southend in 1973, where he would stay for three seasons, making 52 league appearances in midfield. His career would take him to Australia via Hong Kong, with him spending 20 years in Melbourne, before he perhaps inevitably settled down in Newcastle in New South Wales.
Terry Johnson had also started his career at Newcastle, again not breaking into the first team. He left in 1971 though. David Elliot played 80 times for Newcastle, again leaving in 1971. Alan Moody was from nearby Middlesborough, whom he had played for 46 times before playing an impressive 446 league games for Southend over a 12 year period. Beyond that and for good measure, Malcolm Webster and Kevin Johnson were both born in Doncaster with David Worthington hailing from Halifax.
I think what I have gone a very long way about saying is, if you were a young kid from Essex in that dressing room, it would have a very modern feel to it, with you unable to understand a word that any of your fellow players are saying.
Fan of the Week: Not sure whether these lads have just been away "on business" from a nearby military camp or whether they are about to break out into a sea shanty? Either way if they want the tickets let them have them I say.
Edgar Street Chatter: If you ever wondered where the Len Weston clock came from (a clock that has been anxiously observed literally a million times), it was courtesy of the jewellers Oswin & Co. Ltd. who are now located on Widemarsh Street in Hereford. Although floodlight angst hasn't changed much, the piece stating that the clock striking 4:40 may not necessarily mark the end of the game shows how relaxed to timekeeping football has become. Being two goals down at 4:40 on a Saturday these days would probably lead to you leaning over to your fellow fan and suggesting "if we don't get a goal in the next 10 minutes I think we may struggle to get anything from today".
There is also news that a Mini 1000 is up for grabs the next day - that must have been a big deal (worth north of £12,000 in today's money, the Mini being a proper Mini then, not the fancy pants present day Mini).
Supporters' Corner: A nice description of the proposed and much drawn out social hub is overshadowed by news that the Supporters Club old headquarters are to be converted into a ladies' powder room.
Going by Car: A trip to Oldham is accompanied with an intriguing view of the ground as a back drop to the impressive specimen that is Billy Tucker. I am guessing that is what is now Block A?
Vital Statistics: As a (HUFC) child of the 80's onwards, the player stats have a familiar look - not too many goals in the team, hence they are languishing perilously close to the drop in 19th spot. In brighter news, featured substitute Alan Gane is not at all annoying by being both clever and good at football. He also has a rather sophisticated feeling love of Dover sole to keep the brain ticking over.
In the News: 18th March sees the end of the oil embargo on Europe, Japan and the US by the OPEC countries.
In the Singles Charts: Billy Don't be a Hero by Paper Lace reaches No.1.
In the Album Charts: The Singles 1969-1973 by the Carpenters is in its customary 1974 No.1 spot.
Not much happening in mid March 1974 sorry, don't panic though there is an attempted kidnapping next home game. Not at Edgar Street though, it happened in the big town.
