Result: 2-1 Win (HT 0-1) Naylor 65 (pen), Redrobe 76; Kabia 10
Attendance: 7,109
Hereford United: Hughes, McLaughlin, Naylor,
Evans, Tucker, Jones, Rudge, Hinch, Ritchie, Lee (Redrobe), Gane.
Chesterfield: Tingay, Holmes, Burton,
McHale, Winstanley, Barlow, Phelan, Moss, Kabia, Bellamy, Thompson.
League Position: 12th
On the Pitch: This was only the second time
that Hereford had won from behind as the 73-74 season drew to a close; the other comeback win was at home to Port Vale in February.
The Adverts: With this being the last home
game of the season, I have included the adverts too. I remember, as a kid,
being seriously impressed by the Bulmer's boast of being the largest Cider
Maker in the world. I want to say that it was in the ‘70s
childhood Christmas staple Guinness Book of Records too; possibly imagined though.
Click on photos
to enlarge.
Colin's Comments: This would turn out to be his last column for a league match during his first reign as manager. Reign being the operative word, as his achievements put him at the top of the Hereford Football Royalty pile.
Third Division Round Up: Ted mentions a top of the table clash the following weekend: York at home to Oldham. The game ended 1-1, securing both teams promotion (Oldham as champions, Bristol Rovers were the other team). An attendance for the match eludes me, but York averaged 6,885 that season, with a highest attendance of 15,829. There is YouTube footage of the game which suggests that this could have been that record crowd. York would survive for two seasons in the championship, attracting average crowds of 8,954 in their first season, where they finished 15th.
Meanwhile, if proof was needed of where Hereford were at,
they were in the same division as a Brian Clough team. He would move to Leeds
in July 1974 for perhaps the most famous 44 days of his illustrious career.
In the Opposition: The last time Hereford and Chesterfield were in the same orbit was when they were nicknamed Lesterfield, courtesy of Jack Lester, who scored 94 times for them in 219 appearances between 2007-13, before managing them in the 2017-18 season. He was a mere passing fad compared to Ernie Moss, though, who played 469 times for the Spireites over three spells (68-75, 79-81, and 84-86), grabbing 162 goals in the process. He was 35 at the end of that last spell. He clearly loved his football, becoming the Conference's oldest scorer in 1992 when scoring for Kettering aged 42.
Edgar Street Chatter: Whilst this is the last home fixture in the league, the groundsman isn't done yet, as there are plenty of matches to round the season off, including a much-deserved testimonial for Alan Jones, who had played over 360 times for Hereford United, back when playing hundreds of games for the same club was a thing.
Of the remaining games at Edgar Street, the stand out was
surely Hereford United Directors and Vice Presidents taking on a farmers XI the
day after this match?
I have to confess that I always have to have a nose on
street view at the house of anyone in these programmes requesting a pen pal.
They are not always keepers, but this one is very well kept, with a bit of
greenery in the front garden, an all too rare sight these days. The house
though is rather alarmingly and boldy called "Lonsdale".
Supporters' Corner: Some good end of season shoutouts to all the people that help make the match days what they are. They may be different people, but the roles and praise due continue in 2025.
Going by Car: Directions to what would be the last game of the season: Walsall away, the following Saturday. The good book describes the 1-3 defeat as follows (4,167 - Jim Hinch signing off with a 58th minute goal). A nightmare match for United! Tommy Hughes injures an arm after three minutes and struggles to prevent the first half goals*. Just before half time, skipper Mick McLaughlin snaps an Achilles tendon. Hughes spends the second half on the wing and Lee deputises between the sticks.
*Hereford conceded in the 27th, 28th and 37th minutes.
Vital Statistics: "He's one of our own" as the song goes. This was a young Steve Emery's breakthrough season, playing 7 league games. He made his debut away to Cambridge on 17th Feb (0-2 L - 15 days after his 18th birthday), before getting a run in the team in March. He got a mention in dispatches for his home debut performance against Southend. When drawing up a Made in Herefordshire XI, he is surely in the team?
In the News: 24th April 1974 - Leeds United won the second of their two league titles during this the most successful period in their history; they were also runner- up on five separate occasions following their Division 2 title win in 1964. Losing the final of the European Cup in controversial circumstances the following season would bring to close a Don Revie-inspired successful decade that also saw them win the League Cup in 1968 and the FA Cup in 1972.
In the Singles Charts: Seasons in the Sun by Terry
Jacks is at No.1.
In the Album Charts: The Singles 1969-1973 by the
Carpenters is at No.1.
On TV: The Annan Committee was formed in April 1974;
it was given the very current-sounding role of
establishing where the BBC's future lay - exploring new technologies and their
funding. If my childhood memory serves me correctly, with videos still some way
off, the only other technology that made use of the telly as the 1970s unfolded
was the bat-and-ball plug-in games console.
In the Maternity Ward: Singer Tina
Cousins was born on 20th April 1974; former Chris Moyles
sidekick "Comedy" Dave was born on 24th April 1974.
