From The BN Archive - Pastures Fresh For Addison

Colin Addison Pictured in 2013

 In September 2002 an article was published in the Daily Telegraph written by Ricky George.

Hereford United legend Colin Addison had just been put in charge of Forest Green.

'There is a tiny cul-de-sac in the shadow of Hereford United's Edgar Street stadium called Addison Court, so named in honour of the man who, in the 1970s, became, arguably, the most successful non-League player-manager of all time.

Colin Addison, now at the helm with Forest Green Rovers in the Nationwide Conference, was just 31 when he took the courageous step out of top-flight English football with Sheffield United to join Southern League Hereford in October 1971.

"There was a lot of soul- searching. I didn't have to go but I've never been afraid to make a decision," Addison said. "It may have been a big step down in terms of leagues but it was a great step forward in terms of my personal future."

Success came immediately for the young player-manager. The team famously beat Newcastle United 2-1 in an FA Cup third-round replay at Edgar Street in which I scored the winning goal in extra-time. We then went out to a Geoff Hurst hat-trick in another replay against West Ham at Upton Park.

Election to the Football League that summer was followed by promotion in Hereford's first season in the Fourth Division.

"You could say the Cup run was beginners' luck. That second season was incredible," Addison said. "We started terribly and then went on a 14-game unbeaten run to clinch promotion on the last day."

Addison had a distinguished playing career. From York City, in 1957, he was leading goalscorer at Nottingham Forest for three seasons before signing for Arsenal in 1965.

"Bertie Mee was manager," he said. "And I have to say he was the best I've played for, an absolute gentleman."

Incredibly, Addison was sacked by Hereford in the summer of 1973 but he had embarked on a managerial career which was to take him to the far corners of the world. He won a championship in Kuwait and coached in South Africa and Canada, but it was his experiences in Spain with Celta Vigo, Cadiz and Atletico Madrid that he remembers with pride.

"At Vigo we knocked Johan Cruyff's Barcelona out of the Spanish Cup. When I went to Cadiz they were bottom of the league. We won our last four games 1-0 to stay up on the last day of the season and I still get a birthday card from Jesus Gil, the president of Atletico."

Back home, spells at Newport County, West Bromwich Albion, Derby County, Swansea City, Scarborough and Yeovil have kept Addison a busy man.

His latest challenge at the age of 62, is at Forest Green, presently bottom of the Conference.

"It's a smashing little club with a great chairman. When I got here two weeks ago we had played five and lost five - just up my street," Addison said.

He has already made an impact in the Forest of Dean. Saturday's home win over Gravesend made it two wins since he arrived. Colin's wife, Jean, and daughter, Rachel, were at the game on Saturday. Five years ago they organised a reunion of Hereford's team of 1972.

"We're going to have another one in a few weeks," he said. "I've had a wonderful career but nothing will ever match that day, the Newcastle game. All the lads are coming - make sure you're there, Ricky."

I wouldn't miss it for the world.'