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Former Hereford United manager John Newman sadly passed away over the weekend. He was 91.
A proud Herefordian Newman was born in the city on the 13th December 1933. He regularly watched Hereford United as a youngster and I believe he was at the club as a schoolboy (Sadly there is no Ron Parrott to confirm), but he signed professional terms with Birmingham City in 1951.
Newman played in the 1956 FA Cup final for the Blues against Manchester City where his team were defeated 3-1. The game is remembered as the one where City goalkeeper Bert Trautmann broke his neck. The footage can be watched below.
Newman later played for Leicester City, Plymouth Argyle and player managed Exeter City, after retiring from playing he managed Grimsby Town and Derby County and arrived at Hereford United in 1983.
The glory days of the early to mid seventies were now over. Hereford United were regularly having to apply for re-election to stay in Division Four (Now League Two) and in freefall. The club was nearly liquidated in 1982 and only saved at the last minute when Chairman Peter Hill brokered a deal with the council.
Just before Newman arrived a paltry Saturday afternoon crowd of 1,294 witnessed a 1-0 home defeat to Stockport County on the 2nd March 1983. Things needed to change and a couple of weeks later Newman took over from caretaker manager Tommy Hughes.
His first programme notes are below.
Newman took charge for the final 12 league games of the season and achieved 4 wins, 1 draw and 7 losses. The club finished bottom of the league but luckily managed to be reprieved from relegation at the end of season league AGM.
With the club still in the Football League Newman used his experience to wheel and deal in the transfer market. He had a big clear out of players that only Stewart Phillips and Jimmy Harvey survived from the side that had kicked off the previous campaign. In came the likes of John Delve, Ian Dalziel, Gary Beacock, Ollie Kearns and Carleton Leonard. Hereford consolidated and finished a respectable 11th place. The below footage is from the end of that season.
The 1984/1985 season is remembered fondly by supporters. Hereford held top flight Arsenal to a 1-1 draw at Edgar Street in the FA Cup 3rd round which you can watch below.
Sadly after being top of the league in March, Hereford fell away and finished 5th, unfortunately there were no play offs back then with the top 4 clubs going up. The beginning of the decline was an injury to John Delve and later to Jimmy Harvey. Newman wasn't supported by the board and with a thin squad he had no one on the books to cover the midfield. Newman showed loyalty to the club by turning down an approach from Plymouth Argyle to stay at Edgar Street.
The 1985/1986 season saw Keith Hicks, Ian Bray and Steve Emery leave. In came the likes of Wayne Cegielski, Bruce Halliday & Ian Wells.
The team finished 10th that campaign, but suffered heartbreak in the Freight Trophy area final against Bristol City. Winning the 1st leg 2-0 the Bulls headed to Ashton Gate and kept the first half tight at 0-0. City wiped out the deficit in three crazy second half minutes. The game went to extra time where City won it in the 119th minute and Hereford would miss out on a lucrative Wembley final appearance.
A major change at the start of the 1986/1987 season saw Chris Price depart to Blackburn Rovers. Hereford would finish a disappointing 16th and were knocked out of the League Cup and FA Cup in the 1st round.
There was the emergence of a striker called Phil Stant. Newman had spotted the potential of the striker who was scoring regularly in Herefordshire league football, and brought him out of the army for £600. (He was later sold to Notts County for £175,000) That season also saw a famous 6-0 away win at Burnley where Stewart Phillips scored a hat trick.
The 1987/1988 pre season saw FA Cup winners Coventry City be defeated by The Bulls 2-1 and optimism was high, new arrivals included Nottingham Forest two time European Cup winner Ian Bowyer as well as Paul McLoughlin and Mark A Jones.
Sadly Hereford were bottom after six games and supporters were turning against Newman, a couple of back to back wins over Colchester and Darlington eased the pressure, but a 1-0 home defeat to Peterborough United on the 30th September 1987 was his last game. Newman departed with dignity and left the club in a much stronger position to the mess he had inherited in March 1983.
Newman later became assistant manager at Notts County and Mansfield Town before retiring in the 1990's.
I had the pleasure of interviewing John back in 2018 and you can listen to it below.
RIP John.