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Hereford Women lost their away game at Redditch this afternoon.
Final score: Redditch 4 Hereford 1
Hereford took the lead through Robyn Mear but by half-time Redditch led 3-1.
Then a further goal for the home side ensured they won the game.
Hereford's starting eleven:
Molly Camden
Emily Ewing
Katy Huntbach
Mylie Jordan
Robyn Mear
Chelsey Price
Hannah Pritchard
Sheree Smith
Keira Brain
Maisie Evans
Darcie Smith
Manager Paul Caddis is expected to select the under 18 team to represent the club.
In any case Caddis will want to use the Tuesday evening for a training session for the first team squad given, as it stands, it is the only spare Tuesday without a fixture.
Kick-off is set for 2pm. Admission is £5
Whether it will go ahead remains to be seen.
Ricardo Rees scored twice on his debut for Forest Green Rovers this afternoon following his transfer from Merthyr last Wednesday.
His goals, on 67 and 78 minutes, helped his new club defeat Halifax 2-1. He also hit the post twice.
Whilst details of the trasfer have not been made public, sources are suggesting Merthyr will receive £100,000 for the striker.
Meanwhile Will Spiers, who also impressed for Merthyr against Hereford last Tuesday, has joined Eastleigh from Cardiff on loan for the rest of the season.
Results from the games played in the National North League this afternoon.
Bedford Town 0 AFC Fylde 2
Buxton 1 South Shields 1
Chester 0 Worksop Town 1
Kidderminster Harriers 1 Curzon Ashton 0
Merthyr Town 1 King's Lynn Town 0
Southport 1 Scarborough Athletic 1
Hereford remain in 23rd place in the table.
After Hereford's match at Alfreton was postponed earlier this morning, attention now turns to Tuesday night's clash with Scarborough.
However, the chances of that being on looks incredibly remote.
Heavy snow has fallen on the north east coast, with Scarborough posting a video of a car being pulled out of the snow so that the club can travel to Southport for this afternoon's game.
On route to Southport FC 👍❄️ pic.twitter.com/eqthfwZUHf
— Scarborough Athletic FC (@safc) January 3, 2026
And the weather is not due to relent ahead of Tuesday's match, with freezing temperatures and snow continuing.
A list of today's National North League fixtures. Obviously given the cold weather there may be more games called off.
Alfreton Town v Hereford - Match Postponed
Bedford Town v AFC Fylde
Buxton v South Shields
Chester v Worksop Town
Chorley v Leamington - Match Postponrd
Darlington v Macclesfield - Match Postponed
Kidderminster Harriers v Curzon Ashton
Merthyr Town v King's Lynn Town
Peterborough Sports v Marine
Radcliffe v Oxford City - Match Postponed
Southport v Scarborough Athletic
Spennymoor Town v AFC Telford United - Match Postponed
A look back to January 3rd 2004 and a home game against Stevenage Borough.
| Hereford United | Stevenage Borough |
| Matt Baker | Lionel Perez |
| Ryan Green | Simon Wormull (off, 86 minutes) |
| Michael Rose | James Gould |
| Dean Craven | Mark Smith |
| Anwar Uddin | Michael Warner |
| Tony James (captain) | James Gould |
| Danny Williams | Gary Holloway |
| Ben Smith | Steve Watson (captain) |
| Mark Beesley (off, 65 minutes) | Jamie Cook |
| Rob Purdie (off, 90 minutes) | Dino Maamria |
| Paul Parry | Richard Scott (off, 90 minutes) |
| Subs | Subs |
| David Brown (on, 65 minutes) | Justin Richards (on, 86 minutes) |
| Ben Scott | Rocky Baptiste (on, 90 minutes) |
| Jordan King | Rory Jenkins |
| Andy Wells | Sean St. Leger |
| Richard Teesdale (on, 90 minutes) | Stefan Shamilian |
| Yellow cards | Yellow cards |
| - | Richard Scott (foul, 45 minutes) |
| - | Gary Holloway (unsporting behaviour, 90 minutes) |
| Red cards | Red cards |
| - | - |
| Scorers | Scorers |
| Paul Parry (90 minutes) | - |
| - | - |
| Man of the Match | Matt Baker |
| Attendance | 2,875 |
| Referee | Mr. P. Melin (Frimley, Surrey) |
Guinan misses the game
Steve
Guinan missed this afternoon's game as it seems that his knee injury
has not settled. Although he came off the bench for a short spell
against Exeter last Thursday it was felt that he should not be risked
today. He is going to Lilleshall next week for some more treatment.
Talking to BBC Hereford & Worcester, Matt Baker said that Guinan
had been playing with his injury for much of the season. He did not
think he would be out for long, but the knee problem flared up last
month after Guinan's operation for tendonitis in the summer.
Baker also said that Andy Tretton had started light training again
this week and he hoped that the central defender would be back in the
squad shortly.
Of the match, United supremo Graham Turner said: "It was an
excellent finish by Paul, particularly considering that he had to carry
the ball a long way on a bobbly pitch.
"That was a massive result for us and it's shown that we are capable of grinding sides down"
Meanwhile, as Telford defeated Crewe Alexandra today in the FA Cup,
the fixture between Telford and Hereford United due to be played on
January 24th will be moved as Telford will play their fourth round tie
that weekend.
Parry speculation continues
Speculation continues this evening over whether Paul Parry is to move to Cardiff City.
The Bluebirds were beaten 1-0 by Sheffield United in the Cup today
and the Cardiff websites are full of advice for Lennie Lawrence, the
Cardiff manager.
Whilst one site suggests that an offer may be made, another says that Cardiff are backing away from signing him.
Cardiff City Online
says that the Bluebirds have backed off the deal over a £50,000 fee. It
admits that Parry would add balance and width to the squad.
However the Sleeping Giant Website argues that Lawrence is still considering a swoop for Hereford's Paul Parry.
The City boss has watched Parry on a number of occasions, and on
each occasion he has impressed. Lennie is considering tabling a bid of
£50,000 for the Conference star as well as appearance fees and the like, it reads.
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| Pic from Brackley |
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| Pic From Rushall |
Following a trial with Barnsley he joined them for a season. Then he moved to Kidderminster
After three seasons with the Harriers he was released after having played over seventy games for them and signed for Boston Utd a few days later.
After Boston he joined Rushall Olympic before moving to Buxton in March last year.
“Keziah Martin is a player who has huge experience at the level having been successful at National League North before," said manager Paul Caddis.
"He is a player that can play comfortably in many positions and will be a great addition for us. Also a full internationalist so brings that experience with him into the group."
Hereford manager Paul Caddis has added to his squad with the loan of Keziah Martin from Buxton and the signing of Justin Donawa from Brackley.
Caddis hinted in his post Merthyr interview that there would be additions to the squad by the weekend.
25 year old Martin is a central midfielder. He joins on a loan until the end of the season.
29 year old Donawa, a winger, is a signing.
Both have played for the Bermudian National Team.
The cold weather is playing havoc with tomorrow's National North League fixture list.
As at 5pm, three games have already been called off.
They are Spennymoor v Telford, Darlington v Macclesfield and Radcliffe v Oxford.
And as reported earlier on BN, Hereford's game at Alfreton is subject to a 9.30am pitch inspection.
Temperatures tonight are expected to drop to as low as minus 5C in some areas so it's likely there will be more pitch inspections in the morning.
Alfreton Town v Hereford
Bedford Town v AFC Fylde
Buxton v South Shields
Chester v Worksop Town
Chorley v Leamington
Darlington P-P Macclesfield
Kidderminster Harriers v Curzon Ashton
Merthyr Town v King's Lynn Town
Peterborough Sports v Marine
Radcliffe P-P Oxford City
Southport v Scarborough Athletic
Spennymoor Town P-P AFC Telford United
A 9.30am pitch inspection has been scheduled ahead of tomorrow’s match at Alfreton Town.
Temperatures are due to drop below freezing in Derbyshire this evening.
It comes as Hereford are keen to build upon the 2-2 draw at Merthyr, and start 2026 with a victory against another of the division’s struggling outfits.
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After a couple of big derby games, Hereford FC return to something a bit more recognisable as step 2 football with a trip to Alfreton on Saturday, weather permitting. It’s set to be -3 degrees on Friday night up there, and indeed down here, so it may be a bit touch and go.
Both sides are in the relegation places, so this is very much a battle for three crucial points towards safety come the end of the season.
This will be the second time in four days that Alfreton have faced a rival in the bottom three, having hosted bottom club Leamington on Tuesday. That one ended 2-1 to the Derbyshire side, suggesting strongly that one of the relegation places already has Leamington’s name on it. It’s now up to Hereford to ensure that they’re a long way north of the remaining three places asap.
Back in August the Bulls comfortably beat Alfreton 2-0, a result that gave some hope in suggesting that the abject defeats prior to that were as a result of the club being ill-prepared for the start of the season. Hereford are now second bottom after half a season, and those depressingly meek capitulations to Kings Lynn and Chorley in August still look more representative of where the club is at than where it needs to be right now, and where it should have been at the start of the season, but palpably wasn’t, for reasons we’ll never fully know.
Given where the club finds itself in the table, Paul Caddis can’t approach this as a ‘can’t lose’ game in setting up with five defenders and hopeful long diags as an attacking philosophy. He’ll have faith in his players to win this on the front foot with high-paced on-the-floor attacking football. It’s a must win, and if it's anything other than won the Southern League creeps ever closer as a probability. For a club with 2500 gates that’s preposterous.
The Reds aren’t actually that bad at home, but have somehow contrived to only score ten goals in eleven home games in winning four and drawing three of those games. If you’re looking for patterns/clutching at straws, Alfreton have been losing alternate games over the course of their last nine matches, and guess what? This is one they’re due to lose.
Like Hereford, they can’t afford a significant goalscorer, although Mark Beck, on loan from Scunthorpe and 6’ 4” tall, could give the Hereford defence an issue purely by being 6’ 4” tall. He scored on Tuesday and I think this is his last game before returning to his parent club, so he’ll be looking to go out on a high note with another goal. Jed Abbey, who is similarly tall, has been influential against Hereford in the past when playing for South Shields. This Alfreton side is in no way South Shields though, and he’s had a quiet season to date.
Given that a clean sheet for the Bulls is unlikely, the visitors need to outscore the hosts, so someone needs to step up and get the goals that won’t be coming from Sam Osborne (gone back to Alfreton) or Omari Sterling-James (gone to Hednesford). Who’s to say those goals won’t again come from defenders as on Tuesday night? Goalscoring contributions from those defenders direct from set pieces, or indirectly following a set piece, have been conspicuous by their absence this season (although not so much for the opposition). If Tuesday marked a turning point in that respect it could be a sign that the second half of the season will be as good as the first has been bad.
Talking of Sam Osborne, what a bizarre situation he finds himself in here, playing for a club he wants to leave against one he wants to continue playing for. Surely that’s a recipe for a hat-trick of own goals? The desire for him to stay seems to have been unanimous in terms of supporters, management, board, team-mates and the player himself, and an 18-month contract would have been a perfect outcome. Alas, it was not to be, but hopefully he’ll be near the top of the HFC shopping list come the end of the season if nothing can be done to get him back sooner than that.
While it’s true that, given the frailty of the Hereford back line, a clean sheet is wishful thinking, the form of Theo Richardson does make it a possibility. The Bulls goalie really is showing his class at the moment.
With a new year upon us, loanees I-Lani Edwards, Jaiden White and Callum McFarlane may now be back at their parent clubs.
To balance the effect of that potential mini-exodus, one intriguing aspect of this game is that one or two of the reportedly imminent new arrivals may make an appearance here, and Preston Bitemo could be back from his loan spell at Kettering. Madou Cisse continues to be something of a mystery in terms of his fitness/availability/existence.
That 94th-minute midweek equaliser at Merthyr feels like such a boost going into this match and the new year, particularly as it came from Kyle Howkins in atoning for his first-half ‘blip’, and if there’s one player who will be readily forgiven for a defensive slip-up it’s Big Kyle, given the number of goals he’s saved this season with last-ditch tackles. Hopefully he’ll now go on a run of goalscoring to complement those last-ditch tackles at the other end.
However, as boosting as that equaliser was, Alfreton’s win against Leamington meant that Hereford dropped to second bottom in the table. There’s much, much work to do.
The last time Hereford were away at a fellow struggler they eased to a 2-0 win at Peterborough. Something similar here would do very nicely against an Alfreton side that’s a shadow of the teams ex-manager Billy Heath used to put out season after season in recent years. This game will see a return to winning ways – it has to really doesn’t it?
COYW
A Hereford win at Alfreton tomorrow is currently priced at 17/10 by bookmakers.
Alfreton sit just above Hereford in 21st position in the National North League table. They have gained 22 points from 23 games.
Hereford are 23rd with 21 points from 21 games.
Last Tuesday Hereford gained a much needed point away at Merthyr (3rd). The game ended 2-2.
Alfreton were at home to Leamington (24th) and won the game 2-1.
As regards goal difference Alfreton's is minus 23, Hereford's is minus 10.
One other pointer, Hereford will be without Sam Osborne who has returned to Alfreton.
Recent form:
Alfreton DLDLW
Hereford DWLLD
Alfreton 6/4 Draw 5/2 Hereford 17/10
Hereford are set to play eight games in January.
Next for Hereford is an away game at Alfreton on Saturday.
Tickets for the game can be purchased in advance or on the gate.
Supporters will be segregated.
More details: https://ethicalticketing.org/alfreton-town-fc/event/63041740
Striker Theo Robinson, who scored 13 goals in 43 appearances on loan at Hereford from Watford in the 2007/08 promotion-winning League Two season, has rejoined Bromsgrove Sporting.
Kieran Phillips with Jamie Willets as Hereford faced Tamworth in 2024
The 36-year-old, who has been capped by Jamaica, was Sporting's second-highest scorer last season and his signature is one of the first under new boss Tim Flowers. The Southern League Premier Division Central outfit also have former Bulls Koby Arthur and Jordan Lyden in their squad.
Southern League Premier South side Gloucester City have cut Kieran Phillips' loan at Larkhall Athletic short. The striker, who joined Hereford on loan from Kidderminster Harriers in 2024, had scored eight goals in seven matches for the step four side.
The loan, to help him gain minutes, was ended a game early as City wanted him available as they host Evesham United at the KMM Energy Stadium.
AFC Telford United have confirmed that teenage goalkeeper Josh Gracey will remain at the club on loan for the rest of the 2025/26 season.
The 18-year-old, a Northern Ireland Under-21 international, joined from Wolves in September following ex-Bull Brandon Hall’s injury and has impressed since making his debut in the FA Cup against Kidderminster. With Hall still sidelined, Telford moved quickly to extend Gracey’s stay, with all parties happy with his progress.
Tributes are continuing to flood in after Paul Holleran’s resignation after 16 years as Leamington manager, with the Brakes currently bottom of National League North. Radcliffe joint boss Anthony Johnson praised him as “a fantastic manager” and “an even better bloke”, while Kidderminster Harriers said his tenure was “unlikely to ever be equalled”.
Omari Sterling-James has said there were no arguments before he left Hereford.
There had been speculation of a falling out between the winger and manager Paul Caddis, but this was quashed by the boss and Sterling-James has now also put to bed any suggestion of a row.
After joining step three Hednesford Town for an undisclosed fee, he posted on X: "@HerefordFC to all the supporters and everyone involved in the club, I’d like to thank for you welcoming me warm heartedly and showing continued support throughout my time here. iv enjoyed it overall all hearing and seeing the passion you all bring to Edgar street is unbelievable
"To the players staff and especially the manager who has been excellent with me since the day I arrived till I left no arguments just two honest human beings with respect for each other I wish you all the best this season and will hope 2026 brings that positive energy back
"Marz✌🏾"
Hednesford's director of football, Andrew Reed said Sterling-James "wanted to get out of Hereford", adding that he was surprised he wanted to move on as Hereford is a big club with a great fan base.
While neither Hednesford nor Sterling-James have mentioned any financial element of the deal, Paul Caddis even said that the winger had an opportunity to "almost double his money".
The winger has left the Bulls to join Hednesford, a club who are in a league lower.
Both clubs have this morning confirmed the move, with Sterling-James telling Hednesford's official website that he already knew some of the people at the Staffordshire club, and being local "made it even more appealing."
However, what is more telling is what Hednesford's director of football, Andrew Reed said.
According to Reed, Sterling-James "wanted to get out of Hereford", adding that he was surprised he wanted to move on as Hereford is a big club with a great fan base.
While neither Hednesford or Sterling-James will mention any financial appeal that may have played a part in the move, money talks. And Hereford manager Paul Caddis even said that the winger had an opportunity to "almost double his money".
While Hednesford are currently top of the Northern Premier League Premier Division and had a club record attendance of 4,784 in their last match, the fact remains they are still a Step 3 club, while Hereford - while struggling - are in the league above and can also attract such gates, as was proved on Boxing Day.
So, did it mainly boil down to money, or was Sterling-James just desperate to get out? We will probably never know.
Omari Sterling-James who has joined Hednesford from Hereford has admitted that being a local club made the move appealing.
“I know a few of the lads here and I’ve played with Lee (assistant manager Lee Vaughan) before, so that connection definitely helped. Being local made it even more appealing," said Sterling-James.
“I’ve played across the leagues and more recently at National League North, and now I just want to come in, work hard and help the team get promoted. That’s the aim.
"I’m excited to get started and be part of what’s building here.”
Andrew Reed, Director of Football, said: “When I got the call saying Omari was available and looking to get out at Hereford we wanted to jump on it.
"Obviously losing Jermaine (Hylton) left us short in that type of wide man and with Omari’s numbers this season being in the top five for assists and expected assists in the league above it was a great option.
"I was surprised to hear he wanted to move on as Hereford is a big club with a great fan base but when we get an opportunity to get a player like Omari we need to act."
Later S-J tweeted about Hereford.
To all the supporters and everyone involved in the club, I’d like to thank for you welcoming me warm heartedly and showing continued support throughout my time here. iv enjoyed it overall all hearing and seeing the passion you all bring to Edgar street is unbelievable
Hereford have confirmed that Omari Sterling-James has joined Hednesford for an undisclosed fee.
Every Christmas the club used to release a seasonal video, this one starts with a New Years Day match against Gillingham from 1990.
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| Leamington fans at Edgar Street |
While Holleran also mentioned health issues and a need to look after himself, he leaves the Warwickshire side rock bottom of National League North - seven points behind Hereford in 23rd.
Despite the poor position, the club's chair said the 55-year-old leaves a "lasting legacy that is unlikely to be matched".
First taking charge in November 2009, overseeing a 2-2 draw at Cambridge City in the Southern League Premier Division, the highly-regarded manager has managed 789 games.
After tendering his resignation on New Year's Eve, Holleran, a former Birmingham City scholar, said: "I have been on a wonderful journey with the football club and want to thank everyone for their fantastic support throughout my sixteen years.
"I just feel the time is right for someone else to take over the reins and provide fresh ideas and impetus within the dressing room. Allied to this I have a number of health appointments in the coming month and my focus in the short term has to be on looking after myself."
As a player, he featured for Alvechurch and Solihull Borough before two knee operations forced early retirement and a move into coaching.
Before joining Leamington, he was instrumental in setting up reserve and youth teams at Solihull before his first managerial role at Kings Norton Town where he guided them to runners-up spot in the Midland Alliance and a cup win.
He then had spells with Solihull, Halesowen Town and Rushall Olympic.
Brakes chairman Jim Scott said: "We always knew this day would come and there are insufficient words to express our thanks for the fantastic contribution Paul has made to the club.
"He may have had the title ‘first team manager’ but for all the volunteers, fans and those who interacted with him within the club, his efforts went way beyond his job title and he has left a lasting legacy that is unlikely to be matched.
"Following our discussions post his resignation, Paul has agreed in a number of weeks time to discuss options with the Board of Directors on a possible further role within the club."
With the new year at Your Co-op Community Stadium starting with the hunt for a new boss, current first team coach Chris Knott will take interim charge of the team away at Chorley on Saturday.
Among the well-wishes in reaction to the news, former Hereford keeper Paul White posted on X: "The word Legend is so fitting! All the best with everything coming up @Hollers07 top top football bloke & gaffer! 👌"