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The National League North fixtures for the 2026/27 season will be released at 11am on Friday.
Traditionally, Hereford face a north east team with the Bulls playing a side from that part of the country in three of the past four campaigns.
And on two of those occasions, the Bulls have played Spennymoor.
Last season, Hereford were away on the opening day so you would hope they would be home this time around on August 8.
Hopefully, the Bulls will have a more local team on August Bank Holiday Monday - in each of the past two seasons, they have faced Radcliffe.
One thing that is certain this time round is that Aaron Downes' side won't be playing Kidderminster on Boxing Day due to Harriers being promoted.
It is almost certain that Hereford will play Merthyr then with the Welsh side not having any other team near them. The return fixture will be on either Good Friday or Easter Monday.
Due to Boxing Day being a Saturday this year, there will be a Bank Holiday on Monday, December 28, so there could be a game on that day.
Last season, there wasn't a game on New Year's Day, with Hereford instead going to Merthyr on December 30. It would make sense for there to be one this time, or on January 2, which is a Saturday.
There will also be a selection of midweek games which are normally against "localish" sides. Hopefully they will be during half terms rather than either side.
The final day of the campaign will be on Saturday, April 24. Hereford were due to go to Peterborough Sports last season, but because the scheduled home game in December got switched, it meant the Bulls finished at home. They last finished a season away in 2022/23 - a forgetful 5-0 drubbing at Blyth Spartans.
Paul Caddis is on the look out for several more players.
The Kings Lynn manager has already brought in eight fresh faces in his squad.
“We like the look of a couple of the trialists we've brought in,” he told BBC Radio Norfolk.
“We'll see what we can do on that - if it's possible, then we'll try and get one or two of them. If not, we'll keep looking.
“We're still a bit short up the top end of the pitch. We still need a winger, a striker. We still need another body probably in the middle of the pitch. Defensively, probably one more and another goalie.
“There's options out there. We're just trying to pick the right one for the right price.
“For managers up and down the country, whether you're in Step 6 or the Premier League, it's the busiest time of the year when everybody's switched off. There's no supporters in the stadiums, but it's so busy for managers.
“Recruitment is vital in football. If you get it right, you've got a chance. If you don't, then you don't have a chance. It's as straightforward as it is. But we'll keep working away. “
Shrewsbury Town has been placed under a one-window transfer fee restriction in accordance with EFL Regulation 52.6. They remain able to sign free agents & loan players during the current transfer window and manager Gavin Cowan will still be able to strengthen his squad.
Kidderminster manager Paul Wotton has 19 players in his squad but says he is looking for a few more. 'We need a couple more in because we need that bit of quality and that little bit of experience.'
Details from Pegasus:
This weekend we welcome Hereford FC to The KGD Stadium in a pre-season friendly, come along and see their new look squad including our very own Cawley Cox
The day will also mark the opening of our fabulous Hospitality Suite which will be officially opened by Ed Pitt the owner of KGD Industrial Services
A massive shout out to CleanMy who are the official match day sponsors, thank you for your support.
Please note that we are expecting a big crowd so parking will be limited.
We have 2 turnstiles open taking cash and card.
The bar will be open from 12 noon serving draught, lager and cider throughout the day along with “Herefordshires Finest Heggies of Hereford Pies”
Make sure you arrive early to grab a seat, soak up the atmosphere ahead of the big match.
KGD Stadium KO 3pm
£8 entry-£5 concessions U16’s £1 accompanied with an adult.
Hereford Women are seeking a new coach and an assistant coach.
This from Hereford FC:
Reporting to Hereford FC’s Head of Women’s Football, the Head Coach will lead in planning, delivery and recording of all coaching sessions in line with the club’s technical programme, create and update individual learning plans and be available to attend all matches and training sessions around Herefordshire and the West Midlands.
A minimum of 12 months’ coaching experience is an essential requirement, as well as a UEFA C Diploma or higher and history of involvement in the women’s game.
Click here to read the full job description
The Assistant Coach will support the Head Coach with all of their main duties and responsibilities. They must be able to organise, plan and deliver sporting activities, have good communication skills and hold a Level 1 FA Coaching qualification or higher.
Click here to read the full job description
If you wish to apply for either of these roles and believe you can demonstrate that you have the necessary skills and experience, please send your CV and a covering letter addressed to Malcolm Cowell, Head of Women’s Football, to women@herefordfc.co.uk
Closing date: Monday 13th July
A look back to July 2002 and pre-season at Hereford United.
HEREFORD United manager Graham Turner spoke to BBC Hereford & Worcester's Nicola Goodwin on Friday Sport.
NG: Hereford United players have returned to Edgar
Street this week to start pre-season training. Manager Graham Turner was
left with just six contracted players at the end of last season. He has
begun a recruitment campaign. This week he has announced that another
three players Andy Tretton, John Grant and Michael Rose will be joining
the club. Earlier today I popped over to Edgar Street to speak to Graham
about his new signings just before the players went off on a rather
nasty run.
GT: Yes and a lot more to come I hope. Its common
knowledge that we only retained six players from last season. I have
signed five more and we have several trialists in with us at the moment
and I am hoping before the season starts, well before the season starts,
we finish up with a squad of 17 or 18 players.I have been delighted
with what we have signed so far. They all look good athletes, lean and
mean, and I think we still need one or two other positions filled, a
striker is one of the main targets, another mid-field player.
But so far
I am well pleased with what I have seen and the pre-season have got
underway, we have had our first two days and there is a good spirit
amongst them. It is nice to see so many new faces about the place. I
think people do become stale in the same place year in year out and I am
sure supporters will be looking forward to see these new players that
we have got in.
NG: You named three new men earlier this week. Why did you decide to bring them to Edgar Street? What attracted you?
GT: Well it was a combination of things. In the case
of Andy Tretton, he is an experienced central defender. It gives me an
option now of changing the system and going with three central
defenders, him and Tony James and Ian Wright. We will have a lot of
experience back there. Andy Tretton is a good central defender, a good
defender who is not bad on the ball as well. We will expect him to a
little bit, if we are playing three central defenders, a little bit
constructive as well as being able to defend.
In John Grant, a 20 year old striker, very quick, very mobile, a lot of potential, a lot of scope, comes very very highly recommended by the people who worked with him for several years at Crewe, particularly Dario Gradi, who I think is well respected in the game has given him a high recommendation and so we've taken a chance with him. We have seen him play a couple of times and we know that he has got enough at 20 years of age to make an impact in the Conference.
And young Michael Rose left back from Chester, again he is only a young lad, 19 years of age, started his career at Manchester United. And sometimes when you get released by a club the size of Manchester United where a player thinks he has got the world at his feet, it can have a devastating effect on them and although he had a season at Chester, and I think started about 38 games for Chester, he was not offered a new contract. I think the change of manager there disrupted things a little bit and so I think we have cashed in on the situation by obtaining his services here. I have got great hopes for Michael Rose, I think he is going to go on to be a very good player.
Add to that Ben Smith and Jamie Pitman that we signed earlier, one or two players coming in on trial next week. One of interest who has been recommended to me by a former senior player out of Wolves, who is playing in the Premiership now. He has been released by a Premiership club, and the player said just have a look at him. He is a good player, he will do you a world of good as a midfield player. So we are going to have a look at him.
Goalkeepers, I have several goalkeepers coming in on
trial. It's good, there is a bit of buzz about the place at the moment
and I think some of that is largely due to Richard O'Kelly who is taking
part of the training. He is a keen, enthusiastic man and has got a good
sense of humour and I think the players so far have responded very well
to him. So, yes there is a buzz about the place, we are all upbeat and
we cannot wait for the season to start.
NG: Pre-season must be more important now because of the amount of changes taking place in the squad.
GT: Well, there are two purposes for pre-season. You
have got to get the players fit and you have got to get the pattern of
playing in the team and with so many new faces in there we are going to
have to work hard on our pattern of play and we have got to work hard on
the team play and the practice matches will be important to us. It is
not going to gel straight away, there is going to be misunderstandings
between players and groups of players but all that should come together
and we hope before the start of the season but it certainly takes a
little bit of time when you have got so many new faces in for it to gel.
Former Hereford reserve goalkeeper Seb Osment is on trial with Bala.
Midfielder Shane Byrne has joined Spalding. The 33 year old was with Brackley last season.
Forest Green Rovers have signed Emeka Obi from Kidderminster Harriers for an undisclosed fee.The 6ft 6in defender has agreed a two year deal because of a family commitment.
Carlisle have been fined by the National League for failing to send a director to the League's AGM last month. Only one of their six directors lives in the UK and she couldn't attend.
Keenan Pattern has signed a new deal with Newport County. The former Hereford mid-fielder has recovered from a serious leg injury.
Forest Green Rovers owner Dale Vince, seldom out of the headlines recently for reasons other than sport, has decided to make cut backs at the club.
'This will be our third season in the National League and as a result we face the full £1.5million loss of income, it having been mitigated until now by reducing parachute payments.
Seeing this coming for some weeks, we’ve reviewed all spending and our focus has had to be on regaining our place in the EFL - it’s the logical thing to do. As a result, we already had to cut the boys' football program - but faced no criticism for that, worth noting.
We believed we had found a way to continue with the women’s team and the girls’ system, by partnering with Hartpury - but they changed their position very late in the day, leaving us facing the six-figure cost of running the women’s team alone - and so we’ve needed to make this decision. FGR have been supporting women’s football for over a decade; the criticism we’ve faced in the last few days for this is entirely misplaced - it’s unfair, in fact.
Economic realities have forced us to cut spending in many areas; we already cut funding to the system for boys as part of that. The women’s team cuts have come at the very end and only due to a last-minute let-down - that’s hardly indicative of a club that does not care about women’s football.
Our focus on getting back to the EFL is the most logical thing for us to do, once we have achieved that we can restore all of the programs we’ve not been able to afford this year - the boys, girls and the women’s team.
That’s our plan, to get back to where we were in all respects, in the EFL and with the wherewithal to fund the things we believe in, which - yes, does include football for women and girls. And boys.'
Fleetwood have signed former Hereford mid-fielder Kane Thompson-Sommers from MK Dons on a two year deal for an undisclosed fee.
Defender Mitch Roberts has joined Worcester City. He played for Hereford several times last season and also played for Gloucester City on loan.
Hereford FC Under 18's won their mid-week friendly against Bromyard Town 1-0. The game was played at Hereford Pegasus.
