Seventh time lucky

Six losses on the bounce now for Hereford then, following defeat on Tuesday to Macclesfield. Seven is considered a lucky number. It really needs to be if this is to be seventh time lucky, especially with Bedford hosting Leamington as Hereford make the short trip to Aggborough for a Good Friday derby against Kidderminster.

Kiddy have been bang in the mix all season without ever threatening to get involved in the two-horse race at the very top for automatic promotion. They’ve lost three of their last four, but would have to go on the sort of run Hereford are on to miss out on the play-offs, and that looks very unlikely.

A nasty concussion incident that caused Harriers’ game against Radcliffe to be abandoned a few weeks ago means that goalie Christian Dibble is absent. It’s probably too simplistic to put their recent wobble down to that absence, but it might have had some sort of unsettling effect on their defence.

Their 1-0 win at Edgar Street on Boxing Day wasn’t a patch on their annihilation of the Bulls last season, when they cantered to a 3-0 win away and topped that off with a 5-1 win at Aggborough, another Easter encounter. If that points to them being a weaker side this season, the league table doesn’t seem to agree.

Harriers are very strong at home, having lost just two of their 20 games at Aggborough. Tellingly, the three recent losses were all away.

Adam Murray took over as Harriers’ manager last summer, arriving from Eastbourne Borough, who he’d guided to third place in the National League South last season, falling just short of promotion. He and his new club therefore had something in common, with Kiddy missing out on automatic promotion in agonising fashion on the last day of last season. It was then somehow inevitable that they wouldn’t then make it up through the play-offs, such is the nature of that cruel mistress of promotional decision-making.

Murray has been chopping and changing his side in recent games in order to address the recent wobble, with five changes made ahead of the recent defeat to Spennymoor, which has to be taken as a good sign for the visitors, although admittedly it’s clutching at straws a bit.

For the Bulls, Harrison Sohna completes his suspension with this game and will presumably be feverishly hungry to make an impact against Merthyr on Monday.

Freddy Willcox continues to shine despite the hundreds of minutes he’s played in a short space of time recently.

George Munday will presumably start again here, although like Willcox his young legs must be feeling it a bit by now. His hat-trick against Leamington feels like a bit of a distant memory. What would be far more valuable than that now would be another hat-trick of goals spread evenly across three consecutive 1-0 wins.

Yet another youngster who’s recently been putting a serious shift in is Cormac Daly. He remains the most likely option to find a way round or through the Harriers defence.

Keziah Martin looked bright and buzzy on Tuesday, and the collective defensive display in the first half was more solid than it has been. Credit there perhaps to Matt Preston, who could be facing his old club here in a fixture normally generously peppered with players on both sides who have the other side on their CV too. That’s not the case to quite the same extent this time, and could be a sign that for several seasons now the two clubs have been shopping at very different supermarkets. However, Preston, Kyle Howkins and Martin have all been Harriers, and ex-Bull Charlie Cooper should be making an appearance in a red shirt.

It could be that Preston makes way for the vastly improved Keenan Quansah though, with the latter presumably just rested on Tuesday.

Ahead of the game between these sides at Edgar Street on Boxing Day, the Bulls had just fallen back into the relegation zone. They’ve not been able to find their way back out of it since, and are now in fact deeper in its grasp than they were then, not helped by a series of postponements, of course.

The run-in after this game is just about as straightforward as could be hoped for. Whether you believe in luck or not, clubs don’t lose many more than six on the bounce unless they’re complete basket cases, and this squad certainly isn’t that, despite its shortcomings. An upturn could start here, or at home against Merthyr on Monday. There’s then six back-to-back games to end the season that a side absolutely desperate for wins will be playing against either poor sides or sides with half an eye on the beach. If the Bulls can’t generate enough points from those to secure safety, relegation will have been justified.

COYW

THROWBACK THURSDAY | Cardiff City 0-3 Hereford United - Welsh Cup Semi Final 1st leg - 2nd April 1990

A famous win at Ninian Park. Goals from Mark Jones, Ian Juryeff and Chris Hemming.

Cardiff 1 Hansbury 2 Rodgerson 3 Daniel 4 Barnard 5 Kelly 6 Gibbins 7 Fry 8 Griffith 9 Pike 10 Perry 11 Chandler Hereford 1 Elliott 2 MA Jones 3 Devine 4 Hemming 5 Peacock 6 Bradley 7 Pejic 8 Narbett 9 Robinson 10 Juryeff 11 M Jones Attendance 2,393

Torquay Lost £742K Last Season

National South League Torquay lost £742K last season.

This from Torquay: 

Torquay United has today published its accounts for the year ended 30 June 2025, covering the first full financial year under Bryn Consortium ownership.

It is important to remember the context in which these numbers sit. For much of this financial year, the club was still operating under a CVA until April 2025. A CVA, or Company Voluntary Arrangement, is a formal agreement that allows a business to repay creditors over time following insolvency while continuing to trade. In simple terms, that meant the club was still working through the financial legacy of the previous regime for most of the period covered by these accounts.

We know annual accounts are not always the easiest documents to read, so we wanted to set out a simple summary for supporters in plain English.

There are some encouraging signs in the numbers. The club’s turnover – the income generated from its normal activities – increased from £1.88 million to £2.26 million during the year. Gross profit also improved significantly, rising from £153,370 to £517,978. In straightforward terms, that means the club made better progress from its core trading activities than in the previous year.

At the same time, the accounts show a loss for the year of £742,438. Put simply, the club still cost more to run than it generated in income during 2024/25. The accounts also refer to retained losses of £3.17 million. That figure is not just about this year alone; it is the accumulated deficit built up over a number of years, rather than the result of one season in isolation.

The accounts also include a balance sheet, which is simply a snapshot of the club’s financial position on 30 June 2025. It shows what the club owned, what it was owed, and what it owed to others on that date. At the year end, the club had £47,798 in cash, £166,441 owed to it, and total current assets of £221,742. Against that, it had £1.68 million due within one year and £557,107 due after more than one year.

The balance sheet shows net liabilities of £1.91 million. In plain English, that means the club’s liabilities were greater than its assets at the year end. It does not mean that amount had to be paid immediately in cash, but it does underline the scale of the financial challenge the club has been working through.

It is also important to view these figures in context. The previous year’s accounts showed a large accounting profit, but that was heavily influenced by one-off items, including a £5.92 million loan write-off and an £81,000 historic accruals write-off. Those were exceptional accounting movements rather than normal football trading, which is why the 2024/25 accounts give a clearer picture of the club’s underlying day-to-day financial position.

The notes to the accounts also show continued backing from the ownership structure. At 30 June 2025, the club owed £661,313 to Big in Business Ltd, which is the Bryn Consortium vehicle and is listed as the majority shareholder, with Scoring Goals Limited named as the ultimate parent company. This figure reflects the initial capital funding injected by Bryn, which was used to repay creditors during the period of Administration. In simple terms, it was funding put in to help stabilise the club. That shareholder loan figure is also in the process of being converted into equity over the coming weeks, strengthening the balance sheet further.

The simple takeaway is this: the club made progress in growing income during 2024/25, but it still made a loss and continued to rely on shareholder support. That is why growing attendances, commercial revenues, sponsorship, hospitality and other income streams remains so important as we work to build a stronger and more sustainable future for Torquay United.

We believe supporters deserve openness about where the club stands. Progress has been made, but there is still more work to do, and everyone at the club remains focused on improving the financial position over time while continuing to move Torquay United forward both on and off the pitch.

The full accounts can be viewed here.

Key figures referenced:

Item	Figure
Turnover	£2.26m (2025) vs £1.88m (2024)
Gross profit	£517,978 (2025) vs £153,370 (2024)
Loss for year	£742,438
Retained losses	£3.17m
Cash at bank	£47,798
Amount owed to club	£166,441
Due within one year	£1.68m
Due after more than one year	£557,107
Net liabilities	£1.91m
Owed to Big in Business Ltd	£661,313

Source: Torquay United AFC statutory accounts for the year ended 30 June 2025, signed 31 March 2026

Second Half Pictures Hereford v Macclesfield

Pictures from the second half of last night's game.

First Half Pictures Hereford v Macclesfield

A selection of photos from a fairly uneventful first half at Edgar Street last night.

Downes taking responsibility and mulling changes after 'hurtful' sixth straight loss

Aaron Downes admitted Hereford’s sixth consecutive defeat was “hurtful” and challenged his players to rediscover their belief after another setback at Edgar Street.

The Bulls fell to a 2-0 loss against Macclesfield, with a set-piece once again proving costly, and Downes did not shy away from his own responsibility.

“It’s a frustrating one. That is a hurtful one because I didn't anticipate that,” he said post-match.

While the game remained goalless at the break, the Hereford boss felt the decisive moment came after the interval when his side conceded from a corner – an all-too-familiar theme and he's hinting at changes.

“I have to take responsibility,” he admitted. “I’ve got to look at our set-up, I've got to look at the way we're defending them and our attitude to defend them.

"We came in this afternoon an hour early to go through things on our pitch to try and give the players an edge and a bit more detail.

"But ultimately that’s two in two now that have let us down. It’s an accumulation of things and me, as a manager, I've got to take responsibility.

"I've got to look at the way that we set up, which I will do because it's a setup I believe in, but ultimately I've got to do what's right for the personnel we've got

"I might have to change my way of thinking. The players are trying their hardest so I've got to give them the best set-up to defend it."

Alongside the tactical concerns, Downes also questioned his side’s mentality after falling behind, admitting the reaction lacked the belief he demands.

“I don’t know if we had that belief after we went one-nil down,” he said. “That’s probably the most disappointing thing for me out of tonight.

He added: “I want us to have belief that we can come back from one-nil down, two-nil down, three-nil down.

"I want us to have belief and have that sort of consistency in that belief."

Hereford did create chances, with an effort striking the woodwork in each half, but Downes refused to hide behind misfortune.

“I'm not kicking myself," he told the press. "I'm not a victim. I’m not someone that's going to feel sorry for myself."

With results going against them and confidence clearly dented, the Bulls can still avoid relegation as despite being six points from safety, still have up to three games in hand on the sides above them in the table.

Downes added: "We've got to keep fighting and it's still in our hands. The end goal is still achievable and I've got to make sure that we turn around quickly.

"It's hurting all of us - supporters, players, staff, board - but the only way we're going to do it is together. 

"I've got to show strength now. I've got to show leadership in making sure that we're all doing the same thing."

Football Agents Fees

The FA have released a list of amounts paid to football agents for the year ending February 2026.

Interestingly Hereford do not appear to have paid any agents fees in that 12 months. 

NATIONAL LEAGUE SYSTEM

This information has been made publicly available pursuant to the FA Football Agent Regulations.
The information has been included in good faith for football regulatory purposes only and no undertaking, representation or warranty (express or implied) is given as to its accuracy, reliability or completeness.
We cannot guarantee that any information displayed has not been changed or modified through malicious attacks or “hacking”.

F o o t b a l l A g e n t F e e s – 4 t h F e b r u a r y 2 0 2 5 t o 2 n d F e b r u a r y 2 0 2 6
The information below represents all Football Agents' fees paid by Clubs during the
specified period

CLUB NET TOTAL

AFC FYLDE   £ 2 4,1 3 7
ALDERSHOT TOWN   £ 4,4 2 0
ALTRINCHAM   £ 2 6,2 4 4
BOREHAM WOOD   £ 1 3.3 4 2
BOSTON UNITED   £ 3 0,3 6 5
BRAINTREE TOWN   £ 8,6 4 6
BURY FC   £ 2,0 0 0
BUXTON FC   £ 3,1 4 5
CARLISLE UNITED   £ 1 8 7,9 6 0
CHELMSFORD CITY   £ 1 5,7 0 3
DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE   £ 3 7,8 2 8
DARLINGTON   £ 1,3 0 0
EASTBOURNE BOROUGH   £ 4,6 5 7
EASTLEIGH   £ 3 0,1 5 4
EBBSFLEET UNITED   £ 1 9,5 0 3
FC HALIFAX TOWN   £ 4,4 0 0
FOREST GREEN ROVERS   £ 1 6 4,3 7 3
GATESHEAD   £ 1 1,0 4 3
HARTLEPOOL UNITED   £ 2 9,3 0 4
HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE   £ 4,0 6 8
HEDNESFORD TOWN   £ 3,3 2 8
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD TOWN   £ 5 0 0
KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS   £ 1 2,9 0 0
KINGS LYNN TOWN   £ 5,2 6 3
MACCLESFIELD FC    £ 1 6,6 0 2
MAIDENHEAD UNITED   £ 1 7,1 5 0
MAIDSTONE UNITED   £ 2,8 6 5
MARINE   £ 1,0 0 0
MORECAMBE   £ 1 5,9 1 0
OXFORD CITY   £ 1,0 0 0
POOLE TOWN   £ 2,1 5 5
ROCHDALE   £ 4 2,5 2 4
SALISBURY   £ 5,9 1 5
SCUNTHORPE UNITED   £ 3 1,2 1 2
SOLIHULL MOORS   £ 2 5,9 4 5
SOUTH SHIELDS   £ 7,0 7 2
SOUTHEND UNITED   £ 8 0,8 1 5
SOUTHPORT   £ 5 0 0
SUTTON UNITED   £ 3 4,2 4 2
TAMWORTH   £ 6,3 4 7
TORQUAY UNITED   £ 1 4,6 9 0
TRURO CITY   £ 9,0 9 2
WOKING   £ 1 2,7 3 3
YEOVIL TOWN   £ 3 3,1 0 9
YORK CITY   £ 1 6 9,0 8 9 

Click on the image to enlarge: 

Maidstone United Accounts

A lot of clubs playing in the National Leagues are reporting their 2024/25 accounts.

Yesterday National League South Maidstone released their figures with comments from the joint owners. 

Turnover for the year was £1,963,993, a decrease on the previous season (£2.74m), which had been boosted by an exceptional FA Cup run. The club recorded an EBITDA loss of £167,267. On a cash-flow basis, borrowings increased from £2,415,000 to £2,616,000, represented by interest‑free loans from owners Terry Casey and Oliver Ash.

The 2024/25 season was successful on the pitch, with the men’s team reaching the National League South Promotion Final and all other areas of the club in good sporting health. The club also continued to serve the Maidstone community, as it has done since the Gallagher Stadium opened in July 2012.

The financial loss for 2024/25 can be attributed to a number of factors, including global‑economic pressures. The rising cost of living for supporters impacted attendances compared with the previous year – a trend seen across the leagues.

The club also faced significant cost inflation, both within the playing squad and in general operational expenses such as repairs, maintenance and utilities. Stewarding and match-day safety costs also rose sharply.

Oliver Ash said: “With regard to squad costs, the club continues to experience strong wage inflation, fuelled by several clubs offering substantial wage increases. These clubs appear willing to sustain significant short‑term losses.

“We continue to regret the absence of effective financial governance within the National League, which previously rejected a proposed salary cap that would help control wage inflation, promote sustainability and support fair competition. The league’s management of the financial side of the play-offs also meant that, despite reaching the final, the club incurred a loss of approximately £30,000.”

Terry Casey said: “As result of a number of cost cutting measures we aim to reduce the losses for this 2025/26 financial year but there will still be a disappointing shortfall. The financial safety and security of the club is the absolute top priority for us and we are determined to ensure that there will be no further losses incurred in the future.

“The challenging economic climate continues to make it difficult for suitable new investors to come forward, although several serious discussions are ongoing. We remain confident that a sale can be agreed in the coming weeks, in the best interests of the club and supporters.”

 

Pre Kick-Off Against Macclesfield

Another good attendance at Edgar Street for the visit of Macclesfield. 

Andy Williams captained Hereford in place Lewis Hudson who missed out because of injury.

Some pictures from before kick-off:

 

Kidderminster On Friday

Hereford FC's hectic match schedule continues on Friday with an away game at Kidderminster.

Supporters need to purchase in advance as no tickets will be sold at the ground to visiting fans.

This from Kidderminster:

HARRIERS finally return to Aggborough on Good Friday for a crucial clash with Hereford.

After five successive away trips, Adam Murray’s men are back on home soil for the visit of the Bulls, and points are an absolute  must for both teams.

3,000 tickets for the game have already been sold, with just 100 or so remaining in the Main Stand – if you’re planning on coming, book now to ensure you don’t miss out!

As ever, online purchase is still by far the quickest and easiest way to get your ticket to the game, and you can do this via our online platform.

Can’t purchase online? You can call our Ticket Office on 01562 823 931 who will assist. Otherwise, we strongly advise purchasing in advance. 

Home fans: Prices rise by £5 for any ticket purchased in person at the box office on the day of the match. To avoid this, buy online, below, up to 15 minutes after kick off.

Away fans: Tickets must purchased in advance or online, no tickets will be sold to away supporters in person at the ground on the day of the match. Contact us on the details above if you need any assistance.

Also please be aware that all food outlets at Aggborough, as well as all sales points including the Ticket Office, Fan Zone, match programmes and The Harriers Arms, are cashless.

BUY TICKETS – HARRIERS V HEREFORD

PROGRAMMES

Harriers v Hereford – the official match day programme, is available to order online now! Guarantee your copy by placing an order for delivery after the match, or get one in person at the Club Shop or food kiosks. 

Highlights Hereford v Macclesfield

Highlights from last night's game between Hereford and Macclesfield are now online.

To watch please go to: youtu.be/CPNkK9oXh8M?si=lISpXbLCVcA4HYur 

 

 

Match report: Impotent Bulls whimper in Macclesfield defeat

An impotent Hereford side failed to avoid their sixth straight defeat as a Paul Dawson brace saw Macclesfield rise to third in the National League North table.

The latest defeat, the seventh of Aaron Downes' 13 games, sees the Bulls languish in the relegation zone, where they stay six points from safety with games in hand rapidly vanishing.

Having been beaten 3-1 by Macclesfield less than three weeks ago, the Bulls - visibly leggy after their 10th match of the month - failed to match the tempo and desire of their opponents.

With three changes to the side that fell to a 2-0 defeat against Buxton on Saturday, Matt Preston Keziah Martin and Andy Williams replaced Keenan Quansah, Lewis Hudson and Mikey Lane, Hereford did manage to avoid going a goal down early on. The Silkmen did threaten though as James Gale's powerful effort was blocked, and the Bulls scrambled to deal with pressure as Luis Lacey's eventual cross from the left was pinged around by Paul Dawson and James Edmondson before being cleared.

An early Bulls' free kick was then easily dealt with by Gale, before an Isaac Buckley-Ricketts cross flashed across the face of goal with no player, including the onrushing Luke Duffy, able to connect with it. The Bulls then had to deal with a flurry of chances from the visitors as Gale mistimed his strike from a corner, Howkins heading a dangerous Dawson cross just wide of his own goal and Preston heading a floated cross clear.

While the Bulls struggled to create chances with hopeless long balls down the middle and an apparent reluctance to use livewire Cormac Daly on the left, Buckley-Ricketts continued to look dangerous for the Silkmen as he burst forward and pulled the ball back for skipper Dawson to blaze over.

The best, or perhaps only, chance of the half for the Bulls came from a free kick, though Andy Williams - donning the captain's armband with Hudson absent after picking up a knock - headed down into space from point-blank range with the goal gaping.

While Gale then got the better of Hereford's defence which was sometimes guilty of being disorganised, he failed to strike his effort cleanly before Daly burst forward down the left, cut in and forced a save from Barnsley loanee Rogan Ravenhill.

Half time: Hereford 0 - Macclesfield 0

While Hereford were lucky not to be behind at the break, their lack of creativity and reliance on ineffective hoofball didn't change after the break and they were soon punished. Within three minutes of the restart, Bulls stopper Theo Richardson had already been called into action to deny Buckley-Ricketts' shot from an acute angle - and it was from the resulting corner the Silkmen took the lead. As the inswinging corner came in from the right in front of the Meadow End, Paul Dawson easily connected with the ball unmarked at the back post to head home.

A flurry of chances then came for the visitors to double their tally, with Hereford still struggling to cope with being closed down so quickly and the pressure leaving them unable to string passes together and, at times, even keep the ball in play. After chances for Lacey, Buckley-Ricketts and Dawson, Mikey Lane was introduced by Downes in place of Williams to try and add fresh legs to the attacking options - though that had limited success.

It Took Three Defenders To Block Munday

As Macclesfield kept searching for a second, pegging Hereford back deep in their own half, Richardson pulled off a decent save to deny Gale who'd got on the end of Buckley-Ricketts' through ball, it wasn't until the 72nd minute when the Bulls had their second decent chance of the evening. Matt Preston's headed effort was denied by the woodwork after rising highest to connect with a floated cross.

As the Bulls looked to be building momentum, time-wasting by Macclesfield soon saw that fizzle out. While the visitors went close with a curling free kick from Lacey from 25-yards, Dawson secured a brace in the 86th minute to put the game out of reach of Hereford. The tenacious Freddie Wilcox, who had been trying to link play from his position in defensive midfield, was dispossessed by James Edmondson. The Blackburn loanee then sent captain Dawson on a surging run towards Richardson's goal, burying the ball in the back of the net off the post.

After eight minutes on injury time, Lane could have grabbed a late consolation goal but his shot from a Daly cross was denied by the upright.

Full time: Hereford 0 - Macclesfield 2

Attendance: 2,403

Macclesfield secured their sixth win in eight games as Hereford have now lost six on the bounce. A thoroughly disappointing evening at Edgar Street in all. While no excuse, the players looked tired - add that to individual errors, a lack of a cutting edge and being devoid of ideas and creativity means the match was only going to go one way.

Brace yourselves for the Easter weekend against play-off hopefuls. Kidderminster Harriers and Merthyr Town.

Hereford: Richardson, Skinner, Preston, D'Ath, Williams (Lane 58'), Munday, Daly, Martin (Oppong 87'), James, Willcox, Howkins

Subs not used: Lewis, Donawa, Quansah, Tustin.

Macclesfield: Ravenhill, Matheson, Dawson, Buckley-Ricketts, Duffy, Heathcote, Lacey, Gale, Osbourne, Edmondson, Bothwick-Jackson

Subs: Fensome, Menayese, Dos Santos, Popoola, Chapman, McHugh, Pasiek