Ten Years Ago At Edgar Street

As we approach the end of another year reviews often appear, but for something of a change this article looks at the situation at Hereford United ten years ago.

December 1997 and the Bulls were back in the Conference. Many supporters had started the season proclaiming that Hereford United was 'on loan to the Conference' but by Christmas it looked as though any hope of returning to League football would take more than one season as the Bulls were in tenth position in the table.

In any case the Conference was even harder to get out of in those days as just one team was promoted each season.

After the Brighton game in the Spring which resulted in the Bulls being relegated to the Conference it was decided that Hereford should remain a full-time outfit. However the club already had big money problems and so the directors gave manager Graham Turner little to spend.

Players of note at the time included a much improved Gavin Mahon, Neil Grayson and a young Jamie Pitman.

However it was off the field where the problems were mounting. Already there were rumours of players waiting several weeks for their money even though the club had agreed a £500,000 loan from the BS Group the previous May.

Just how bad the financial situation was at Edgar Street emerged during the autumn. In December the club admitted it hadn't enough funds to pay its creditors and so appointed the Birmingham based firm of Chartered Accountants, Smith and Williamson, to 'assist with the presentation of a proposal for a creditors voluntary arrangment' or CVA for short.

At least in those days there was no fear of any points deduction for going into a CVA.

It also emerged that one clause in the BS Group loan deal stood out as very bad business for the club. Whilst BS agreed to pay the rent for Edgar Street to the Hereford City Council, under the conditions of the second lease, the one from BS to the club, it was stated that 'there is no right of reassignment back to the companies (Hereford United) in the event of repayment of the loan advance.'

The Bulls were still chaired by Peter Hill at this stage. Graham Turner had yet to take over his shares.

Some important meetings took place during the Autumn of 1997. Most were arranged by HUISA who were very active at the time. One such meeting took place at the Green Dragon Hotel in Hereford on November 20th. There wasn't even enough room for all those who wished to attend, such was the interest.

At the time a 'Herefordshire businessmens group' had expressed an interest in the club and had looked at the books. However the board led by Peter Hill had put a confidentiality agreement on the group and since Hill was unwilling to discuss the full extent of the money problems and the agreement with the BS Group, HUISA found it difficult to play much of a part in trying to resolve the problems at Edgar Street and as the businessmen were 'gagged' they couldn't help HUISA either.

In any case Hill, although invited, failed to turn up at the meeting. He had alleged that HUISA had slandered him but most supporters thought he didn't have the interest of the football club at heart any longer - he had been on the board for twenty or so years.

A few days after the meeting Graham Turner made an offer to purchase Peter Hill's shares. Turner informed HUISA as 'he felt HUISA members deserved to hear the news early and at first hand.'

It was then revealed that a Hereford United Board of Directors meeting had taken place some two days before the HUISA meeting. However the details were kept fairly secret because of the involvment of Smith and Williamson, the insolvency experts. Just before Christmas details of the proposed CVA were sent to shareholders. The documents showed the club to be £1m in debt.

Some of the debts were: BS Group £500,000, Inland Revenue £143,000, Customs and Excise £120,000, Football Clubs £59,000, other 'trade' creditors about £74,000.

'In fact it would almost be easier to make a list of those to whom they don't owe money,' was one of the comments at the time.

A meeting to agree the CVA was arranged for January 7th 1998.

Back on the pitch it was't all bad news as on Boxing Day Kidderminster Harriers were the visitors to Edgar Street.

Below is how Peter Povall reported it on his HUFC website:

The largest Conference home gate of the season (4,671) saw Hereford United gain another victory which they desperately needed.

Initially, the play had been scrappy at best, with Hereford continually playing the long ball forward which usually ended with them being beaten in the air by Kidderminster's sizeable defence. Why they persisted with this, when they could easily out-play Kidderminster on the ground amazed both myself and many of the home fans.

There where moments at both ends though during the first half as Ian Arnold (Kidderminster) was denied his goal for being offside. Andy Quy also made a couple of good saves to frustrate the visitors further.

Hereford also pressured the Kidderminster goal with both Brian McGorry coming close and Jamie Pitman having a cross almost turned into the net by a defender.

The second half brought much improvement, even though Hereford had Ian Rodgerson sent off for a second bookable offence.

Neil Grayson immediately replied in the 56th minute with a storming penalty following Richard Leadbetter (on one month loan from Wolves) being brought down in the box.

The pace of the game picked up from here with Kidderminster being further denied by excellent saves from Andy Quy who should be declared as man of the match. Neil Grayson also had a late shot pushed over by the Kidderminster keeper Darren Steadman.

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