Ricky George talks to Ronnie Radford

Two Hereford United legends have been talking to each other for an article in this morning's Daily Telegraph. Ricky George met Ronnie Radford on Christmas Eve and talked about that Cup-Tie, that goal and Radford's career.

For those who haven't seen the article here it is:

Ronnie Radford is one of those self-effacing individuals whose fame, even after nearly 36 years, continues to surprise and almost embarrass him.

His equalising goal for non-League Hereford United in the FA Cup third round replay against Newcastle United in February 1972 has become one of the most replayed pieces of archive footage in the history of the game, not the least because it was struck with venom and unerring accuracy from 35 yards out on a pitch that, after 86 minutes of titanic struggle, had become a morass.

"Goals like mine are scored every week, up and down the country," said Ronnie modestly as we shared our memories over a coffee on Christmas Eve, "but we were playing out the classic FA Cup story and that was just part of the script. If people think mine was good, they should have seen our first at Newcastle."

Hereford United were indeed living the FA Cup dream in the famous old competition's centenary year. It took two games to see off Kings Lynn in the fourth qualifying round, then after a 3-0 victory at home to Cheltenham, we played Northampton Town three times before going up to St James' Park to face the six-times winners of the trophy.

"That for me was our greatest achievement," Radford continued. "We played with discipline, skill and courage, on a pitch that was absolutely perfect."

It was an unforgettable night and people were still coming in the ground when Hereford scored. Brian Owen's strike, after just 17 seconds, silenced the huge crowd. He hit it perfectly, right foot, top corner, from outside the area. Malcolm Macdonald and John Tudor scored to put Newcastle ahead, but then Hereford's player-manager Colin Addison equalised with a super 25-yarder just before half-time.

The replay was postponed so many times because of the appalling weather that it was eventually played on Saturday, Feb 5, the day of the fourth-round ties.

The BBC sent a rookie commentator to cover the game for Match of the Day, assuming that Newcastle would win. In the event, a young John Motson became an integral part of one of the greatest shock results in the history of the competition.

Radford recalled: "When Macdonald scored after 80 minutes, I didn't feel deflated, I felt angry, but I knew we wouldn't give up. We would have died for each other. Football is all about decisions and when Brian [Owen] laid the ball back, I already knew what I was going to do. As soon as I hit it I knew it was in, and I was off before it hit the back of the net."

He was off on that memorable run, wheeling away with arms in the air as hundreds of little boys wearing parkas invaded the Edgar Street pitch from the Meadow end, where the muddy ball lay buried in the back of the Newcastle net. I was desperate to get to him and give him a hug but ended up stranded behind the goal as he disappeared under the excited throng.

"I looked at their faces as we lined up to restart," Ronnie added, "and I knew we would win."

And we did, with yours truly scoring the winner in extra time.

Radford, now 64, was born in South Elmsall, Yorkshire and played as an amateur for Sheffield Wednesday while gaining his apprenticeship as a joiner. He signed professional forms with Leeds United, but stayed only one season before joining Cheltenham Town.

"Leeds were preparing for the return of John Charles from Italy, and released quite a few players," he explained. "So I missed the great man, who had been one of my heroes, but our paths were destined to cross."

After six years at Cheltenham, Radford signed for Newport County, where he won the player of the year award. "I couldn't afford to stay full-time," he explained "and that's when big John Charles [who had since become player-manager at Hereford] signed me".

Radford's first game for Hereford was in a pre-season friendly at Shrewsbury. He recalled a famous moment just before we left the dressing room: "I asked John where he wanted me to play? 'You're a midfield player, aren't you?' he said. 'Yes, I answered'. 'Well play midfield then'." Charles left Hereford in October 1971 and Addison took over.

After beating Newcastle, Hereford drew 0-0 with West Ham United in the fourth round before going down 3-1 to a Geoff Hurst hat-trick in front of 42,000 people at Upton Park. Radford stayed on at Edgar Street as the club gained election to the Football League before short spells at Worcester City, as player-manager and Bath City, from whence he returned north.

On the great day in 1972, up in the stands, Ron's wife Ann had turned her head to speak to their two small sons just as the historic event occurred. As the massive roar from more than 14,000 passionate fans split the cold February air, she jumped up to join in the celebrations, and while Motty was yelling Ronnie Radford into football immortality, she was screaming: "Who scored? "

Also in this morning's Telegraph is an article from Tom Knight (currently the DT's athletics correspondent) who watched the Newcastle game at Edgar Street:

It remains one of my favourite years. There was David Bowie, Roxy Music, a camping holiday with the lads in Devon and that day in February when my home town and its little football team became famous around the world.

Whenever I mention that I was there, everyone assumes that I was one of the kids in Parka coats that swarmed on to the muddy pitch after both Hereford goals and at the final whistle.

But I was standing behind the goal at the other end. I was 16, studying for my 'O' Levels and probably considered myself far too cool to make a show of myself.

My younger brother was at the Meadow End - the so-called Hereford kop - but couldn't fight his way through the hordes of kids tumbling from the overcrowded terraces. He didn't have a Parka either.

This was a match that everyone in the city had been looking forward to.

We had heard about Malcolm Macdonald's claim that he would score a bucket load of goals against the Southern League part-timers and even though the Newcastle fans were heavily outnumbered, they still swaggered their way to Edgar Street.

I knew these big city lads could get what they wanted when I watched a group of them surround a girl outside the ground, refusing to let her go until she had given them all a kiss.

I thought the match was all over when Macdonald scored after 82 minutes.

But Hereford never gave up. The way that Ronnie Radford scrapped to win the ball before his wonder goal typified the team spirit that day.

Waiting for the final whistle was agony. When it came, cup fever dominated the city for weeks.

We were given the day off school for the fourth round replay at West Ham.

Geoff Hurst ended the dream with a hat-trick but my mates and I had the bonus of a "blink and you'll miss it" appearance in the official film made to mark the centenary of the FA Cup.

---