Exiled Bull ponders the start of another season:
The start of another season continues my sixth decade of watching United (albeit partly created by my first match being in December 1969). Off to Mr Porter country with a car load of question marks. First day of the season is often an oddity, bearing little relation to the rest of the nine months. New season for Hereford feels more new than usual for obvious reasons.
We simply don’t know what our hastily-assembled squad is capable of. Or Simon Davey. Or Crewe really. There are no yardsticks on Day One. No impressive home record to trouble us, no ace goalscorer to worry about or discreetly deal with and no measure of the merit of the final score.
Will our big new stoppers do the job? Who will be in goal? The absence of substitutes at Neath hints to me that Connor might be the man. And talking of the Man – could O’Neill Thompson be the man to identify with – the United player worth travelling to see (heaven knows we deserve one or more). He’s a mighty big lad who could dominate the pitch. Will we have the pace and width to worry the opposition ... indeed who will be our main goal threat? Will anybody? Questions... questions... does the chip shop in Gresty Road still use beef dripping to maintain its reputation as the UK’s best chippie next to a football ground?
Some things won’t change. Ryan Valentine will be booked. The Beast will infuriate or impress maybe in turn. There will be tiresome handbags around Crewe station which is all so 1980’s.
This is the big test for the new Hereford United. Good public relations are vital and frankly overdue but so too in these cynical times is progress on the pitch. Get Mr Fairweather enthused and this could be a rewarding enjoyable season. Let’s find out.