Today Hereford United jet off to Spain on a pre-season tour whereas 13 years ago there wasn't enough money in the kitty to get to the airport let alone board a plane. Here's lookback at that era with an article from Talking Bull.
Monday 29th June 1998 was a momentous day. A day which will surely be recorded in the annals of Hereford United Football Club. At last here was an AGM where the long suffering supporters and shareholders finally got rid of the discredited Board - totally and absolutely.
The 'Peter Hill Years" have been a disaster. A fiasco where the club has been brought to its knees whilst the architects of the policy have continued with their exploitation via the 'Gentleman's Drinking Club' in the Boardroom. We've all had to endure the 'Cold War' years where information was more easily obtained from the Kremlin than Edgar Street. The SOS 'Save our Soccer' campaign of 1982 ensured the clubs immediate survival but did Peter Hill & Co learn any lessons from that shambolic era? Many local supporters and businesses lost out then - many felt forced into accepting a raw deal. Goodwill has been eroded dramatically and in some cases killed off altogether. Many, many businesses and people close to the club have been abused - then cast aside without a care - the majority never to return with further sponsorship or even to the terraces.
Eventually following concerted pressure from the 'hard core' of supporters some information was forthcoming and the total financial mis-management was revealed. However, Hill & Co continue on until debts exceed a million pounds. The 'Newman Era' and the 'Bowyer Legacy' of talent were both allowed to evaporate, the Peacock cash injection was wasted not once - but twice. Wild swings in management styles and costs are brought in and then discarded, often with calamitous results - and court cases aplenty! Despite numerous attempts to shame the Board into action and resignation with virtual unanimous 'Votes of No Confidence', the apathy and abdication of duties by the Chairman had reached new heights with the appointment of 'minder' M D Robin Fry!
This era of frustration, sadness and anger built until the massive implosion. Edgar Street is allowed to decay still further. The supporters are increasingly alienated as a result of the arson attack on the Sportsmans Bar whilst insufficiently insured. The lack of expertise in running the club shop escalates and the general marketing of the club becomes a sick joke with Pulling and then Simmons at the helm. Hill tried to prop up his position still further with the 'appointment' of a Fans' Associate Director on the board who quickly follows the Hill role model by abdicating his responsibilities. Benjy first stops liaising with the majority fans and eventually fails to represent them, almost becoming a 'Hill' clone. So, yet another opportunity is wasted and a potential channel of communication lost. Next is the ultimate nightmare of relegation from the Football League. Shareholders and supporters are not consulted regarding the 'gift' of the remaining Edgar Street asset - the lease on the ground - which is handed over to the BS Group, not for money but to obtain a £500,000 loan!
Fry resigns but won't go until he receives his 'pay off'. Last seasons deplorable scenes where even the club's own staff go for weeks without pay - and no explanation - is the final straw. Eventually comes judgement day. The AGM. The putrid, decomposed, acrid stench of Peter Hill and his fellow Board of Directors will no longer waft skywards from Edgar Street. Vive l'empereur Turner!
A brief period of exultation followed before the grim reality of the club's perilous state re-established its firm grip on the mind. Where do we go from here? We must go back to our community roots. Supporters must take some ownership, responsibility and authority of running the club through owning a significant shareholding in HUFC and boardroom representation. We as supporters must have a voice and be accountable for our own decisions.
GT are you listening?
THE MAN WITH THE RUSTIC BURR
Text at top (next game etc)
Next Game: Pre-Season Starts At Westfields On Saturday July 6th At 2pm