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Next Game: Rushall At Home In The League On Saturday 30th November At 3.00pm

Sunday, May 13, 2012

David Norton and Hereford United

A few days ago the Hereford Times published an article about David Norton who played for Hereford United, was injured and then landed up at rivals Cheltenham Town. After 14 years he said he wanted to tell his story about why he left Edgar Street. However little of it was new, most had already been in the public domain.

Norton said he didn't want to leave Hereford but manager Graham Turner told him they couldn't afford to pay for an operation for him and wouldn't be offering him a further contract.

The PFA then paid for the operation, Norton could play again and moved to Cheltenham.

Here's how matters panned out from the BN archives.


David Norton was a defender whom Graham Turner signed on a free transfer from Northampton in July 1996.  He was 31 at the time. The two knew each other when they both were at Aston Villa. His first goal for the Bulls came on October 12th at Torquay after just 75 seconds.

In his first season with the Bulls he made 45 appearances but at the end of that campaign the Bulls were relegated to the Conference.

Norton stayed on at Edgar Street and was given the captain's armband for the 97/98 season.

"It's been a long three months since the Brighton game," he said at the time.

"Everyone has had three months to reflect on what happened last season.

"I've been surprised at the quality of our football pre-season, but against Welling it's three points that matter, not how we play."

Norton played in the first four matches of the season but an injury in training prevented him taking part in any more games for the Bulls.

However he appeared to still be involved with the club for some months as, for example, he was on top table for a Fans Forum meeting in October.

In January 1998, Hereford United were in serious financial trouble and the players were not being paid for weeks at a time.

"I've never known anything like this really," said Norton.

"At one point this season, we would be going three or four weeks without being paid.

"Our results have not been what we would have hoped for in the league, we've also had a bad run of injuries which hasn't helped."

Norton was still injured and later that month HUISA offered some funds towards his medical treatment but on March 11th it was announced that Norton had retired.

Hereford United's former Aston Villa full-back, David Norton, has been forced to retire following a groin injury.

Norton, aged 33, played 44 times for Villa before moving on to Notts County, Hull City, Northampton Town and Hereford United.

Last season, he made 45 Third Division appearances, but has been limited to just six this season.

Then, just six months later in August 1998, he re-emerged.

Dave Norton will resurrect his career at Cheltenham Town, with manager Steve Cotterill insisting he can be three players in one.

The former Hereford United captain had announced his retirement in March because of a pelvic injury, but a summer operation appears to have cure the problem.

"There's been no problem with the pelvic problems but he just needs games under his belt," said Cotterill.

"I'm sure he will get better.

"His versatility is an added bonus. He can play anywhere on the right side, he can play centre-half and he can sweep, and he can play in midfield."

Norton returned to Edgar Street on February 20th 1999. Also in the Cheltenham starting eleven were three other former Hereford United players.

The closing ten minutes saw the worst images of Edgar Street this season. Cheltenham gained a corner which David Norton came forward to take. A few of the Hereford crowd pushed into the corner of the stand and started abusing him and spitting. Considering the situation surrounding his departure from Edgar Street I can understand veral abuse but enough is enough.

Sod's Law, it had to happen. After Norton was booked for timewasting he played an excellent corner which Victory headed powerfully into the back of the net.

The Bulls lost 2-0.

After the game referee Paul Armstrong reported Hereford to the FA. Norton had complained about being spat at and having missiles thrown at him.

Norton moved to Yeovil in the following summer.

Now at Yeovil, David Norton had to leave Cheltenham because a reported condition of the insurance pay-out he received when he was injured while playing for Hereford is that some of the money would be repayable if he played in the League again.

After just ten games for Yeovil including two against the Bulls, Norton was on the move again. He joined Forest Green Rovers for £1500 in  December 1999.  Later he became player manager alongside Nigel Spink.

Following a late fitness test he played for FGR against the Bulls on March 18th, a game Hereford won 1-0. But it was the following season that Norton came back to haunt the Bulls.

Hereford had reached the semi-final of the FA Trophy and were drawn against FGR.

Norton was injured and didn't take any part in either game but was in the FGR dug-out.

The first leg at The Lawn was drawn 2-2. 

Before the second leg Norton spoke to the press.

"Hereford are physically very strong, they've got some good players and a tremendous atmosphere for big games and a very hostile crowd." 

Hereford were favourites to win the Trophy but FGR tore them apart and won the game 4-1. There were tears in the Meadow End and afterwards around 100 supporters went to the players entrance to vent their anger at manager Graham Turner.

David Norton was elated at the win. However he and another former Hereford player, Adrian Foster, had received plenty of abuse during the game.

"Both Foster and I have come in for some rough treatment when we have returned to Hereford.

"They think we both left the club high and dry but that wasn't the case.

"When I was at Edgar Street I was told by Graham Turner, when he took over as chairman, that I was not going to be retained.

"He said the club couldn't afford to pay for an operation that I needed to have a decent standard of life.

"It wasn't my decision to leave the club, they were struggling financially and had to let me go. I loved the place.

"And I want their fans to know if we hadn't won the game on Saturday I would have liked Hereford to have gone on and won the competition."