Former chairman and manager of Hereford United, Graham Turner, is involved in Sunday's event at Hinton FC.
He has spoken to the Hereford United Supporters Team.
I was delighted to accept the invitation to become involved in this very worthwhile event.
As a Freeman of the City of Hereford I feel it is my duty to assist the Mayor by managing his football Xl and support his charities. We are also supporting the “Adam Stansfield Foundation”. Adam was one of the most likeable players I have come across in my career. He did not need motivating, every training session and every match was met with the same enthusiasm, hard work and enjoyment. I say enjoyment because he always had a smile on his face. A great pro, sadly missed.
It is also an opportunity to team up again with some of the players who were prominent in the Club’s recent history. It will be a pleasure to see them again.
I am well aware of the problems the Club have faced in recent seasons and the uncertainty that abounds at present. It is hard to understand how things could have gone so wrong in such a short space of time, culminating in what could be the most important two weeks in the Club’s history.
If the current Directors come up with a solution before the Court date, good luck to them, it may be a new start for the Club, however, most supporters do not believe this will happen. It will then be down to a massive effort by supporters, many of whom will be at Sunday’s match, with some playing. Which ever way it goes there will be losers, however, the main issue in my view, is how the Council will act.
The Football Club, not any individual or company, are the leaseholders of Edgar Street. The Council are the Freeholders, therefore, able to control any development plans. Any developer who wishes to get involved will naturally want to make a profit, quite rightly, but after development costs the on-going profits from rent etc should be a three-way split.
The Council have to consider the rate payers and ensure they get a return from a valuable site. The long-term tenants need and should get a return. From experience, I know that it is a fine balancing act to come up with a scheme that will give the Club new facilities at each end of the ground, decent facilities, not just a small terrace tacked on to a large commercial development and a financial return for the three parties.
The site is possibly the most valuable five acres in the county, therefore, a solution must be found.
My dealings with the Council led me to believe they were very much supportive of the Club acknowledging the benefits a professional football club playing at a good level brings to the City. They hold the key to the future of Edgar Street, I hope they will demonstrate the same support for the Club as when I was involved. To protect the Club’s interest whether it be 1939 or a phoenix club.
I have been impressed with the efforts of our MP, Jesse Norman with his support of the Club. Whatever happens in eight days time he can play his part in the future of the Club, high profile support could prove invaluable.
Finally, our opponents today, HUST, I hope will go easy on our aging team. I have however, that vision of Superman plucking a cross out of the air, feeding the ball out to Clarkie galloping down the wing and crossing for Elmo, soaring like an eagle at the back post to head home the winner. Oh for those long-forgotten days when all supporters had to worry about was where to get a good pint and the result. Probably in that order!
Graham