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Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Local Businesses Suffer Without A Football Club


One Hereford-born exiled supporter has noted to Hereford FC how he hasn't visited Hereford since April - to the detriment of the local economy:

As well as spending money in pubs, cafes and restaurants we have found Hereford over the years a very useful place to do all sorts of shopping. Living in Cardiff we have, in my opinion, a city centre that Hereford could never aspire to, but where Hereford does shine in our eyes, especially with the football ground in the city centre, is with its accessibility.

Whether we travel up by car or train, Hereford city centre is great for buying all sorts; during the previous season we  purchased shoes, books, clothes, toys and plenty of other things from High Town stores, shopped for all sorts in the market, eaten from various cafes, plus the food stalls in High Town (we all love the falafel stall in particular) and supported various small independent shops (for example, the Mousetrap is another favourite).

Christmas shopping a few months ago was a right pain. I had to fight my way into the centre of Cardiff; I would have normally tried to do as much as possible in Hereford before a football match. As I would have been visiting Hereford city centre anyway it would have made it considerably less of a chore. Because of the situation with the football club Hereford shops were poorer by several hundred pounds just from this; imagine what we may have spent on the other 12 to 15 Saturdays over the season?

I don't think my family is unique. Travelling the country watching Hereford United for decades I have become firm friends with many other exiles from all over. It's a common theme, arranging to meet in the Barrels or in the Supporters Club (Addisons etc) before a game and for someone to say .... "I'll see you there after I've popped to High Town".

The bottom line is, while we've badly missed our football, the businesses of Hereford have suffered too by missing the trade the football brings to the City. Like many exiles I no longer have family in the County and since Hereford United's final game last April I have spent nothing in the shops of Hereford. I am hopeful normal service can be resurrected this summer courtesy of Hereford FC and wish you luck in achieving this.