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| Pic from a Hereford United Xmas card and reproduced with kind permission of old herefordpic.blogspot |
In the weeks beforehand the club played several friendlies and on Friday August 12th entertained Coventry with a 7.15pm kick-off.
The manager at the time was Bob Dennison and in his programme notes he welcomed supporters back to Edgar Street for another season and noted two recent signings, one of which was John Charles fondly known as the 'Gentle Giant'.
'Since the end of last season we have lost Ron Fogg, our top marksman, and Brian Punter, who has moved to work in South Africa, but in their place we have John Charles and Eddie Holliday.
'John needs no introduction and we consider ourselves more than forunate to obtain his signature. A number of other clubs made attractive offers to him but he agreed to join us, and we are sure that we will be happy at Edgar Street.
'John considers that Southern League football is yet another challenge to him in a star-studded career and I'm certain he will make his mark in United colours.'
So how did John Charles arrive at Hereford?
At the end of the 65/66 season Charles decided his Football League playing days were over but wanted to continue playing football at some level. Cardiff gave Charles a free transfer and amidst the offers he received was one from Bob Dennison, the manager of Hereford United at the time.
Charles went away to his Italian holiday home to consider his future. Dennison was also on holiday at the same time. So Harold Rumsey and Frank Miles went to Italy and found Charles.
Harold Rumsey was a director of Hereford United and Frank Miles was chairman of the Hereford United Supporters Club at the time.
"Harold and I flew to Nice. We hired a car and drove to Diano Marina where Charles was on holiday," said Miles.
"It went smoothly. John was such a nice bloke. He didn't ask for the sky."
On their return from Italy Rumsey told the Hereford Times that it was no secret that they wanted to sign Charles. They had seen Charles play in two pre-season friendlies when the Gentle Giant had scored in both games and their current striker Ron Fogg had left Edgar Street.
On July 3rd 1966 Charles telephoned Rumsey from his home in Cardiff and agreed to sign. Rumsey is then said to have driven to Cardiff with the required forms and the deal was done.
"John came to Hereford completely out of the blue. It was an amazing signing really. He was such a big man. No wonder he could get such power on his headers," recalled Roger Griffiths, a right-back at Edgar Street in 1966.
Charles scored 37 goals in his first year with Hereford, not bad for a 34 year-old.
So how did John Charles arrive at Hereford?
At the end of the 65/66 season Charles decided his Football League playing days were over but wanted to continue playing football at some level. Cardiff gave Charles a free transfer and amidst the offers he received was one from Bob Dennison, the manager of Hereford United at the time.
Charles went away to his Italian holiday home to consider his future. Dennison was also on holiday at the same time. So Harold Rumsey and Frank Miles went to Italy and found Charles.
Harold Rumsey was a director of Hereford United and Frank Miles was chairman of the Hereford United Supporters Club at the time.
"Harold and I flew to Nice. We hired a car and drove to Diano Marina where Charles was on holiday," said Miles.
"It went smoothly. John was such a nice bloke. He didn't ask for the sky."
On their return from Italy Rumsey told the Hereford Times that it was no secret that they wanted to sign Charles. They had seen Charles play in two pre-season friendlies when the Gentle Giant had scored in both games and their current striker Ron Fogg had left Edgar Street.
On July 3rd 1966 Charles telephoned Rumsey from his home in Cardiff and agreed to sign. Rumsey is then said to have driven to Cardiff with the required forms and the deal was done.
"John came to Hereford completely out of the blue. It was an amazing signing really. He was such a big man. No wonder he could get such power on his headers," recalled Roger Griffiths, a right-back at Edgar Street in 1966.
Charles scored 37 goals in his first year with Hereford, not bad for a 34 year-old.