Cup Fever Returns To Hereford

The Meadow End Packed To Capacity For Hereford FC's First League Game In August 2015

FA Cup fever has returned to Hereford. This afternoon Hereford FC play Telford in the First Round Proper of the FA Cup.

Whatever the result, and Hereford are the bookies favourite, it's some achievement to have reached the first round given the 'new' club played its first ever match which was in the Midland League only in August 2015.

Last season Hereford competed in the Southern League South and West, and this season it's Southern Premier League.

In between there was the FA Vase final at Wembley. Again some achievement to reach the final even if on the day Hereford were second best.

With a new ten year lease on Edgar Street just days away from signing, annual accounts showing another small profit to be made public in a couple of weeks, and hospitality becoming more popular both with local business and supporters alike, the club continues to flourish both on and off the pitch.

This afternoon is a sell out. Exactly what the gate will be remains to be seen. Mention has been made of total sales of 4700 which suggests a gate of around 4650. Not bad for a club playing in the Southern Prem with a three sided ground.

"The atmosphere will be eclectic," said Hereford manager Peter Beadle. 

"There is a feel that this is a big, big game and the fans will be right behind us. It will be raucous."

As for progressing in the Cup, Beadle is realistic.

"To reach the first round proper of the FA Cup, with the league status we have [three divisions below the Football League] at the moment is a big thing for us," Beadle told the Guardian.

"It is a competition that has so much history and you always want to do well in. There are always one or two teams that catch the eye that do extremely well, and we’d like to think that we could be one of them."  

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