Hereford
FC chairman Ken Kinnersley is pleased that Pegasus Juniors and Hereford
FC have agreed to work together for the benefit of the community. In
particular he feels that the planned provision of a 3G pitch will bring
lots of benefits to both clubs.
"It's probably been a year in the planning," said Kinnersley.
"I think that the original seed was sown by a third party.
"We know Pegasus and we all get on reasonably well. There's always been dialogue and a good relationship.
"Their policy is that they don't pay any of their first team players and I think the result was they had a few issues fielding a competitive team.
"With the demise of Hereford United the club (HFC) lost what was our community arm that operated as UITC. It was set up and controlled by Hereford United through the appointment of trustees. With the demise of HUFC that was lost, therefore HFC had no control or even influence over UITC.
"The
HFC Board were of the view that it was inappropriate for a 3rd party
organisation to be operating and controlling the HFC Youth teams under
circumstances where the club had no control and little influence in their operations.
"Late in 2015 we made a formal attempt to regularise the situation, to return to the position whereby we had some control.
"However that was rejected outright by the UITC Trustees at the time without any alternative proposal being put on the table.
"Right from day one this board aimed for both academy football and community engagement. The club was branded as a community club yet because of the lack of facilities, which is where Victoria Park would have played an important part, it has seriously delayed our ability to move forward simply because those facilities are not ours to do anything with.
"My understanding is the council awarded UITC a lease based on their connection with the football club."
Were the council badly advised?
"I think it all happened at the time when the new club was being formed. I don't know what went on. I'm not privy to what justification there was or who applied for the lease or what the terms were.
"The inference is, given the history of UITC being set up by and as part of Hereford United then for me and I think quite a lot of fans, not all by any means, but the vast majority see this club (HFC) as the same club.
"For me the club is about the people who sit in the stands, it's not about the players, it's not about the directors, not about the staff, they all come and go.
"The one common theme that runs through Hereford United and Hereford FC are the people who stand on the terraces or sit in the seats and support the club. They are the club. "I differentiate "club" from the limited company, the legal entity, that runs it. The two are totally different in my mind.
"It saddens me a lot that there are a few people who have this attitude because they have been Hereford United through and through but they can't or won't tolerate the thought of Hereford FC or support the club."
How many of them are left?
"Even if there is one who is not watching football at Edgar Street because the legal entity has changed, then I really regret that because I don't think it's ever going to succeed in changing anything.
"It's the same club. Different company I accept that but it's the same club because it's the same supporters that are out there week in and week out."
Back to Pegasus.
"I think initially George (Webb) and myself were authorised by the board to open discussions with Pegasus about merging our community aspirations with the work Pegasus were already doing.
"In terms of their youth football it's football for all. You don't need to be a skilful footballer to play children's or youth football at Pegasus whereas our academy is based on ability so it tends to be competitive with the result that some players will eventually be released. That's fine but it's certainly not appropriate in a "community" based setting.
"In a community setting you are there to provide a service, ability is immaterial the objective is to give pleasure and opportunity. Hopefully in the "football for all" community side there will be one or two that will shine through and they will, in time have the opportunity to move up to the academy."
So, in essence, you are going to run different youth set-ups?
Yes, Pegasus will be running the community football for all, we will continue to run our own academy.
Turning to the proposed artificial pitch, there will be plenty of use for it?
"Pegasus is operating almost to capacity at present so if we want to establish and build on community involvement we are going to need to an artificial pitch and indoor facilities.
If or when Pegasus get permission for the pitch will Hereford have to contribute?
"There will be a financial contribution from this football club with appropriate safeguards to protect our interests. That is a key element in the way we are going to establish the joint partnership. We are working with Pegasus, we are not going to dictate to them or vice versa. We know each others requirements and they will over the next few months under the heads of terms be providing us with a breakdown of what they think is possible if they are successful with their application."
Is a grant application already in?
"Pegasus are quite a long way down the road with the application. HFA support is important and with the disappointment over the failure of the Aylestone Hill application and the desperate need we have in the city and the county for artificial pitches, we are hoping that will give this application a bit of impetus.
"We'll have to wait and see what the general reaction is. I think the planning application is now in, I think the application for grant funding has been discussed in outline with the Football Federation so it's now a matter of submitting the formal documentation, I think, by the end of October.
"We've got support from the Council, but it's got to get through local planning.
"The only issue I can see, given it is an established football pitch and they already have floodlights, is that the installation of an artificial pitch will bring about more use. That raises the issue of traffic and parking. However people don't visit and stay all day or stay for hours, they come use their time slot and leave.
"Hopefully the facilities that are there at the moment will be adequate to cope with the anticipated use.
"Part of our thinking is looking to the future and making the best possible provision we can for whatever may happen at this football club in the future. And that does include being full-time and the need for training facilities.
"I'm well aware of the nightmare HUFC had before with using the pitch up at Belmont, having to cross the river, which is yet another reason why Pegasus is a good fit because they are very close.
"The only downside to the whole arrangement is that it isn't ours 100%, that it is a partnership. But from the last twelve months of meetings and discussions we've had with Pegasus they are as enthusiastic about the project as we are. They will be fully engaged with HFC working to the benefit of the wider community."
If you had to find your own facilities could you afford it?
"No we couldn't afford it. This is worth a £1 million pounds to us, to have access to this facility I say is worth £1 million pounds to this football club.
"I spent three years talking to the council telling them we need facilities. That beautifully maintained piece of grass that we play most Saturdays in the season is all we've got. How can we meet our community responsibilities with just one pitch, we can't.
"I've been in discussions in the main with Geoff Hughes who has been very supportive and he's done his best. We've even looked at places up Westfaling Street and other bits of green space but none of them are suitable or close enough so again thats why Pegasus fits the bill so well.
"Hopefully it's going to be a marriage made in heaven."