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| Rob Purdie - Picture Copyright BN |
These articles are updated versions of those which appeared on BN in February 2017 when Purdie made his 400th appearance in a Hereford shirt.
Rob Purdie's signing for Hereford was announced on 30th July 2002. Manager Graham Turner was already familiar with the former Leicester City youngster as Purdie had played a game for Hereford United reserves in the previous season. It was a one year deal.
Purdie remembers that reserve game.
"It was against Burton Albion at Edgar Street, I played against Nigel Clough in midfield that night!"
So why Hereford?
"My academy director came upto me in the dressing room at Leicester City and said 'you're playing a game tonight, you'll never of heard of them, but you are going.'
"Alan Hill was the Leicester Academy director and he was friendly with Hereford United scout Ron Jukes."
Purdie must have impressed Turner. However it took a while to convince the youngster to sign for the Bulls.
"I met with Graham at the end of the season and rejected the contract offer. I had interest from league sides but by mid pre-season didn't have a club.
"I went to see my friends at Leicester one morning and Alan Hill said he would give Ron a call. He persuaded Graham to offer me the contract again and I signed it! Best decision I ever made."
In his book 'Superscout' Jukes gave his version.
'Robert had been mentioned by Leicester coach Alan Hill when I asked who was being released from their School of Excellence.
'Robert came with two other lads to play in a practice match at Hereford and Alan said at the time he might live to regret releasing him.
'Graham and I were immediately impressed by his skills in the pratice game and by the way he conducted himself in the subsequent interview at Junction Ten of the M6.
'Terms could not be agreed initially but after Robert had been unimpressed on a subsequent visit to Lincoln City we had a second meeting with him.
'At this meeting a slight increase was made to the terms offered and to my delight Robert signed.'
That evening he played in a friendly at Bromsgrove.
His first appearance was on August 17th when he came on as an 84th minute sub at Edgar Street in a game against Farnborough.
And his first assist for a goal came minutes later when he provided a cross for Danny Williams to score.
His first yellow card came against Morecambe on August 26th after he came on at half-time. The card was for unsporting behaviour.
He make his first full start came against Chester in a goal-less draw on September 14th.
For much of his first season Purdie was used as a substitute and it wasn't until February 15th that he started his goal-tally.
He was in the starting eleven for a game at Northwich and after just ten minutes scored.
'It was the Bulls who drew first blood after ten minutes when a Jay Lovett cross from the right wing was nodded on by a defender before Rob Purdie fired home from close range.'
After the game he spoke to BBC Hereford and Worcester.
"I've had a few chances this season but unfortunately, I've fluffed a couple so I'm really happy to get my first senior goal. I've taken a while to settle in and now I really do feel part of the club and I'm a lot more confident at the moment."
Purdie became more involved as the season progressed and manager Graham Turner appeared pleased with his performances.
"I think he has a terrific amount of skill," said Turner.
"We see it in training every week and it was interesting the reaction of the supporters when he came on last week, they were chanting his name.
"When a new player gets that sort of treatment, I think he grows in confidence and you can see it coming. I think he has the prospect of being a very good player."
And to back his views about Purdie, Turner offered him a second contract at the end of the season which the youngster soon accepted.