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| Ryan Green And Adam Stansfield After Green Scored Against Notts County - All Pictures From Andy Compton |
After a season when Green missed a number of games through injury, the Welsh defender featured in most pre-season games and even scored a goal in one of them.
That game was against Notts County on July 30th.
'Ipoua held off his marker and threaded a pass through to Stansfield. He raced onto the through ball and marginally beat Pilkington to it. He poked a foot at the ball, which seemed to hit a defender before flying into the air, before being met by the head of man of the match Green, who converted from inside the box.'
The first league game was a 4-0 win over Scarborough and Green was involved in the second goal.
Hereford's second goal followed five minutes later when Green knocked the ball back to Brady on the right flank and he swung in an inch perfect cross to Ipoua.
Green was shown a red card in a game against Tamworth on August Monday and missed three games. He returned on September 20th and featured in every game until an FA Cup replay at Alfreton on October 25th.
"Ryan Green has had this niggling little knee injury now for maybe, two or three weeks," said manager John Trewick.
"He had to ease out of training yesterday and he was always going to be doubtful for this replay."
Green was back for the next FA Cup game which was a 1-0 win at Cambridge City on a Friday evening.
'Cambridge City once again came back into it towards the latter stages of the half, Brady giving away a free kick, the ball was swept in, but the clearence by Hereford found Green. He ran the length of the pitch beating two players on his way before passing left footed to Brady whose explosive shot, with the outside of his right foot, curled into the back of the net giving the 'keeper absolutly no chance of saving it.'
An ankle injury sustained in an LDV Vans win over Mansfield on November 22nd kept Green out for a game but he was back in the starting eleven for an FA Cup second round tie against Stockport which the Bulls lost.
A viral infection kept Green out of the team that travelled to a Trophy tie at Bognor and won 7-1.
The defender was back on the subs bench for the away game at Forest Green on January 2nd and came on in midfield, not a position he was used to.
Simon Travis was being preferred to Green. And Green wasn't even on the bench for the visit of Halifax on January 21st.
However an injury to Travis gave manager Turner reason to start Green in an FA Trophy tie against Grays Athletic. However the Bulls lost 1-0. Every reason to concentrate on the league where they were in fifth position. Then a win over play-offs rivals Halifax, with Green starting, pushed them up to second place.
The Sky cameras were at Edgar Street for the visit of Stevenage on February 27th. Amidst others Ryan Green was interviewed before the game.
Full back Ryan Green is one of the survivors of Hereford's two-year heartbreak and he is justifiably proud of the way his side has come bouncing back for a third time.
"Two years in a row, the players were gutted. It's just been terrible but were looking to win it this year. If not, get into the playoffs," said Green.
A 2-1 win at Gravesend pushed the Bulls into second place.
'Ryan Green found Williams 40 yards from goal and despite being surrounded by three defenders the local boy dragged the ball back and spun passed them before sprinting forward to unleash an unstoppable low shot from just inside the box which scorched into the net.'
At Southport on March 14th, Hereford withstood a lot of pressure to hang on to a 2-1 victory.
'The Bulls saw out the last few minutes with some fairly "rustic" defending - Ryan Green launching one particular clearance into row Z!' However he also picked up an injury which saw him miss the next game at Burton.
At Woking on April 1st Green played a big part in the 1-1 draw.
'Ryan Green conceded a free kick almost right on the corner flag and Karl Murray's cross was perfect for McAllister to nod in unopposed, as Purdie had allowed him too much space, at the far post.
'Green took a throw in, which was returned by Taylor, and the Welsh man crossed right onto the head of the magnificent Tamika Mkandawire, who headed into the top right hand corner, much to the delight of the 300 or so away fans, in a crowd of 1,929.'
A few more points were needed to be certain of a play-off place, one of these came from Morecambe.
'The advancing Ryan Green delivered the ball deep into the host's goalmouth and Carey-Bertram was on hand to force the ball home and level the score on forty nine minutes.'
However Green picked up another injury and missed the following drawn game against Dagenham, away win at Altrincham, home win against Tamworth and another home win against Southport.
But he was back for the last league game of the season, a 3-1 victory at York City. And so onto the Play-offs against Morecambe. The first leg was drawn 1-1. But Hereford won the second leg 3-2.
The Walkers Stadium hosted the Play-off final, Hereford versus Halifax.
However in the few days before the finals speculation surfaced that Bristol Rovers were interested in Green.
'Coach Paul Trollope and director of football Lennie Lawrence are eyeing up a number of potential targets with a view to strengthening the squad over the coming weeks. Wales international right-back Green, aged 25, and 20-year-old striker Fleetwood are two of the players they are known to be interested in.'
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The interest didn't appear to affect Green at Leicester as he scored Hereford's winning goal.
'The second half of extra time saw the two teams attacking their own sets of fans, and, with three minutes of the second half gone, Ryan Green popped up with the third goal. After some good passing on the right, Green went to cross, before dragging the ball back onto his left foot, taking his marker out of the game. Green then, from just outside of the right hand side corner of the box, looped a left footed ball into the box, which evaded everyone, including Kennedy, and nestled into the top far corner of the goal. Whether he meant to shoot or cross, is another thing, but they all count, and that is all the jubilant United fans cared about. They'd taken the lead for the first time of the game.'
Afterwards Green was interviewed by the Independent. Ryan Green, the former Wolves defender, chose the most opportune time to hit a rare goal that gave Hereford back their coveted membership of the Football League after nine years of trying. His 108th-minute extra-time effort sealed victory in an enthralling Conference play-off-final against a hearty Halifax side in front of a half-full Walkers Stadium.
Green was so overjoyed at grabbing only the fourth goal of his career that he tore his shirt off his back, smacked the corner flag with his fist and jumped into the crowd, which earned him a caution from the referee Dean Whitestone.
But the youngest player ever to wear a Wales non-league international shirt confessed that he might not be joining the Bulls in League Two next season. Green, who has served Hereford for three years, said: "I love Hereford and the fans but I am out of contract and I don't know what's happening with me now. I will be meeting manager Graham Turner on Monday where we will have to discuss terms. Maybe I will sign but I don't know because there are a lot of other League clubs interested in me and I might move on."
Green acknowledged the remarkable efforts put in by Turner, the former Wolves, Aston Villa and Shrewsbury manager who has spent the past 11 years keeping the club afloat as chairman and major shareholder.
He added: "The fans love him - he's a legend. He took over when the club was nearly bankrupt and put his money in. I'm so pleased for him now he's finally taken us up."
Jamie Pitman spoke well of his team-mate. "I don't think Ryan could quite believe it. It was a great goal and he said he meant for the top corner.
"I'll have to believe him, but I've never seen a shot like that in training before. He has not got a left foot!
"It's quite funny that he scored in our first game of the season (against Scarborough) and has scored in our last."
Finally Ryan Green spoke about his goal.
"Unbelievable, like a dream. I don't score many. I've only scored four in my career.
"To score the winner and get Hereford promoted, unbelievable."