The 1982 China Tour Came To Hereford United

Evening News Picture

Back in August 1982 Edgar Street was the venue for the first game in a tour of the UK by China.

China had missed out on the World Cup and the tour was part of their preparations for the Asian Cup.

This from WildEast Football:

When the Chinese landed at Heathrow, Hereford were beating Southern League Gloucester City 4-2. That Hereford were playing at all was an achievement in itself; they’d come within 24 hours of being liquidated six months previously. The club’s SOS fund was still trying to raise money and as part of this they played what the Hereford Evening News described as “a mixed bunch of opponents: soldiers, rugby players and the Chinese.” Hereford beat an Army XI 7-2 and saw off Jacksons All Stars 9-5. That team included Welsh rugby captains Gareth Edwards, Phil Bennet, Steve Fenwick and Gareth Davies but it was “world kung-fu champion Frank Lynch [who] snapped up a hat-trick.”

First win

Hereford were “attempting to enhance the prestige of the fourth division” in the game against China. In the event, “United were never overawed” and both sides created plenty of chances. The hosts took the lead and “only a number of fine saves by Xu Jianping” kept Hereford to a single goal.

China reportedly “impressed with their speed and ball control”, especially “tricky winger” Gu Guangming. His Cantonese teammate Zhao Dayu equalised with a penalty after Liaoning’s Chi Shangbin was felled. Gu then scored the winner six minutes from time. After going winless on their first tour, this was China’s first win against a British team on British soil. A pre-season friendly against a fourth tier side on a Monday night in front of 1,100 spectators wasn’t the most glamorous way to record the milestone though.