Text at top (next game etc)

Next Game: Rushall At Home In The League On Saturday 30th November At 3.00pm

Sunday, November 08, 2020

On This Day In 1975 - John Sillett's Viewpoint

 

On this day, November 8th 1975, Hereford United were in Football League Division Three. Their opponents that afternoon at Edgar Street were Grimsby Town and John Sillett was manager.

A look back to his comments in the match programme.

"Nine points out of a possible ten from our last five away matches can't be bad and needless to say I am really delighted with the way our lads are performing on opponent's grounds this season after our experience last season when we gained only two victories in 23 games.

We have only lost one of our seven away games so far and have won four of the other six so we are gradually making up for what happened last year.

In fact we have picked up more points away from than at home and according to the local press that has never happened before in the history of the club at this stage in the season.

Our away form has made amends for some of the slips we have made at Edgar Street and I must take responsibilty for our home defeat against Peterborough a fortnight ago when I ignored the warning signals in the first half.

Although Posh played five men back in defence they were quick on the break and when we went in at half-time I should have insisted that we play it tight and make them work for their openings.

But I wanted a big win to make it a day to remember for Terry Paine, who was breaking the Football League appearance record, and rather allowed my emotions to overrule my judgement.

I encouraged the players to keep pushing forward and as a result we got caught three times by quick conuter-attacks which produced goals on each occasion.

It cost us our unbeaten home record but as Peterborough manager Noel Cantwell told me afterwards he realised that all the pressure would be on us and planned his tactics accordingly.

It made me all the more determined to win at Preston last Saturday and the team rose to the challenge to turn in a really tremendous performance in a match full of good football.

Preston had gone almost 12 months without a defeat at Deepdale but we threw them out of their stride with a quick-fire goal and the team produced that little bit of extra steel and pace to carry us through.

Though we conceded three goals we always had the edge and well deserved both points. 

It was good to have Dixie McNeil back on parade and he scored a really superb goal.

At present it is all systems go from the Third Division side to the Youth Team and we are producing excellent results at all levels.

Our Reserve team are second in the Midland Intermediate League and have collected 11 points out of 12 from their last six games, and have also qualified for the semi-finals of the Northern Floodlit League Challenge.

We are also through to the second round of the FA Youth Cup and our youngsters are giving a good account of themselves in the South West and Wales Youth League.

The position, as a whole, is very encouraging but we could still do with more support on the terraces." 

Hereford won the game 3-2'