Hereford FC's first pre-season started and it wasn't long before manager Peter Beadle realised he needed to bring in a striker or two.
Enter John Mills and Pablo Haysham.
Believe it or not that was nearly nine years ago.
Earlier this month John Mills was interviewed about his career and after talking about the early days he then went on to remember his time at Hereford.
"Hereford called, that was the start of the next three years, it was the best decision I made answering that phone call," he said.
"I played a friendly for Didcot on the Tuesday night and signed for Hereford on the Wednesday.
"They offered me good money to go over there, they sold the dream.
"I was living in Abingdon and we trained in Gloucester so it was only an hour, hour and a half.
"Training Tuesday and Thursday night and a game on Saturday.
"Midweek games were three hours.
"Pabs came over with me."
So how did Haysham join Hereford.
"Beadle asked if I knew any strikers so I said I've got a nice one over at Didcot, Pablo.
"He asked how many goals did he score, I said we scored 70 between us.
"He says is he any good, I said he makes my life easier.
"He says get him along, give me his number and that was it. I played the agent on that one.
"Beadle sold us the dream, you are going to play in front of this many thousand people We used to play in front of a 100 people at Didcot. A no brainer really.
"Good part time money and still keep my job. It worked out really well.
"We signed quite late on into pre-season so we missed most of that.
"First game of the season came around and I still started so I was happy with that.
John Mills Scoring His First Goal For Hereford |
"I scored three and Pabs scored one and we won 4-1.
"I was still in that zone where I was going to go out the night before. I had one of my best friends wedding on the Friday. Pabs was there as well.
"I said I'm only going to have a couple in the day, Pabs said the same thing. He did, he went home. He took his car, I took my car. Mine stayed there, he drove home.
"So I said I'll do the evening ceremony and make sure I'm home in decent time. Didn't get home until the next morning.
"Pablo is picking me up at 10am. Walked in the door about half-eight. Shower, chewing gun, toothpaste, everything.
"It went really well, didn't look back from there.
John Mills With Adam Page In Front Of The Meadow End |
"First game, 4500 at home and I scored within the first twenty minutes so I calmed down after that.
"Then I set Pabs up and he scored, then I scored two more in the second half in front of all the fans."
Quotes from 'Pick That Out' podcast season 2 Episode 23 - John Mills.