Marketing 1973 style: four or five digit phone numbers, no website/email address information, and no IT related adverts. The nearest we got to technology was Television and Hi-Fidelity music. With apologies for missing anyone out: of everyday businesses that have survived, a walk to the ground from town will take you past the jewellers Oswin & Co., Malvern Tyres on Widemarsh Street is a goal kick away, and Tudors Builders Merchants, who were once prominent sponsors of the Main Stand, are just beyond that.
If you focus on pubs and clubs, the pubs have fared remarkably well. The clubs and music venues not so well, when I say not so well, all of them are dead. The Oxford Arms remains a much-used matchday pub to this day, deservedly so given its fan-zone-style beer garden. The Wellington gets a decent smattering of fans on a matchday also, being a short stroll from the ground.
I don't believe any of the below businesses appear in today's digital Hereford FC programme, but two matchday pubs do support it. The Imperial has a formal advert and the Commercial has some of its punters sponsoring Jason Cowley's away shirt.
Flamingo was probably Hereford's most legendary music venue, having been known as the Redhill Ballroom, Hillside Ballroom, and the Hostel. It had, during its heyday in the 1960s, hosted some legendary bands, including the likes of the Rolling Stones and The Who. About the only band that didn't make it were The Beatles, who played at nearby Abergavenny and Tenbury Wells. The below link provides more background.
So, to the adverts themselves. Football marketing was yet to utilise the advert-free front cover of the programme, but the rest of the programme contained the following gems:
Pubs and Clubs: The Crystal Room, Flamingo, The Oxford Arms, The Green Man (Fownhope), The Bunch of Carrots (Hampton Bishop), The Grapes Tavern, Wellington Hotel, The Plough Inn Whitecross, Park Hall Ballroom.
Cars & Travel: Brook Bros (Hereford) Ltd. Chrysler Main Dealer, Wye Bridge Motors, Hi-Speed Tyres Ltd, R.F Brown & Son (Hereford) Ltd. Renault Dealer, Fir Tree Service Station, Henlys Motors - Morris MG & Wolseley, Wyeland Caravan's, Fayre Oaks Caravans, Watts Tyres, Gwynne Warehouse (Motors) Hereford, Malvern Tyres, Godsells Hereford Ltd. FIAT Dealer, Wheelco Ltd Engine Specialists, Bengry's Simca & Renault dealer, Vince Partridge Tupsley Service Station, Yeomans Miller Travel, Eric Rees Motor Cycles, Holmer Road Service Station, L.Sosna & Son Car Repairs, Lex Mead.
Construction: W.T & W.H Davies Building Contractors, Pritchard Metals, George & Tudor Ltd., Davies Brothers Builders and Contractors, Blake & Sons Building and Plumbing Contractors, R.M. Gadd Plumbing, W.C Saville Builder, Sikora Ltd Ceiling Partions and Floor specialists.
Drinks: Davies, Brook & Company Ltd., Bulmers, suprisingly though nothing from Westons.
Grub: Bake'N'Take & Take'N'Taste Chippies, Heggie's (Hereford) Ltd., Burtons Model Bakery, Friar Tuck Fish and Chips, Chop Suey Bar and New Chop Suey Bar.
The Home: Derek Mann Discount Carpets, Buchanan's Domestic Services, Hobbs of Ledbury, Northside Television, Rockfield Discount Stores, A.J. Bosberry Decorators and Handyman's Supplies, Hoover Service Specialists, H.C. Errington Wallpaper and Paints, Audio Graphic Hi-Fi specialists.
The Others: Witch Promotions, F.Groom Sons & Co Ltd. Packing Case Manufacturers, F Perkins Fishing Tackle & Aero Modelling, Norman Skyrme Seedsmen & Florist, A.H. Major & Partners Mortgages & Finance, Oswin & Co Ltd. Gold and Silversmith, Saund Stan's Metals, Jesson's, , Price Freezer, D.T. Francis Gents Hairdresser, Chadds, Rees & Co. Insurance and Mortgage brokers, Spurside Saw Works, Saw Specialists, Ross-on-Wye, Harry Isaacs Bookies, Mayfair Jewellers, Musical Instruments (Hereford) Ltd.
Click on image to enlarge.
