Result: 1-0 Win (HT 0-0) Gregory 68
Attendance: 9,483
Hereford United: Hughes, Carver, Naylor, Mallender, Tucker, Tavener, Evans (Owen), Jenkins, Redrobe, Gregory, Rudge.
Blackburn Rovers: Jones, Heaton, Arentoft, Bradford (Kenyon), Martin, Fazackerley, Napier, Garbett, Endean, Parkes, Field.
League Position: 3rd (2 games in)
This is a timely reminder to dust down or procure a copy of Hereford United The League Era by club historian Ron Parrott, a book that includes extensive stats together with an informative passage that summarises each season.
The 1973-74 Programme: The good news is that, despite inflation being rife, the new season has seen the price of the matchday programme increase by only 5p; the bad news is that has also seen it double in price. This is something that Phil Godsall opens his article with; he proudly reminds everyone that the last seasons programme was very well received before running through the improvements that feature in this seasons edition. The programme is definitely an upgrade on the previous season, and that, looking back, featured some excellent content anyway. It is also worth noting that the programme at 10p would be somewhere in the region of £1.50 in 2024 money, so maybe half of what you could expect to pay now.
On the Pitch: Hereford had opened their first ever Division 3 season with a 3-1 win at Grimsby in front of 10,709. It was Fred Potter's last game for Hereford after he broke his wrist late in the game, marring an excellent performance. Hereford had also lost in the league cup at the first attempt for the second season in a row after losing at Cardiff in the week.
In the Opposition: There were some great teams/matches in Hereford's debut season in the 4th flight, but Blackburn feel like the first properly big team that Hereford have ever hosted in the league. Considering that, their squad was surprisingly low on well known players. They were a loyal bunch mind.
Goalkeeper Roger Jones is worth a mention, if only for the fact that he previously played for the as-then wonderfully named Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic.
Central defender Derek Fazackerley turned out an impressive 596 times for Blackburn between 1969-87. He would go on to play over 700 games in total before engaging in a coaching career that would see him work under the likes of Sven-Goran Eriksson and Kevin Keegan. Midfielder Stuart Metcalfe would also play 386 times for Blackburn. Tony Parkes had 350 appearances before staying on within a coaching capacity for over 20 years.
Edgar Street Chatter: It is announced that Jetsetting Hereford will be off to Gibraltar in November to mark the official switching on of the floodlights at their national stadium. It is also revealed that for the first season there will be three promotion/relegation places between the top three flights for the first time, replacing two up two down. It is hard to imagine now, with play offs keeping fans interested so late in a season, how early in the season many clubs would have been treading water.
Third Division Round Up: A new feature in the '73/74 programme, being penned by Hereford Times sports reporting royalty Ted Woodriffe it is an excellent addition. This initial piece focuses on dwindling attendances, a trend that Hereford are bucking, before running through matters of the day in HUFC's new home, the third flight. One name that stands out is a very young Micky Thomas getting on the scoresheet for Wrexham.
Supporters' Corner: The revamped Supporters Club page reveals that the Leagueliner train that Hereford fans used at the last away trip to Torquay in the previous season has survived and is being used by Blackburn.
Going by Car: Another new feature, this will give a great insight into what the 1970's motorway system consisted of.
In the News: 3rd September - The TUC expel 20 of their members for registering their organisations under the Industrial Relations Act - an act that the TUC were strongly opposed to during the striketastic decade that was the 1970's.
In the Charts: Young Love by Donny Osmond is at No.1
In the Maternity Ward: Star of gritty British film Dead Man's Shoes, actor Paddy Considine is born 5th September 1973.
He's One of Our Own: Born on 6th August 1973, local lad Paul Burton would feature in 5 league matches for Hereford as the 80's became the 90's, starting in one. He managed to bag a single football league goal against Rochdale on the last day of the 89/90 season. He would also score a hattrick on the Welsh Cup and get to play against a strong Everton team in Mel Pejic's testimonial match.
Click on photos to enlarge.
