Result: 3-1 Win (HT 1-0) Brown 17,73 Redrobe 79; Wilkie 87
Attendance: 6,170
Hereford United: Hughes, Radford, Naylor, McLaughlin, Tucker, Addison, Redrobe, Tyler (Lee), Brown, Evans, Rudge.
Halifax Town: Smith, Burgin, Quinn, Hale, Pickering, Rhodes, Wilkie, Pugh, Kemp (McDonald), Gwyther, Ford.
League Position: 20th (one above the drop), 34 games in (12 to go).
On the Pitch: This match was originally scheduled for the 9th February, which I think explains the reduced format? I crop out the adverts usually (I will feature them at the end of the 73/74 season) - there was no need with this issue, as it was a much-reduced advert-free 8-page offering (usually 16). To their credit, it is a marked improvement on the old faithful slip of paper update that became the re-scheduled home match norm. All the more impressive given Addison has gone on record stating that getting programmes out is a challenge given the UK's addiction to industrial action.
Hereford go into the game just two points above the drop. Forward Willie Brown scores a hattrick* in only his second start for HUFC to give them a much needed win. He would only play 9 times for Hereford at the business end of the season, scoring a handy 5 times as they battled relegation.
*his third goal would later be awarded to Redrobe.
Click on photos to enlarge.
Third Division Round Up: Something Ted has touched upon on a number of occasions is the amount of lucrative transfer business Bournemouth have been engaging in. At what cost though? When the article was published they were one point away from the promotion spots in 5th (the play offs were still but a twinkle in the eye) - could they have their cake and eat it and reach what is now the Championship? No - in short, they would fade to 11th at the end of the season, albeit with a load of wedge in the bank.
In the Opposition: Goalkeeper Alex Smith was one of the last active players that had played at Accrington Stanley, who went under in the 1961-62 season. However, with that being his only season with them and the results being expunged with their demise, the history books have no official record of his time there.
John Quinn was the original player that was celebrated by Rotherham fans with the terrace chant based upon the Manfred Mann song Quinn the Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn). It would be dusted down by Man City fans for Niall Quinn after he scored when he's out and saved when he's in during a game against Derby at Maine Road in 1991, having taken over from the sent off goalkeeper to save a penalty. A good save too.
After playing 367 league games for Halifax, John Pickering would go onto become an accomplished coach/manager, culminating in being given the honour of leading Middlesborough out in the 1998 League Cup final against Chelsea by their manager Bryan Robson as recognition of his service to the club.
"Fiery" Fred Kemp would go on to play 13 league games for Hereford in the following 1974-75 season. Unfortunately for him, he was signed in the close season by Addison, before his departure, and his starting place would be taken over by the signing of Terry Paine, prompting him to leave and hook back up with Addison at Durban City.
Dave Gwyther would go on to play for Newport County in their "golden era" early '80s team. John Wilkie would go onto help Wigan gain Football League status in 1977. Willie Irvine was once the 1st Division's top scorer, bagging 29 goals in the 1965-66 season at Burnley.
Vital Statistics: Covered in a Bulls News post on September 17th 2024, this information fest summarising the previous season's accounts is surely worth a second glance? Big numbers.
In the News: Kenneth Littlejohn, who is apparently a disgraced paratrooper, bank robber, jail breaker, IRA/UK double agent - I think the crime equivalent of a utility player? escapes from Mountjoy Prison in Dublin along with his brother Keith on 11th March 1974.
In the Singles Charts: Jealous Mind by Alvin Stardust gets to No.1 for a single week.
In the Album Charts: The Singles 1969-1973 by the Carpenters is back at No.1 - something it will be quite good at in 1974.
In the Maternity Ward: Actor/Comedian Matt Lucas was born on 5th March 1974. Elbow lead singer Guy Garvey was born the next day.
He's One of Our Own: Mark Druce was born on 3rd March 1974. A striker during the 1997-98 "on loan to the conference" season, he scored 3 goals in 21 games.
