Hereford chair gives crucial update on Edgar Street pitch and hails groundsman

Hereford's groundsman Ben Bowen

Hereford chairman Chris Ammonds has given a fresh update on the condition of the Edgar Street pitch ahead of Saturday’s FA Trophy tie against Radcliffe — and says the signs are “very positive” thanks to intensive work over the past 10 days.

It comes after a disruptive spell in which Hereford have seen fixtures postponed, reversed or placed in doubt, including the home game against Macclesfield that was called off hours before kick-off after prolonged torrential rain left large areas underwater.

Ammonds told the official Hereford website that groundsman Ben Bowen has made “considerable improvements” to a problem patch measuring roughly five metres by five metres.

He said Bowen has installed two new drains, verti-drained the pitch twice and used an “earthquake machine” — loaned by Luctonians — to break up compacted soil beneath the surface, before sanding the affected area to help drying.

With further work planned this week, Ammonds said the pitch “won’t look pristine” in one section but is now much firmer, stressing that only extreme rainfall would risk the fixture.

He also thanked Luctonians and Burghill Cricket Club for lending specialist equipment as the club works to manage the ongoing issue.

Read the full update here.