1977–78 Hereford United F.C. season
| 1977–78 season | |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Frank Miles (until December 1977) Peter Hill |
| Manager | John Sillett (until February 1978) Tony Ford (caretaker) |
| Stadium | Edgar Street |
| Division Three | 23rd |
| League Cup | First round |
| FA Cup | First round |
| Top goalscorer | League: Steve Crompton and Steve Davey (5) All: Steve Davey (7) |
| Highest home attendance | 10,183 v Wrexham, Division Three, 29 April 1978 |
| Lowest home attendance | 3334 v Bournemouth, League Cup, 23 August 1977 |
| Average home league attendance | 4813 |
| Biggest win | 4–0 v Exeter City (H), Division Three, 25 March 1978 |
| Biggest defeat | 0–4 v Gillingham (A), Division Three, 7 January 1978 |
The 1977–78 season was the 48th season of competitive football played by Hereford United Football Club and their sixth in the Football League. Following relegation from Division Two the previous season, the club competed in Division Three, as well as the League Cup and FA Cup.
Summary
[edit]Hereford endured a torrid season which saw the resignations of chairman Frank Miles and manager John Sillett, the transfer of prolific striker Dixie McNeil to Wrexham and, ultimately, a second successive relegation. They never fully recovered from five defeats in their opening six matches, although a nine-match unbeaten run (including seven clean sheets) initially steered them towards mid-table. Following a run of only one win in 19 matches, four wins from six in March under caretaker manager Tony Ford briefly raised survival hopes, but Hereford then finished the season with three draws and seven defeats from the final 10 matches.
Goals were severely rationed, with McNeil's three in seven league matches prior to his departure keeping him as leading scorer until the end of January. Away form was particularly dismal with no wins and just six league goals scored on their travels all season.
In both domestic cup competitions, Hereford fell at the first hurdle, including the indignity of their first FA Cup defeat by a non-league club since election to the Football League when Wealdstone beat them 3–2 in a replay at Edgar Street.[1]
Squad
[edit]Players who made one appearance or more for Hereford United F.C. during the 1977-78 season
| Pos. | Nat. | Name | League | League Cup | FA Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| GK | Kevin Charlton | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| GK | Tommy Hughes | 13 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | |
| GK | Peter Mellor | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 0 | |
| DF | Bryan Bouston | 4(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4(2) | 0 | |
| DF | Phil Burrows | 26 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 31 | 0 | |
| DF | Stuart Cornes | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | |
| DF | Steve Emery | 39 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 44 | 2 | |
| DF | Derek Jefferson | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | |
| DF | John Layton | 42 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 47 | 1 | |
| DF | Julian Marshall | 40(1) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 45(1) | 3 | |
| DF | Chris Price | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | |
| DF | Steve Ritchie | 24 | 1 | 1(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25(1) | 1 | |
| MF | Frank Barton | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 2 | |
| MF | Les Briley | 27 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 1 | |
| MF | Roy Carter | 12(1) | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 17(1) | 2 | |
| MF | Kyle Holmes | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| MF | Andy Proudlove | 6(5) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 6(6) | 0 | |
| MF | Kevin Sheedy | 33(1) | 3 | 2(1) | 0 | 2 | 1 | 37(2) | 4 | |
| MF | Peter Spiring | 30(4) | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 35(4) | 4 | |
| MF | Kenny Stephens | 26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 1 | |
| FW | Steve Crompton | 23(2) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23(2) | 5 | |
| FW | Steve Davey | 31 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 36 | 7 | |
| FW | Keith Fear (on loan from Bristol City) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| FW | Billy Holmes | 9(6) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 11(6) | 2 | |
| FW | Dixie McNeil | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 4 | |
| FW | Stewart Phillips | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| FW | Eric Redrobe | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | |
| FW | Colin Sinclair | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 2 | |
League table
[edit]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | Rotherham United | 46 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 51 | 68 | −17 | 39 | |
| 21 | Port Vale | 46 | 8 | 20 | 18 | 46 | 67 | −21 | 36 | Relegated |
| 22 | Bradford City | 46 | 12 | 10 | 24 | 56 | 86 | −30 | 34 | |
| 23 | Hereford United | 46 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 34 | 60 | −26 | 32 | |
| 24 | Portsmouth | 46 | 7 | 17 | 22 | 41 | 75 | −34 | 31 |
Source: rsssf.com
Results
[edit]Third Division
[edit]| 20 August 1977 1 | Chester | 4–1 | Hereford United | Chester |
| Kearney I. Edwards Mason |
McNeil |
Stadium: Sealand Road Attendance: 3276 |
| 27 August 1977 2 | Hereford United | 0–1 | Tranmere Rovers | Hereford |
| Allen |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 4062 |
| 3 September 1977 3 | Plymouth Argyle | 2–0 | Hereford United | Plymouth |
| Trusson Rogers |
Stadium: Home Park Attendance: 5732 |
| 7 September 1977 4 | Hereford United | 2–0 | Gillingham | Hereford |
| Sinclair Spiring |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 3441 |
| 10 September 1977 5 | Hereford United | 2–3 | Rotherham United | Hereford |
| Briley McNeil |
Womble Rhodes Crawford |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 4393 |
| 14 September 1977 6 | Chesterfield | 2–1 | Hereford United | Chesterfield |
| Cammack Parker |
McNeil |
Stadium: Saltergate Attendance: 4368 |
| 17 September 1977 7 | Preston North End | 0–0 | Hereford United | Preston |
| Stadium: Deepdale Attendance: 5447 |
| 24 September 1977 8 | Hereford United | 1–0 | Carlisle United | Hereford |
| Sheedy |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 3750 |
| 28 September 1977 9 | Lincoln City | 0–0 | Hereford United | Lincoln |
| Stadium: Sincil Bank Attendance: 4973 |
| 1 October 1977 10 | Hereford United | 2–1 | Oxford United | Hereford |
| Sinclair Marshall |
Duncan |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 5218 |
| 5 October 1977 11 | Hereford United | 1–0 | Bury | Hereford |
| Ritchie |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 4902 |
| 8 October 1977 12 | Colchester United | 0–0 | Hereford United | Colchester |
| Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 4584 |
| 15 October 1977 13 | Hereford United | 0–0 | Cambridge United | Hereford |
| Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 5181 |
| 22 October 1977 14 | Bradford City | 0–0 | Hereford United | Bradford |
| Stadium: Valley Parade Attendance: 4645 |
| 29 October 1977 15 | Hereford United | 1–1 | Port Vale | Hereford |
| Carter |
Sutcliffe |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 3502 |
| 5 November 1977 16 | Shrewsbury Town | 3–0 | Hereford United | Shrewsbury |
| Irvine |
Stadium: Gay Meadow Attendance: 6116 |
| 12 November 1977 17 | Hereford United | 3–2 | Walsall | Hereford |
| Marshall Emery W. Holmes |
Birch Buckley |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 5655 |
| 19 November 1977 18 | Portsmouth | 2–0 | Hereford United | Portsmouth |
| Kemp Pollock |
Stadium: Fratton Park Attendance: 8077 |
| 3 December 1977 19 | Hereford United | 1–1 | Swindon Town | Hereford |
| W. Holmes |
McHale |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 4541 |
| 10 December 1977 20 | Wrexham | 2–1 | Hereford United | Wrexham |
| Whittle Cartwright |
Sheedy |
Stadium: Racecourse Ground Attendance: 8813 |
| 26 December 1977 21 | Hereford United | 0–0 | Peterborough United | Hereford |
| Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 5625 |
| 27 December 1977 22 | Exeter City | 1–0 | Hereford United | Exeter |
| Bowker |
Stadium: St James Park Attendance: 6722 |
| 31 December 1977 23 | Sheffield Wednesday | 1–0 | Hereford United | Sheffield |
| Wylde |
Stadium: Hillsborough Attendance: 11,029 |
| 2 January 1978 24 | Hereford United | 1–1 | Shrewsbury Town | Hereford |
| Davey |
Biggins |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 6392 |
| 7 January 1978 25 | Gillingham | 4–0 | Hereford United | Gillingham |
| Price Richardson Nicholl |
Stadium: Priestfield Attendance: 6765 |
| 14 January 1978 26 | Hereford United | 2–2 | Chester | Hereford |
| Emery Davey |
I. Edwards Jones |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 4216 |
| 20 January 1978 27 | Tranmere Rovers | 2–1 | Hereford United | Birkenhead |
| Palios Moore |
Davey |
Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 4481 |
| 28 January 1978 28 | Hereford United | 1–3 | Plymouth Argyle | Hereford |
| Davey |
Austin Craven Megson |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 4737 |
| 11 February 1978 29 | Hereford United | 0–0 | Preston North End | Hereford |
| Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 4791 |
| 25 February 1978 30 | Oxford United | 3–0 | Hereford United | Oxford |
| Seacole Foley Curran |
Stadium: Manor Ground Attendance: 3793 |
| 4 March 1978 31 | Hereford United | 1–0 | Colchester United | Hereford |
| Barton |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 3831 |
| 8 March 1978 32 | Hereford United | 2–1 | Chesterfield | Hereford |
| Crompton Spiring |
Fern |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 4602 |
| 11 March 1978 33 | Cambridge United | 2–0 | Hereford United | Cambridge |
| Finney Watson |
Stadium: Abbey Stadium Attendance: 6252 |
| 18 March 1978 34 | Hereford United | 2–1 | Bradford City | Hereford |
| Layton Crompton |
McNiven |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 4024 |
| 22 March 1978 35 | Port Vale | 1–0 | Hereford United | Stoke-on-Trent |
| Froggatt |
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 3220 |
| 25 March 1978 36 | Hereford United | 4–0 | Exeter City | Hereford |
| Stephens Crompton Davey |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 4436 |
| 28 March 1978 37 | Peterborough United | 2–1 | Hereford United | Peterborough |
| Butlin |
Sheedy |
Stadium: London Road Attendance: 5036 |
| 1 April 1978 38 | Hereford United | 0–1 | Sheffield Wednesday | Hereford |
| Wylde |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 5358 |
| 5 April 1978 39 | Hereford United | 1–1 | Lincoln City | Hereford |
| Marshall |
Wigginton |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 3974 |
| 8 April 1978 40 | Walsall | 2–0 | Hereford United | Walsall |
| Austin Bates |
Stadium: Fellows Park Attendance: 5152 |
| 11 April 1978 41 | Carlisle United | 2–0 | Hereford United | Carlisle |
| McVitie |
Stadium: Brunton Park Attendance: 3848 |
| 15 April 1978 42 | Hereford United | 0–2 | Portsmouth | Hereford |
| Garwood Denyer |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 3893 |
| 18 April 1978 43 | Rotherham United | 1–0 | Hereford United | Rotherham |
| Finney |
Stadium: Millmoor Attendance: 3244 |
| 22 April 1978 44 | Swindon Town | 1–0 | Hereford United | Swindon |
| Cunningham |
Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 4270 |
| 25 April 1978 45 | Bury | 1–1 | Hereford United | Bury |
| McIlwraith |
Crompton |
Stadium: Gigg Lane Attendance: 2536 |
| 29 April 1978 46 | Hereford United | 1–1 | Wrexham | Hereford |
| Barton |
Thomas |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 10,183 |
League Cup
[edit]| 13 August 1977 First round first leg | Hereford United | 2–0 | Bournemouth | Hereford |
| Carter McNeil |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 3582 |
| 16 August 1977 First round second leg | Bournemouth | 4–2 | Hereford United | Bournemouth |
| Showers Barton Johnson Howarth |
Spiring |
Stadium: Dean Court Attendance: 2189 |
| 23 August 1977 First round replay | Hereford United | 1–2 (a.e.t.) | Bournemouth | Hereford |
| Davey |
Paterson Barton |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 3334 |
FA Cup
[edit]| 26 November 1977 First round | Wealdstone | 0–0 | Hereford United | Harrow |
| Stadium: Lower Mead Attendance: 2603 |
| 29 November 1977 First round replay | Hereford United | 2–3 | Wealdstone | Hereford |
| Sheedy Davey |
Ferry Moss |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 4144 |
References
[edit]- ^ Parrott 1998, pp. 44–47
- ^ Parrott 1998, p. 203
- ^ Rothmans 1978-79, pp. 233–234
- ^ Parrott 1998, pp. 198–201
- ^ Rothmans 1978-79, p. 232
- ^ a b Parrott 1998, pp. 202
- ^ Rothmans 1978-79, pp. 489–492
- ^ Rothmans 1978-79, pp. 477
- Bibliography
- Parrott, Ron (1998). Hereford United: The League Era - A Complete Record. Desert Island Books. ISBN 1-874287-18-X.
- Rothmans Football Yearbook 1978-79 (Editor: Ronnie Kerr). Queen Anne Press. 1978. ISBN 0354-09043-7.