Chesham Will Be Testing - Robbo

Hereford United go to Chesham United on Saturday hoping to kick off another FA Trophy run at the third round stage, kick off 3pm.

Chesham, of the Ryman Premier League, will be tough opponents and beat Maidenhead 1-0 at their Meadow ground on Tuesday night. They have lost just once at home this season and beat Weymouth 4-0 in the second round of the competition.

The star of the side is Wayne Andrews, a striker who is being watched by several Football League sides including Oldham Athletic. Also on their books is Paul Fewings, a former Hereford attacker.

Hereford should see the return of Gavin Williams, Scott Voice, Mark Williams and Ian Rodgerson after missing out on all three points at Forest Green Rovers last week. If Rodgerson plays, it will be his three hundredth competitive appearance for the club and with midfielder Scott Goodwin suspended, he could be set to play a part.

Quoted in the Hereford Times, Bulls manager Phil Robinson said: "Chesham believe they can compete successfully against the likes of Hereford and other clubs in the Conference and we know that they are hard working, with pace up front. We cannot afford any complacency."

Chesham manager Bob Dowie told the Bucks Free Press: "We've got a very good chance at home. With the exception of Canvey Island, we're unbeaten at home and nobody's going to fancy coming to play us at Chesham. The trophy is a massive game for us. It's a good opportunity to play a full-time team and see how far we've come. We can show what we're made of."

Of Hereford, he commented: "They're a very good side. We've got a lot of respect for them but if we can stop them from scoring we'll get a goal."

Chesham are without the suspended striker Richard Goddard for Saturday's tie, but ex-Hereford forward Paul Fewings available again after suspension.

In the event of a draw the replay will be at Edgar Street on Tuesday, kick-off 7.45pm.

*Graham Turner confirmed in today's Hereford Times that Hereford United are still waiting for the receipt of gate income from the the FA Cup game last month.

The Hereford chairman expected the estimated £20,000 to be received within fourteen days of the match and said: "It's common knowledge that we have had difficulty in running the club and, despite our cash-flow problems, we managed to give Wrexham their cup money on time."

However, Swindon Town director Bob Holt said the money would be paid to Hereford in `due course'. A cheque was posted on December 28th but cancelled when it didn't arrive at Edgar Street. Holt said: "We sent two cheques - one to Hartlepool and one to Hereford - but Hereford did not get theirs. And when the cheque didn't arrive we decided to cancel it. We have also had a query from Hereford about the turnstile turnover which we will be sorting out. The present board at Swindon only took over the day before the Hereford match. But, having said that, we are not making excuses."

The FA have been informed and told HU-FC.co.uk on Monday that they are "endeavouring to ensure that Hereford receive their share of the gate receipts from the match."

Turner added: "We know that Swindon have got immense problems financially, but we are entitled to the gate receipts and expenses from our FA Cup tie, which will be almost £20,000. We have contacted the FA, who are now on the case, but there is nothing more that we can do about it."

*Gareth Davies, the Swindon Town defender once of Hereford United, has quit football at the age of twenty eight after struggling with injuries for three years.

A persistant knee injury has dogged Davies' career at the County Ground and he said that he didn't want his eight month old son having a dad in a wheelchair.

He told the Swindon Evening Advertiser: "I love football but I’m not going to cripple myself just for the sake of playing on a bit longer. My knee swelled up in training last week. When I got home, I looked at my little boy Rhys and decided there were some things more important than football. I didn’t want him growing up with daddy in a wheelchair. But I don’t want people to feel sorry for me. I have had 10 years as a professional footballer and I don’t regret a minute of it."

"I want to thank physio Dick Mackey and the club doctor Alan Davies as well as Andy King, Roy Evans and all the coaching staff (at Swindon)," he continued. "The supporters have also been good to me and I will miss the club. But I want to walk and to play football in the garden with my little boy. He made my mind up once and for all."

Davies intends to coach youngsters as he studies for his UEFA B badge and commented: "I’d love to be a youth team manager somewhere but I know such opportunities are scarce. But I have always enjoyed coaching with kids and I feel I’ve a lot to offer. But at the moment it probably hasn’t quite sunk in. However, I know now that I have to get on with life in the ‘real’ world. My wife said it’s an exciting new chapter in my life and that’s the way to look at it."

Current Swindon boss Andy King said: "I feel desperately sorry for the boy. I have friends in the game who are in terrible pain because of injuries they received while playing and I can only respect Gareth’s decision. We all wish him well."

Gareth Davies was a youth team player at Edgar Street having spent his childhood in Talgarth, Powys. He made the first team before joining Crystal Palace for £120,000 in 1995.

*Hereford United goalkeeper Scott Cooksey made his return to competitive football last night when the reserve team drew 1-1 at Worcester City in the Central Conference.

Cooksey, who had not played this season because of a wrist injury, stood between the sticks for the entire ninety minutes as Lee Goodman gave City a lead before Mark Williams equalised in the last ten minutes.

Hereford fielded first team players including Scott Voice, Steve Piearce, Jimmy Quiggin, Daniel Davidson, Scott Goodwin and John Snape.

Alex Kevan also featured for the side despite being supposedly being released from Edgar Street, and striker Davidson came off with an ankle injured midway through the first half. Jimmy Quiggin also picked up a slight knock.

Geoff Ashby, the City reserve team boss, told the Evening News: "They battled well defensively although we struggled a bit in midfield, but it was a good result. They equalised in the last 10 minutes but they deserved it and a draw was fair."

Meanwhile, Hereford's 1972 FA Cup win over Newcastle will feature in Channel 4's 'The 100 Greatest Sporting Moments' this Saturday at 9pm.

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