Former Bull Tommy Naylor has died

Tommy Naylor, who died earlier this month, was an experienced defender who joined Hereford United from Bournemouth on the Bulls' election to the Football League in 1972. He was just 64.

During a stay of just over seasons he made 75 league appearances and scored 4 goals.

Naylor started his career with Bournemouth and signed professional terms in October 1963. A highlight of his time there was when the Cherries played Liverpool in the FA Cup in 1968.

He moved to Edgar Street in the summer of 1972, after Hereford were elected to the Football League, and was selected to start in the first match of the season away at Colchester. From then he was a regular.

One of his most remembered contributions was to score a penalty for the Bulls in their FA Cup replay against West Ham in January 1974.

Colin Addison was the manager at the time and the Bulls had been drawn away to West Ham in the third round. The game was drawn 1-1 and the replay took place the following Wednesday afternoon.

In front of 17,423 spectators Naylor converted a penalty minutes after West Ham had gone ahead. Alan Jones later scored the winning goal for the Bulls who the lost to Bristol City in the fourth round.

In a tribute, Naylor's son Lee said: "I often used to reflect and wonder if dad ever really knew how proud I was of his footballing achievements and how much I so wanted to follow in his footsteps. Many times we would reminisce about his playing career, with him telling me about all the grounds he played on and the goals he scored – always 25-yard screamers, apparently!"

Both Addison and former Bulls physio Peter Isaacs were present at the funeral.

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