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Guest columnist in this week's Hereford Times was BN's ExLandlord.
For those who haven't read it here's a copy:
How long? Well, the earliest game I can remember was the 1956/57 Cup game against QPR. We won 6-1 but my late father wouldn’t take me to the Sheffield game because he said the crowd would be too big and it wouldn’t be safe. It was the record gate of over 18,000 and I missed it. I’d probably been taken to games before the QPR match but it’s too far back in the distant memories to recall.
As a schoolboy at Bishops School I recall being coached by Joe Wade who took time to come and take sessions during the afternoons. I also recall playing football at lunchtime with a guy who was working for building contractors constructing a new gymnasium. He ran rings round us lads. It was Tommy Best…what a player.
I have fond memories of the Bob Dennison era. It was the first period I remember Hereford playing what would now be regarded as a “modern” formation. The centre half, Ray Daniels, was a joy to watch and, I guess, was a boyhood hero…until John Charles arrived. Dennison and Charlo set The Club on the climb that was to see The Bulls rise to what is now The Championship under Colin Addison and Snoz Sillett. Heady days indeed and wonderful memories.
More recently, since my family have grown up, I’ve again taken to following home and away driving the Funbus to games all over the country. One particular trip will always stay with me. We went with a full 17-seater to Carlisle on a cold Tuesday. HUISA had cancelled their coach through lack of support so we had a few of their regulars on board. We’d got to the Carlisle junction on the M6 with plenty of time to spare when someone asked “how far to Scotland”? Just up the road I replied…we’ll go. We went to Gretna, all “married” the one girl on the minibus and adjourned to a Pub for the reception. I was standing next to a guy at the bar who came from Newcastle. He’d been working on the M6 extension. He asked where we came from and when I told him it was Hereford he said “ I went to a game there in 1972”. Small world.
My wife and I now run the Edgar Street canteens on match days and I’m pleased to say we’ve managed to increase both the turnover and the profit margins per head of attendance. Sadly, as the gates fall then the contribution we are able to make to The Club is restricted as are the contributions from other activities like the bars. It’s a tough time where everything is dependant on the gate. The Edgar Street Soup that we’ve introduced has really caught on and it was great to hear from the Kidderminster fans that it was better than theirs. Mrs P had a big say in the addition of the chilli to the hot vegetable recipe. She really enjoys the catering which is just as well as she’d otherwise have to put up with being dragged to every game and suffer me bemoaning the lack of Ray Daniel and Charlo.
Chins up everyone…the good times will return.
As a schoolboy at Bishops School I recall being coached by Joe Wade who took time to come and take sessions during the afternoons. I also recall playing football at lunchtime with a guy who was working for building contractors constructing a new gymnasium. He ran rings round us lads. It was Tommy Best…what a player.
I have fond memories of the Bob Dennison era. It was the first period I remember Hereford playing what would now be regarded as a “modern” formation. The centre half, Ray Daniels, was a joy to watch and, I guess, was a boyhood hero…until John Charles arrived. Dennison and Charlo set The Club on the climb that was to see The Bulls rise to what is now The Championship under Colin Addison and Snoz Sillett. Heady days indeed and wonderful memories.
More recently, since my family have grown up, I’ve again taken to following home and away driving the Funbus to games all over the country. One particular trip will always stay with me. We went with a full 17-seater to Carlisle on a cold Tuesday. HUISA had cancelled their coach through lack of support so we had a few of their regulars on board. We’d got to the Carlisle junction on the M6 with plenty of time to spare when someone asked “how far to Scotland”? Just up the road I replied…we’ll go. We went to Gretna, all “married” the one girl on the minibus and adjourned to a Pub for the reception. I was standing next to a guy at the bar who came from Newcastle. He’d been working on the M6 extension. He asked where we came from and when I told him it was Hereford he said “ I went to a game there in 1972”. Small world.
My wife and I now run the Edgar Street canteens on match days and I’m pleased to say we’ve managed to increase both the turnover and the profit margins per head of attendance. Sadly, as the gates fall then the contribution we are able to make to The Club is restricted as are the contributions from other activities like the bars. It’s a tough time where everything is dependant on the gate. The Edgar Street Soup that we’ve introduced has really caught on and it was great to hear from the Kidderminster fans that it was better than theirs. Mrs P had a big say in the addition of the chilli to the hot vegetable recipe. She really enjoys the catering which is just as well as she’d otherwise have to put up with being dragged to every game and suffer me bemoaning the lack of Ray Daniel and Charlo.
Chins up everyone…the good times will return.
