Test

Sunday, August 18, 2002

Decisions for Conference officials

The Conference have a big decision to make when it comes to the location of the play-off final, writes Will Brown.

The news of the extra promotion place for the Nationwide Conference is sure to have put a smile on the faces of thousands of fans up and down the country - non-league fans, that is, as I'm sure it will have sent a chill down the spines of our friends from Division Three. Boston, who have already faced a £100,000 pound fine and a four point penalty for financial irregularities last season, are among the favourites to go down.

But where will the finals be held?

Unfortunately, for those local United fans, especially the Welsh based supporters, the Millenium Stadium has been ruled out, according to Conference chief executive John Moules. I am pretty certain this would have been an excellent day out, if United ever get there, as there is little travel involved. Also, this would have been the highest capacity stadium.

However, the Conference have spoken to many Premiership clubs about the final being staged at their grounds. This would be unsuitable for some, however, as they have home league games on the day after the final. Looking at Hereford, if the Bulls were to lock horns with Forest Green Rovers, Telford United or Nuneaton Borough, then the final would probably be held at one of three venues:

1. Aston Villa - Villa Park

Advantages: Biggest stadium of the three, with no home game around the finals date.

Disadvantages: Deep into Birmingham, so from Hereford, the journey is longer than the Hawthorns (West Brom).

2. West Bromwich Albion - The Hawthorns

Advantages: 28,000 seater - West Brom's last game is away.

Disadvantages: None obvious, although obviously the club may refuse to let out the ground.

3. Birmingham City - St Andrews

Advantages: 30,000 seater.

Disadvantages: There is a home game the day after the final.

I would have thought that Villa park would be preferable in this scenario.

The Dates: Tuesday 29th April - Semi-Finals 1st leg

5th highest Place Club v 2nd Highest Place Club

4th Highest Place Club v 3rd Highest Place Club

Monday 5th May - Semi-Finals 2nd leg

2nd Highest Place Club v 5th Highest Place Club

3rd Highest Place Club v 4th Highest Place Club

Final - Sunday 10th May

A second or third place league finish would be preferable, as the 2nd leg would be staged at home, giving the team that added incentive to win the semis.

All in all, let's give United some support and hope they can push for a play - off place, or who knows, even get the title...

Saturday, August 17, 2002

Andy Martin - the details

Andy or Andrew Martin who came on very late in the game this afternoon is believed to have come from Torquay. Before that he was with Crystal Palace. He was released towards the end of the season by Crystal Palace and went to Torquay. (TG - there's now a profile in the Player Profiles section)

Top of the league!

Well done to 'corner1976', who leads the HU-FC.co.uk Predictions League with seven points. To find out more, click 'Interactive!' on the left menu.

Confidence high after victory

After today's 2-1 win over Farnborough Town, Hereford United's defender Matt Clarke was delighted with the result.

He said: "They came with a good reputation but we've got a good side here and expected to get something today.

"We always looked like we were going to hang on but they sneaked the goal and with a minute to go, you start to panic a little. It was a deserved win in the end."

Of the first goal, scorer Jamie Pitman commented: "It's about taking chances. I've just been fortunate to have the luck of the bounce."

Pitman scores twice

Jamie Pitman was the Hereford hero this afternoon by scoring twice against Farnborough. A goal in the last minute redressed the balance somewhat but it was a solid start by the Bulls. Final score 2-1 to Hereford in front of 1910 spectators. A full report, written by Terry Goodwin, can be found here.

Smith hoping for quick return

With the season kicking off today, one player who won't feature in the opening matches is Hereford United midfielder Ben Smith.

Smith, signed from Southend United this summer, is suffering with a dislocated shoulder picked up in the pre-season win at Bromsgrove Rovers.

"I had some bad luck with injuries at Southend and I'm just hoping this is not a bad omen for the rest of the season as well," he told the Evening News. "It's frustrating especially coming to a new club and you want to show people what you can do."

"The important thing for me had been to get a whole pre season under my belt and not get injured so this is obviously a setback," he commented after last season was curtailed by injury problems. "Hopefully I can get back as soon as possible."

An apprentice at Arsenal, Smith found it frustrating with a lack of first team opportunities.

He said: "Unless you are an international you've got virtually no chance of playing first team football. It's so hard and at Arsenal I didn't even get to play a reserve team match. I saw a lot of players before me, who were stagnating in the reserves with no chance of making the first team and developing, and I didn't want that to happen to me.

"It is frustrating because I've got faith in my ability but the same thing happened at Reading. I thought I was doing better than some experienced players in the first team but they were always given a chance. By January, February time you just end up disillusioned."

Meanwhile, any hopes that Hereford United were to sign attacker Marcus Browning have been dashed. The former Huddersfield Town striker has signed a three year deal at Bournemouth.

Friday, August 16, 2002

Three out for Conference opener

Hereford United open their sixth season in the Nationwide Conference with a home match against Farnborough Town tomorrow, kick off 3pm.

The Bulls will be without the injured duo of Ben Smith and Scott Voice, whilst John Grant joins them on the sidelines through suspension. The main doubt for manager Graham Turner is Michael Rose, who picked up a knock in last Saturday's 1-0 friendly win at Evesham United.

"I've been looking at their side and they are vastly experienced with the likes of Charlery, Butterworth and Pennock," admitted Turner in tonight's Evening News. "You look through their squad and it is also very strong but it will be up to us to impose our game on them. We need to play them and not be intimidated by their physical presence. I think we lack a physical presence and experience but what we make up for that in is ability and mobility."

"We've had a decent pre-season in terms of the quality of training and we've worked very hard," he continued. "We have to improve our defending but we have got some semblance of understanding at the back playing three central defenders and it has gone quite well. We've got a young squad of players with plenty of enthusiasm and it is going to be interesting to see how they gel and respond to the challenge of the Conference. Steve Guinan has signed for a year from Shrewsbury which gives us an option up front in Grant's absence."

Steve Watson will sit out Farnborough Town's first five Conference matches after his dismissal for violent conduct at the end of last season. He is joined in the stands by fellow midfielder Chris Piper for the trip to Hereford. Manager Graham Westley includes new signings Tony Pennock, Garry Butterworth (both from Rushden), Danny Carroll (Crawley Town), and Ken Charlery (Dagenham) in his squad, whilst goalkeeper Mark Osborn and striker Leroy Griffiths have joined on loan for the entire season from Wycombe and QPR respectively, and could feature.

The Evening News predicts a 2-0 win for Farnborough - now it's your turn! Make your guess in the HU-FC.co.uk Predictions League by clicking 'Interactive!' on the left menu.

Meanwhile, ex-Hereford trialist Kevin Street has joined Northwich Victoria, whilst the Bulls home match against the Vics will be played on October 15th. Furthermore, Kettering Town have snapped up Scott Goodwin on a free transfer after his release from Edgar Street last May.

Sinton goes to Burton

Burton Albion boss Nigel Clough has told BBC Radio Derby that the Brewers have captured the signature of Andy Sinton.

Hereford had spoken to the former England winger earlier in the week about a possible move to Edgar Street, but he has apparently decided to join the newly-promoted Conference side.

Thursday, August 15, 2002

All present and correct

The official site (www.herefordunited.co.uk) reports the squad numbers for the coming season:

1 Baker, 2 Clarke, 3 Rose, 4 Tretton, 5 Wright, 6 James, 7 Pitman, 8 Smith, 9 Voice, 10 Grant, 11 Parry, 12 Williams, 14 Griffiths, 15 Teesdale, 16 Sawyers, 17 Purdie, 18 Guinan.

Steve Guinan has signed on a twelve month deal, according to the club, despite the Hereford Times reporting that he has put pen to a short-term deal.

The move comes as Hereford beat off several other Conference clubs to capture the signature of the former Nottingham Forest and Cambridge United attacker.

Meanwhile, the former England international Andy Sinton is expected to make a decision today on whether to make the move to Hereford United, according to the Evening News.

Edgar Street manager Graham Turner has offered the ex-Queens Park Rangers, Spurs and Wolves star a contract, but the veteran winger is pondering several other offers.

Turner said the move was "in the balance" but expected to hear either way later today.

Keep guessing!

Many thanks to everyone who has entered the HU-FC.co.uk Prediction League.

If you haven't entered, click 'Interactive' on the left bar to join up and make your prediction for the Conference match against Farnborough.

If your username is humptybull or ronnie_radford, please fill in the registration form as you've entered your predictions but none of your details! If you don't register, you can't win!

Wednesday, August 14, 2002

New auditor

At the fans forum last Monday Graham Turner stated that one of the directors was now doing the accounts. He claimed that this would be a cost-saving exercise. The last published accounts (up to May 2000) stated that the auditors fee was £4,500. The previous year cost £6,250. What is not clear is how much work was involved in these fees and whether advice was sought from the accountants. It is thought that Hugh Brooks is the director who is doing the accounts. He used to work for HLB Kidsons in Hereford (now Baker Tilly) who have been the accountants for the club for some years.

For a club with a turnover of under £1 million and relatively simple accounts a fee of £1,000 to £2,000 would be in line. This assumes that the VAT, wages and most other financial work is done by the club. In this day and age, there are computer programmes that can produce simple accounts and so the real need of an accountant is to check and finalise the accounts. He will prepare a tax return and have a short discussion with the club about the current situation. Only if "extra" advice is required should a larger fee be likely.

The move to in-house looks realistic but the club should insist that the accounts are done on time. Having to pay fines for late delivery of the accounts to Company House is pointless even if GT says £200 will not break the bank.

Guinan boosts Hereford squad

According to today's Evening News, Graham Turner has captured the signature of striker Steve Guinan to boost his Hereford squad to seventeen.

The forward, who has had spells at Exeter City and Shrewsbury Town, will almost definitely start up-front alongside Paul Parry for the Bulls' opening Nationwide Conference game at home to Farnborough Town on Saturday.

Tuesday, August 13, 2002

Predict your way to glory!

HU-FC.co.uk's brand-new Prediction League game is set to be launched for the new season, and it's free to play!

All you do is register for the game and then submit your predicted score and attendance for each game throughout the season.

For further details, visit the Predictions League information page by clicking here. The game can be found under the 'Interactive!' section, which is labelled on the left of your screen.

Bulls back on the box

They seem to like us don't they? Hereford United's away match at the Kingfield Stadium against Woking has been moved from Saturday 7th September to Monday 9th for live coverage on Sky Sports.

On the Sky Sports website, the competition is described as 'Nationwide League' and not 'Conference' - wishful thinking!

The game, which will kick off at 7.45pm, affects the fixture list a little. Hereford's home match against Northwich Victoria had been moved to Tuesday 10th September because the Vics were playing a Cheshire Senior Cup tie on the original date (3rd September). Therefore, the Northwich game will have to be rearranged.

Fans forum - a second opinion!

I have been a Hereford United supporter for over 35 years. The first game I saw at Edgar Street was a 1-1 draw with Cambridge City, with John Charles in the team, but not on the scoresheet. Right, now I've established my credentials as a long time fan, I have to admit that until last night, 12th August, I'd never been to a "Fans Forum", and I have to say I was fairly impressed with what I saw.

Graham Turner was articulate, open and honest. He didn't dodge any questions, and most remarkably, considering the huge dark cloud which must have been hanging over him for the last few years, seemed positive, enthusiastic and forward looking. Maybe being back as a "hands-on" manager, a football man back doing football things, instead of dealing with the VAT man, helps.

He spoke frankly about the squad he's assembling, stressing the youth, potential and enthusiasm of the players. He admitted that we lack a physical presence in midfield, most of our players being "5 feet 8, not six footers", and that there would probably be games where we get muscled out of it in midfield. He firmly believed, however, that we had a squad who could pass the ball well and play football, and that the time was right to take that approach.

A lack of strikers is still a problem. He said how he had brought players in who he thought were committed to a trial period and playing in friendlies, only to find on the day of a game that they were going off to play for someone else. The options up front are limited for the Farnborough game, and certainly aren't going to be solved by one of the more bizarre suggestions from the audience: that of playing Ian Wright up front!

What about the longer term? The CVA is progressing, we have paid our creditors 40p in the pound. Unlike other clubs, e.g. Doncaster, who escaped with a settlement of 10p in the pound we are committed to full payment of our creditors. The remaining 60p in the pound equates to £25,000. GT conceded that our long term future was entirely in the local authority's hands, but felt positive that all would work out OK. This may be misplaced confidence, and he seemed to be saying "well, there's no alternative so we may as well believe it". There is clearly no possibility that HUFC can find the £1.3 million owed to Chelverton. GT also thought that the footballl club could be a hot issue in the 2003 local authority elections.

In some cases it had been necessary to pay players more than the budget really allowed, in order to build a squad capable of mounting a challenge, on the basis that if the club was doing well the gates would increase to cover the salaries. If not, we would find ourselves having to sell mid season to balance the books. GT is still talking to players, both young and experienced, including Andy Sinton, although he wasn't optimistic of signing him.

The final thoughts were all about having a positive attitude, encouraging the young squad, building confidence, and getting a buzz going on the terraces. There's a hard core of 1500 -1600 supporters who'll turn up come what may. A bit of feel good factor will bring back the floating supporter and boost the gates above 2,000. The introduction of the play-offs gives us a realistic target to go for, and shouldn't see the season effectively over by January, as it was last year.

Richard O'Kelly was there last night as well. I had a chat with him outside afterwards, and if enthusiasm and energy count for much, then we're half way there already. Put aside the cynicism and let's get behind the squad and hope we can make it happen on the pitch.

A message from your mascot...

Well here we are at the start of another season, full of optimism as usual and glad that a real sport will be on our TV's (instead of cricket). We have all been busy throughout the closed season here at the farm. The farmer has acquired a new companion for me called Benny the Bull and hopefully I can pursuade him to put in the odd (very odd) performance. I asked for a nice looking cow but there weren't any volunteers, never mind.

Between us we have painted the male toilets at the Meadow End, a nice sky blue and white to match the training tops. I have also been busy making public appearances at school, fetes and charity events, as well as taking up the job of linesman.

My latest venture is collecting international flags from our many overseas fans. It is my intention to have these made up in to giant 10 x 6 foot flags to display at the ground, so thank you to the fans who have pledged a flag.

'Billy News' will be in publication again this season, so please send me any info, jokes, birthdays etc.

Also a big thank you to Algerian Bull who has offered to be my kit sponsor for the 2002/2003 season.

Anyway I'll sign off now, lets have lots of support this season and finally shut up the "Turner Out" brigade.

Peace and best wishes,

Billy The Bull (& Benny)

Bulls miss two for Conference opener

Hereford are without two players going into Saturday's Conference match against Farnborough Town at Edgar Street, kick off 3pm.

Scott Voice has not fully recovered from his groin injury and expects to be sidelined for another two weeks, whilst Ben Smith will not play for around five weeks.

However, Michael Rose, who picked up a slight hamstring strain at Evesham United last Saturday, is expected to be fully fit for the Farnborough match.

Supporters club news

The HUISA AGM is this Saturday at 12pm in the VP Club. All members are invited to elect a new chairman and secretary.

Anyone wanting to use away travel can do so by purchasing tickets from the club. The bus to Forest Green Rovers on Tuesday 20th costs £8.50, and departs Edgar Street at 5.15pm, whilst a trip to Gravesend & Northfleet costs £18 and departs at 8.30am on Saturday, August 24th.

If you intend driving the Forest Green, head for Stroud from Gloucester. When you reach the town, turn left onto the A46 to Nailsworth. This will bring you into the centre of the town, when you reach the Information Centre take the first right at the cross roads which goes up a steep hill sign posted Forest Green. The Lawn is on the left. The club has car parking for members only, however there is a spacious free car park at the adjacent college. There is also off street parking but be aware to stay clear of the coned off areas.

Meanwhile, the legendary Hereford United single by Danny Lee is to be recorded onto CD. It will be for sale in the Hereford United club shop from September 1st.

'We may have the biggest debt but we are not the poorest - the other clubs don't have our support base'

Those were the words of a confident Hereford United manager Graham Turner when referring to the Conference teams at last night's fans forum at Edgar Street.

The meeting was chaired by Kevin Wargen, with questions answered largely by Turner but also Richard O'Kelly, the new first-team coach.

Turner opened the meeting talking about finances. He told the audience that the club hoped to pay another 10 or 20 pence of the CVA within the next season if the money becomes available which will satisfy the creditors. The club have to pay £1 in each pound, and have so far paid 40p - the remainer comes to a total of around £25,000. The club could close instantly if more debts were accumilated, particularly to the likes of the taxman.

Furthermore, little progress has been made in terms of the stadium development. Turner said that there was the possibility of Len Weston Stand being rebuilt with the Courtyard Theatre having more room below, the Blackfriars End incorporating a Leisure Centre and the Meadow End including a multiplex cinema. The main stand would be looked after by the club. However, the whole situation is out of the clubs hands and is a problem of Chelverton and the local authorities.

Apparently, there is movement at the Blackfriars End. The foundations are moving, and the council may close the stand for periods during the season for healh and safety reasons. However, it will be open for Saturday's match.

With the local elections next may, the future of Hereford United is likely to be a vote-catching issue. The Richardson Brothers, who have linked with Chelverton, did not want any involvement with this particular project as they branded it a 'political hot potato', according to Turner. Nevertheless, the development has the potential to rejuvenate a city that has become a quiet backwater.

On the playing front, the problem of obtaining a goalscorer was highlighted. Turner said that he had spoken to Brett Angell, Don Goodman and David Kelly but they sighted low pay, long travel distances and the stigma attached to non-league football as reasons not to join the club. On player even asked if Hereford could match the £1200 that he was offered as a weekly salary by a second division club! Andy Baird has left the club, whilst Ashley Nicholls was taken by Darlington after agreeing to spend pre-season at Edgar Street. When Turner found out of Darlo's interest, he offered Nicholls a contract but the ex-Ipswich trainee linked up with the Quakers.

However, there could be a move to sign Andy Sinton. The former Spurs and Wolves midfielder has had offers from three Conference clubs and will speak to Turner at 5pm tomorrow after a trial at Walsall. Steve Guinan has been offered a one-month contract but three other Conference sides have offered season-long deals so Turner feels he might have to improve the offer.

Overall, though, Graham Turner said he was pleased with the squad and that it was a great improvement on last year. Whilst most of the players were 'four inches too small', they had 'more ability that most Conference sides'. Hopes that the likes of Scott Goodwin could return were dismissed out of hand, as Turner is aiming for a squad of youth and enthusiasm.

He aims fro a squad size of eighteen but it may end up being nineteen or twenty for the next season if players become available. Whilst the club cannot afford eighteen players, 'hope' value is included and as a consequence, occasionally players are sold to balance the books. When a league club comes in for a player, they are told of the interest (as it is part of the contract). Turner has promoted the move of first-team football at Hereford, looking at Gavin Mahon as an example. Mahon had two years as a first-teamer at Hereford before joining Brentford and now Watford. Matt Baker's trial at Leyton Orient was arranged through his agent, which angered Turner as it is not allowed under the terms of his contract.

In terms of the Conference this season, Turner felt the play-offs would improve the league no end and he fancied the ex-league clubs who have spent heavily - Chester, Doncaster, Scarborough and Barnet - to do well, along with Yeovil.

When answering a question from a shareholder, Turner said that the 2000/01 AGM would be held in the next twenty eight days and the date was to be set at a board meeting on Thursday. The reason the accounts were late was because a director had agreed to do most of preparation, saving the club around £5000, but he had fallen behind. The club, as it is in the state of two companies, would face a £200 fine.

Whilst there are the obvious problems at Edgar Street, Turner seems eager to enjoy the campaign and in the squad of players and coach Richard O'Kelly, confidence is high that progress will be made.

Monday, August 12, 2002

Fun game raises £500

Hereford United beat off a HUISA XI 8-3 in a fun-filled match at Edgar Street this evening.

Danny Williams, Steve Guinan, Richard O'Kelly, Ian Wright and Rob Purdie had put the Bulls 5-0 up at the break, but a half-time reshuffle saw an 8-3 scoreline. John Grant scored a hatrick for Hereford whilst HUISA came back through goals from Will Jones and a brace from Steve Guinan, who was the subject of a half-time 'transfer'.

The match was refereed by Simon Barrington, whilst Billy and Benny the Bulls were the assistants. Billy's head was handed round by the players during the second half, including Matt Clarke in the Hereford goal who conceded three during the second period of a thirty minute duration.

Elements of the match were dubious to say the least, with HUISA having fifteen players on the pitch at one time! Nevertheless, over £500 was raised on the night and well done to everyone who raised money to play in the HUISA team. Their squad read: Garry Smith, Paul Sharp, Neil Phipps, Rob Leighton, Tristan Edwards, Dave Glinos, Tommy Johnson, Chris Oleski, Simon Bayliss, Chris Richards, Will Jones, Andy Bouchen, Mark Jenkins, David Jenkins and Jamie Griffiths.

Don't forget...

HUISA XI v HUFC - Edgar Street - Tonight at 6.30pm. Watch the supporters take on the team. Then at 8pm in Legends., your chance to discuss things with Graham Turner before the season kicks-off.

Sunday, August 11, 2002

Conference win in League expansion?

Today's Non-League Paper reports that a restructured Division Three could mean league status for up to sixteen Conference clubs.

Since the collapse of the ITV Digital TV deal, the Football League are considering refinancing and restructuring options in the league and one of the plans is for a four division, twenty team competition with eight teams promoted from the Conference. The second involves a regionalised 40-team Third Division with the Conference supplying sixteen clubs.

Lincoln City have been hit by financial problems and even went into administration for a while over the summer. Their outspoken chairman Rob Bradley said: "There must be an overhaul of the League structure and regionalisation should now be higher on the agenda than ever before. The League board and chairmen have already discussed it and it is certainly a live option judging from discussions I've been involved with.

"In the Third Division, I'd say 75% of chairmen are in favour. Regionalising will mean extra money for derby games and a reduction in travelling costs - it's just a good idea and we need to implement it."

Before his resignation, League chairman Keith Harris was ready to implement the system for the 2003/04 season. However, he needed the support of First Division clubs, who hold most voting weight - and they remain split.

Conference chief executive John Moules could see his members disappear overnight in the plan is implemented, but he said: "We've had no formal discussions, but as I've said, the Conference is here and ready to help out, but my main aim is to look after the best interests of my member clubs."

Saturday, August 10, 2002

Are we ready?

After today's disappointing result at Evesham, questions have to be asked whether Graham Turner has got the right combination of players to make a showing in the Conference this season.

Of course with so many new players it takes time to get everything right but United still look weak up-front. Neither trialists Steve Guinan or Andy Baird have looked that impressive and although GT continues to try Paul Parry as a forward that does not seem to be working either. Grant looks a better bet but with him suspended for the first three games it does not look good. Maybe GT has his eye on someone else. As he has not yet signed either Guinan or Baird, maybe one of them will be offered a game by game deal. There seems little point in offering either of them contracts on their showing to date. If only Scott Voice was fit and Grant was available!

Other than the up-front problem (which seems to be the same each season recently) the rest of the team looks more positive. In particular Matt Clarke and Jamie Pitman are linking well. Michael Rose and Danny Williams both seem useful signings; Rose looks quite dangerous on the left side at times and Williams quite skilful. Both should improve with more matches. The idea of a back three as opposed to four seems to be working but there is an argument that as the defensive record was so good with the 4-4-2 system used last season should it been changed? Andrew Tretton, who partners Ian Wright and Tony James, looked more comfortable today but the real test will come next Saturday with Conference opponents Farnborough Town.

Robert Purdie is another new signing who has the potential to be a useful squad member but may find it hard to command a regular place in the team when Ben Smith returns. Rob Sawyers also may not start when United are at full strength as there is likely to be real competition for the midfield places. If the forward positions are filled a space has to be made for Parry.

So who is going to be in the line-up for next Saturday? With the assumption that no other players are to be introduced the line up could look like this:

Baker, Wright, James, Tretton, Clarke, Rose, Pitman, Williams, Sawyers, Guinan, Parry.

Midfielder confident after win

Following today's 1-0 victory over Evesham United, Hereford United midfielder Jamie Pitman was upbeat about the side's chances for Nationwide Conference success.

Speaking of today's match, he said: "They worked us quite hard today. It was hard for us to break them down but in the end, we had a quality move from John Grant who finished off a great move right at the end. He's going to miss the first few games but we've known that from early on so we've been preparing for it. The other lads who were up-front today did quite well."

The new 3-5-2 formation has freed up members of the team, according to Pitman. "Last year we played with a flat back four but we've come to terms with it now, kept a couple of clean sheets and we look a little bit more solid," he commented. "It gives us the opportunity to get some width using Matt Clarke and Michael Rose, and in midfield we can release someone forward."

United's pre-season programme has been varied in terms of opposition and results.

"It's been good in the respect that we've played a couple of sides who can pass the ball around in Swindon and Tranmere, and then games like we're going to get in the Conference with places like Evesham and Aberystwyth," continued Pitman. "They give us hard work outs and it's been good in that we can iron out a few bits that we need to work on."

Hereford scrape narrow victory

Evesham United 0 - 1 Hereford United - click here for a report.

Tretton ready for anything

Andrew Tretton, Hereford United's central defender signed from Shrewsbury Town earlier in the summer, is ready for whatever life at Edgar Street can throw at him.

That's because he's done it all before - Tretton was part of a Shrewsbury side that won at Exeter City two years ago on the final day to preserve their Football League status. Then last season, the Shropshire side challenged for Third Division promotion but it wasn't to be.

Tretton told the Evening News: "We did quite well and should have made the play offs because we were in those positions most of the year but we just dropped out in the last couple of games which was disappointing."

"I've been here a month now and I'm really looking forward to it," he said of his move to Hereford. "The manager has been experimenting with three at the back and it's working quite well so far. Looking at the players we have got in and those already here I don't see why we shouldn't challenge near the top.

"It's hard to make predictions but if we can keep everybody fit and add a couple more signings then we could be in with a shout."

Tretton should feature in the Hereford side which goes to Evesham United today, kick off 3pm.

The Bulls, though, will not face former attacker Richard Leadbeater who left Evesham United earlier in the summer for Halesowen Town.

Friday, August 09, 2002

Trip to Evesham

Tomorrow, Hereford United play their final pre-season friendly at Evesham United, kick off 3pm.

To get to their Common Road ground, enter the town from the south and locate the High Street (A4184). From here, turn right into Bridge Street. Take the second left into Mill Street before the river bridge, and continue for around 500 metres into Common Road. The ground is on your right.

We are updating our news services...

You may notice old stories appearing on the news page - please bear with us as we will iron out problems over the next few days.

GoalRush now official

We are pleased to announce that GoalRush is now the Official Hereford United Lottery.

Following improvements to GoalRush and the official recognition, we are writing to all previous Wyevern Pool players. We can also confirm that accredited agents will be able to sell GoalRush for the club and gain the following benefits:

10% commission on all entries

Chances to win in the special agent draws

If you would like to become an agent then please contact Peter Povall on 07970 443730 or you can e-mail him at peter@goalrush.co.uk.

More details and entry forms can be found at www.goalrush.co.uk.

Fixture change

The official Hereford United website (www.herefordunited.co.uk) report that Hereford's Nationwide Conference match at Northwich Victoria has been moved to September 10th. This is because on September 3rd, the Vics play a Cheshire Senior Cup tie which takes precedence over the league.

Also, the site has revealed three new rules that have been introduced into the Conference this season:

> A maximum of eight loan players will be allowed this season, of which two can be long term.

> Substitutes must wear bibs, home team wearing red and away team wearing yellow bibs.

> Substitutions and injury time will be displayed using an electronic scoreboard device.