Wrexham consider Spanish goalie

The LDV game with Wrexham at Edgar Street is only two weeks away and the North Wales club is looking at Xavi Valero, a Spanish goalkeeper, to cover while Andy Dibble recovers from injury.



Manager Denis Smith is without regular goalkeeper Andy Dibble for up to three weeks with a thigh strain, leaving 16-year-old Michael Jones as the only other shot-stopper at the club since both former Hereford United goalie Matt Baker left the Racecourse and also youngster Danny Evans.



31 year-old Valero, a free agent who has played for Real Murcia, CD Logrones, Real Mallorca and CD Castellon, trained with Wrexham this morning.

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Few interested in Conference Cup

Very few Hereford United supporters look like making the trip to Eton Park tomorrow evening for the Conference Cup third round game with Burton Albion.



The cup, which is now sponsored by GLS (Victor Gladwish Land Sales), is for all Conference teams but many seem to think it is one cup too many.



Luckily Burton and Hereford have agreed to play their match before the due date which takes pressure off the Bulls fixture list.



Burton has announced that they will treat the game as a chance for fringe players, including midfielder Laurie Wilson, utility man Glenn Kirkwood and striker Robbie Talbot, to prove their worth.



Nigel Clough told the Burton Mail: "Nobody is going anywhere until after tomorrow, but all those who haven't been getting a game will play because it gives anyone who might be interested a chance to come and see them in action."



There are no indications of the Hereford line-up as yet.



For those interested BBC Hereford and Worcester will have reports from the game into their evening programme.



Bulls News will also have a report from the game.

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Change things before it is too late

Bulls News received this e-mail from a Herefordshire based Bulls supporter earlier today. We appreciate that it is one persons' view, but it appears to sum up what many more are thinking.



When is someone at this great club going to realise that a great proportion of Herefords poor play,tactics and down right schoolboy errors must be the fault of the coach .Since Mr Trewicks arrival we have lost the spirit ,the will to win and have played like headless chickens,we pass the ball into such dangerous positions when a clearance would do ,we spend more time fannying around passing the ball to each other by the corner flags and we seem to be back to the lets walk the bloody thing into the net while the other team organise their defence. SO COME ON MR TREWICK change things before its too late ,or get the hell out and let some one else in who can do the job.

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No excuses for defeat

Graham Turner was very unhappy with the performance of his side at Burton yesterday.



"There's no excuses for today's defeat. I thought we didn't work hard enough, it's as simple as that," Turner told the NLP.



"Early season we looked organised and worked hard as a unit, we've done none of that over the last three or four matches, but it's something we have got to put right in the club.



"The players out there today got us to third in the table and the same players don't suddenly become bad players. But seven or eight of them needed a kick up the backside to get started."



Although Hereford United are still fourth in the Conference table with 41 points, they have played one game more than Exeter, on 40 points, and two more than Halifax who have 38 points.



Accrington Stanley, who moved up to third yesterday, are also on 41 points but have a slightly better goal difference than the Bulls and have played one more game.



Only three points separates third placed Stanley and Woking in twelvth position.

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Action not Words required

The 391 Hereford supporters who made the trip to Burton today would have been very disappointed with the Bulls performance at Eton Park. More than 50 left the ground early, not a good sign.



Hereford United have now just gained three points from their last four games and unless the form changes quickly for the better they will miss out on a play-off place.



Burton looked to want to win the game, whereas the Bulls looked tired, stale and short of ideas. Too many balls were played backwards only to be lost when eventually kicked ahead. There seems no end in sight to this tactic. Even when Lee Mills came on after halftime he failed to win that many through balls.



Both manager Graham Turner and captain Tony James have spoke about new faces at the club but there were no new bodies in the squad today.



Performances like this will cost the club money as supporters decide to give on the Bulls until such time as they return to winning ways. Maybe it's a good thing that next Saturday's game is a Trophy Cup match at Accrington. An opportunity perhaps to try out some changes both in tactics and players.

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Absolute Bullocks

Hereford United were well beaten by Burton Albion at Eton Park this afternoon. The Bulls succombed to a 3-0 defeat in a game where they got exactly what they deserved - absolutely nothing. Burton, who were seventeenth at the start of the day, did not play superbly themselves but still managed to win by a good margin.

Graham Turner made changes to the side that were defeated on New Years day by Exeter with Ryan Green starting in place of the injured Rob Purdie. Danny Williams and Lee Mills were both surprise inclusions on the subs bench having recovered from injury but Andy Tretton was missing due to a back strain.

Burton started the better of the two sides when former Sheffield Wednesday pair Mark Robins and Jon Shaw combined in the attack with Robins shooting just wide on the half volley. David Brown fired just wide from outside of the box almost immediately after for the Bulls. With just under twenty minutes on the clock Albion took the lead through Kris Taylor. Mark Robins held up the ball well and played it out wide to Aaron Webster who delivered a left footed cross. Taylor seemed to have all the time in the world to chest the ball down and place a shot beyond the reach of Craig Mawson and into the far corner.

Burton could have doubled their advantage two minutes later when Mark Robinson tripped Andrew Corbett and was booked. Taylor delivered the free kick for Barry Miller whose shot was just the wrong side of the upright. At the other end Ryan Green went close following a good move by Hereford but Green directed Craig Stanley's cross just beyond the far post. Stanley went close from a driven free kick that was deflected just wide and Robins headed Taylor's cross wide at the other end before half time.

Changes were needed in the Hereford side and Graham Turner acted accordingly by replacing Graham Hyde and Brown with Williams and Mills at the break. United started the half brightly, with Williams impressing but they were dealt a huge blow with just four minutes of the half gone. A cross from the right bounced against Tamika Mkandawire and the referee gave a penalty for handball. Craig Dudley took the kick which appeared to go under Mawson, who had dived the correct way.

Mills shot inches wide of the upright after Williams' free kick wasn't cleared properly by Darren Stride. However, United had James to thank for preventing a third when a clearance from Danny Crane in the Burton goal went over everyone and when Shaw lifted the ball over Mawson it was good positioning by James to clear. Stanley blasted a shot wide before he forced the best save of the game out of Crane. Simon Travis played a pass into Mills, who flicked on into the path of Stanley just inside the area, but his curling effort was superbly tipped past the post by the diving Crane.

Mark Robinson was sacrificed for Danny Carey-Bertram as Hereford switched to a 4-3-3 formation to try and salvage a point from the game but a second penalty was awarded when James tripped Shaw in the box. Shaw got up and sent Mawson the wrong way from the spot to seal the three points for Albion. From then on Burton played out the game, surviving the measely pressure they were put under by the away side and they could have had a fourth but for good 'keeping. Taylor skinned two or three defenders on a mazy run into the area but he was denied by Mawson who saved well.

The 391 away fans in a crowd of 1580 were not happy with the performance or the effort of some of the players and many left well before the end of the game. New faces are needed in the side which needs to up its game enormously if they want to make anything of the season.

HUFC Team: Mawson, Travis, Mkandawire, James, Robinson, Stanley, Green, Pitman, Hyde, Brown, Stansfield. Subs: Smith, Scott, Williams, Mills, Carey-Bertram.

BAFC Team: Crane, Corbett, Miller, Austin, Webster,Dudley, Stride, Kris Taylor, Hall ,Robins, Shaw. Subs: Simpkins , Kirkwood, Ducros , Shilton, Robinson

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Game on at Burton

This afternoon's game at Burton Albion is set to go ahead despite rain overnight.



There were no plans for a pitch inspection as at 9.45am.

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James backs Turner

Tony James, the Hereford United captain, has backed his manager, Graham Turner, by agreeing that any new players brought into Edgar Street must improve the current squad.



"Every side could do with a few new faces to freshen things up. If we bring in players with good enough quality, which to be fair we have done in the last couple of years, then it can only be good for us., James told the Evening News.



"I'm not sure if we are bringing in anybody. I know it's only just after Christmas but, as far as I know, I've not heard any names."

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Bulls need a perfect tonic

John Trewick, the Hereford United coach, has told the Evening News that a win tomorrow would be a perfect tonic after a poor set of results over the festive period.



"People keep telling me about our recent results against Burton Albion. But I'm not someone that looks at what went on in the past.



"Tomorrow is another game and we must go there in a positive frame of mind. When we played Burton earlier this season, they put 10 outfield players behind the ball even though we had Tamika (Mkandawire) sent off early on.



"There are probably about 10 sides who all have a legitimate claim to a top-five finish. It's going to be very close. We have got to try and win every game if we want to be in the play-offs.



"We can't legislate for what other teams do from now until the end of the season. We've got to look after our own results and try to maintain a level of consistency.



"It was very disappointing for us to lose to the same team (Exeter) twice in a week. The fact is that we have taken three points from nine and it is important that we bounce back."



Meanwhile Burton's Kris Taylor is expected continue his central midfield partnership with skipper Darren Stride for tomorrow's Conference clash according to the Burton Mail.



But manager Nigel Clough could have to change the side that began 2005 in fine style with a 2-0 victory at neighbours Tamworth after wide midfielders Craig Dudley and Chris Hall both picked up groin strains in that match.



However, he has ready-made replacements in Andy Ducros and Sam Shilton, who have declared themselves fit after being sidelined by flu and a neck strain respectively.



The Brewers boss could also turn to Michael Simpkins, who impressed on the left side of midfield after replacing Dudley at Tamworth.



Burton have lost only once against Hereford since being promoted to the Conference and completed a notable double last season, winning 4-1 at Eton Park and 2-1 at Edgar Street.



"They had the majority of play in both games," Clough told the Derbyshire Telegraph "and they did again when we drew 0-0 there this season.



"So we won't be too unhappy if they come at us, as long as we defend properly.



"They will be more aware than us, probably, of their record against us and they'll be thinking it's time they beat us, so we will have to be careful."

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Shrews Two now Three

Shrewsbury Town has added the name of Duane Darby to that of Trevor Challis and Kevin Street as players open to offer.



Manager, Gary Peters, says he will "strongly consider" any interest in the either of the three. Darby, who is now 31, has been talking to several clubs added Peters.



"The players are at an age when they want to be playing football because if it comes the end of your career and you have wasted a season, it is regrettable," Peters told the Shropshire Star.



"It is now up to the players. They are all contracted to the club and I get on great with all three of them. If they decide they want to stay on and fight for a place that's fine because players change my mind and my thoughts on my best team alter.

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Newcastle can't forget Radford's goal

Newcastle United's current goalkeeper, Shay Given, is hoping he won't be on the end of a giant killing as fellow Irishman Willie McFaul received when he was in goal against Hereford back in 1972 reports South Tyneside Today.



McFaul was the Newcastle United goalkeeper when Hereford United humbled the Magpies and Ronnie Radford wrote his name into cup folklore with a stunning equaliser as the non-league outfit went on to produce a sensational 2-1 upset.



Geordie fans have been treated to endless re-runs of THAT goal over the past 30 years, and it's sure to be screened again in the build-up to Sunday's David-verssus-Goliath FA Cup Third Round encounter with Yeading at Loftus Road.



But Republic ace Given is determined the current Toon side don't suffer non-league humiliation like Northern Ireland international McFaul and his colleagues did in that Third Round replay shock at Edgar Street.



He said: "Every time the FA Cup comes around, Ronnie Radford's is one of the main goals they keep showing.



"I watch it and think poor Willie had no chance. It was just an unbelievable strike.It was a fairytale result and it sums up the magic of the FA Cup, but we've got to make sure there is no fairytale on Sunday.



"Whenever people watch an FA Cup game they always root for the underdog. This is the big fish against the little tadpole.



"It's a huge game for Yeading, it will be their cup final. But it's also a huge game for us in terms of our season.



Newcastle have been drawn against non-league opposition on five occasions in post-war history - and have never won at the first time of asking!

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Bulls revenge couldn't come at a better time

Hereford United travel to Eton Park for the first of two fixtures in four days for the league clash against Burton Albion tomorrow afternoon. Hereford will be aiming to claim an important three points in their season as they look to try and regain some lost ground on the front two following a disapointing festive period.

Nigel Clough has a huge injury list and has many players on the verge of fitness for the game. His side is stretched down to the bare bones for the visit of the promotion chasing Bulls. Defenders Michael Simpkins and Lee Ayres are out, as are utility man Glenn Kirkwood, midfield pair Andy Ducros and Sam Shilton and striker Robbie Talbot Ayres is out with a groin injury and a neck injury keeps Shilton out.

Hereford may be without midfielder Rob Purdie who pulled up with a hamstring injury after no more than ten minutes of the New Years Day game against Exeter. He could be on the sidelines if he has pulled it or should he have torn the muscle he may be out for longer.



Danny Williams had a x-ray on his foot that he injured against Forest Green Rovers but has started to train again. Lee Mills is also said to be training every day after his injury. However Andy Tretton could be side-lined as he has picked up a back injury. No new signings have yet been announced but there are talks going on with an unknown player.



"I think the squad needs strengthing. I think fresh blood in the dressing room does a power of good. There are a couple of positions I am anxious to strengthen," Graham Turner told BBC H&W.



"But we have to make sure we don't bring bodies in just for the sake of it."

Burton held United to a 0-0 draw earlier in the season at Edgar Street. Albion have proved to be a bit of a bogey team for the Bulls, who have failed to beat them in the past three meatings. When the two sides met at Eton Park last season Burton shocked their opponents by hammering them 4-1. Paul Parry was on the scoresheet for the Bulls.

The top half of the table has become really tight over the Christmas and New Year, meaning that a defeat could see Hereford drop from third down to eighth if results go against them. However, United will be hoping to return to form and try to open up a gap from the rest of the pack chasing the play off positions and try to claim some ground on Carlisle. Burton are currently seventeenth in the standings.

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Burton will be heavily policed

Staffordshire police will be out in force on Saturday for the visit of Hereford United to Burton's Eton Park according to the Burton Mail.



The force has written to to 17 known football hooligans warning them to stay away from the match.



Included in the 17 are 13 from the Hereford area who were jailed for their part in disturbances at the ground last time the two clubs met. Most of the 13 have now been released. They have been told that they will be immediately arrested should they turn up at the game.



Sergeant Gary Lote, football liaison officer for Staffordshire Police's Burton-based Trent Valley division, said: "The warnings have been sent because of the recent history of these so called supporters who are not wanted at any of our matches.



"We want to send out a very clear message that police in Trent Valley will not tolerate violence of any description, particularly football.



"Extra police officers from Burton and West Mercia will be on duty before, during and after Saturday's game. Mobile and static CCTV systems will also be used to record any incidents and to identify individuals if need be."

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Icke could feature on Big Brother

A new Celebrity Big Brother series begins on Channel Four this evening and former Hereford United goalkeeper David Icke could be one of the "C" rated suspects lined up to appear.



Icke,now 52, came to Edgar Street in September 1972 and made his debut against Southport but was on the losing side. He made 37 league appearances for the Bulls.



David Icke moved to Hereford from Coventry but his spell at the Bulls was ruined by injury. He had rheumatoid arthritis but played on until the end of the 1972/73 season, and said: "I was in agony every morning at training until my joints were warmed up and loosened a little." Towards the end of the season, the pain disappeared for a month but one morning he woke to find that every one of his joints was hurting. Still only 20, he quit immediately, but is remembered by Hereford fans for never losing at Edgar Street.



After a long recouperation period, Icke became a journalist and ended up with the BBC TV football team and campaigned, in the eighties, for radical political issues, namely environmental campaigning. In 1990, he quit television and the Green Party after a 'spiritual experience'. He later became a popular after-dinner speaker, living on the Isle of Wight. More recently he has become a writer. His latest book is called "Tales from the Time Loop".



UPDATE: Early Evening



ICKE SAYS NO TO BIG BROTHER



Daivd Icke has told his website that he is not appearing on Big Brother after-all.



"They approached me two months ago and I met them but I quickly realised (I) had no interest in appearing on the show.



"I am up to here with the pseudo-celebrity bollocks that infests television, magazines and newspapers," said Icke.

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Collection for Tsunami

The collection for the Asian Tsunami Disaster Fund hastily organised at Edgar Street last Saturday raised £1,339 reports the Hereford Times.



Players, officials and supporters of Hereford United all helped and the club has promised to match the amount raised.

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No takers for Shrewsbury Two

As at earlier this afternoon, no club has yet signed either of the Shrewsbury two rumoured to be surplus to requirememts at the Gay Meadow.



Trevor Challis and Kevin Street are open to offers and it was reported that there had been interest in the players from one or two Conference clubs.



However sources at Shrewsbury have confirmed that no deals have yet been done.



The other recently promoted side from the Conference, Chester City, are thought to have circulated the availability of 26 year-old striker Darryn Stamp to all Coca-Cola League Two and Nationwide Conference clubs this afternoon.



According to the Chester Chronicle, Stamp hasn't really figured in the City first team this season, after registering 20 goals in Chester's Nationwide Conference championship-winning side last year.



In recent months a four-week loan spell at Kidderminster Harriers and a subsequent injury, has precluded him from being involved in Chester's senior team activity.



City Chairman Stephen Vaughan, said last night: "Unfortunately Darryn hasn't really been involved this season, so Ian (Rush) has decided that probably the best solution for all parties would be to circularise Darryn's availability to other clubs.



Meanwhile Steve Guinan's position at Cheltenham appears to be under some threat. The ex-Hereford United striker has not made the impact at the Gloucester club that he did at Edgar Street. So far he has only scored five goals for his new club but has had a couple of lay-offs due to injury.



Manager John Ward has been given the go-ahead to look for a new striker after the Robins only picked up two points from their last four games.



However the club has little money to splash out on a new signing.



"It will initially be on a loan basis and will be funded by the board because the club can't afford to do it," Chairman Paul Baker told the Gloucester Echo.



"Hopefully, he will use his skills to wheel and deal because we are not in a position financially to commit to new signings until the end of the season.



"So we (the board) will find some money in the short term, and if he signs somebody for a month it gives him a month to try to move some players out on loan, if that is the way he chooses to go.

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Conference Cup game next Tuesday

Hereford United has confirmed that the third round Conference Cup game with Burton Albion will take place next Tuesday at 7.45pm.



Originally the game was to be played on Jauuary 25th but has been moved as Hereford's LDV game with Wrexham arranged for that evening takes precedence.



It is understood that there will be no HUISA transport to the game. This decision probably shows that the club has little interest in this cup game.



The decision to play the game next Tuesday was agreed late yesterday afternoon. Bringing forward the game will help prevent a build-up of fixtures. Only the date of the Hereford Cup game with Kington Town at Edgar Street remains unknown.



It looks as though Burton will use the game as a training match as their manager Nigel Clough told the Burton News and Mail that he had several players not yet match fit.



"We were looking to arrange a friendly for next week because we have quite a few players coming back from injury and illness who need a game.



"We're delighted that Hereford have taken the same view as us and agreed to bring the League Cup game forward rather than leave it until after the original date.

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Newcastle remember Hereford

With an FA Cup game against Yeading on Saturday, Newcastle still remember the day Hereford United defeated them. Macolm Macdonald has spoken about the game in an article by Peter Gilder of the Newcastle Journal. Below is an edited version.



For millions, FA Cup third-round weekend is the highlight of the English domestic season. Yet Malcolm Macdonald will resist the temptation to tune in as the television cameras chronicle the latest encounter between the princes and the paupers.



Whether it is Newcastle's forthcoming match against Yeading, Chelsea's meeting with Scunthorpe or Manchester United's game with Exeter, it is the prospect of a footballing giant suffering a humiliating defeat which will make for essential viewing.



With the exception, that is, of the Macdonald household.



It is now 22 years since the Magpies were beaten by Hereford and Ronnie Radford's spectacular strike remains synonymous with the magic of the competition. But reminders are never far away.



"This weekend is the one time of year when I refuse to turn on the television," said Macdonald, a member of the United side humbled in the mud at Edgar Street in 1972.



The former Newcastle striker is so irked by the exposure that particular occasion still receives he is, at first, a reluctant talker.



"Every year I know they will continue to trot out the Hereford match and the Radford goal," he said.



"It's something that has been overused over the years. It is only ever used as a stick to beat Newcastle over the head with, but no one ever talks about how well Hereford played. It was a great achievement, but that's overlooked."



The images - which have long featured on the opening sequence of Match of the Day - are familiar. Radford's 35-yard strike, the invasion of the pitch by parka-clad teenagers, the euphoria of the players, the quagmire upon which Joe Harvey's side were beaten. So distraught was United's manager that on the journey back to the North-East, the team coach was forced to pull over so he could be sick on the roadside.



That Macdonald is less than keen to dredge up such memories is understandable, but he warms to the theme. He said: "What is forgotten so often is that Hereford had got a 2-2 draw at St James's Park. Colin Addison was the player-manager and he scored two fabulous goals.



"Hereford did exceptionally well to get a replay and, of course, it is that game that has become an historic occasion.



"We went there time and again - only for the match to be continually postponed - and, in the end, we found ourselves camped out at a hotel in Worcester.



"We had each gone there with an overnight bag but we finished up being at the hotel for around 10 days, trying to get this replay on.



"In the meantime, we were going off and playing First Division matches and then returning to the hotel in the hope that this game could be played."



It wasn't until February 5 - as their rivals embarked on their fourth-round ties - that Hereford were given the green light to stage the game. West Ham awaited, United fell.



"The pitch was awful, it had taken a severe battering over that January," recalled Macdonald, who scored in both games.



"We were all desperate to dispose of the replay, to put it behind us and move on in the competition. It didn't happen.



"We went 1-0 up but Ronnie Radford's goal will go down in history. I was running behind him and the ball sat up on a divot for him - he had never struck a ball like that before and he never did again." The contribution of Radford - a carpenter by trade - sent the replay into extra-time and, in front of a 15,000 full-house, Ricky George's deflected effort in the 103rd minute beat Willie McFaul to seal a result which remains in football folklore.



Yeading will hope history repeats itself on Sunday and Graeme Souness has already warned his team of the danger of treating the Ryman League hopefuls lightly.



The scale of Hereford's achievement is best put into context by the events of the following week.



Radford returned to his day job and the scorer of one of English football's most famous goals was busy putting a new roof on a house on Monday morning.



The humiliated Magpies travelled to the North-West to meet Manchester United.



"This is the stupidity of football," said Macdonald. "Having lost at Hereford on the Saturday, we went to Old Trafford next and gave Manchester United a real thrashing.



"For an hour before the game - and for the first 20 minutes of the game - the chants were `Hereford, Hereford, Hereford'.



"But where does that leave Manchester United in the general scheme of things, if Hereford can beat Newcastle and Newcastle can beat them?



"Life in football is strange, anything can happen. That's why I have never gambled on the sport in my life."

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Injury to Parry not so serious

The injury to Paul Parry last Monday is not as serious as first thought. The former Hereford United star was cut down by an opposing player and taken to hospital.



However Parry is not having the easiest time at Ninian Park recently as Chris O'Brien of Cardiff City website 'Bluebird To The Bone' explains.



He is coming across as an injury prone player and has already had several spells in the treatment room. This lack of first-team football is hampering his chances of regular football and Parry has found himself on the bench on numerous occasions and now faces a battle with teenage sensation Joe Ledley and a few other players to win back the left-midfield position.



After coming on as a late substitute during our 3-0 win over fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest, Parry was stretchered off with another injury. Early fears were that Parry had suffered a broken leg and his footballing year would be over before it had even begun, but this is not the case and though he will be out for a short while, the injury is not as serious as was first thought.



He arrived in the Second Division, well First Division, or is that Football League Championship, with a bang last season. However, he now isn't playing with the consistency he had been. Having said that, this is mainly down to the injuries and earlier in the season he covered up front when an injury crisis swept Ninian Park and he was impressive. I have little doubt Parry is a player more than capable of playing in the second flight, but the next 12 months will be interesting for the midfielder.

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Goalie problems at Wrexham

Hereford United's big LDV game against Wrexham is only three weeks away and as a result of an injury the Racecourse side currently haven't got a senior goalkeeper available.



Yesterday Wrexham played Sheffield Wednesday but went three goals down in just ten minutes, and to rub salt into their wounds, they finished with nine players when goalkeeper Andy Dibble was forced off with a thigh injury and all substitutions had been made.



At the beginning of the season ex-Hereford United stopper Matt Baker joined the North Wales club but he moved to MK Dons recently. Dibble was injured early in the campaign and Baker made a string of appearances, but Dibble regained his fitness and his place in the side.



Because of the severe financial problems Wrexham have, it was decided to let Baker leave.



Under the terms of their CVA, Wrexham will either have to play a goalie from their youth team or get special permission from the FA to bring one in.

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Why isn't Tam on the list

The people who run the Nationwide Conference have produced a list of five players to vote for to ascertain the Conference player of December.



The list of players on www.conferencefootball.co.uk is Elding, Gravioli, Griffin, Hawley and Redfern. All are strikers.



Tamika Mkandawire has played very well for Hereford United over the past month. He has consistantly been given high marks for his performances and has been Bulls News' man of the match on several occasions. But he is a defender and therefore does not appear on the list.



It has to be asked who picks the players to be voted for.



Voting will close on tomorrow at 12noon and the winner will be announced shortly afterwards.

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Bulls need some Beef in the Squad

Rumours on the Official Forum that Trevor Challis, currently with Shrewsbury, is to join the Bulls have not been confirmed by Hereford United. His name and that of Kevin Street, who had a trial at Edgar Street a couple of seasons ago, have been put forward by Shrewsbury as players they have received some interest in.



However both are "small" players. The Bulls squad needs a couple of strong-men to put some beef into the squad.



With several players out with injuries, and one or two others in need of a break, Hereford could be down to a bare minimum side for Saturday's clash with Burton unless Graham Turner signs a player or two in the next couple of days.



It is very doubtful that either Danny Williams or Rob Purdie will feature. Lee Mills is still being troubled by an ankle problem and Ryan Green does not yet look 100% fit after his spell out.



Graham Turner told the Evening News a week before Christmas that he would like to strengthen his squad probably early in the new year.



"We've said before that we are looking to strengthen the side but we've got to bring in a better quality of player than what we already have.



"That's not easy because we are coming into a busy period, other clubs have a number of injuries, and they don't want their players to go. That's one of the problems we've found, clubs are hanging onto them.



"There's three areas that we are looking to strengthen in but I'm not looking to go into detail. We will have to see what unfolds early in the New Year."



So the impression has to be that a couple of new signings are on the way but how soon is open to debate.



And if he keeps to his word and brings in a "better quality of player than we already have" that probably won't include either Challis or Street.

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United still third

Hereford United stay third in the Nationwide Conference after Halifax Town lost 2-1 to Accrington Stanley this lunchtime.



Meanwhile reports from Ninian Park say that ex Hereford United star Paul Parry has been stretched off just four minutes after coming on as a sub in the Cardiff game this afternoon against Nottingham Forest.



He was chopped down by Mathieu Louis-Jean.



The official Cardiff website says he has suffered a bad injury. Later reports say he was taken to hospital but it is not yet known how serious the injury to his leg might be.

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Bulls stay third at present

Hereford United remain in third place in the Conference table as Stevenage failed to defeat Barnet this afternoon at Underhill.



Carlisle could only draw with Morecambe so the gap between them and the Bulls is now four points.



However Halifax will go above Hereford tomorrow if they win their game against Accrington. Their goal difference is one better than the Bulls.



The table is as follows:



Barnet 25-58

Carlisle 24-45

Hereford 24-41

Exeter 24-40

Stevenage 24-39

Halifax 22-38.



Meanwhile the gate at Hereford yesterday of 3978 was just 32 less than the equivalent game played on Boxing Day last season. It was the highest attendance at Edgar Street this season so far and was a much smaller reduction in spectators than for the game played at Exeter (against Hereford) last week where the drop in support was 514.



Todays gate at runaway leaders Barnet was 3520, a good crowd for Underhill, but Carlisle must be disappointed that they only managed to attract 6751 to their game. There was a higher gate of 6772 when Hereford United played at Brunton Park back in October.

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Backlash against Shepherd features Parry

The continuing backlash against the comments of Newcastle chairman, Freddie Shepherd, about non-league clubs surfaces again in today's NLP.



Shepherd recently said that non-league clubs are no longer of value to the professional game. The article suggests otherwise and features the rise of several players from the Conference. It suggests that the biggest success story of 2004 was that of Paul Parry.



Parry moved from Edgar Street to Ninian Park last January and went on to play for Wales within four weeks.



"You have to remember I'm still young in football terms, but I thought playing for a Football League club and scoring a winning goal for my country had passed me by," said Parry.



"When I played for Hereford I always thought I had to be patient and maybe one day somebody would come along and take a chance, and that club happened to be Cardiff City.



"I had only played about half a dozen games for City, so when I was called up into the Wales squad it all came as a major surprise.



"When I was contacted by someone at the club, I honestly thought somebody was winding me up.



"Don't forget, I've played in Non-League, so I know what it is like on the other side of the fence."



Four other Hereford United players moved to League Football in 2004.

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Turner praises Exeter

Graham Turner, the Hereford United manager, has told the NLP that the howling gale helped Exeter more than Hereford yesterday.



"You don't really want to be playing Exeter in conditions like this because what they do, they do very well.



"We need better conditions than this to pass the ball. We had a go and wern't out-battled today but they got a couple of breaks.



"I can't think for the life of me where the referee got the foul for the free-kick which led to their second goal. He certainly saw something I didn't.



"We also have justifiable grounds for complaint after a couple of the sendings-off that we have had here that their left-back Alex Jeannin stayed on the pitch.



"I thought that his tackle on Ryan Green was a sending-off in itself but then he struck Simon Travis in the face.



"They were lucky to get away with that."



The Exeter mamager, Alex Inglethrope, admitted that it was not a game for the purist.



"It was probably the team which coped best with the conditions which was going to win the match," he said.

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Grecians do the double over United

Exeter City completed a double over Hereford United with a 2-1 vicotry at Edgar Street this afternoon. Adam Stansfield's second half strike was sandwiched between two goals from free kicks for the Grecians who move to within a point of Hereford in the league table.

Hereford fielded an unchanged side from that which defeated Leigh R.M.I last Tuesday meaning no return for the injured Lee Mills or Danny Williams. Rob Purdie has now been added to the injured list after he pulled up with less than ten minutes of the game gone having sustained an injury to his hamstring.

After five minutes Stansfield thought that he should have won a free kick in a dangerous position when he tried to latch onto Mark Robinson's long header, but he felt he was being held back by Scott Hiley. Ryan Green was introduced for Purdie soon after. Paul Buckle forced the first save out of the game, but his shot from the edge of the area was easily gathered by Craig Mawson to his left.

Alex Jeannin was very lucky to remain on the field of play following an incident with Green. He slid in from behind on Green and then, as a few other players got involved, Jeannin raised a hand and appeared to slap Simon Travis in the face. Wayne Rooney was punished with a three match ban for a similar incident not so long ago when the referee had not seen what had happened. Jeannin was booked and Exeter were almost punished further when Green's cross was met by the head of Stansfield, but Martin Rice caught at full stretch.

Twenty one minutes were on the clock when Exeter went up the other end and won a free kick in line with the angle of the penalty area. Andy Talyor hammered the ball into the area and it took a deflection of the head of Stansfield, causing Mawson who had came out to claim, to miss the ball as it ended up in the back of an empty net. Dean Moxey was just inches away from doubling the lead with his thunderous volley that just went over from no more than twelve yards out.

Brown found Green's forward run with a well timed pass but there was nobody to meet Green's pass that went straight across the goal face. Mark Robinson went quite close just before half time with an effort from thiry yards that was assisted by a strong wind that had started to wake up around Edgar Street. This wind was very strong in the half time break and continued into the second half meaning conditions were awful for football.

The 538 away fans in a crowd of 3,978, thought that Steve Flack had doubled the lead when he touched the ball around Mawson as he met a cross from the left, but as he knocked the ball into the back of the net the linesman signalled for offside. Hereford failed to create much and the conditions did little to help this. Pitman played a couple of neat passes to the right but when Green found Brown the attackers cross was easily dealt with at the near post. Sean Devine got into a good position on the right and hit a cross that clipped off Robinson, causing it to spin awkwardly. The cross bounced in the area but man of the match Tamika Mkandawire headed out for a corner well.

Stansfield made amends for his earlier mistake by putting the ball in the net again, but this time it was the correct one. A mix up in the defence led to a header being played back towards Rice in goal, but Stansfield chased it down and beat Rice to the ball, touching it past him and then he had the simple task of netting into an open goal for the equaliser. However, the Grecians found themselves in the lead just five minutes later.

Graham Hyde was extremely harshly penalised for obstruction when he seemed to be in control of the ball on the edge of his own penalty area. The rules for this foul indicate that an indirect free kick should be awarded but the referee allowed a direct shot from the kick that Taylor hammered into the top left corner for the winning goal. Danny Carey-Bertram replaced Craig Stanley on the left soon after as Graham Turner looked for different attacking options.

Robinson crossed from a corner but Mkandawire's header was hooked away and out for another corner as United pressed for another equaliser. Brown had a good effort from the edge of the box but Rice palmed away low to his left. However Hereford could not find the second goal that they needed.

Hereford may feel slightly aggrieved that they did not take at least a point from the game that was played in difficult conditions for a large part. They will not be happy with the referee's decision to give a free kick that led to the winning goal as it was a very harsh decision against Hyde, who seemed to do nothing but open up his body. The Bulls will now have to regroup after this dissapointing festive period and try to string together some results in order to help cement their position in the play offs.

HUFC Team: Mawson, Travis, James, Mkandawire, Robinson, Stanley, Hyde, Pitman, Purdie, Stansfield, Brown. Subs: Tretton, Smith, Green, Scott, Carey-Bertram.

ECFC Team: Rice, Hiley, Sawyer, Gaia, Jeannin, Buckle, Martin, Moxey, Taylor, Devine, Flack. Subs: Jones, Sheldon, Edwards, Afful, Ibe.

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Poor start to New Year for Bulls

Exeter City took the points this afternoon against a Hereford United side that seemed to be unable to match the physical strength of the Grecians.



In a game, which was spoilt both by the referee and the weather, the Bulls were perhaps unlucky with the two Exeter goals, the first an own-goal from Stansfield and the second from a free kick after Graham Hyde was judged to have fouled an Exeter forward. Stansfield replied with a simple tap-in after the Grecian goalie had failed to collect a ball.



But throughout most of the game Exeter looked sharper and quicker to the ball and probably deserved the points.



Adam Stansfield, interviewed on BBC H&W after the game, thought the conditions - strong wind and a soggy pitch - suited their style of play.



"We like to pass it and try and play it more on the floor. Nine times out of ten against other teams we would win," said the Hereford United striker.

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Visits to Edgar Street

The following article appears in today's Express and Echo.



There was only one thing good about the visit to Hereford United's Edgar Street ground - the pasty.



So much so, I ate two of them that afternoon. Okay, I can hear the choruses of "Who Ate All The Pies?"



It was a miserable day all round otherwise. The pitch was a quagmire and only barely playable.



City lost and my journey home took ages as we broke down in the village of Dymock!



Anyone who has passed through Dymock will know that there isn't anything there, especially when you are trying to kill a couple of hours waiting for the welcome sight of the AA man. However, although this happened a few years ago, there are personal memories of Edgar Street which are far better.



I recall watching the Grecians play in a pre-season friendly against Hereford, who were at that time managed by the legendary John Charles. He might have been in his latter years as a player, but the way he bossed the Hereford defence that afternoon, without really breaking into much more than trot, was a joy to watch.



In the Hereford squad that day was former Exeter City winger Bruce Walker, who had moved there that summer on a free transfer. I remember Bruce coming out of the ground before the game to greet his former team-mates as they stepped off the coach.



Walker, who had been signed by City in 1969 from Bradford, was noted for his rocket powered shot. Unfortunately, it wasn't always accurate, rather like American cruise missiles. Promises much but rarely hits the target. He lacked a bit of consistency and was therefore 'on his bike' to Hereford, safely passing through Dymock no doubt, after just one season at St James's Park.



And who could forget the sight of Snow White and her Seven Dwarves parading in front of the grandstand at Edgar Street on another visit made there by the City? Apparently they were appearing in a local pantomime .... Snow White and her Dwarves that is, not City .... although there have been many occasions when the Grecians have played as badly as a poorly acted panto.



Hereford have occasionally, for big matches, paraded a bull around the pitch, hence the club nickname, 'The Bulls', but this time we were treated to Snow White instead, which I must admit was preferable to an old, knackered-looking farm animal.



One of the more memorable visits to Edgar Street was for a first round, first leg tie in the Football League Cup in August 1979. A hat-trick by Keith Bowker put City in the driving seat for the return leg as the Grecians won 3-1. One of Bowker's goals was purely down to the determination of Dave Pullar, who chased a seemingly lost cause and managed to whip in a cross from right on the byline, which everyone else had given up on.



City went on to reach the fourthn round of the League Cup when they lost 2-0 to Liverpool at Anfield.



I've been to Hereford's ground on several occasions, not just to watch Exeter play there, but have only once sat in the main grandstand, preferring to usually stand somewhere near the halfway line on the opposite side of the pitch.



This particular occasion though, I had received an invite and a free ticket to sit in the stand courtesy of ATV - remember them? They had the franchise to cover the Midlands area for ITV.



At the time I was providing statistical notes for their commentary team - Hugh Johns and Gary Newbon - as they covered various games in the Midlands area. With the Hereford v Exeter City fixture, played on March 10, 1973 and shown on television, they therefore invited me along to the actual game.



The Grecians fielded a debutant in their side, namely John Benson, who had been signed on loan from AFC Bournemouth. He only played in three more matches for City before returning to Dean Court.



Again, it wasn't a good day for the Grecians as Hereford netted the only goal of the afternoon. Hopefully it will be better for City today and they get a point or three to follow their 4-0 Boxing Day win over Hereford at the Park.

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United need a winning start to 2005

Hereford United need to secure all three points from their game against Exeter City this afternoon to keep their promotion dreams a reality.



Anything less than a point could mean that the Bulls drop down the table should Stevenage and Halifax win their weekend games. The Conference League is very tight with only six points separating third place Hereford to Aldershot who are in twelth position.



There are three live Conference games on Sky this weekend, two on Sunday and one on Monday. All the results will be of interest to Hereford United and should give a idea of how those other teams at the top are currently performing. The games being televised are Barnet against Stevenage (Sunday 12.15pm), Carlisle against Morecambe (Sunday 2.15pm) and Halifax against Accrington (Monday 12.05pm).



Meanwhile Bulls News would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year.

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