Friendly Round-Up

Football League newcomers Accrington Stanley lost 3-2 to Championship Burnley despite having a two goal lead. Andy Mangan and ex Bulls striker David Brown had given Stanley the lead before Burnley pulled back, with goals from Andy Gray, Steve Jones and Alan Mahon.

Former Stevenage striker Anthony Elding equalised for Boston against Ipswich after Nicky Forster's opener. Good news on former Hereford midfielder Gavin Williams who came through his first game since February due to a cartilage injury unscathed. New manager Jim Magilton told the Official Ipswich website, "Gavin did terrific in the middle of the park, and I was really pleased with his all-round game."

In other games, Joe Anyinsah was on the scoresheet for Preston, in their 4-1 victory over Chorley. This was Paul Simpson's first game in charge since leaving Carlisle, who beat local side Penrith 3-1 with Karl Hawley playing up front.

Finally, Birmingham, who play Hereford next Saturday, got their pre-season underway with a crushing 5-1 victory over Burton Albion. Ex-Yeading striker DJ Campbell hit four goals, including three in three minutes whilst Cameron Jerome scored the other. Andy Ducros pulled one back for Burton in front of a decent crowd at the Pirelli Stadium. As of yet, it is unknown what kind of side Birmingham will send to Edgar Street this coming Saturday, on their Official Website, the game today was listed as a first team friendly, but next weeks game is only listed as a reserve game.

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Pre-season going well says Turner

In his weekly interview with Trevor Owens of BBC Hereford and Worcester, Hereford United manager Graham Turner spoke about pre-season preparations.

"I'm pleased with the attitude of the players and the general level of fitness, great spirit amongst the players already.

"We got the balls out on the first day. We've been to Gloucester University to do all the endurance tests. We've had the dietician in with fat content tests. For a small club we are as professional as we can be.

"You talk to some of the newcomers - have you done this before. No, most of them have never experienced this before. So we're fairly advanced in our training. Delighted to have facilities like we have at Gloucester University to do all the individual testing of players.

"We've got a couple of players that could do with losing a little bit of fat content but that will come next week through the pre-season programme.

Turner talked about the weights aspect.

"There's two aspects of it. We do some explosive work to improve power and pace and then we do a lot of upper body weights.

"Most of the modern players are very muscular and that comes as most clubs concentrate on upper body strength.

"I think the Second Division is going to be a fair test for us this season in our abiltity to deal with big strong sides. The vast majority of sides rely on power and pace."

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New supporters group at Malvern

The promotion of Hereford United to League Two has prompted a group of supporters based at the Cross Keys, Malvern to set up H.U.M.A.D.S.

H.U.M.A.D.S., is the all new Malvern and district Hereford United supporters club , our main objective is to raise funds for GT to push United up the leagues and enjoy our days /weekends following our beloved whites.

Our 1st meeting will be to reform the club on Thursday 20th July @ 8pm ..venue ..the Cross Keys Inn , Belmont Road , Malvern.

Topics on the night include , fundraising such as virtual snail racing , football quizes , casino night etc , social events , 3 course meal and night at the greyhounds , indian night , karting , clubbing and also interhouse pool , darts , skittles and football matches , merchandise to profit the club ,sweatshirts ,t s , polos ,jackets , caps badges , subsidised travel ie Swindon , Bristol Rovers £ 8 £ 10 (loads travelling ) would help subsidise Hartlepool , Darlington £15 max ( if only 12 ) travelled on the coach competition s 1st scorer and time of goal.

Ticketing ..instead of many many fans travelling all the way to Edgar Street to collect tickets it would be call in and 1 block booking , player sponsorship , and finally our own website with , latest news , travel details , merchandise , match reports by local fans views , advertisers.

Latest ..Torquay United weekender , friday 4th may 12noon - till sunday 7pm return , at hufc friendly hotel B+B , the final game of the season , at night either clubbing or bingo , sunday at leisure , karting optional , approx £45 - £55 travel inc.

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Ludlow look forward to visit of Bulls

Ludlow Town entertain Hereford United next Tuesday in what is both clubs first pre-season friendly.

Yesterday Hereford United manager Graham Turner told BBC Hereford and Worcester how he would approach the game.

"We've got one or two trialists in so we can have a good look at them in a game.

"We'll give the pros here perhaps 45 minutes each just to get their legs stretched and a first game under their belt."

Meanwhile, Ludlow manager Chris Richards has told the South Shropshire Journal that the chance of his team playing against Hereford was too good an opportunity to miss.

"Hereford apologised at the short notice of the game, but it was the only time they could fit us in," he said.

"It's an exciting prospect and will be a challenge as Graham Turner will be sending his first team and we're hoping for a good crowd to come and watch."

The match will take place on Ludlow's first team pitch, despite repairs to the surface currently being carried out.

Finally, Jamie Tolley has been given a squad number by Shrewsbury. He is said to have trained with the squad yesterday despite rumours of a move away from the Gay Meadow.

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Yeovil quiet on Parry

Rumours that Yeovil could sign former Hereford United start Paul Parry from Cardiff City seem to have gone quiet at least for the present.

Yeovil's general manager, John Milton, has told the Western Daily Press that the club is still monitoring the Welshman.

"On Parry, we have not spoken to Cardiff yet about money - we have just spun the plate on that one."

Meanwhile Graham Evans is back at Caersws after failing to agree terms at TNS to where he moved from Hereford last January.

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Turner talks about recruiting new players

Graham Turner has been telling BBC Hereford and Worcester about how his quest for new signings is going.

"We've had one knock back; one who's still thinking about it and one's going to come and have a little period with us so we can take a look at him and he can take a look at the club.

"League players' contracts finished at the end of June, but they are entitled to a month's severance pay, so they're still being paid.

"There's been no urgency to get them settled down, but it's getting to the stage where agents are starting to get concerned for them and you can see something happening through the month of July where players start to make up their minds."

Turner admits he can't offer as much money to players as some other clubs so has to attract them to Hereford in other ways like suggesting how he can improve young players.

"It's a good selling point when you're trying to sign younger players and you've got competition for them from other clubs.

"Maybe we can't compete financially, but we can certainly compete from a professional point of view regarding an improvement of that individual.

"I say to players that money is always important, but at certain stages of their career it's not the most important thing; they've got to start to get up the ladder again, and there's no better place to do that than here."

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Williams 22/1 For Top Scorer

Andy Williams is rated a 22/1 shot to be top scorer in League Two, according to Bet365.

No other Bulls striker currently makes the list which is headed by Jamie Cureton at 9/1, who has already left Swindon following their relegation. Grimsby striker Michael Reddy is a 10/1 shot.

Other names of note are Accrington's Paul Mullin at 28/1, ex-Bull David Brown at 33/1, Anthony Elding at 16/1, and last season's Conference top scorer Andy Bishop at 25/1.

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Vice-Presidents hold their AGM

The Hereford United Vice-Presidents held their AGM last week.

At the meeting Phil Cleeton announced he was stepping down after being chairman for the past three years. No replacement was agreed on the night.

Two new committee members were appointed, Ron Moody and Jon Hale. They join Tony Cole, Stuart Sheehan, Martin Watson, Richard Howard, Veronica Richardson and Matthew White.

The club had 69 members during the season.

The subscription for the coming season, which includes a seat for all Football League, cup and friendly matches was set at £450, a rise of £75 on last season.

As previously reported by Bulls News the VP's handed over £32,000 to Hereford United in the twelve months ending last May.

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Redfearn Quits Scarboro

Neil Redfearn has departed as manager of demoted Scarboro.

The move comes three weeks after Redfearn claimed none of his staff had been paid for two months. Chairman Ian Scobbie refuted the claims and was angry at Redfearn's comments.

Redfearn quit after Scobbie told him that he would be working with former Leigh manager Mark Patterson next season rather than current assistant Eric Winstanley, who was to be given his notice.

Patterson is now likely to return to the club as manager after an earlier spell as Assistant boss, and is well versed with operating on a strict budget following his time at Leigh.

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Yeovil End Roberts Chase

Yeovil have ended their pursuit of Accrington midfielder Gary Roberts after a third bid was rejected by the Lancashire club.

Boss Russell Slade may now turn his full attention to former Bulls winger Paul Parry, who is believed to be available at Cardiff. Slade also has three other targets to fill the left wing position.

In other news, Aldershot boss Terry Brown has expressed his delight at signing John Grant: "John Grant is a proven scorer at this level, scoring 13 goals in a side that got to a play-off final and he even scored in that final. To nick Halifax's leading scorer is a major boost for us."

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Nothing to report from Turner

Graham Turner has told the Hereford Times that, as yet, there have been no new signings so far this week.

However he admitted that a League One player had decided not to come to Edgar Street.

"I am still talking to a number of players," said Turner.

Meanwhile the paper reports that the Edgar Street Grid board has two new members, namely Ted Willmott and Charles Ingleby.

Willmott has lived in the county for thirty years and was chief executive of the Construction Training Board.

Ingleby was a partner in a specialist firm of property consultants in London for 15 years. He lives on a Herefordshire farm.

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Brough Joins Cheltenham Training

John Brough is a surprising face at pre-season training for the League One newboys.

But the former Bulls defender, allowed to leave Aldershot earlier in the year after a series of disappointing displays, is there for his coaching badges and no more.

Brough, 33, left Aldershot 'by mutual consent' and joined Newport. He will help train the u-16 and u-18 sides for Cheltenham before joining Newport for their Conference South season. He will join former Bulls keeper Tony Pennock at the Newport Stadium. Brough played 112 times for the Bulls between 1994 and 1998.

Two other former Bulls players, Nigel Vaughan and Steve Lowndes, were in attendance at Newport last weekend for a 25th anniversary reunion of Newport's Cup Winners Cup quarter final game with Carl Zeiss Jena. Vaughan was a Graham Turner signing for Wolves, but managed just 13 games for the Bulls in two years in the early 1990's. Lowndes played 49 times for the Bulls in the same two years between two stints at Newport and a four year term at Barnsley.

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Five Return For Crawley Training

Just five of Crawley's existing players turned up for pre-season training this week, according to reports.

Thirteen triallists were also at the training session that was due to feature more than a dozen existing Crawley players despite the club breaching their contracts several times over the course of last season. Several of them are on trial at other Conference clubs.

Meanwhile, claimed co-owner Chas Majeed was arrested twice on Saturday for allegedly assaulting Crawley fans. Fans arrived at the Ja Ja Bar in Crawley, one of the Majeed's bars, to voice their displeasure at the Majeed's ownership, and Majeed is alleged to have thrown one of them through a glass door.

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The Wilderness Years out in November

Ron Parrott's new book the Wilderness Years is to be released in November. He has told Bulls News that "the book preparation is going well." The book covers Hereford United's time in the Conference.

The following is from the publishers website - www.desertislandbooks.com

HEREFORD UNITED: THE WILDERNESS YEARS 1997-2006

by Ron Parrott, Richard Prime and John Williamson (due November 2006) Hardback 240x159mm
160 pages. Illustrated
ISBN: 1-905328-22-2
£14.99

SUBSCRIBE NOW: £14.99 plus £2 post per copy. Your name will appear in the back of the book, alongside your choice of favourite Hereford player 1997-2006. Subscribe either through our eBay shop or use our Order Form. (found on the website)

Option 1. If subscribing through our eBay shop ("Soccer English A-H"), add the name of your favourite player and say how you wish your own name to appear.

Option 2. If subscribing through our Order Form, put the name of your favourite player in the "Football Subscribers" box at the bottom of the form and send cheque for £16.99 (SAE if receipt required).

Option 3. Subscribers to The Wilderness Years can also buy the paperback of The League Era for £9.99, saving £5 (UK post-free). Payment for this option is by cheque only (£26.98 for both books, SAE if receipt required).

PLEASE NOTE "THE WILDERNESS YEARS" IS NOT DUE UNTIL NOVEMBER 2006. OUR WEBSITE WILL GIVE UPDATES ON PUBLICATION DATE.

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Talking Bull T-Shirts

"Talking Bull" has been pointed in the direction of a company in Malvern who produces good-quality Bulls clothing. There is a t-shirt(The Bulls/England) and polo-shirt(Conference Play-off Winners), which they will be selling for £12.50 and £15 respectively. The pictures of each are alongside.

Please send cheques (payable to "Talking Bull") to:-Chris Jones; 36 Oak Crescent; Leicester Forest East; Leicester; LE3 3FL.

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Friendly at Ludlow next Tuesday

Hereford United have announced another friendly. This one will take place at Ludlow next Tuesday, July 11th, starting at 7.45pm.

They have also confirmed that the Open Day will take place on Sunday July 23nd from 11am to 2pm.

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Tolley linked with Bulls

There is speculation this lunchtime that James Tolley could be coming to Hereford.

The Shropshire Star reports that although mid-fielder Tolley is attracting attention from Chester he is expected to return to Shrewsbury tomorrow for pre-season training

The paper then suggest that Hereford "are also rumoured to be interested" also manager Gary Peters says he's unaware of any interest from Hereford United's manager Graham Turner

Tolley is out of contract but Shrewsbury would receive some sort of compensation package, should he leave, under the Bosman ruling.

23 year-old Tolley has come through the youth system at the Gay Meadow. He has also played for the Welsh under 21's.

Meanwhile former Bull Richard Teesdale could be moving to Redditch from Hednesford.

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Bradders to replace Boyden

Dave Bradley is to take over the Tuesday evening sports programme on BBC Hereford and Worcester from Malcolm Boyden.

In essence Boyden is moving back to BBC WM for the rest of the summer. He presented his last programme in the present series yesterday evening.

His style of broadcasting didn't always go down well with Hereford United supporters, but he will be especially remembered for the half hour or so he was live on the pitch at the Walkers Stadium as the Bulls celebrated their promotion to League Two.

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Sunderland to visit the New Lawn

Forest Green Rovers are to celebrate the opening of their new stadium with a visit from Sunderland on July 15th. Hereford United play their friendly at the New Lawn ten days later.

It will be Sunderland's first game under its new regime led by Niall Quinn.

There is a link between the two clubs as Gary Owens, the FGR manager, played for Sunderland from 1987 to 1994.

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George calls for Lasting Memorial for John Charles

Ricky George has called for a lasting memorial to the legend John Charles who joined Hereford United 40 years ago.

In an interview this morning on BBC Hereford and Worcester, George spoke about the Gentle Giant's time at Edgar Street.

"John was a God to our generation and when he signed for Hereford and went into Non-League football it was an opportunity for players and people who hadn't seen him play live to get a glimpse of this man.

"I remember when I first saw him live when I was playing for Barnet I was just in awre of him. He wasn't just a fanastic player but had this wonderful physic.

"But the great thing about him as a manager was that he was so unassuming. He was modest, he was funny. He was just a ordinary guy that wanted to play football. He influenced us all just by being there.

"Everybody called him the Gentle Giant. It didn't mean that he didn't play with passion but if anybody did anything at all which could be construed as dirty or over the top it offended him.

"He commanded a massive respect in the dressing room.

"There was a great story with Ronnie Radford's first game for us. When Ronnie arrived in the summer of 71, we had a pre-season friendly away at Shrewsbury. Just before we went out Ronnie asked John where he wanted him to play. John said you're a midfield player aren't you. Ronnie said yes so John said play midfield then.

"I think he was the best header of a football and I think that is acknowledged by the rest of the world in football. He wasn't just tall, John had fanastic timing.

"I also remember games when we were struggling, 0-0 or 1-0 down, and we needed something. John would just say hit one to the far post and I'll score a goal for us.

"I think (a lasting memorial) would be so fitting and I can't imagine anybody in Hereford who wouldn't agree with it.

"He was adored at Leeds, he was adored at Juventus and he was certainly adored at Hereford.

"It was his team, complimented by Colin Addison, that had the cup run and it was his team that finally got Hereford into the Football League."

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Talking Bull out for New Season

A new issue of Talking Bull is taking shape and it is hoped that the Hereford United fanzine will be out for the first game of the season.

The editors still have some space to fill and so contributions are welcome.

Ideally they would like them by 20th July - please send them to zebemach@ukonline.co.uk

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Funbus to sponsor Wallis

The "Funbus" crew have agreed to sponsor new signing Jon Wallis who has moved to Hereford United after being released by Gillingham.

The "Funbus" is a select group of Bulls' supporters who travel to every away game. They usually hire a 16 seater minibus for their trips, but their reputation is growing and they are considering using a coach for some of this seasons games because of the number of fans that wish to travel with them.

Meanwhile HUISA are planning to put on a coach for the pre-season trip to Forest Green if there is enough support.

Admission to the Forest Green game (July 25th 7.45pm):

Seating: £10 Adults £5 Concessions

Standing: £8 Adults £4 Concessions

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New Preview Magazine for League Two

With Hereford United gearing up for life in League Two, supporters will have a new League Two preview magazine to read.

It is said that the publication will give supporters a unique guide to the forthcoming season and will be packed with articles featuring the clubs and key personalities.

"For the first time ever supporters of League clubs will have an official pre-season preview magazine solely dedicated to the division they watch week-in and week-out," said Football League Head of Communications John Nagle.

"At three pounds for 100 pages they will be something that fans will want to buy and then refer to again and again throughout the season ahead."

The new magazines will be available from July 24th through club outlets.

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It was Fourty Years Ago Today

Memories of what happened in Hereford United's history usually dwell on those Cup games in 1972, but it is sometimes forgotten that the catalyst in bringing that squad together was John Charles who joined the Bulls fourty years today.

King John, as he was known, was born and raised in Swansea but was scouted by Leeds where he made his debut in 1949 when only 17. He moved onto Juventus in 1957 where he was given the title King John. Charles returned to Leeds in 1962, then moved to Roma before returning to Wales with Cardiff City. From there he moved to Hereford United.

At the end of the 65/66 season Charles decided his Football League playing days were over but wanted to continue playing football at some level. Cardiff gave Charles a free transfer and amidst the offers he received was one from Bob Dennison, the manager of Hereford United at the time.

Charles went away to his Italian holiday home to consider his future. Dennison was also on holiday at the same time. So Harold Rumsey and Frank Miles went to Italy and found Charles.

Harold Rumsey was a director of Hereford United and Frank Miles was chairman of the Hereford United Supporters Club at the time.

"Harold and I flew to Nice. We hired a car and drove to Diano Marina where Charles was on holiday," said Miles.

"It went smoothly. John was such a nice bloke. He didn't ask for the sky."

On their return from Italy Rumsey told the Hereford Times that it was no secret that they wanted to sign Charles. They had seen Charles play in two pre-season friendlies when the Gentle Giant had scored in both games and their current striker Ron Fogg had left Edgar Street.

On July 3rd 1966 Charles telephoned Rumsey from his home in Cardiff and agreed to sign. Rumsey is then said to have driven to Cardiff with the required forms and the deal was done.

"John came to Hereford completely out of the blue. It was an amazing signing really. He was such a big man. No wonder he could get such power on his headers," recalled Roger Griffiths, a right-back at Edgar Street in 1966.

Charles scored 37 goals in his first year with Hereford, not bad for a 34 year-old. And in his second year he managed five goals in one game admittedly in a Welsh Cup fixture against Llanidloes.

But a surprise move to management for Charles came in December 1967 after Dennison moved to Coventry. Bill Humphries, who was then Hereford's chairman, offered Charles the role of player-manager. Charles was said to be thrilled to bits and even agreed to attend an FA coaching course.

It didn't all go Charles' way as results in the main were disappointing for several seasons. But slowly he was putting together a side that will be remembered for all the right reasons.

Dudley Tyler joined Hereford United in 1969 and Ricky George and Ronnie Radford were two players who joined the club in 1971.

Eventually the strain was beginning to tell on Charles who also had business commitments in Cardiff. There was talk of clashes about team selection with chairman Frank Miles who had taken over from Humphries.

In September 1971 Charles resigned. Colin Addison took over and led the Bulls into the Football League and then came that FA Cup replay against Newcastle.

Eleven of the twelve who featured for Hereford United that day were signed by John Charles.

Charles was made an CBE in 2001. He died in February 2004.


Postcript: Much of the above material was drawn from two books on John Charles.

King John the Autobiography was written by John Charles with Bob Harris.

John Charles Gentle Giant was written by Mario Risoli.

Both contain chapters on Charles' time at Hereford United.

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Chester Chairman Expects Promotion

Chester chairman Stephen Vaughan has told the local press that he expects promotion this season.

With 10 new players already onboard, and four more deals in motion, there will be just six players from last season in a new look Chester side.

Vaughan told the Daily Post: "I am determined we earn automatic promotion next season and I have told Mark (Wright) that if the players he needs cost money and those prices are realistic, then we will go for them.

"We have had an offer for Ricky Ravenhill accepted by Doncaster and we will increase our offer for Jamie Tolley. The club is buzzing at the moment and it's an extremely exciting place to be."

Chester are believed to have offered £50,000 for Shrewsbury midfielder Jamie Tolley, but the Shrews want £100,000 for the out of contract midfielder. Deals for Exeter's Glen Cronin and Doncaster's Ricky Ravenhill are both also due to go through soon along with a move for Tranmere defender Paul Linwood.

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Grant Signs For Shots

Former Bulls striker John Grant has sign for Aldershot, it has been confirmed today.

Grant, 24, left Halifax last week after refusing a new contract, and was originally believed to be bound for Altrincham. Aldershot have signed him and experienced striker Marcus Gayle, the 35 year old former Wimbledon and Watford striker, after losing Jason Lee to Notts County and failing to agree a permanent deal for former loanee Jonny Dixon.

Grant arrived with the Bulls in the summer of 2002 and told Bulls fans he would score 20 a season but, in his only campaign at Edgar Street, he managed just four goals from 26 games. He has since failed to impress fans of Shrewsbury, Telford, and Halifax in scoring just 32 goals in 164 games.

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Friendlies start Saturday week

Hereford United start their friendly games a week next Saturday with the visit of Birmingham City. Currently the Official Birmingham Website says this will be a reserve team.

There are five friendlies listed to date, and one of those is the Cup game against Westfields.

However as the season starts on August 5th with the game at Stockport it is expected that any other friendlies will be announced this week. Normally the Bulls visit a couple of local clubs, but only the game at Forest Green has yet been confirmed.

List of Pre-season fixtures:

Sat July 15th: Birmingham City Reserves - Edgar Street - 3.00pm
Tues July 18th: Westfields - Edgar Street - 7.45pm
Sat July 22nd: Bristol Rovers - Edgar Street - 3.00pm
Tues July 25th: Forest Green - The New Lawn - 7.45pm
Sat July 29th: Cheltenham Town - Edgar Street - 3.00pm

Meanwhile Sky are listing the away game at Grimsby on Sunday October 8th as a 4pm start. If confirmed the game will be the first this season in League Two to be covered by Sky. It is a tribute to Hereford United that a game involving the Bulls have been selected in front of the other newcomers to League Two, Accrington Stanley.

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Green looks for promotion challenge

Ryan Green has been speaking to the Western Daily Press about his hopes that his new club might challenge for promotion this season.

Now 25, Green hopes his move to Rovers from Hereford United will be a case of second time lucky as he had hoped to join his new club back in 2001 when Gerry Francis was in charge.

"I picked up an injury while I was here and nothing came of it, so I ended up at Millwall," said Green.

"But I'm delighted to be here now. I knew a couple of the lads already. I knew Aaron Lescott because I was at Wolves with his brother Joleon, and I was at Millwall with Robbie Ryan.

"It seems like the club have got a good set of lads and I can't wait until the pre-season games start now.

"It's going to be a tough league to get out of with teams like Hartlepool and MK Dons coming down, and we have a tough start with Peterborough and Wycombe in the first couple of games.

"But hopefully we can reach at least the play-offs. It would be great to win promotion and then kick on from there."

Green did say that he looked at the fixture list to see when Rovers play the Bulls. The first clash at Bristol is in September and the return at Edgar Street on Boxing Day.

"I gave three years good service to Hereford and I hope I get a good reception. They have some good young players there and with a few more experienced people, I think they'll do OK."

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Tam happy to sign for another season

Hereford United's captain, Tamika Mkandawire, has been telling BBC Hereford and Worcester why it took so long for his signing to be announced.

"I went away for a couple of weeks and then the Gaffer went away as soon as I got back.

"I didn't really have a chance to speak to him but I was more than happy to sign."

Looking at the coming season Mkandawire admitted it would be hard.

"There's more good teams in this league than the Conference but everyone is looking forward to the challenge.

"We've played teams in the LDV like Port Vale and Scunthorpe and done well but playing a whole season as opposed to one off games is totally different.

"I'd like to think we'll do alright."

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Sheldon pleased to join the Bulls

Gareth Sheldon has told BBC Hereford and Worcester that the move from Aggbro to Edgar Street was relatively easy.

"After the season finished I knew that Hereford wanted to sign me anyway so just a phone-call and they said they'll take me," said Sheldon.

However he did say admit that the challenge would be a big one.

"Back in the League, new faces, new changing room, all new to me. I know a couple of the lads but I'm looking forward to the challenge.

"It will be a lot bigger squad than I'm used to. At Kidderminster you had a squad of 18 so you were always going to get a game or on the bench."

Sheldon has worked with Bulls coach John Trewick so will know his ways.

Yesterday he joined his new team-mates at a fitness session at Gloucester University.

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