1973–74 Hereford United F.C. season

Hereford United
1973–74 season
ChairmanFrank Miles
ManagerColin Addison
StadiumEdgar Street
Division Three18th
League CupFirst round
FA CupFourth round
Welsh CupFourth round
Top goalscorerLeague: Brian Evans (8)
All: Brian Evans and Jim Hinch (9)
Highest home attendance17,431 v Bristol City, FA Cup, 26 January 1974
Lowest home attendance3810 v Plymouth Argyle, Division Three, 20 February 1974
Average home league attendance8040
Biggest win3–0 v Brighton & Hove Albion (H), Division Three, 27 October 1973
3–0 v Walton & Hersham (H), FA Cup, 15 December 1973
3–0 v Southport (H), Division Three, 30 March 1974
Biggest defeat0–5 v Wrexham (A), Division Three, 22 December 1973

The 1973–74 season was the 44th season of competitive football played by Hereford United Football Club and their second in the Football League. Following promotion in their debut league season, the club competed in Division Three, as well as the League Cup, FA Cup and Welsh Cup.

Summary

Hereford enjoyed a steady start to the season and were as high as fifth in the table by the end of October. A sequence of only four wins in 17 matches between December and March checked their progress, but a nine-match unbeaten run pulled them clear of danger to an eventual 18th-place finish, eight points above the relegation zone.

In the FA Cup, Hereford evoked memories of their giant-killing exploits two years earlier with a 2–1 replay win over West Ham United in the third round. Alan Jones struck the winning goal after a late Pat Holland equaliser had denied Hereford victory in the first match at Upton Park. The Cup run ended in the next round at the hands of Bristol City.

On 26 September 1973, Brian Evans, a pre-season signing from Swansea City, became the first Hereford player to win an international cap when he featured in Wales' 3–0 defeat against Poland in a World Cup qualifier.[1]

Squad

Players who made one appearance or more for Hereford United F.C. during the 1973-74 season

Pos. Nat. Name League League Cup FA Cup Welsh Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK  ENG Peta Bala'c (on loan from Plymouth Argyle) 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 0
GK  SCO Tommy Hughes 43 0 1 0 5 0 0 0 49 0
GK  ENG Fred Potter 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
DF  ENG David Carver 14 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 16 0
DF  ENG Steve Emery 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
DF  WAL Alan Jones 24(1) 1 0 0 4 2 1 0 29(1) 3
DF  WAL Mick McLaughlin 43 0 1 0 5 0 0 0 49 0
DF  ENG Ken Mallender 26(1) 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 27(1) 1
DF  ENG Tommy Naylor 36 4 1 0 5 1 1 0 43 5
DF  ENG Billy Tucker 36 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 38 1
MF  ENG Colin Addison 7 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 9 0
MF  WAL Brian Evans 30(1) 8 1 0 5 1 0 0 36(1) 9
MF  ENG Alan Gane 6(3) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 6(3) 1
MF  ENG Harry Gregory 21 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 23 2
MF  ENG Ron Radford 33 3 1 0 5 0 0 0 39 3
MF  ENG David Rudge 27(4) 3 1 0 4 0 1 0 33(4) 3
MF  ENG Colin Tavener 22 2 1 0 3 0 1 0 27 2
MF  ENG Paul Taylor (on loan from York City) 0(1) 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1(1) 0
MF  ENG Dudley Tyler 21 2 0 0 4 1 1 0 26 3
FW  SCO Gary Bell (on loan from Cardiff City) 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
FW  SCO Willie Brown (on loan from Newport County) 9 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 5
FW  ENG Jim Hinch 22(5) 7 0 0 5 2 1 0 28(5) 9
FW  ENG David Jenkins 10(2) 0 1 0 0(1) 0 1 1 12(3) 1
FW  ENG Paul Lee 12(4) 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 12(4) 2
FW  ENG Brian Owen 15(6) 2 0(1) 0 2(2) 1 0 0 17(9) 3
FW  ENG Eric Redrobe 21(4) 5 1 0 3(1) 1 0 0 25(5) 6
FW  ENG John Ritchie 10(1) 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 10(1) 3

[2][3]

League table

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
16 Tranmere Rovers 46 15 15 16 50 44 1.136 45
17 Plymouth Argyle 46 17 10 19 59 54 1.093 44
18 Hereford United 46 14 15 17 53 57 0.930 43
19 Brighton & Hove Albion 46 16 11 19 52 58 0.897 43
20 Port Vale 46 14 14 18 52 58 0.897 42
Source: rsssf.com

Results

Third Division

Main article: 1973–74 Football League
25 August 1973 1 Grimsby Town 1–3 Hereford United Cleethorpes
Chatterley 88' Tavener 73'
Tucker 77'
Evans 90'		 Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 10,709
1 September 1973 2 Hereford United 1–0 Blackburn Rovers Hereford
Gregory 68' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 9483
8 September 1973 3 Charlton Athletic 2–0 Hereford United London
Horsfield 60', 73' Stadium: The Valley
Attendance: 5640
11 September 1973 4 Bristol Rovers 1–1 Hereford United Bristol
Taylor 90' Redrobe 7' Stadium: Eastville
Attendance: 12,620
15 September 1973 5 Hereford United 1–1 Watford Hereford
Evans 26' Lees 50' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 8634
19 September 1973 6 Hereford United 0–2 Tranmere Rovers Hereford
Young 52'
Loyden 90'		 Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 9004
22 September 1973 7 Halifax Town 1–1 Hereford United Halifax
Gwyther 84' Mallender 7' Stadium: The Shay
Attendance: 12,620
29 September 1973 8 Hereford United 2–0 Wrexham Hereford
Radford 39'
Redrobe 89'		 Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 8245
6 October 1973 9 Port Vale 1–3 Hereford United Stoke-on-Trent
Woodward 58' Owen 56'
Evans 71'
Redrobe 85'		 Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 5802
8 October 1973 10 Tranmere Rovers 0–0 Hereford United Birkenhead
Stadium: Prenton Park
Attendance: 5943
13 October 1973 11 Hereford United 0–0 Cambridge United Hereford
Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 8522
19 October 1973 12 Southend United 2–1 Hereford United Southend-on-Sea
Albeson 45' (pen.)
Brace 83'		 Gregory 68' Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 6083
24 October 1973 13 Hereford United 0–0 Bristol Rovers Hereford
Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 12,501
27 October 1973 14 Hereford United 3–0 Brighton & Hove Albion Hereford
Lee 27'
Evans 44'
Gane 90'		 Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 8139
2 November 1973 15 Southport 1–1 Hereford United Southport
Moore 83' Hinch 65' Stadium: Haig Avenue
Attendance: 2549
10 November 1973 16 Hereford United 3–4 Oldham Athletic Hereford
Hinch 20', 65'
Lee 35'		 Jones 11', 14'
Blair 19'
Lochhead 21'		 Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 8843
12 November 1973 17 York City 0–0 Hereford United York
Stadium: Bootham Crescent
Attendance: 7433
17 November 1973 18 Hereford United 0–1 Huddersfield Town Hereford
Gowling 30' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 7925
1 December 1973 19 Hereford United 3–1 Walsall Hereford
Tyler 36'
Hinch 43'
Evans 71'		 Andrews 81' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 7747
8 December 1973 20 Chesterfield 1–1 Hereford United Chesterfield
Phelan 67' Tiler 77' (o.g.) Stadium: Saltergate
Attendance: 4343
22 December 1973 21 Wrexham 5–0 Hereford United Wrexham
Griffiths 4', 64' (pen.), 82'
Whittle 85', 90'		 Stadium: Racecourse Ground
Attendance: 5156
26 December 1973 22 Hereford United 0–2 Bournemouth Hereford
Sainty 11'
Boyer 90'		 Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 10,909
29 December 1973 23 Hereford United 2–3 Charlton Athletic Hereford
Naylor 50' (pen.)
Jones 85'		 Jones 3' (o.g.)
Flanagan 28'
Horsfield 56'		 Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 7752
1 January 1974 24 Blackburn Rovers 1–2 Hereford United Blackburn
Hutchins 67' Tavener 3'
Rudge 87'		 Stadium: Ewood Park
Attendance: 9720
12 January 1974 25 Watford 2–1 Hereford United Watford
Jennings 61', 65' Evans 7' Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 7548
19 January 1974 26 Hereford United 2–1 Grimsby Town Hereford
Naylor 22' (pen.)
Evans 25'		 Booth 24' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 10,287
3 February 1974 27 Aldershot 1–0 Hereford United Aldershot
Howarth 22' Stadium: Recreation Ground
Attendance: 9109
17 February 1974 28 Cambridge United 2–0 Hereford United Cambridge
Lennard 25'
Ferguson 80'		 Stadium: Abbey Stadium
Attendance: 5728
20 February 1974 29 Hereford United 0–1 Plymouth Argyle Hereford
Reed 46' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 3810
23 February 1974 30 Hereford United 2–1 Port Vale Hereford
Owen 37'
Radford 47'		 Woodward 4' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 6566
26 February 1974 31 Rochdale 1–1 Hereford United Rochdale
Brennan 79' Rudge 39' Stadium: Spotland
Attendance: 1195
2 March 1974 32 Bournemouth 3–2 Hereford United Bournemouth
Sainty 29' (pen.)
Chadwick 67'
Greenhalgh 72'		 Radford 65'
Naylor 80' (pen.)		 Stadium: Dean Court
Attendance: 8370
10 March 1974 33 Brighton & Hove Albion 2–1 Hereford United Hove
Beamish 64'
Piper 88'		 Tyler 6' Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 17,061
13 March 1974 34 Hereford United 3–1 Halifax Town Hereford
Brown 17', 73'
Redrobe 79'		 Wilkie 87' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 6170
16 March 1974 35 Hereford United 1–2 Southend United Hereford
Rudge 6' Moody 7'
Silvester 90'		 Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 7138
20 March 1974 36 Hereford United 0–2 Aldershot Hereford
Howarth 57', 59' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 6424
23 March 1974 37 Oldham Athletic 1–1 Hereford United Oldham
Lochhead 43' Ritchie 17' Stadium: Boundary Park
Attendance: 11,379
26 March 1974 38 Plymouth Argyle 0–1 Hereford United Plymouth
Brown 58' Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 7516
30 March 1974 39 Hereford United 3–0 Southport Hereford
Hinch 31'
Brown 40', 62'		 Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 6186
3 April 1974 40 Hereford United 2–1 Rochdale Hereford
Ritchie 48'
Hinch 51'		 Hanvey 65' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 6659
6 April 1974 41 Hereford United 0–0 York City Hereford
Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 7866
13 April 1974 42 Huddersfield Town 0–0 Hereford United Huddersfield
Stadium: Leeds Road
Attendance: 4148
15 April 1974 43 Hereford United 1–1 Shrewsbury Town Hereford
Ritchie 33' Moir 74' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 9005
16 April 1974 44 Shrewsbury Town 1–1 Hereford United Shrewsbury
Marlowe 48' Evans 90' Stadium: Gay Meadow
Attendance: 5580
20 April 1974 45 Hereford United 2–1 Chesterfield Hereford
Naylor 65' (pen.)
Redrobe 76'		 Kabia 10' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 7109
27 April 1974 46 Walsall 3–1 Hereford United Walsall
Buckley 27'
Taylor 28', 37'		 Hinch 58' Stadium: Fellows Park
Attendance: 4167

[4][5]

League Cup

Main article: 1973–74 Football League Cup
29 August 1973 First round Cardiff City 2–0 Hereford United Cardiff
McCulloch 41', 60' Stadium: Ninian Park
Attendance: 9821

[2][6]

FA Cup

Main article: 1973–74 FA Cup
24 November 1973 First round Hereford United 3–1 Torquay United Hereford
Evans 42'
Hinch 66'
Owen 74'		 Morrall 34' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 8331
15 December 1973 Second round Hereford United 3–0 Walton & Hersham Hereford
Hinch 21'
Tyler 57'
Jones 61'		 Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 10,431
5 January 1974 Third round West Ham United 1–1 Hereford United London
Holland 88' Redrobe 21' Stadium: Upton Park
Attendance: 23,087
9 January 1974 Third round replay Hereford United 2–1 West Ham United Hereford
Naylor 35' (pen.)
Jones 74'		 Best 33' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 17,423
26 January 1974 Fourth round Hereford United 0–1 Bristol City Hereford
Merrick 17' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 17,431

[2][7]

Welsh Cup

Main article: 1973–74 Welsh Cup
16 January 1974 Fourth round Worcester City 2–1 Hereford United Worcester
Aggio 23'
Ross 24'		 Jenkins 21' Stadium: St George's Lane
Attendance: 715

[2]

References

  1. ^ Parrott 1998, pp. 21–25
  2. ^ a b c d Parrott 1998, pp. 178–179
  3. ^ Rothmans 1974-75, pp. 271–272
  4. ^ Parrott 1998, pp. 174–177
  5. ^ Rothmans 1974-75, p. 270
  6. ^ Rothmans 1974-75, p. 548
  7. ^ Rothmans 1974-75, pp. 528–534
Bibliography
  • Parrott, Ron (1998). Hereford United: The League Era - A Complete Record. Desert Island Books. ISBN 1-874287-18-X.
  • Rothmans Football Yearbook 1974-75 (Editor: Peter Dunk). Queen Anne Press. ISBN 0-362-00171-5.