1976–77 Hereford United F.C. season

Hereford United
1976–77 season
ChairmanFrank Miles
ManagerJohn Sillett
StadiumEdgar Street
Division Two22nd
League CupFirst round
FA CupFourth round
Top goalscorerLeague: Dixie McNeil (16)
All: Dixie McNeil (18)
Highest home attendance13,891 v Wolverhampton Wanderers, Division Two, 2 October 1976
Lowest home attendance4448 v Carlisle United, Division Two, 4 May 1977
Average home league attendance7239
Biggest win3–0 v Burnley (H), Division Two, 4 September 1976
Biggest defeat1–6 v Wolverhampton Wanderers (H), Division Two, 2 October 1976

The 1976–77 season was the 47th season of competitive football played by Hereford United Football Club and their fifth in the Football League. Following promotion as champions of Division Three the previous season, the club competed in Division Two, as well as the League Cup and FA Cup.

Summary

Hereford's rapid progress up the Football League was halted as they made an immediate return to Division Three, becoming the first team ever to finish bottom of Division Two having been promoted as Third Division champions the previous season.

After a promising start which saw only one point dropped in the first three matches, Hereford's form nosedived as it became clear that most other clubs possessed greater strength in depth and players more suited to the demands of Second Division football. This was amply demonstrated by successive matches in the autumn when Hereford were beaten 4–1 at Fulham by a team containing Bobby Moore, Rodney Marsh and George Best, then thrashed 6–1 at home a week later by a Wolverhampton Wanderers side containing the likes of Steve Kindon, Kenny Hibbitt, Alan Sunderland and Bobby Gould.

A late rally (four wins and only one defeat from the final nine matches) proved to be too little, too late and relegation was confirmed following a goalless draw against Carlisle United with three matches still to play.[1]

Squad

Players who made one appearance or more for Hereford United F.C. during the 1976-77 season

Pos. Nat. Name League League Cup FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK  ENG Kevin Charlton 16 0 2 0 1 0 19 0
GK  SCO Tommy Hughes 26 0 0 0 1 0 27 0
DF  ENG Phil Burrows 8 0 1 0 0 0 9 0
DF  IRE Tony Byrne 8 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
DF  ENG Steve Emery 19 0 0 0 2 0 21 0
DF  ENG John Galley 20(3) 2 2 0 0(1) 0 22(4) 2
DF  ENG Derek Jefferson 26 0 0 0 2 0 28 0
DF  ENG John Layton 28 4 2 0 2 0 32 4
DF  WAL Julian Marshall 14 0 0 0 0 0 14 0
DF  ENG Chris Price 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
DF  SCO Steve Ritchie 32 1 1 0 2 0 35 1
DF  ENG Billy Tucker 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
MF  ENG Les Briley 33(1) 1 0(1) 0 2 1 35(2) 2
MF  ENG Roy Carter 18(6) 3 2 0 0 0 20(6) 3
MF  SCO Jimmy Lindsay 33 4 2 0 2 0 37 4
MF  ENG Barry Lloyd 12(2) 0 0 0 1 0 13(2) 0
MF  ENG Terry Paine 26(1) 3 2 0 2 0 30(1) 3
MF  WAL Alan Peters 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
MF  ENG Brian Preece 3(1) 0 0 0 0 0 3(1) 0
MF  IRE Kevin Sheedy 13(3) 1 0 0 0 0 13(3) 1
MF  ENG Peter Spiring 32(6) 9 2 1 2 0 36(6) 10
MF  ENG Dudley Tyler 4(2) 0 0(1) 1 0 0 4(3) 1
MF  WAL Shane Walker 5 0 2 0 0 0 7 0
FW  SCO Jimmy Coughlin (on loan from Albion Rovers) 1(1) 1 0 0 0 0 1(1) 1
FW  WAL Steve Crompton 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
FW  ENG Steve Davey 31 9 2 0 2 0 35 9
FW  ENG Gary Goodchild 1(3) 0 0 0 1 0 2(3) 0
FW  ENG Dixie McNeil 37 16 2 2 0 0 39 18
FW  SCO Colin Sinclair 7(2) 0 0 0 0 0 7(2) 0

[2][3]

League table

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
18 Cardiff City 42 12 10 20 56 67 −11 34 Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round
19 Orient 42 9 16 17 37 55 −18 34
20 Carlisle United (R) 42 11 12 19 49 75 −26 34 Relegation to the Third Division
21 Plymouth Argyle (R) 42 8 16 18 46 65 −19 32
22 Hereford United (R) 42 8 15 19 57 78 −21 31
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(R) Relegated

Results

Second Division

Main article: 1976–77 Football League
21 August 1976 1 Hereford United 1–0 Hull City Hereford
McNeil 54' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 7323
28 August 1976 2 Sheffield United 1–1 Hereford United Sheffield
Guthrie 1' Carter 70' Stadium: Bramall Lane
Attendance: 15,087
4 September 1976 3 Hereford United 3–0 Burnley Hereford
McNeil 42', 72', 90' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 9543
11 September 1976 4 Nottingham Forest 4–3 Hereford United Nottingham
Butlin 32'
Bowyer 39', 71'
Robertson 61'		 McNeil 11', 72'
Spiring 17'		 Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 12,081
14 September 1976 5 Carlisle United 2–2 Hereford United Carlisle
Martin 5' (pen.)
Rafferty 71'		 Spiring 17'
Layton 28'		 Stadium: Brunton Park
Attendance: 7371
18 September 1976 6 Hereford United 1–2 Charlton Athletic Hereford
Lindsay 72' Flanagan 37'
Hales 56'		 Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 8723
25 September 1976 7 Fulham 4–1 Hereford United London
Slough 20'
Evanson 26'
Marsh 69', 72'		 Howe 35' (o.g.) Stadium: Craven Cottage
Attendance: 18,935
2 October 1976 8 Hereford United 1–6 Wolverhampton Wanderers Hereford
McNeil 53' (pen.) Sunderland 6'
Kindon 28'
Gould 42', 67'
Carr 61'
Daley 83'		 Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 13,891
9 October 1976 9 Luton Town 2–0 Hereford United Luton
Husband 54'
P. Futcher 88'		 Stadium: Kenilworth Road
Attendance: 9395
16 October 1976 10 Southampton 1–0 Hereford United Southampton
Holmes 45' Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 24,910
23 October 1976 11 Hereford United 1–4 Notts County Hereford
Spiring 37' Sims 28', 80'
Needham 65'
Busby 77'		 Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 7462
30 October 1976 12 Millwall 4–2 Hereford United London
Brisley 30'
Seasman 59'
Lee 75'
Shanahan 84' (pen.)		 Davey 19'
Spiring 88'		 Stadium: The Den
Attendance: 8685
6 November 1976 13 Hereford United 2–2 Chelsea Hereford
Ritchie 29'
Layton 70'		 Finnieston 28', 41' (pen.) Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 12,528
13 November 1976 14 Bristol Rovers 2–3 Hereford United Bristol
Warboys 8'
Bannister 15'		 Spiring 13'
Davey 20', 26'		 Stadium: Eastville
Attendance: 8485
20 November 1976 15 Hereford United 0–0 Oldham Athletic Hereford
Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 7997
27 November 1976 16 Blackburn Rovers 1–0 Hereford United Blackburn
Wagstaffe 4' Stadium: Ewood Park
Attendance: 9090
15 December 1976 17 Hereford United 3–3 Bolton Wanderers Hereford
Davey 5', 18'
McNeil 80'		 Whatmore 65'
Allardyce 82'
Greaves 87'		 Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 5052
18 December 1976 18 Hereford United 2–3 Orient Hereford
Lindsay 37'
Galley 83'		 Whittle 20', 72'
Bennett 85'		 Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 5640
27 December 1976 19 Cardiff City 3–1 Hereford United Cardiff
Giles 35'
Evans 64', 80'		 Paine 83' Stadium: Ninian Park
Attendance: 14,465
1 January 1977 20 Chelsea 5–1 Hereford United London
Swain 4'
Stanley 25'
R. Wilkins 39', 90'
Finnieston 46'		 Paine 61' Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 27,720
22 January 1977 21 Hull City 1–1 Hereford United Hull
Sunley 10' Davey 21' Stadium: Boothferry Park
Attendance: 7819
9 February 1977 22 Hereford United 1–1 Plymouth Argyle Hereford
Layton 15' Hall 41' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 5002
12 February 1977 23 Burnley 1–1 Hereford United Burnley
Noble 54' Newton 30' (o.g.) Stadium: Turf Moor
Attendance: 8467
14 February 1977 24 Blackpool 2–1 Hereford United Blackpool
Walsh 75', 88' Galley 89' Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 8535
25 February 1977 25 Charlton Athletic 1–1 Hereford United London
McAuley 78' Spiring 56' Stadium: The Valley
Attendance: 8704
2 March 1977 26 Hereford United 0–1 Nottingham Forest Hereford
Curran 38' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 7503
5 March 1977 27 Hereford United 1–0 Fulham Hereford
McNeil 55' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 6590
12 March 1977 28 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1 Hereford United Wolverhampton
Todd 39'
Hibbitt 49'		 Briley 77' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 22,992
19 March 1977 29 Hereford United 0–1 Luton Town Hereford
R. Futcher 90' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 6737
23 March 1977 30 Hereford United 2–2 Sheffield United Hereford
Davey 28'
Carter 34'		 Edwards 31', 81' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 5504
1 April 1977 31 Notts County 3–2 Hereford United Nottingham
Bradd 36', 69'
Scanlon 46'		 Davey 76'
Coughlin 90'		 Stadium: Meadow Lane
Attendance: 8080
6 April 1977 32 Hereford United 2–2 Cardiff City Hereford
Layton 34'
Spiring 67'		 Sayer 74', 85' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 7672
9 April 1977 33 Plymouth Argyle 2–1 Hereford United Plymouth
Bannister 2', 69' Davey 22' Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 9787
11 April 1977 34 Hereford United 1–1 Bristol Rovers Hereford
Paine 13' Powell 73' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 7195
16 April 1977 35 Oldham Athletic 3–5 Hereford United Oldham
Whittle 7'
Shaw 28'
Robins 66'		 McNeil 31', 90'
Spiring 34', 53'
Hicks 62' (o.g.)		 Stadium: Boundary Park
Attendance: 7733
20 April 1977 36 Hereford United 3–1 Millwall Hereford
McNeil 30', 52'
Sheedy 35'		 Alexander 83' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 4837
23 April 1977 37 Hereford United 1–0 Blackburn Rovers Hereford
McNeil 15' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 5853
30 April 1977 38 Bolton Wanderers 3–1 Hereford United Bolton
Hughes 35' (o.g.)
Allardyce 78'
Taylor 90'		 Carter 85' Stadium: Burnden Park
Attendance: 18,874
4 May 1977 39 Hereford United 0–0 Carlisle United Hereford
Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 4448
7 May 1977 40 Hereford United 1–1 Blackpool Hereford
McNeil 75' Finnigan 40' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 5312
11 May 1977 41 Hereford United 2–0 Southampton Hereford
Lindsay 13'
McNeil 29'		 Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 6886
14 May 1977 42 Orient 1–1 Hereford United London
Roffey 40' Lindsay 90' Stadium: Brisbane Road
Attendance: 4956

[4][5]

League Cup

Main article: 1976–77 Football League Cup
14 August 1976 First round first leg Chester 2–0 Hereford United Chester
Crossley 37' (pen.)
Draper 79'		 Stadium: Sealand Road
Attendance: 3866
18 August 1976 First round second leg Hereford United 4–3 Chester Hereford
McNeil 15', 77'
Spiring 39'
Tyler 89'		 Draper 6'
Crossley 22'
Paine 53' (o.g.)		 Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 5028

[6][7]

FA Cup

Main article: 1976–77 FA Cup
8 January 1977 Third round Hereford United 1–0 Reading Hereford
Briley 57' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 7401
29 January 1977 Fourth round Middlesbrough 4–0 Hereford United Middlesbrough
Souness 31'
Armstrong 51', 72' (pen.)
Willey 89'		 Stadium: Ayresome Park
Attendance: 25,000

[6][8]

References

  1. ^ Parrott 1998, pp. 38–42
  2. ^ Parrott 1998, p. 197
  3. ^ Rothmans 1977-78, pp. 205–206
  4. ^ Parrott 1998, pp. 192–195
  5. ^ Rothmans 1977-78, p. 204
  6. ^ a b Parrott 1998, pp. 196
  7. ^ Rothmans 1977-78, pp. 496–498
  8. ^ Rothmans 1977-78, pp. 480–483
Bibliography
  • Parrott, Ron (1998). Hereford United: The League Era - A Complete Record. Desert Island Books. ISBN 1-874287-18-X.
  • Rothmans Football Yearbook 1977-78 (Editor: Peter Dunk). Queen Anne Press. ISBN 0354-09018-6.