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1972–73 Hereford United F.C. season

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Hereford United
1972–73 season
ChairmanFrank Miles
ManagerColin Addison
StadiumEdgar Street
Division Four2nd
League CupFirst round
FA CupFirst round
Welsh CupSemi-final
Top goalscorerLeague: Brian Owen (11)
All: Brian Owen (13)
Highest home attendance14,849 v Newport County, Division Four, 7 April 1973
Lowest home attendance4100 v Pembroke Borough, Welsh Cup, 3 January 1973
Average home league attendance8917
Biggest win6–1 v Pembroke Borough (H), Welsh Cup, 3 January 1973
Biggest defeat1–4 v Aston Villa (A), League Cup, 16 August 1972
1–4 v Lincoln City (A), Division Four, 9 September 1972

The 1972–73 season was the 43rd season of competitive football played by Hereford United Football Club and their first in the Football League following election from non-league at the end of the previous season. The club competed in Division Four, as well as the League Cup, FA Cup and Welsh Cup.

Background

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Hereford ended the 1971–72 Southern League season as runners-up, two points behind champions Chelmsford City. They also reached the final of the Southern League Cup and enjoyed a run to the fourth round of the FA Cup which included a famous win over Newcastle United that put the club in the national spotlight. Hereford applied for election to the Football League and were duly voted in at the expense of Barrow.[1]

Summary

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Hereford made their league bow in a 1–0 defeat away to Colchester United. The following weekend, Kenny Wallace scored their first league goal in a 3–0 home win over Reading, although the honour of Hereford's first scorer in a competitive match as a league club went to George Johnston in a midweek League Cup defeat to Aston Villa.

After 14 matches, Hereford had notched up only one further win and lay 21st in the division, but in their next two matches, they doubled their tally by beating Northampton Town and leaders Mansfield Town. This started a 14 match unbeaten run that saw Hereford surge up the table to become promotion contenders. They maintained this good form, losing only three of their last 17 matches, but still needed at least a point from their final match against Crewe Alexandra to guarantee promotion. In the event, Hereford managed a 1–0 win courtesy of a goal by David Jenkins.

Hereford's average home crowd of nearly 9000 was the highest in the Fourth Division (Reading's 5521 being the next highest) and higher than all bar six clubs from the Third Division. They lost only once at Edgar Street and dropped just a single point from their last 17 home matches.

This was the only season at the club for goalkeeper David Icke. Despite suffering from rheumatoid arthritis which would force him to quit the game at the age of 21, Icke kept 18 clean sheets in 37 league appearances and did not once feature on the losing side at home.[2]

Squad

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Players who made one appearance or more for Hereford United F.C. during the 1972-73 season

Pos. Nat. Name League League Cup FA Cup Welsh Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK  ENG David Icke 37 0 0 0 1 0 4 0 42 0
GK  ENG Fred Potter 9 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 10 0
DF  ENG Steve Emery 0 0 0 0 0 0 0(1) 0 0(1) 0
DF  ENG Roger Griffiths 7(2) 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 8(2) 0
DF  WAL Alan Jones 28 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 31 1
DF  WAL Mick McLaughlin 32 1 1 0 0 0 3 0 36 1
DF  ENG Ken Mallender 45 0 1 0 1 0 4 0 51 0
DF  ENG Tommy Naylor 35(2) 0 1 0 1 0 3 0 40(2) 0
DF  ENG Billy Tucker 42 8 1 0 1 0 4 1 48 9
MF  ENG Colin Addison 16 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 1
MF  ENG Harry Gregory 39 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 41 3
MF  ENG Ron Radford 28 3 1 0 1 0 2 0 32 3
MF  ENG David Rudge 31(2) 3 0 0 0(1) 0 3 1 34(3) 4
MF  WAL Clive Slattery 3(5) 0 1 0 1 0 2(1) 1 7(6) 1
MF  ENG Colin Tavener 28(1) 1 0 0 1 0 4 1 33(1) 2
FW  ENG Colin Hall (on loan from Bristol City) 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
FW  ENG Ivan Hollett 11 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 12 2
FW  ENG David Jenkins (on loan from Brentford) 8(2) 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 8(2) 3
FW  SCO George Johnston 15(3) 5 0(1) 1 0 0 2 2 17(4) 8
FW  ENG David Layne (on loan from Sheffield Wednesday) 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
FW  ENG Brian Owen 31(5) 11 1 0 1 0 4 2 37(5) 13
FW  ENG Eric Redrobe 26 9 0 0 1 0 2 0 29 9
FW  ENG Kenny Wallace 26(6) 4 1 0 1 0 3 1 31(6) 5

[3][4]

League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Southport (C, P) 46 26 10 10 71 48 1.479 62 Promoted to the Third Division
2 Hereford United[a] (P) 46 23 12 11 56 38 1.474 58 Promoted to the Third Division
3 Cambridge United (P) 46 20 17 9 67 57 1.175 57
4 Aldershot (P) 46 22 12 12 60 38 1.579 56
5 Newport County 46 22 12 12 64 44 1.455 56
Source: rsssf.com
(C) Division Champions; (P) Promoted
Notes:
  1. ^ New club in the league; elected from Southern League

Results

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Fourth Division

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12 August 1972 1 Colchester United 1–0 Hereford United Colchester
Foley 47' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6083
19 August 1972 2 Hereford United 3–0 Reading Hereford
Wallace 27'
Addison 61'
Hollett 86'
Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 8839
26 August 1972 3 Bradford City 1–1 Hereford United Bradford
Gilliver 35' Johnston 60' Stadium: Valley Parade
Attendance: 3969
30 August 1972 4 Crewe Alexandra 2–1 Hereford United Crewe
Humphreys 48', 58' (pen.) Hollett 8' Stadium: Gresty Road
Attendance: 3820
2 September 1972 5 Hereford United 0–0 Workington Hereford
Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 7581
9 September 1972 6 Lincoln City 4–1 Hereford United Lincoln
Bradley 26', 46'
McNeil 50', 65'
Johnston 47' Stadium: Sincil Bank
Attendance: 4971
16 September 1972 7 Hereford United 0–0 Gillingham Hereford
Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 6796
19 September 1972 8 Hereford United 1–2 Barnsley Hereford
Johnston 15' (pen.) Lea 2', 56' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 6857
22 September 1972 9 Southport 2–0 Hereford United Southport
Lee 13'
McPhee 32'
Stadium: Haig Avenue
Attendance: 3311
26 September 1972 10 Doncaster Rovers 0–0 Hereford United Doncaster
Stadium: Belle Vue
Attendance: 3111
30 September 1972 11 Hereford United 2–1 Torquay United Hereford
Johnston 57', 90' Arnold 55' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 7009
7 October 1972 12 Hereford United 0–0 Hartlepool United Hereford
Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 7521
14 October 1972 14 Exeter City 1–0 Hereford United Exeter
Banks 8' Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 4516
21 October 1972 15 Hereford United 2–0 Northampton Town Hereford
Radford 12'
Wallace 70'
Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 7202
25 October 1972 16 Hereford United 3–1 Mansfield Town Hereford
Wallace 11'
Redrobe 75'
Owen 85'
Wignall 34' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 10,095
28 October 1972 17 Peterborough United 1–1 Hereford United Peterborough
Smith 20' Owen 77' Stadium: London Road
Attendance: 6196
4 November 1972 18 Hereford United 3–2 Doncaster Rovers Hereford
Redrobe 35'
Owen 37'
Haselden 64' (o.g.)
Haselden 51', 89' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 8223
11 November 1972 19 Barnsley 0–0 Hereford United Barnsley
Stadium: Oakwell
Attendance: 2823
25 November 1972 20 Hereford United 1–0 Aldershot Hereford
Rudge 34' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 6667
28 November 1972 21 Newport County 0–1 Hereford United Newport
Redrobe 52' (pen.) Stadium: Somerton Park
Attendance: 8772
9 December 1972 22 Hereford United 1–0 Bury Hereford
Jones 8' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 6566
22 December 1972 23 Stockport County 1–1 Hereford United Stockport
Griffiths 69' Rudge 66' Stadium: Edgeley Park
Attendance: 8772
26 December 1972 24 Hereford United 2–2 Southport Hereford
Owen 16'
Tucker 90'
Fryatt 52'
Lloyd 62'
Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 10,491
30 December 1972 25 Reading 0–1 Hereford United Reading
Owen 44' Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 5207
6 January 1973 26 Hereford United 1–0 Bradford City Hereford
Wallace 82' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 8193
13 January 1973 27 Mansfield Town 1–1 Hereford United Mansfield
Ellis 48' Gregory 67' Stadium: Field Mill
Attendance: 5530
17 January 1973 28 Hereford United 3–1 Chester Hereford
Rudge 10'
Redrobe 24', 29'
Clapham 80' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 8795
20 January 1973 29 Workington 2–1 Hereford United Workington
Irving 39'
Helliwell 87'
Owen 68' Stadium: Borough Park
Attendance: 2065
27 January 1973 30 Hereford United 2–1 Lincoln City Hereford
Tavener 45'
Tucker 57'
Tavener 69' (o.g.) Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 8639
3 February 1973 31 Hereford United 2–1 Cambridge United Hereford
Redrobe 27'
Tucker 57'
Greenhalgh 90' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 8907
10 February 1973 32 Gillingham 2–0 Hereford United Gillingham
Richardson 18'
Peach 62' (pen.)
Stadium: Priestfield
Attendance: 6115
17 February 1973 33 Hereford United 4–1 Colchester United Hereford
Tucker 2', 65'
Gregory 40'
Redrobe 80'
Svarc 75' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 7624
24 February 1973 34 Chester 0–1 Hereford United Chester
Gregory 36' Stadium: Sealand Road
Attendance: 4264
3 March 1973 35 Hartlepool 0–1 Hereford United Hartlepool
McLaughlin 33' Stadium: Victoria Ground
Attendance: 5253
5 March 1973 36 Darlington 2–2 Hereford United Darlington
Sinclair 45', 75' Owen 12', 38' Stadium: Feethams
Attendance: 2074
10 March 1973 37 Hereford United 1–0 Exeter City Hereford
Redrobe 84' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 11,302
12 March 1973 38 Hereford United 1–0 Darlington Hereford
Tucker 60' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 10,150
31 March 1973 41 Aldershot 2–0 Hereford United Aldershot
Melledew 29'
Howarth 32'
Stadium: Recreation Ground
Attendance: 7060
7 April 1973 42 Hereford United 2–0 Newport County Hereford
Owen 56'
Jenkins 61'
Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 14,849
14 April 1973 43 Bury 3–0 Hereford United Bury
Spence 12', 18'
Tinsley 65'
Stadium: Gigg Lane
Attendance: 4319
18 April 1973 44 Hereford United 1–0 Stockport County Hereford
Tucker 90' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 10,612
24 April 1973 45 Torquay United 0–0 Hereford United Torquay
Stadium: Plainmoor
Attendance: 5079
28 April 1973 46 Hereford United 1–0 Crewe Alexandra Hereford
Jenkins 47' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 12,616

[5][6]

League Cup

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16 August 1972 First round Aston Villa 4–1 Hereford United Birmingham
Rioch 24'
Graydon 46'
Vowden 71'
Evans 87'
Johnston 82' Stadium: Villa Park
Attendance: 32,314

[3][7]

FA Cup

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18 November 1972 First round Torquay United 3–0 Hereford United Torquay
Stocks 12'
Harrison 62'
Twitchin 85'
Stadium: Plainmoor
Attendance: 4851

[3][8]

Welsh Cup

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3 January 1973 Fourth round Hereford United 6–1 Pembroke Borough Hereford
Owen 15', 33'
Tavener 30'
Rudge 43'
Tucker 55'
Slattery 66'
Todd 18' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 4100
7 February 1973 Fifth round Hereford United 0–0 Merthyr Tydfil Hereford
Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 8462
14 February 1973 Fifth round replay* Hereford United 3–0 Merthyr Tydfil Hereford
Johnston 43', 62' (pen.)
Wallace 82'
Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 5198
27 February 1973 Semi-final Bangor City 2–0 Hereford United Bangor
Marsden 1', 73' Stadium: Farrar Road
Attendance: 4000

* Match played at Edgar Street after Merthyr Tydfil chose to waive home rights.

[3]

References

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  1. ^ Parrott 1998, pp. 13–15
  2. ^ Parrott 1998, pp. 16–20
  3. ^ a b c d Parrott 1998, pp. 172–173
  4. ^ Rothmans 1973-74, pp. 235–236
  5. ^ Parrott 1998, pp. 168–171
  6. ^ Rothmans 1973-74, p. 234
  7. ^ Rothmans 1973-74, p. 512
  8. ^ Rothmans 1973-74, p. 492
Bibliography
  • Parrott, Ron (1998). Hereford United: The League Era - A Complete Record. Desert Island Books. ISBN 1-874287-18-X.
  • Rothmans Football Yearbook 1973-74 (Editors: Graeme Wright and Peter Dunk). Queen Anne Press. 4 June 1973. ISBN 0-362-00142-1.