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Barnet v Hereford United

Saturday 1 December, 3:00pm

After winning the first game of the season 2-1 against the 'Mighty Bees' Hereford have had an indifferent season. They've only won six out of the twenty games played so far, four at home and two away. The other three at home were against Dover (3-0), Farnborough (4-2) and Scarborough (6-0). Incredibly all the goals at home have been scored in these four games except one, in a one- all draw with Stevenage. The defence is pretty strong though, conceding only seven.

Their away form isn't too good with the two wins coming at Stalybridge (2-0) and Leigh (1-0). Their highest defeat was at Hayes (1-4) and the defence isn't as good away, leaking fifteen goals, although this is only one more than Barnet away. The strike rate away is the third worst in the league, with only Southport and Dover scoring less.

It should be an entertaining game and I think the way Barnet are playing at the moment we should easily reverse the result from earlier in the season; so long as the defence can keep their concentration for ninety minutes!!

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History

Hereford United played their first match on August 30th 1924 after two clubs - St Martins and ROAC amalgamated. They played in the Birmingham Combination for four seasons, then graduated to the Birmingham League.

In 1939 they became a limited company also joining the Southern league, but war broke out after four matches and the league was suspended.

In the first season back Hereford finished as runners-up to Chelmsford City who had been awarded points in lieu of unplayed matches!!

The end of the forties and start of the fifties saw good progress in the FA Cup, reaching the 2nd round on numerous occasions, attracting crowds over 10,000. They also won the Southern League Cup in 1950/51.

After a few poor seasons, 1956 saw the arrival of ex-Arsenal Joe Wade as player-manager. The 57/58 season saw Hereford beat Queens Park Rangers 6-1 in the 2nd round of the FA Cup in front of 10,000 fans. This put them in the 3rd round for the first time with a home tie against Sheffield Wednesday. 18,114 fans turned up to see them lose 0-3, a club record attendance.

With the Southern League being regionalised in 1958/59, Hereford won the North-Western section and won the Southern League Cup again.

They were relegated at the end of the 63/64 season but came straight back up again.

1966/67 saw the arrival of the legendary John Charles. He became manager in 1967 but only for a few seasons.

Everyone must have heard of Herefords amazing cup run in 1971/2. In a 3rd round replay against Newcastle United ex-Barnet player Ricky George scored an extra time winner to put Hereford in the 4th round. It followed an incredible goal by Ronnie Radford, which has been shown by the BBC at least 4,882,936 times since.

In the 4th round they lost in a replay to West Ham United 1-3, after a 0-0 draw at Edgar Street.

At the end of the season they were elected into the Football League after a closely run ballot against Barrow.

The Football League Years

As with other clubs who've since gone into the football league, Hereford initially were very successful (Ed - Do I detect a hint of irony here?). They came second in the old Fourth Division in their first season, then won the Third division only to come all the way back down and finishing last in Division Four and having to apply for re-election on three occasions.

1984/85 did see a small revival and they finished fifth with good cup runs as well.

1990 brought the only Cup success for a while with the Bulls winning the Albright Bitter Welsh Cup beating Wrexham 2-1.

The early nineties saw a reversal of Herefords cup-killing ways and were themselves dumped out of the Cup by non-league opposition, Yeovil Town and Bath City doing the honours.

1995/96 saw the arrival of Graham Turner and a play-off place was achieved. Unfortunately they lost to Darlington 2-4 on aggregate.

Another FA Cup run took place with a 1-1 draw against Tottenham at home, but bowed out in the replay at White Hart Lane losing 1-5.

1996/97 was a year to forget. With little money and poor performances on the pitch Hereford were in deep trouble. On the last day of the season they had to beat Brighton to stay in the league but only managed a 1-1 draw and found themselves down in the Conference after 25 years as a league team.

In the Conference

The first year saw them finish sixth but had the last laugh over Brighton in the FA Cup beating them 2-1, going on to lose to Tranmere in the next round.

Money is still a problem for the team, but they have been consistent over the last few seasons.

Another good cup run in 1999/2000 saw them earn a replay at Leicester City, narrowly losing in extra time.

Below is Barnet and Hereford's league details based on their Home and Away performances.

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