1972–73 Hereford United F.C. season
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.
| 1972–73 season | |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Frank Miles |
| Manager | Colin Addison |
| Stadium | Edgar Street |
| Division Four | 2nd |
| League Cup | First round |
| FA Cup | First round |
| Welsh Cup | Semi-final |
| Top goalscorer | League: Brian Owen (11) All: Brian Owen (13) |
| Highest home attendance | 14,849 v Newport County, Division Four, 7 April 1973 |
| Lowest home attendance | 4100 v Pembroke Borough, Welsh Cup, 3 January 1973 |
| Average home league attendance | 8917 |
| Biggest win | 6–1 v Pembroke Borough (H), Welsh Cup, 3 January 1973 |
| Biggest defeat | 1–4 v Aston Villa (A), League Cup, 16 August 1972 1–4 v Lincoln City (A), Division Four, 9 September 1972 |
Background edit
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 edit
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 edit
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 |
Fourth Division edit
| 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 |
- ^ New club in the league; elected from Southern League
Results edit
Second Division edit
| 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 |
| 11 October 1972 13 | Cambridge United | 1–0 | Hereford United | Cambridge |
| Phillips 4' |
Stadium: Abbey Stadium Attendance: 4312 |
| 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 |
| 17 March 1973 39 | Northampton Town | 0–4 | Hereford United | Northampton |
| Redrobe 22' Tucker 44'Radford 47'Owen 83' |
Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 4479 |
| 24 March 1973 40 | Hereford United | 3–0 | Peterborough United | Hereford |
| Jenkins 41' Owen 60'Radford 74' |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 9515 |
| 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 |
League Cup edit
| 16 August 1972 1st Round | Aston Villa | 4–1 | Hereford United | Birmingham |
| Rioch 24' Graydon 46'Vowden 71'Evans 87' |
Johnston 82' |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 32,314 |
FA Cup edit
| 18 November 1972 1st Round | Torquay United | 3–0 | Hereford United | Torquay |
| Stocks 12' Harrison 62'Twitchin 85' |
Stadium: Plainmoor Attendance: 4851 |
Welsh Cup edit
| 3 January 1973 4th 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 5th Round | Hereford United | 0–0 | Merthyr Tydfil | Hereford |
| Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 8462 |
| 14 February 1973 5th 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.
References edit
- ^ Parrott 1998, pp. 13–15
- ^ Parrott 1998, pp. 16–20
- ^ a b c d Parrott 1998, pp. 172–173
- ^ Rothmans 1973-74, pp. 235–236
- ^ Parrott 1998, pp. 168–171
- ^ Rothmans 1973-74, p. 234
- ^ Rothmans 1973-74, p. 512
- ^ 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. ISBN 0-362-00142-1.