Grimsby v Hereford Preview

Overview

After being relegated on the final day of the 1995-6 season Hereford spent a number of years in the doldrums of the Conference. Under the stewardship of manager Graham Turner the club made rather slow progress due to a succession of star players being sold to balance the books. An FA Cup first round game at home to Wrexham in 2001 was screened live on the BBC and according to many the funds received saved the club from going under, and fans credit Gavin Williams’s winner against Dover in the qualifying rounds as the goal that saved Hereford. The club endured the lowest league finish in 40 years in 2002 when they finished 17th in the conference and a full shake-up of the playing squad ensued. A number of players released by Football League clubs were snapped up and it was these new signings that played the side into 2nd place in the table and Hereford were somewhat unlucky to fail at the final hurdle of the play-offs. The 2004-5 season saw a remarkably similar campaign with an unsuccessful promotion push but the following season saw Hereford finally promoted via the play-offs. The final at Stoke’s Britannia Stadium saw Halifax take a 2-1 lead until Guy Ipoua levelled for Hereford at the death. Halifax had a goal disallowed in extra time before Ryan Green scored the Bulls’ winner and send them flying back into the Football League. Hereford’s first season back saw them finish in a respectable 16th position, and fans expected a similar outcome in the following campaign. It wasn't to be, as a number of loan signings fired the club into third position holding off the chase of a very strong Stockport County outfit in the final game. Many in the game criticised the club for the number of loan signings used, manager Turner said: “"There has been the suggestion that we not quite cheated our way to promotion, but that it was not far off. We've worked it totally within the rules. Other clubs are catching up." The League One season turned out to be a struggle for Hereford, with just 17 points on the board after 23 games. Relegation was confirmed on 18th April with the club recording one win and 11 defeats in the final 12 games. Graham Turner stepped down as boss in the aftermath but would remain as the club’s chairman, and coach John Trewick was handed the task of a swift return to League One.

Keeper Adam Bartlett was a summer signing from Kidderminster and strangely played the 2009 Conference Play-off Final for Cambridge on an emergency loan deal. He was considered the best keeper outside the Football League and was once named on the bench for Newcastle’s Champions League game against Inter Milan. Full backs Ryan Green and Ryan Valentine were also summer signings who have fitted in well, Valentine scored the winning penalty in Wrexham’s relegation decider against Boston United in 2007. Championship Manager fans will remember Kenny Lunt’s genius from the 2001/2 version of the game, the midfielder now plies his trade with the Edgar Street outfit. Matty Done scored his first and only career goal whilst at Wrexham against the Mariners in 2006 fellow midfielder Jamie Tolley is experienced at this level, playing over 200 career games despite only being 26. Journeyman striker Lee Morris lists Sheffield Wednesday, Derby and Leicester amongst his previous clubs and was snapped up on a free in the summer, his first goal for the club is surely not far away.

Richard Rose. The 27-year-old centre back signed on a free from Gillingham in 2006 having impressing during 60 games at the Priestfield as well as a short loan spell at Bristol Rovers. Since then he has played over 100 games in a number of positions along the back four and even in midfield. Naturally right footed and tough in the tackle, Rose has become a favourite among the Bulls fans and recently signed a new contract until the end of the 2009-10 season.

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Head to Head

The Bulls have a slender lead, but Town have won 4 from 5.

P 16 W 6 D 3 L7 F17 A21

Head-to-Head (58th on The Opposition Ladder)

Last Meeting

Grimsby 3 Hereford 0 (Sat 03rd May 2008)

A meaningless game (for us) at the end of the 2007-2008 season, when Hereford got promoted.

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