| 1977–78 season | |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Frank Miles (until December 1977) Peter Hill |
| Manager | John Sillett (until February 1978) Tony Ford (caretaker) |
| Stadium | Edgar Street |
| Division Three | 23rd |
| League Cup | First round |
| FA Cup | First round |
| Top goalscorer | League:Steve Crompton andSteve Davey (5) All:Steve Davey (7) |
| Highest home attendance | 10,183 vWrexham, Division Three, 29 April 1978 |
| Lowest home attendance | 3,334 vBournemouth, League Cup, 23 August 1977 |
| Average home league attendance | 4,813 |
| Biggest win | 4–0 vExeter City (H), Division Three, 25 March 1978 |
| Biggest defeat | 0–4 vGillingham (A), Division Three, 7 January 1978 |
The1977–78 season was the 49th season of competitive football played byHereford United Football Club and their sixth in theFootball League. Following relegation fromDivision Two the previous season, the club competed inDivision Three, as well as theLeague Cup andFA Cup.
Hereford endured a torrid season which saw the resignations of chairmanFrank Miles and managerJohn Sillett, the transfer of prolific strikerDixie McNeil toWrexham and, ultimately, a second successive relegation. They never fully recovered from five defeats in their opening six matches, although a nine-match unbeaten run (including seven clean sheets) initially steered them towards mid-table. Following a run of only one win in 19 matches, four wins from six in March under caretaker managerTony Ford briefly raised survival hopes, but Hereford went down with a whimper after three draws and seven defeats in their final 10 matches.
Goals were severely rationed, with McNeil's three in seven league matches prior to his departure keeping him as leading scorer until the end of January. Away form was particularly dismal with no wins and just six league goals scored on their travels all season.
In both domestic cup competitions, Hereford fell at the first hurdle, including the indignity of their first FA Cup defeat by a non-league club since election to the Football League whenWealdstone beat them 3–2 in a replay atEdgar Street.[1]
Players who made one appearance or more for Hereford United F.C. during the 1977-78 season
| Pos. | Nat. | Name | League | League Cup | FA Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| GK |  ENG | Kevin Charlton | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| GK |  SCO | Tommy Hughes | 13 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| GK | ENG | Peter Mellor | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 0 |
| DF | ENG | Bryan Bouston | 4(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4(2) | 0 |
| DF | ENG | Phil Burrows | 26 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 31 | 0 |
| DF |  WAL | Stuart Cornes | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| DF | ENG | Steve Emery | 39 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 44 | 2 |
| DF | ENG | Derek Jefferson | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| DF | ENG | John Layton | 42 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 47 | 1 |
| DF | WAL | Julian Marshall | 40(1) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 45(1) | 3 |
| DF | ENG | Chris Price | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| DF | SCO | Steve Ritchie | 24 | 1 | 1(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25(1) | 1 |
| MF | ENG | Frank Barton | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 2 |
| MF | ENG | Les Briley | 27 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 1 |
| MF | ENG | Roy Carter | 12(1) | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 17(1) | 2 |
| MF | WAL | Kyle Holmes | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| MF | ENG | Andy Proudlove | 6(5) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 6(6) | 0 |
| MF |  IRE | Kevin Sheedy | 33(1) | 3 | 2(1) | 0 | 2 | 1 | 37(2) | 4 |
| MF | ENG | Peter Spiring | 30(4) | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 35(4) | 4 |
| MF | ENG | Kenny Stephens | 26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 1 |
| FW | WAL | Steve Crompton | 23(2) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23(2) | 5 |
| FW | ENG | Steve Davey | 31 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 36 | 7 |
| FW | ENG | Keith Fear(on loan fromBristol City) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| FW | ENG | Billy Holmes | 9(6) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 11(6) | 2 |
| FW | ENG | Dixie McNeil | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 4 |
| FW | ENG | Stewart Phillips | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| FW | ENG | Eric Redrobe | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 |
| FW | SCO | Colin Sinclair | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 2 |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | Rotherham United | 46 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 51 | 68 | −17 | 39 | |
| 21 | Port Vale(R) | 46 | 8 | 20 | 18 | 46 | 67 | −21 | 36 | Relegation to theFourth Division |
| 22 | Bradford City(R) | 46 | 12 | 10 | 24 | 56 | 86 | −30 | 34 | |
| 23 | Hereford United(R) | 46 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 34 | 60 | −26 | 32 | |
| 24 | Portsmouth(R) | 46 | 7 | 17 | 22 | 41 | 75 | −34 | 31 |
| 20 August 19771 | Chester | 4–1 | Hereford United | Chester |
Kearney 13',59' (pen.)I. Edwards 18'Mason 70' | McNeil 34' | Stadium:Sealand Road Attendance: 3,276 |
| 27 August 19772 | Hereford United | 0–1 | Tranmere Rovers | Hereford |
| Allen 22' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 4,062 |
| 3 September 19773 | Plymouth Argyle | 2–0 | Hereford United | Plymouth |
| Trusson 57' Rogers 84' | Stadium:Home Park Attendance: 5,732 |
| 7 September 19774 | Hereford United | 2–0 | Gillingham | Hereford |
| Sinclair 38' Spiring 65' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 3,441 |
| 10 September 19775 | Hereford United | 2–3 | Rotherham United | Hereford |
| Briley 67' McNeil 89' | Womble 36' Rhodes 84'Crawford 86' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 4,393 |
| 14 September 19776 | Chesterfield | 2–1 | Hereford United | Chesterfield |
| Cammack 4' Parker 42' | McNeil 54' | Stadium:Saltergate Attendance: 4,368 |
| 17 September 19777 | Preston North End | 0–0 | Hereford United | Preston |
| Stadium:Deepdale Attendance: 5,447 |
| 24 September 19778 | Hereford United | 1–0 | Carlisle United | Hereford |
| Sheedy 19' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 3,750 |
| 28 September 19779 | Lincoln City | 0–0 | Hereford United | Lincoln |
| Stadium:Sincil Bank Attendance: 4,973 |
| 1 October 197710 | Hereford United | 2–1 | Oxford United | Hereford |
| Sinclair 32' Marshall 89' | Duncan 52' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 5,218 |
| 5 October 197711 | Hereford United | 1–0 | Bury | Hereford |
| Ritchie 63' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 4,902 |
| 8 October 197712 | Colchester United | 0–0 | Hereford United | Colchester |
| Stadium:Layer Road Attendance: 4,584 |
| 15 October 197713 | Hereford United | 0–0 | Cambridge United | Hereford |
| Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 5,181 |
| 22 October 197714 | Bradford City | 0–0 | Hereford United | Bradford |
| Stadium:Valley Parade Attendance: 4,645 |
| 29 October 197715 | Hereford United | 1–1 | Port Vale | Hereford |
| Carter 7' | Sutcliffe 33' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 3,502 |
| 5 November 197716 | Shrewsbury Town | 3–0 | Hereford United | Shrewsbury |
| Irvine 4',20',75' (pen.) | Stadium:Gay Meadow Attendance: 6,116 |
| 12 November 197717 | Hereford United | 3–2 | Walsall | Hereford |
| Marshall 37' Emery 41'W. Holmes 52' | Birch 13' Buckley 66' (pen.) | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 5,655 |
| 19 November 197718 | Portsmouth | 2–0 | Hereford United | Portsmouth |
| Kemp 72' Pollock 87' | Stadium:Fratton Park Attendance: 8,077 |
| 3 December 197719 | Hereford United | 1–1 | Swindon Town | Hereford |
| W. Holmes 62' | McHale 78' (pen.) | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 4,541 |
| 10 December 197720 | Wrexham | 2–1 | Hereford United | Wrexham |
| Whittle 7' Cartwright 44' | Sheedy 76' | Stadium:Racecourse Ground Attendance: 8,813 |
| 26 December 197721 | Hereford United | 0–0 | Peterborough United | Hereford |
| Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 5,625 |
| 27 December 197722 | Exeter City | 1–0 | Hereford United | Exeter |
| Bowker 68' | Stadium:St James Park Attendance: 6,722 |
| 31 December 197723 | Sheffield Wednesday | 1–0 | Hereford United | Sheffield |
| Wylde 73' | Stadium:Hillsborough Attendance: 11,029 |
| 2 January 197824 | Hereford United | 1–1 | Shrewsbury Town | Hereford |
| Davey 68' | Biggins 44' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 6,392 |
| 7 January 197825 | Gillingham | 4–0 | Hereford United | Gillingham |
| Price 1',45' Richardson 56'Nicholl 90' | Stadium:Priestfield Attendance: 6,765 |
| 14 January 197826 | Hereford United | 2–2 | Chester | Hereford |
| Emery 32' Davey 59' | I. Edwards 43' Jones 69' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 4,216 |
| 20 January 197827 | Tranmere Rovers | 2–1 | Hereford United | Birkenhead |
| Palios 21' Moore 86' | Davey 79' | Stadium:Prenton Park Attendance: 4,481 |
| 28 January 197828 | Hereford United | 1–3 | Plymouth Argyle | Hereford |
| Davey 9' | Austin 7' Craven 40'Megson 74' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 4,737 |
| 11 February 197829 | Hereford United | 0–0 | Preston North End | Hereford |
| Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 4,791 |
| 25 February 197830 | Oxford United | 3–0 | Hereford United | Oxford |
| Seacole 7' Foley 71'Curran 77' | Stadium:Manor Ground Attendance: 3,793 |
| 4 March 197831 | Hereford United | 1–0 | Colchester United | Hereford |
| Barton 44' (pen.) | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 3,831 |
| 8 March 197832 | Hereford United | 2–1 | Chesterfield | Hereford |
| Crompton 52' Spiring 57' | Fern 77' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 4,602 |
| 11 March 197833 | Cambridge United | 2–0 | Hereford United | Cambridge |
| Finney 31' Watson 60' | Stadium:Abbey Stadium Attendance: 6,252 |
| 18 March 197834 | Hereford United | 2–1 | Bradford City | Hereford |
| Layton 6' Crompton 52' | McNiven 74' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 4,024 |
| 22 March 197835 | Port Vale | 1–0 | Hereford United | Stoke-on-Trent |
| Froggatt 10' | Stadium:Vale Park Attendance: 3,220 |
| 25 March 197836 | Hereford United | 4–0 | Exeter City | Hereford |
| Stephens 1' Crompton 12',51'Davey 27' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 4,436 |
| 28 March 197837 | Peterborough United | 2–1 | Hereford United | Peterborough |
| Butlin 44',73' | Sheedy 35' | Stadium:London Road Attendance: 5,036 |
| 1 April 197838 | Hereford United | 0–1 | Sheffield Wednesday | Hereford |
| Wylde 78' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 5,358 |
| 5 April 197839 | Hereford United | 1–1 | Lincoln City | Hereford |
| Marshall 86' | Wigginton 15' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 3,974 |
| 8 April 197840 | Walsall | 2–0 | Hereford United | Walsall |
| Austin 1' Bates 80' | Stadium:Fellows Park Attendance: 5,152 |
| 11 April 197841 | Carlisle United | 2–0 | Hereford United | Carlisle |
| McVitie 5',63' | Stadium:Brunton Park Attendance: 3,848 |
| 15 April 197842 | Hereford United | 0–2 | Portsmouth | Hereford |
| Garwood 27' Denyer 31' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 3,893 |
| 18 April 197843 | Rotherham United | 1–0 | Hereford United | Rotherham |
| Finney 73' (pen.) | Stadium:Millmoor Attendance: 3,244 |
| 22 April 197844 | Swindon Town | 1–0 | Hereford United | Swindon |
| Cunningham 51' | Stadium:County Ground Attendance: 4,270 |
| 25 April 197845 | Bury | 1–1 | Hereford United | Bury |
| McIlwraith 72' | Crompton 59' | Stadium:Gigg Lane Attendance: 2,536 |
| 29 April 197846 | Hereford United | 1–1 | Wrexham | Hereford |
| Barton 28' | Thomas 54' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 10,183 |
| 13 August 1977First round first leg | Hereford United | 2–0 | Bournemouth | Hereford |
| Carter 30' McNeil 37' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 3,582 |
| 16 August 1977First round second leg | Bournemouth | 4–2 | Hereford United | Bournemouth |
| Showers 2' Barton 30' (pen.)Johnson 68'Howarth 73' | Spiring 1',80' | Stadium:Dean Court Attendance: 2,189 |
| 23 August 1977First round replay | Hereford United | 1–2 (a.e.t.) | Bournemouth | Hereford |
| Davey 57' | Paterson 71' Barton 119' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 3,334 |
| 26 November 1977First round | Wealdstone | 0–0 | Hereford United | Harrow |
| Stadium:Lower Mead Attendance: 2,603 |
| 29 November 1977First round replay | Hereford United | 2–3 | Wealdstone | Hereford |
| Sheedy 2' Davey 66' | Ferry 37',58' Moss 50' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 4,144 |