| 1983–84 season | |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Peter Hill |
| Manager | John Newman |
| Stadium | Edgar Street |
| Division Four | 11th |
| Milk Cup | First round |
| FA Cup | First round |
| Welsh Cup | Semi-final |
| Associate Members' Cup | First round |
| Top goalscorer | League:Stewart Phillips (17) All:Stewart Phillips (20) |
| Highest home attendance | 5,875 vBristol City, Division Four, 1 October 1983 |
| Lowest home attendance | 900 vCaernarfon Town, Welsh Cup, 29 November 1983 |
| Average home league attendance | 2,984 |
| Biggest win | 5–0 vHartlepool United (H), Division Four, 7 March 1984 |
| Biggest defeat | 0–4 vYork City (A), Division Four, 17 December 1983 |
The1983–84 season was the 55th season of competitive football played byHereford United Football Club and their 12th in theFootball League. The club competed inDivision Four, as well as theMilk Cup,FA Cup,Welsh Cup andAssociate Members' Cup.
Hereford made a good start to the season, going top of the division following a 1–0 win atTranmere Rovers, but only two wins followed in the next 22 matches and they tumbled down the table towards another seemingly inevitable re-election battle.
A 2–1 win overSwindon Town was the catalyst for a complete reversal in form as Hereford went unbeaten in 14 matches, including a sequence of five consecutive wins (their best as a league club at the time) in which 18 goals were scored and only two conceded. They ended the season in 11th place, signing off with a 2–1 win over newly-crowned championsYork City.[1]
Players who made one appearance or more for Hereford United F.C. during the 1983-84 season
| Pos. | Nat. | Name | League | Milk Cup | FA Cup | Welsh Cup | Associate Members' Cup | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| GK |  ENG | Kevin Rose | 46 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 55 | 0 |
| DF | ENG | Ian Bray | 21(2) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 27(2) | 1 |
| DF | ENG | Ian Dalziel | 30 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 5 |
| DF | ENG | Keith Hicks | 43 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 50 | 0 |
| DF | ENG | Tony Larkin | 10(1) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 16(1) | 3 |
| DF | ENG | Carl Leonard | 24(1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30(1) | 0 |
| DF | ENG | Mel Pejic | 44 | 0 | 1(1) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 51(1) | 1 |
| DF | ENG | Chris Price | 35 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 2 |
| DF | ENG | Martin Thomas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(2) | 0 |
| MF | ENG | Gary Beacock | 13(1) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 18(1) | 5 |
| MF |  SCO | John Black | 8(1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10(1) | 0 |
| MF | ENG | Paul Butler(on loan fromWolverhampton Wanderers) | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 2 |
| MF | ENG | John Delve | 35(1) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 40(2) | 3 |
| MF | ENG | Steve Emery | 32(2) | 1 | 1(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 38(4) | 1 |
| MF | ENG | Carl Francis(on loan fromBirmingham City) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| MF |  NIR | Jimmy Harvey | 43(1) | 9 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 51(1) | 10 |
| MF | SCO | John Hendrie(on loan fromCoventry City) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| MF |  WAL | Paul Maddy | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 |
| FW | ENG | Ollie Kearns | 39(2) | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 46(2) | 12 |
| FW | ENG | Stewart Phillips | 46 | 17 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 54 | 20 |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Torquay United | 46 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 59 | 64 | −5 | 67 |
| 10 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 53 | 53 | 0 | 66 |
| 11 | Hereford United | 46 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 54 | 53 | +1 | 63 |
| 12 | Stockport County | 46 | 17 | 11 | 18 | 60 | 64 | −4 | 62 |
| 13 | Chesterfield | 46 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 59 | 61 | −2 | 60 |
| 27 August 19831 | Aldershot | 1–4 | Hereford United | Aldershot |
Lawrence 77' | Beacock 10' Dalziel 37'Phillips 58',82' | Stadium:Recreation Ground Attendance: 2,001 |
| 3 September 19832 | Hereford United | 0–0 | Halifax Town | Hereford |
| Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 3,188 |
| 7 September 19833 | Hereford United | 2–1 | Chester City | Hereford |
| Kearns 37' Phillips 59' | Allen 26' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 3,480 |
| 11 September 19834 | Doncaster Rovers | 3–0 | Hereford United | Doncaster |
| Moss 37' Douglas 45'Russell 68' | Stadium:Belle Vue Attendance: 3,532 |
| 17 September 19835 | Hereford United | 2–1 | Peterborough United | Hereford |
| Kearns 31' Harvey 36' (pen.) | Slack 73' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 3,172 |
| 23 September 19836 | Tranmere Rovers | 0–1 | Hereford United | Birkenhead |
| Price 49' | Stadium:Prenton Park Attendance: 1,984 |
| 27 September 19837 | Chesterfield | 0–0 | Hereford United | Chesterfield |
| Stadium:Saltergate Attendance: 4,040 |
| 1 October 19838 | Hereford United | 0–2 | Bristol City | Hereford |
| Ritchie 42' Kerr 64' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 5,875 |
| 8 October 19839 | Wrexham | 0–0 | Hereford United | Wrexham |
| Stadium:Racecourse Ground Attendance: 3,190 |
| 19 October 198310 | Hereford United | 1–0 | Darlington | Hereford |
| Phillips 88' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 3,024 |
| 22 October 198311 | Torquay United | 1–1 | Hereford United | Torquay |
| Holmes 55' (pen.) | Harvey 45' | Stadium:Plainmoor Attendance: 1,951 |
| 29 October 198312 | Hereford United | 0–0 | Mansfield Town | Hereford |
| Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 3,110 |
| 1 November 198313 | Swindon Town | 3–0 | Hereford United | Swindon |
| Gibson 17' Mayes 35' (pen.)Barnard 45' | Stadium:County Ground Attendance: 3,645 |
| 5 November 198314 | Hartlepool United | 0–0 | Hereford United | Hartlepool |
| Stadium:Victoria Park Attendance: 1,021 |
| 12 November 198315 | Hereford United | 0–0 | Northampton Town | Hereford |
| Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 3,007 |
| 26 November 198316 | Hereford United | 1–2 | Blackpool | Hereford |
| Phillips 82' | Windridge 35' Mercer 70' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 2,801 |
| 3 December 198317 | Rochdale | 3–3 | Hereford United | Rochdale |
| O'Connor 52' Higgins 80'Farrell 89' | Beacock 30' Phillips 51',54' | Stadium:Spotland Attendance: 1,261 |
| 17 December 198318 | York City | 4–0 | Hereford United | York |
| Pearce 4' Byrne 32'Ford 81',85' | Stadium:Bootham Crescent Attendance: 2,722 |
| 26 December 198319 | Hereford United | 0–1 | Crewe Alexandra | Hereford |
| Waller 79' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 3,099 |
| 27 December 198320 | Stockport County | 1–0 | Hereford United | Stockport |
| Evans 44' | Stadium:Edgeley Park Attendance: 2,287 |
| 2 January 198421 | Reading | 3–1 | Hereford United | Reading |
| Beavon 23' Crown 63'Senior 66' | Dalziel 61' | Stadium:Elm Park Attendance: 4,548 |
| 7 January 198422 | Halifax Town | 2–1 | Hereford United | Halifax |
| Cooper 9' Little 21' | Harvey 49' | Stadium:The Shay Attendance: 1,037 |
| 14 January 198423 | Hereford United | 2–1 | Aldershot | Hereford |
| Dalziel 42' Emery 66' | Burvill 38' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 2,008 |
| 18 January 198424 | Hereford United | 1–2 | Bury | Hereford |
| Kearns 80' | Entwistle 43' Madden 65' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 2,013 |
| 21 January 198425 | Peterborough United | 1–1 | Hereford United | Peterborough |
| Benjamin 88' | Kearns 14' | Stadium:London Road Attendance: 2,559 |
| 28 January 198426 | Hereford United | 0–3 | Doncaster Rovers | Hereford |
| Harle 22' Miller 43'Russell 52' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 2,540 |
| 4 February 198427 | Bristol City | 1–0 | Hereford United | Bristol |
| Crawford 43' | Stadium:Ashton Gate Attendance: 7,184 |
| 11 February 198428 | Hereford United | 0–1 | Tranmere Rovers | Hereford |
| Philpotts 76' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 2,188 |
| 15 February 198429 | Hereford United | 2–1 | Swindon Town | Hereford |
| Phillips 12' Kearns 79' | Barnard 25' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 2,002 |
| 18 February 198430 | Mansfield Town | 1–1 | Hereford United | Mansfield |
| Barrowclough 42' | Bray 11' | Stadium:Field Mill Attendance: 1,868 |
| 25 February 198431 | Hereford United | 1–1 | Torquay United | Hereford |
| Phillips 59' | Anderson 76' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 1,978 |
| 3 March 198432 | Darlington | 0–0 | Hereford United | Darlington |
| Stadium:Feethams Attendance: 1,520 |
| 7 March 198433 | Hereford United | 5–0 | Hartlepool United | Hereford |
| Kearns 3',16' D. Linighan 24' (o.g.)Phillips 37'Butler 53' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 2,071 |
| 10 March 198434 | Northampton Town | 0–3 | Hereford United | Northampton |
| Harvey 67' Kearns 82'Phillips 87' | Stadium:County Ground Attendance: 1,592 |
| 17 March 198435 | Hereford United | 3–0 | Wrexham | Hereford |
| Dalziel 6' Harvey 56'Kearns 71' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 2,570 |
| 24 March 198436 | Bury | 1–4 | Hereford United | Bury |
| Entwistle 54' | Butler 37' Harvey 39' (pen.)Phillips 58'Delve 76' | Stadium:Gigg Lane Attendance: 1,497 |
| 31 March 198437 | Hereford United | 3–1 | Chesterfield | Hereford |
| Phillips 45',71' Kearns 67' | Newton 3' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 2,211 |
| 4 April 198438 | Hereford United | 1–1 | Colchester United | Hereford |
| Phillips 48' | Wignall 36' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 2,051 |
| 7 April 198439 | Chester City | 0–1 | Hereford United | Chester |
| Harvey 69' | Stadium:Sealand Road Attendance: 1,346 |
| 14 April 198440 | Hereford United | 2–1 | Rochdale | Hereford |
| Harvey 41' Delve 61' | Allatt 36' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 2,686 |
| 21 April 198441 | Crewe Alexandra | 1–1 | Hereford United | Crewe |
| Leonard 57' | Phillips 60' | Stadium:Gresty Road Attendance: 2,139 |
| 23 April 198442 | Hereford United | 2–0 | Stockport County | Hereford |
| Phillips 11' Harvey 25' (pen.) | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 3,560 |
| 28 April 198443 | Blackpool | 3–1 | Hereford United | Blackpool |
| Deary 30',55',82' | Larkin 67' | Stadium:Bloomfield Road Attendance: 1,497 |
| 5 May 198444 | Hereford United | 1–1 | Reading | Hereford |
| Delve 67' | Sanchez 56' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 3,611 |
| 7 May 198445 | Colchester United | 3–0 | Hereford United | Colchester |
| Bowen 19' Adcock 50'Larkin 60' (o.g.) | Stadium:Layer Road Attendance: 1,286 |
| 12 May 198446 | Hereford United | 2–1 | York City | Hereford |
| Maddy 24' Beacock 26' | MacPhail 60' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 4,333 |
| 31 August 1983First round first leg | Hereford United | 3–2 | Portsmouth | Hereford |
| Phillips 4',76' Pejic 85' | Hateley 35' Dillon 71' (pen.) | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 4,631 |
| 13 September 1983First round second leg | Portsmouth | 3–1 | Hereford United | Portsmouth |
| Biley 27' Webb 33'Dillon 57' (pen.) | Beacock 23' | Stadium:Fratton Park Attendance: 8,363 |
| 19 November 1983First round | Reading | 2–0 | Hereford United | Reading |
| Senior 55' Horrix 76' | Stadium:Elm Park Attendance: 4,453 |
| 29 November 1983Third round | Hereford United | 4–0 | Caernarfon Town | Hereford |
| Larkin 48' Dalziel 52'Harvey 54'Price 67' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 900 |
| 11 January 1984Fourth round | Cwmbrân Town | 3–4 | Hereford United | Cwmbran |
| Cole 10',31' Gripton 20' | Beacock 1' Kearns 2'Larkin 44'Phillips 86' | Stadium:Cwmbran Stadium Attendance: 1,600 |
| 7 February 1984Fifth round | Cardiff City | 1–3 | Hereford United | Cardiff |
| Vaughan 25' | Kearns 41',43' Phillips 81' | Stadium:Ninian Park Attendance: 2,033 |
| 21 March 1984Semi-final first leg | Hereford United | 0–0 | Wrexham | Hereford |
| Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 2,710 |
| 27 March 1984Semi-final second leg | Wrexham | 1–0 (a.e.t.) | Hereford United | Wrexham |
| Muldoon 100' | Stadium:Racecourse Ground Attendance: 1,577 |
| 22 February 1984First round | Hereford United | 0–1 | Port Vale | Hereford |
| Tartt 17' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 1,605 |