| 1986–87 season | |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Peter Hill |
| Manager | John Newman |
| Stadium | Edgar Street |
| Division Four | 16th |
| Littlewoods Cup | First round |
| FA Cup | First round |
| Welsh Cup | Third round |
| Freight Rover Trophy | Quarter-final |
| Top goalscorer | League:Ollie Kearns (16) All:Ollie Kearns (20) |
| Highest home attendance | 5,828 vWolverhampton Wanderers, Division Four, 26 December 1986 |
| Lowest home attendance | 1,358 vNewport County, Welsh Cup, 10 December 1986 |
| Average home league attendance | 2,583 |
| Biggest win | 6–0 vBurnley (A), Division Four, 24 January 1987 |
| Biggest defeat | 1–5 vSwansea City (A), Littlewoods Cup, 2 September 1986 |
The1986–87 season was the 58th season of competitive football played byHereford United Football Club and their 15th in theFootball League. The club competed inDivision Four, as well as theLittlewoods Cup,FA Cup,Welsh Cup andFreight Rover Trophy.
The Football League introduced play-offs to determine promotion places for the first time, as well as automatic demotion and promotion between Division Four and the top tier of non-league. Hereford were nearly beneficiary and victim of the new structure, at one point nudging close to the play-off zone and later slipping perilously close to relegation.
Results in the first half of the season were indifferent at best, but showed an upturn after Christmas, peaking with a 6–0 thrashing ofBurnley atTurf Moor which was Hereford's biggest ever win in a Football League match. Although they were in 8th place at the end of January, Hereford then lost eight matches in a row - the worst sequence of defeats in their history - and had slipped to 20th near the end of March. Their form stabilised thereafter, although safety was not confirmed until a 2–0 win overSwansea City at the beginning of May.[1]
Players who made one appearance or more for Hereford United F.C. during the 1986-87 season
| Pos. | Nat. | Name | League | Littlewoods Cup | FA Cup | Welsh Cup | Freight Rover Trophy | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| GK |  ENG | Kevin Rose | 46 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 55 | 0 |
| DF |  WAL | Wayne Cegielski | 17(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 18(1) | 0 |
| DF | ENG | Ian Dalziel | 27(1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 34(1) | 0 |
| DF |  NIR | Steve Devine | 40(1) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 48(1) | 1 |
| DF | ENG | Bruce Halliday | 31(1) | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 40(1) | 5 |
| DF | ENG | Mel Pejic | 31 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 38 | 0 |
| DF | ENG | Ian Rodgerson | 44 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 53 | 1 |
| DF | ENG | Lee Rogers(on loan fromBristol City) | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| DF | ENG | Gary Stevens | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| MF | ENG | Paul Butler | 16(10) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17(10) | 1 |
| MF | ENG | Mike Carter | 26(2) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 32(2) | 2 |
| MF | ENG | John Delve | 23(1) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 28(1) | 2 |
| MF | NIR | Jimmy Harvey | 34 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 42 | 6 |
| MF | ENG | Chris Leadbitter | 5(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5(1) | 0 |
| MF | ENG | Steve Spooner | 42 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 51 | 14 |
| FW | ENG | Ollie Kearns | 40 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 47 | 20 |
| FW | ENG | Stewart Phillips | 39 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 45 | 12 |
| FW | ENG | Phil Stant | 7(2) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 2 | 3 | 9(3) | 4 |
| FW | ENG | Ian Wells | 15(1) | 1 | 0(1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 18(2) | 1 |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | Exeter City | 46 | 11 | 23 | 12 | 53 | 49 | +4 | 56 |
| 15 | Halifax Town | 46 | 15 | 10 | 21 | 59 | 74 | −15 | 55 |
| 16 | Hereford United | 46 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 60 | 61 | −1 | 53 |
| 17 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 13 | 14 | 19 | 70 | 72 | −2 | 53 |
| 18 | Hartlepool United | 46 | 11 | 18 | 17 | 44 | 65 | −21 | 51 |
| 23 August 19861 | Hereford United | 0–0 | Wrexham | Hereford |
| Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 3,002 |
| 30 August 19862 | Crewe Alexandra | 1–2 | Hereford United | Crewe |
Cutler 83' | Spooner 60' Phillips 86' | Stadium:Gresty Road Attendance: 1,597 |
| 6 September 19863 | Hereford United | 2–0 | Burnley | Hereford |
| Spooner 74' Kearns 84' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 2,796 |
| 13 September 19864 | Preston North End | 2–1 | Hereford United | Preston |
| Williams 41' Thomas 48' (pen.) | Kearns 82' | Stadium:Deepdale Attendance: 4,707 |
| 16 September 19865 | Southend United | 2–0 | Hereford United | Southend-on-Sea |
| Cadette 17' Pennyfather 64' | Stadium:Roots Hall Attendance: 2,100 |
| 20 September 19866 | Hereford United | 1–1 | Orient | Hereford |
| Halliday 89' | Cunningham 44' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 2,454 |
| 27 September 19867 | Cardiff City | 4–1 | Hereford United | Cardiff |
| Wheeler 9' Vaughan 28'Wimbleton 56' (pen.)Curtis 66' | Delve 77' | Stadium:Ninian Park Attendance: 3,353 |
| 1 October 19868 | Hereford United | 2–3 | Colchester United | Hereford |
| Wells 50' Halliday 68' | Burman 6' Hedman 19'Ferguson 48' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 2,144 |
| 4 October 19869 | Hereford United | 2–0 | Peterborough United | Hereford |
| Rodgerson 34' Spooner 38' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 2,104 |
| 10 October 198610 | Hartlepool United | 0–0 | Hereford United | Hartlepool |
| Stadium:Victoria Park Attendance: 2,139 |
| 18 October 198611 | Hereford United | 1–1 | Exeter City | Hereford |
| Wells 39' | O'Connell 60' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 2,461 |
| 21 October 198612 | Rochdale | 2–0 | Hereford United | Rochdale |
| Young 35' Wakenshaw 88' | Stadium:Spotland Attendance: 1,088 |
| 25 October 198613 | Northampton Town | 3–2 | Hereford United | Northampton |
| Morley 4' Benjamin 8'Hill 21' | Phillips 68' Devine 81' | Stadium:County Ground Attendance: 5,336 |
| 1 November 198614 | Hereford United | 1–0 | Aldershot | Hereford |
| Delve 33' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 2,209 |
| 3 November 198615 | Stockport County | 1–2 | Hereford United | Stockport |
| Stokes 64' | Kearns 61',85' | Stadium:Edgeley Park Attendance: 1,338 |
| 8 November 198616 | Hereford United | 0–0 | Lincoln City | Hereford |
| Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 2,305 |
| 22 November 198617 | Torquay United | 1–1 | Hereford United | Torquay |
| Pyle 70' | Kearns 55' | Stadium:Plainmoor Attendance: 999 |
| 29 November 198618 | Hereford United | 2–2 | Scunthorpe United | Hereford |
| Halliday 45' Kearns 85' | Rodgerson 53' (o.g.) Hill 78' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 2,002 |
| 13 December 198619 | Hereford United | 2–3 | Cambridge United | Hereford |
| Halliday 24' Stant 61' | Crown 35' Beck 72'Spriggs 89' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 2,117 |
| 19 December 198620 | Halifax Town | 2–1 | Hereford United | Halifax |
| Matthews 19' Longhurst 76' | Harvey 25' (pen.) | Stadium:The Shay Attendance: 1,005 |
| 26 December 198621 | Hereford United | 2–0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Hereford |
| Wells 6' Spooner 75' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 5,828 |
| 27 December 198622 | Swansea City | 1–3 | Hereford United | Swansea |
| Pascoe 28' | Spooner 1',33' Phillips 85' | Stadium:Vetch Field Attendance: 6,274 |
| 1 January 198723 | Tranmere Rovers | 3–3 | Hereford United | Birkenhead |
| Moore 8',76' Muir 81' | Kearns 14' Phillips 24'Mungall 66' (o.g.) | Stadium:Prenton Park Attendance: 1,441 |
| 3 January 198724 | Hereford United | 2–2 | Torquay United | Hereford |
| Harvey 34' (pen.),54' (pen.) | Nardiello 10' King 27' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 2,840 |
| 24 January 198725 | Burnley | 0–6 | Hereford United | Burnley |
| Harvey 17' (pen.) Kearns 24',67'Phillips 55',80',85' | Stadium:Turf Moor Attendance: 1,955 |
| 28 January 198726 | Hereford United | 2–0 | Crewe Alexandra | Hereford |
| Harvey 59' (pen.) Kearns 80' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 2,252 |
| 7 February 198727 | Hereford United | 0–1 | Southend United | Hereford |
| Cadette 64' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 2,801 |
| 14 February 198728 | Orient | 2–0 | Hereford United | London |
| Brooks 60' Dalziel 63' (o.g.) | Stadium:Brisbane Road Attendance: 2,061 |
| 21 February 198729 | Hereford United | 0–2 | Cardiff City | Hereford |
| Cegielski 48' (o.g.) Horrix 70' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 3,969 |
| 25 February 198730 | Hereford United | 2–3 | Preston North End | Hereford |
| Halliday 10' Butler 14' | Brazil 4',9' Worthington 43' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 2,628 |
| 27 February 198731 | Colchester United | 2–0 | Hereford United | Colchester |
| English 51' (pen.) Phillips 54' | Stadium:Layer Road Attendance: 1,999 |
| 3 March 198732 | Aldershot | 1–0 | Hereford United | Aldershot |
| Barnes 78' (pen.) | Stadium:Recreation Ground Attendance: 1,643 |
| 14 March 198733 | Exeter City | 1–0 | Hereford United | Exeter |
| Kellow 59' | Stadium:St James Park Attendance: 2,342 |
| 18 March 198734 | Hereford United | 0–1 | Rochdale | Hereford |
| Parlane 81' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 1,890 |
| 21 March 198735 | Hereford United | 4–0 | Hartlepool United | Hereford |
| Phillips 21' Kearns 40',43',83' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 1,832 |
| 28 March 198736 | Peterborough United | 2–1 | Hereford United | Peterborough |
| Gunn 28' (pen.) Gage 84' | Spooner 20' (pen.) | Stadium:London Road Attendance: 4,110 |
| 4 April 198737 | Lincoln City | 0–0 | Hereford United | Lincoln |
| Stadium:Sincil Bank Attendance: 1,201 |
| 8 April 198738 | Hereford United | 3–2 | Northampton Town | Hereford |
| Phillips 26' Spooner 31'Kearns 69' | Chard 27' Morley 90' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 2,661 |
| 11 April 198739 | Hereford United | 1–2 | Stockport County | Hereford |
| Spooner 79' | Entwistle 51' Moss 62' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 2,251 |
| 18 April 198740 | Hereford United | 1–0 | Tranmere Rovers | Hereford |
| Carter 75' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 2,010 |
| 20 April 198741 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1–0 | Hereford United | Wolverhampton |
| Purdie 37' | Stadium:Molineux Attendance: 10,730 |
| 26 April 198742 | Hereford United | 1–0 | Halifax Town | Hereford |
| Kearns 41' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 2,061 |
| 1 May 198743 | Scunthorpe United | 3–1 | Hereford United | Scunthorpe |
| Johnson 46' Broddle 73'Russell 83' | Spooner 48' | Stadium:Old Show Ground Attendance: 1,660 |
| 4 May 198744 | Hereford United | 2–0 | Swansea City | Hereford |
| Phillips 47' Carter 65' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 2,474 |
| 6 May 198745 | Wrexham | 2–2 | Hereford United | Wrexham |
| Charles 33' Preece 75' | Kearns 31' Spooner 89' | Stadium:Racecourse Ground Attendance: 1,253 |
| 9 May 198746 | Cambridge United | 2–1 | Hereford United | Cambridge |
| Rogers 12' (o.g.) Smith 44' | Phillips 82' | Stadium:Abbey Stadium Attendance: 1,900 |
| 27 August 1986First round first leg | Hereford United | 3–3 | Swansea City | Hereford |
| Harvey 53' (pen.) Spooner 61'Kearns 69' | Andrews 21' French 45'Harrison 90' (pen.) | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 2,604 |
| 2 September 1986First round second leg | Swansea City | 5–1 | Hereford United | Swansea |
| Hough 20' McCarthy 27',89'Pascoe 42'Harrison 57' (pen.) | Phillips 52' | Stadium:Vetch Field Attendance: 3,870 |
| 15 November 1986First round | Hereford United | 3–3 | Fulham | Hereford |
| Kearns 17' Wells 21'Spooner 68' | Barnett 14' Marshall 24'Coney 53' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 3,777 |
| 24 November 1986First round replay | Fulham | 4–0 | Hereford United | London |
| Davies 19',36' Marshall 87'Coney 89' | Stadium:Craven Cottage Attendance: 3,592 |
| 3 December 1986Third round | Hereford United | 0–1 | Wrexham | Hereford |
| Steel 52' | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 1,642 |
| 10 December 1986Preliminary round | Hereford United | 4–0 | Newport County | Hereford |
| Stant 50',75',76' L. Jones 83' (o.g.) | Stadium:Edgar Street Attendance: 1,358 |
| 22 December 1986Preliminary round | Port Vale | 1–0 | Hereford United | Stoke-on-Trent |
| Jones 71' | Stadium:Vale Park Attendance: 994 |
| 26 January 1987First round | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0–1 | Hereford United | Wolverhampton |
| Kearns 44' | Stadium:Molineux Attendance: 2,892 |
| 10 February 1987Quarter-final | Swindon Town | 4–2 | Hereford United | Swindon |
| Quinn 18' Coyne 33'White 56'Bamber 89' | Spooner 9' Kearns 77' | Stadium:County Ground Attendance: 5,739 |