1986–87 Hereford United F.C. season
| 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 v Wolverhampton Wanderers, Division Four, 26 December 1986 |
| Lowest home attendance | 1,358 v Newport County, Welsh Cup, 10 December 1986 |
| Average home league attendance | 2,583 |
| Biggest win | 6–0 v Burnley (A), Division Four, 24 January 1987 |
| Biggest defeat | 1–5 v Swansea City (A), Littlewoods Cup, 2 September 1986 |
The 1986–87 season was the 58th season of competitive football played by Hereford United Football Club and their 15th in the Football League. The club competed in Division Four, as well as the Littlewoods Cup, FA Cup, Welsh Cup and Freight Rover Trophy.
Summary
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 of Burnley at Turf 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 over Swansea City at the beginning of May.[1]
Squad
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 | .svg.png){kind=small} 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 from Bristol 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 |
League table
| 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 |
Source:
Results
Fourth Division
| 23 August 1986 1 | Hereford United | 0–0 | Wrexham | Hereford |
| Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 3,002 |
| 30 August 1986 2 | Crewe Alexandra | 1–2 | Hereford United | Crewe |
Cutler  83' |
Spooner 60' Phillips 86' |
Stadium: Gresty Road Attendance: 1,597 |
| 6 September 1986 3 | Hereford United | 2–0 | Burnley | Hereford |
| Spooner 74' Kearns 84' |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2,796 |
| 13 September 1986 4 | Preston North End | 2–1 | Hereford United | Preston |
| Williams 41' Thomas 48' (pen.) |
Kearns 82' |
Stadium: Deepdale Attendance: 4,707 |
| 16 September 1986 5 | Southend United | 2–0 | Hereford United | Southend-on-Sea |
| Cadette 17' Pennyfather 64' |
Stadium: Roots Hall Attendance: 2,100 |
| 20 September 1986 6 | Hereford United | 1–1 | Orient | Hereford |
| Halliday 89' |
Cunningham 44' |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2,454 |
| 27 September 1986 7 | 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 1986 8 | 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 1986 9 | Hereford United | 2–0 | Peterborough United | Hereford |
| Rodgerson 34' Spooner 38' |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2,104 |
| 10 October 1986 10 | Hartlepool United | 0–0 | Hereford United | Hartlepool |
| Stadium: Victoria Park Attendance: 2,139 |
| 18 October 1986 11 | Hereford United | 1–1 | Exeter City | Hereford |
| Wells 39' |
O'Connell 60' |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2,461 |
| 21 October 1986 12 | Rochdale | 2–0 | Hereford United | Rochdale |
| Young 35' Wakenshaw 88' |
Stadium: Spotland Attendance: 1,088 |
| 25 October 1986 13 | 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 1986 14 | Hereford United | 1–0 | Aldershot | Hereford |
| Delve 33' |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2,209 |
| 3 November 1986 15 | Stockport County | 1–2 | Hereford United | Stockport |
| Stokes 64' |
Kearns 61', 85' |
Stadium: Edgeley Park Attendance: 1,338 |
| 8 November 1986 16 | Hereford United | 0–0 | Lincoln City | Hereford |
| Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2,305 |
| 22 November 1986 17 | Torquay United | 1–1 | Hereford United | Torquay |
| Pyle 70' |
Kearns 55' |
Stadium: Plainmoor Attendance: 999 |
| 29 November 1986 18 | 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 1986 19 | 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 1986 20 | Halifax Town | 2–1 | Hereford United | Halifax |
| Matthews 19' Longhurst 76' |
Harvey 25' (pen.) |
Stadium: The Shay Attendance: 1,005 |
| 26 December 1986 21 | Hereford United | 2–0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Hereford |
| Wells 6' Spooner 75' |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 5,828 |
| 27 December 1986 22 | Swansea City | 1–3 | Hereford United | Swansea |
| Pascoe 28' |
Spooner 1', 33' Phillips 85' |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 6,274 |
| 1 January 1987 23 | 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 1987 24 | Hereford United | 2–2 | Torquay United | Hereford |
| Harvey 34' (pen.), 54' (pen.) |
Nardiello 10' King 27' |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2,840 |
| 24 January 1987 25 | Burnley | 0–6 | Hereford United | Burnley |
| Harvey 17' (pen.) Kearns 24', 67'Phillips 55', 80', 85' |
Stadium: Turf Moor Attendance: 1,955 |
| 28 January 1987 26 | Hereford United | 2–0 | Crewe Alexandra | Hereford |
| Harvey 59' (pen.) Kearns 80' |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2,252 |
| 7 February 1987 27 | Hereford United | 0–1 | Southend United | Hereford |
| Cadette 64' |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2,801 |
| 14 February 1987 28 | Orient | 2–0 | Hereford United | London |
| Brooks 60' Dalziel 63' (o.g.) |
Stadium: Brisbane Road Attendance: 2,061 |
| 21 February 1987 29 | Hereford United | 0–2 | Cardiff City | Hereford |
| Cegielski 48' (o.g.) Horrix 70' |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 3,969 |
| 25 February 1987 30 | 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 1987 31 | Colchester United | 2–0 | Hereford United | Colchester |
| English 51' (pen.) Phillips 54' |
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 1,999 |
| 3 March 1987 32 | Aldershot | 1–0 | Hereford United | Aldershot |
| Barnes 78' (pen.) |
Stadium: Recreation Ground Attendance: 1,643 |
| 14 March 1987 33 | Exeter City | 1–0 | Hereford United | Exeter |
| Kellow 59' |
Stadium: St James Park Attendance: 2,342 |
| 18 March 1987 34 | Hereford United | 0–1 | Rochdale | Hereford |
| Parlane 81' |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 1,890 |
| 21 March 1987 35 | Hereford United | 4–0 | Hartlepool United | Hereford |
| Phillips 21' Kearns 40', 43', 83' |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 1,832 |
| 28 March 1987 36 | Peterborough United | 2–1 | Hereford United | Peterborough |
| Gunn 28' (pen.) Gage 84' |
Spooner 20' (pen.) |
Stadium: London Road Attendance: 4,110 |
| 4 April 1987 37 | Lincoln City | 0–0 | Hereford United | Lincoln |
| Stadium: Sincil Bank Attendance: 1,201 |
| 8 April 1987 38 | 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 1987 39 | Hereford United | 1–2 | Stockport County | Hereford |
| Spooner 79' |
Entwistle 51' Moss 62' |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2,251 |
| 18 April 1987 40 | Hereford United | 1–0 | Tranmere Rovers | Hereford |
| Carter 75' |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2,010 |
| 20 April 1987 41 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1–0 | Hereford United | Wolverhampton |
| Purdie 37' |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 10,730 |
| 26 April 1987 42 | Hereford United | 1–0 | Halifax Town | Hereford |
| Kearns 41' |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2,061 |
| 1 May 1987 43 | Scunthorpe United | 3–1 | Hereford United | Scunthorpe |
| Johnson 46' Broddle 73'Russell 83' |
Spooner 48' |
Stadium: Old Show Ground Attendance: 1,660 |
| 4 May 1987 44 | Hereford United | 2–0 | Swansea City | Hereford |
| Phillips 47' Carter 65' |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2,474 |
| 6 May 1987 45 | Wrexham | 2–2 | Hereford United | Wrexham |
| Charles 33' Preece 75' |
Kearns 31' Spooner 89' |
Stadium: Racecourse Ground Attendance: 1,253 |
| 9 May 1987 46 | Cambridge United | 2–1 | Hereford United | Cambridge |
| Rogers 12' (o.g.) Smith 44' |
Phillips 82' |
Stadium: Abbey Stadium Attendance: 1,900 |
Littlewoods Cup
| 27 August 1986 First 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 1986 First 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 |
FA Cup
| 15 November 1986 First 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 1986 First round replay | Fulham | 4–0 | Hereford United | London |
| Davies 19', 36' Marshall 87'Coney 89' |
Stadium: Craven Cottage Attendance: 3,592 |
Welsh Cup
| 3 December 1986 Third round | Hereford United | 0–1 | Wrexham | Hereford |
| Steel 52' |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 1,642 |
Freight Rover Trophy
| 10 December 1986 Preliminary 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 1986 Preliminary round | Port Vale | 1–0 | Hereford United | Stoke-on-Trent |
| Jones 71' |
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 994 |
| 26 January 1987 First round | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0–1 | Hereford United | Wolverhampton |
| Kearns 44' |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 2,892 |
| 10 February 1987 Quarter-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 |
References
- ^ Parrott 1998, pp. 94–98
- ^ a b c d e Parrott 1998, pp. 256–257
- ^ Rothmans 1987-88, pp. 189–190
- ^ Parrott 1998, pp. 252–255
- ^ Rothmans 1987-88, p. 188
- ^ Rothmans 1987-88, pp. 448–449
- ^ Rothmans 1987-88, pp. 479–482
- ^ Rothmans 1987-88, pp. 462–465
- Bibliography