User:Pascopedral/1996–97 Hereford United F.C. season

Hereford United
1996–97 season
Chairman	Peter Hill
Manager	Graham Turner
Stadium	Edgar Street
Third Division	24th (relegated)
FA Cup	First round
League Cup	Second round
Football League Trophy	First round (Southern)
Top goalscorer	League: Adrian Foster (16); All: Adrian Foster (16)
Highest home attendance	8,532 v Brighton & Hove Albion, Third Division, 3 May 1997
Lowest home attendance	1,382 v Lincoln City, Third Division, 19 November 1996
Average home league attendance	2,938
Biggest win	3–0 v Cambridge United (H), Third Division, 20 August 1996; 3–0 v Rochdale (H), Third Division, 21 September 1996
Biggest defeat	0–7 v Middlesbrough (A), League Cup, 18 September 1996
	← 1995–96 1997–98 →

The 1996–97 season was Hereford United's 73rd season in existence and their 25th consecutive season in the Football League. This season marked the end of 19 consecutive seasons in the fourth tier of English football as Hereford were relegated to the Football Conference after finishing bottom of the league in 24th. It would take the club nine seasons to return to this level. Hereford also competed in the FA Cup, League Cup and Football League Trophy.

This season also marked the first time since Halifax Town in the 1992–93 season that a club would be relegated from the Third Division to the Conference. Had goal difference been the deciding factor to separate clubs level on points rather than goals scored this season, Hereford would have survived and Brighton & Hove Albion relegated instead.

Despite finishing 6th in the previous season and losing out to Darlington in the play-off semi-finals, Hereford lost their talisman and the league's top goalscorer, Steve White, before the season started. He was replaced with Gillingham striker Adrian Foster.

Entering the final fixture of the season, a relegation decider against Brighton at Edgar Street, Hereford needed to win whilst Brighton could afford to simply avoid defeat. Both clubs were level on points, and whilst Hereford possessed the superior goal difference, Brighton had scored more goals and thus ultimately proved decisive. Brighton secured the point they required for survival, the match ending 1–1, condemning Hereford to Non-League football for the first time since their election to the Football League in 1972.^[1]

First-team squad[edit]

As of 3 May 1997

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
1	GK	NIR	Trevor Wood
2	DF	ENG	Dave Norton (captain)
3	DF	ENG	Murray Fishlock
4	DF	ENG	John Brough
5	DF	ENG	Bradley Sandeman
6	DF	ENG	Trevor Matthewson
7	MF	ENG	Chris Hargreaves
8	MF	ENG	Brian McGorry
9	FW	ENG	Adrian Foster
10	FW	ENG	John Williams
11	MF	ENG	Mark Turner
12	DF	ENG	Rob Warner
13	GK	ENG	Andy De Bont


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
14	FW	ENG	Tony Agana
—	MF	ENG	Garry Cook
—	MF	ENG	Keith Downing
—	FW	ENG	Ian Foster
—	DF	ENG	Mark Hibbard
—	MF	ENG	Roy Jordan
—	MF	ENG	Gavin Mahon
—	MF	ENG	Jamie Pitman
—	MF	ENG	Phil Preedy
—	DF	ENG	Dean Smith
—	DF	ENG	Wayne Sutton
—	DF	ENG	Quentin Townsend
—	MF	WAL	Gavin Williams

Competitions[edit]

Competition	First match	Last match	Starting round	Final position	Record
Competition	First match	Last match	Starting round	Final position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Win %
Third Division	17 August 1996	3 May 1997	Matchday 1	24th (relegated)	46	11	14	21	50	65	−15	023.91
FA Cup	16 November 1996		First round	First round	1	0	0	1	0	1	−1	000.00
League Cup	20 August 1996	24 September 1996	First round	Second round	4	1	1	2	4	11	−7	025.00
Football League Trophy	7 December 1996		First round	First round	1	0	0	1	0	4	−4	000.00
Total					52	12	15	25	54	81	−27	023.08

Source: FCHD

Third Division[edit]

League table[edit]

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion or relegation
20	Hartlepool United	46	14	9	23	53	66	−13	51
21	Torquay United	46	13	11	22	46	62	−16	50
22	Exeter City	46	12	12	22	48	73	−25	48
23	Brighton & Hove Albion	46	13	10	23	53	70	−17	47^[a]
24	Hereford United	46	11	14	21	50	65	−15	47	Relegated to Conference

Source: ^[2]
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).
Notes:

^ Brighton & Hove Albion had two points deducted for failure to control spectators.

Results summary[edit]


Overall								Home						Away
Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
46	11	14	21	50	65	−15	47	6	8	9	26	25	+1	5	6	12	24	40	−16

Last updated: 3 May 1997.
Source: RSSSF

Results by round[edit]

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40	41	42	43	44	45	46
Ground	A	H	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	H	A	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	H	A	H	A	A	H	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H
Result	L	W	L	D	L	L	L	W	L	W	D	L	W	W	W	L	D	L	D	L	L	D	L	L	L	L	L	L	W	W	D	W	D	D	D	L	L	W	L	D	D	W	D	D	L	D
Position	23	15	18	20	20	23	24	21	23	18	19	21	17	12	12	14	14	16	17	18	22	21	22	22	22	23	23	23	23	23	22	20	21	20	20	22	22	20	21	23	22	22	22	23	24	24
Points	0	3	3	4	4	4	4	7	7	10	11	11	14	17	20	20	21	21	22	22	22	23	23	23	23	23	23	23	26	29	30	33	34	35	36	36	36	39	39	40	41	44	45	46	46	47

Updated to match(es) played on 3 May 1997. Source: Soccerbase
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches[edit]

Win Draw Loss

17 August 1996 1	Fulham	1–0	Hereford United	Fulham
		Report		Stadium: Craven Cottage Attendance: 5,277

24 August 1996 2	Hereford United	1–0	Doncaster Rovers	Hereford
		Report		Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2,877

27 August 1996 3	Hereford United	0–1	Hull City	Hereford
		Report		Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2,820

31 August 1996 4	Colchester United	1–1	Hereford United	Colchester
		Report		Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 2,712

7 September 1996 5	Hereford United	0–1	Hartlepool United	Hereford
		Report		Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2,729

10 September 1996 6	Swansea City	4–0	Hereford United	Swansea
		Report		Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 2,479

14 September 1996 7	Darlington	1–0	Hereford United	Darlington
		Report		Stadium: Feethams Attendance: 3,271

21 September 1996 8	Hereford United	3–0	Rochdale	Hereford
		Report		Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2,140

28 September 1996 9	Mansfield Town	3–1	Hereford United	Mansfield
		Report		Stadium: Field Mill Attendance: 1,889

1 October 1996 10	Hereford United	3–2	Scunthorpe United	Hereford
		Report		Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 1,766

5 October 1996 11	Hereford United	2–2	Scarborough	Hereford
		Report		Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2,524

12 October 1996 12	Torquay United	2–1	Hereford United	Torquay
		Report		Stadium: Plainmoor Attendance: 2,073

15 October 1996 13	Brighton & Hove Albion	0–1	Hereford United	Hove
		Report		Stadium: Goldstone Ground Attendance: 3,444

19 October 1996 14	Hereford United	2–0	Leyton Orient	Hereford
		Report		Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2,631

26 October 1996 15	Chester City	1–3	Hereford United	Chester
		Report		Stadium: Deva Stadium Attendance: 2,301

29 October 1996 16	Hereford United	0–1	Cambridge United	Hereford
		Report		Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2,372

2 November 1996 17	Hereford United	1–1	Barnet	Hereford
		Report		Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2,666

9 November 1996 18	Wigan Athletic	4–1	Hereford United	Wigan
		Report		Stadium: Springfield Park Attendance: 3,414

19 November 1996 19	Hereford United	1–1	Lincoln City	Hereford
		Report		Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 1,382

23 November 1996 20	Cardiff City	2–0	Hereford United	Cardiff
		Report		Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 3,904

30 November 1996 21	Hereford United	1–2	Chester City	Hereford
		Report		Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2,212

3 December 1996 22	Exeter City	1–1	Hereford United	Exeter
		Report		Stadium: St James Park Attendance: 2,189

14 December 1996 23	Hereford United	2–3	Carlisle United	Hereford
		Report		Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 1,890

20 December 1996 24	Northampton Town	1–0	Hereford United	Northampton
		Report		Stadium: Sixfields Stadium Attendance: 4,238

26 December 1996 25	Hereford United	0–1	Swansea City	Hereford
		Report		Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 4,204

28 December 1996 26	Hartlepool United	2–1	Hereford United	Hartlepool
				Stadium: Victoria Park Attendance: 1,923

11 January 1997 27	Hereford United	0–1	Mansfield Town	Hereford
		Report		Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 1,873

18 January 1997 28	Scunthorpe United	5–1	Hereford United	Scunthorpe
		Report		Stadium: Glanford Park Attendance: 1,986

25 January 1997 29	Cambridge United	0–1	Hereford United	Cambridge
		Report		Stadium: Abbey Stadium Attendance: 3,018

1 February 1997 30	Hereford United	3–1	Wigan Athletic	Hereford
		Report		Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2,499

4 February 1997 31	Hereford United	1–1	Darlington	Hereford
		Report		Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2,058

8 February 1997 32	Barnet	2–3	Hereford United	Chipping Barnet
		Report		Stadium: Underhill Stadium Attendance: 2,439

16 February 1997 33	Hereford United	1–1	Cardiff City	Hereford
		Report		Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 5,137

18 February 1997 34	Rochdale	0–0	Hereford United	Rochdale
		Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1,074

22 February 1997 35	Lincoln City	3–3	Hereford United	Lincoln
		Report		Stadium: Sincil Bank Attendance: 2,957

1 March 1997 36	Hereford United	1–2	Exeter City	Hereford
		Report		Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2,715

8 March 1997 37	Hereford United	1–2	Northampton Town	Hereford
		Report		Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2,995

15 March 1997 38	Carlisle United	2–3	Hereford United	Carlisle
		Report		Stadium: Brunton Park Attendance: 5,063

21 March 1997 39	Doncaster Rovers	1–0	Hereford United	Doncaster
				Stadium: Belle Vue Attendance: 2,483

29 March 1997 40	Hereford United	0–0	Fulham	Hereford
		Report		Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 4,279

31 March 1997 41	Hull City	1–1	Hereford United	Kingston upon Hull
		Report		Stadium: Boothferry Park Attendance: 2,818

5 April 1997 42	Hereford United	1–0	Colchester United	Hereford
		Report		Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2,502

12 April 1997 43	Scarborough	1–1	Hereford United	Scarborough
		Report		Stadium: McCain Stadium Attendance: 2,332

19 April 1997 44	Hereford United	1–1	Torquay United	Hereford
		Report		Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2,772

26 April 1997 45	Leyton Orient	2–1	Hereford United	Leyton
		Report		Stadium: Brisbane Road Attendance: 5,610

3 May 1997 46	Hereford United	1–1	Brighton & Hove Albion	Hereford
		Report		Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 8,532

FA Cup[edit]

Hereford entered the competition in the first round proper.

Win Draw Loss

16 November 1996 First round	Gillingham	1–0	Hereford United	Gillingham
		Report		Stadium: Priestfield Stadium Attendance: 5,280

Football League Cup[edit]

Hereford entered the competition in the first round.

Win Draw Loss

20 August 1996 First round first leg	Hereford United	3–0	Cambridge United	Hereford
		Report		Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 1,982

3 September 1996 First round second leg	Cambridge United	1–1 (1–4 agg.)	Hereford United	Cambridge
		Report		Stadium: Abbey Stadium Attendance: 1,164

18 September 1996 Second round first leg	Middlesbrough	7–0	Hereford United	Middlesbrough
		Report		Stadium: Riverside Stadium Attendance: 17,136

24 September 1996 Second round second leg	Hereford United	0–3 (0–10 agg.)	Middlesbrough	Hereford
		Report		Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 4,522

Football League Trophy[edit]

Hereford entered the competition in the first round.

Win Draw Loss

7 December 1996 First round	Hereford United	0–4	Millwall	Hereford
		Report		Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 1,701

References[edit]

^ Naylor, Andy. "Brighton greatest goals: Reinelt saves club from 'death sentence', bull 'arrested'". The Athletic. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
^ "England 1996–97". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2010.

External links[edit]

11v11
English Football Stats
Hereford United - 1996/1997 Season Review

[table_hth_B&HA0.79074812950136-2] Brighton & Hove Albion had two points deducted for failure to control spectators.

[1] Naylor, Andy. "Brighton greatest goals: Reinelt saves club from 'death sentence', bull 'arrested'". The Athletic. Retrieved 2 May 2023.

[3] "England 1996–97". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2010.

[1]

[a]

[2]