The 1976–77 season was the 47th season of competitive football played by Hereford United Football Club and their fifth in the Football League. Following promotion as champions of Division Three the previous season, the club competed in Division Two, as well as the League Cup and FA Cup.
Summary
Hereford's rapid progress up the Football League was halted as they made an immediate return to Division Three, becoming the first team ever to finish bottom of Division Two having been promoted as Third Division champions the previous season.
After a promising start which saw only one point dropped in the first three matches, Hereford's form nosedived as it became clear that most other clubs possessed greater strength in depth and players more suited to the demands of Second Division football. This was amply demonstrated by successive matches in the autumn when Hereford were beaten 4–1 at Fulham by a team containing Bobby Moore, Rodney Marsh and George Best, then thrashed 6–1 at home a week later by a Wolverhampton Wanderers side containing the likes of Steve Kindon, Kenny Hibbitt, Alan Sunderland and Bobby Gould.
A late rally (four wins and only one defeat from the final nine matches) proved to be too little, too late and relegation was confirmed following a goalless draw against Carlisle United with three matches still to play.[1]
Squad
Players who made one appearance or more for Hereford United F.C. during the 1976-77 season
| Pos. | Nat. | Name | League | League Cup | FA Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| GK |  ENG
|
Kevin Charlton | 16 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| GK |  SCO
|
Tommy Hughes | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| DF | ENG
|
Phil Burrows | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| DF |  IRE
|
Tony Byrne | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| DF | ENG
|
Steve Emery | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
| DF | ENG
|
John Galley | 20(3) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 22(4) | 2 |
| DF | ENG
|
Derek Jefferson | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 28 | 0 |
| DF | ENG
|
John Layton | 28 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 32 | 4 |
| DF |  WAL
|
Julian Marshall | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| DF | ENG
|
Chris Price | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| DF | SCO
|
Steve Ritchie | 32 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 1 |
| DF | ENG
|
Billy Tucker | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| MF | ENG
|
Les Briley | 33(1) | 1 | 0(1) | 0 | 2 | 1 | 35(2) | 2 |
| MF | ENG
|
Roy Carter | 18(6) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20(6) | 3 |
| MF | SCO
|
Jimmy Lindsay | 33 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 4 |
| MF | ENG
|
Barry Lloyd | 12(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13(2) | 0 |
| MF | ENG
|
Terry Paine | 26(1) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 30(1) | 3 |
| MF | WAL
|
Alan Peters | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| MF | ENG
|
Brian Preece | 3(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3(1) | 0 |
| MF | IRE
|
Kevin Sheedy | 13(3) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13(3) | 1 |
| MF | ENG
|
Peter Spiring | 32(6) | 9 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 36(6) | 10 |
| MF | ENG
|
Dudley Tyler | 4(2) | 0 | 0(1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4(3) | 1 |
| MF | WAL
|
Shane Walker | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| FW | SCO
|
Jimmy Coughlin (on loan from Albion Rovers) | 1(1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(1) | 1 |
| FW | WAL
|
Steve Crompton | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| FW | ENG
|
Steve Davey | 31 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 9 |
| FW | ENG
|
Gary Goodchild | 1(3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2(3) | 0 |
| FW | ENG
|
Dixie McNeil | 37 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 18 |
| FW | SCO
|
Colin Sinclair | 7(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7(2) | 0 |
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | Cardiff City | 42 | 12 | 10 | 20 | 56 | 67 | −11 | 34 | Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round |
| 19 | Orient | 42 | 9 | 16 | 17 | 37 | 55 | −18 | 34 | |
| 20 | Carlisle United (R) | 42 | 11 | 12 | 19 | 49 | 75 | −26 | 34 | Relegation to the Third Division |
| 21 | Plymouth Argyle (R) | 42 | 8 | 16 | 18 | 46 | 65 | −19 | 32 | |
| 22 | Hereford United (R) | 42 | 8 | 15 | 19 | 57 | 78 | −21 | 31 |
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(R) Relegated
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(R) Relegated
Results
Second Division
| 21 August 1976 1 | Hereford United | 1–0 | Hull City | Hereford |
McNeil  54' |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 7323 |
| 28 August 1976 2 | Sheffield United | 1–1 | Hereford United | Sheffield |
| Guthrie 1' |
Carter 70' |
Stadium: Bramall Lane Attendance: 15,087 |
| 4 September 1976 3 | Hereford United | 3–0 | Burnley | Hereford |
| McNeil 42', 72', 90' |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 9543 |
| 11 September 1976 4 | Nottingham Forest | 4–3 | Hereford United | Nottingham |
| Butlin 32' Bowyer 39', 71'Robertson 61' |
McNeil 11', 72' Spiring 17' |
Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 12,081 |
| 14 September 1976 5 | Carlisle United | 2–2 | Hereford United | Carlisle |
| Martin 5' (pen.) Rafferty 71' |
Spiring 17' Layton 28' |
Stadium: Brunton Park Attendance: 7371 |
| 18 September 1976 6 | Hereford United | 1–2 | Charlton Athletic | Hereford |
| Lindsay 72' |
Flanagan 37' Hales 56' |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 8723 |
| 25 September 1976 7 | Fulham | 4–1 | Hereford United | London |
| Slough 20' Evanson 26'Marsh 69', 72' |
Howe 35' (o.g.) |
Stadium: Craven Cottage Attendance: 18,935 |
| 2 October 1976 8 | Hereford United | 1–6 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Hereford |
| McNeil 53' (pen.) |
Sunderland 6' Kindon 28'Gould 42', 67'Carr 61'Daley 83' |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 13,891 |
| 9 October 1976 9 | Luton Town | 2–0 | Hereford United | Luton |
| Husband 54' P. Futcher 88' |
Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 9395 |
| 16 October 1976 10 | Southampton | 1–0 | Hereford United | Southampton |
| Holmes 45' |
Stadium: The Dell Attendance: 24,910 |
| 23 October 1976 11 | Hereford United | 1–4 | Notts County | Hereford |
| Spiring 37' |
Sims 28', 80' Needham 65'Busby 77' |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 7462 |
| 30 October 1976 12 | Millwall | 4–2 | Hereford United | London |
| Brisley 30' Seasman 59'Lee 75'Shanahan 84' (pen.) |
Davey 19' Spiring 88' |
Stadium: The Den Attendance: 8685 |
| 6 November 1976 13 | Hereford United | 2–2 | Chelsea | Hereford |
| Ritchie 29' Layton 70' |
Finnieston 28', 41' (pen.) |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 12,528 |
| 13 November 1976 14 | Bristol Rovers | 2–3 | Hereford United | Bristol |
| Warboys 8' Bannister 15' |
Spiring 13' Davey 20', 26' |
Stadium: Eastville Attendance: 8485 |
| 20 November 1976 15 | Hereford United | 0–0 | Oldham Athletic | Hereford |
| Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 7997 |
| 27 November 1976 16 | Blackburn Rovers | 1–0 | Hereford United | Blackburn |
| Wagstaffe 4' |
Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 9090 |
| 15 December 1976 17 | Hereford United | 3–3 | Bolton Wanderers | Hereford |
| Davey 5', 18' McNeil 80' |
Whatmore 65' Allardyce 82'Greaves 87' |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 5052 |
| 18 December 1976 18 | Hereford United | 2–3 | Orient | Hereford |
| Lindsay 37' Galley 83' |
Whittle 20', 72' Bennett 85' |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 5640 |
| 27 December 1976 19 | Cardiff City | 3–1 | Hereford United | Cardiff |
| Giles 35' Evans 64', 80' |
Paine 83' |
Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 14,465 |
| 1 January 1977 20 | Chelsea | 5–1 | Hereford United | London |
| Swain 4' Stanley 25'R. Wilkins 39', 90'Finnieston 46' |
Paine 61' |
Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 27,720 |
| 22 January 1977 21 | Hull City | 1–1 | Hereford United | Hull |
| Sunley 10' |
Davey 21' |
Stadium: Boothferry Park Attendance: 7819 |
| 9 February 1977 22 | Hereford United | 1–1 | Plymouth Argyle | Hereford |
| Layton 15' |
Hall 41' |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 5002 |
| 12 February 1977 23 | Burnley | 1–1 | Hereford United | Burnley |
| Noble 54' |
Newton 30' (o.g.) |
Stadium: Turf Moor Attendance: 8467 |
| 14 February 1977 24 | Blackpool | 2–1 | Hereford United | Blackpool |
| Walsh 75', 88' |
Galley 89' |
Stadium: Bloomfield Road Attendance: 8535 |
| 25 February 1977 25 | Charlton Athletic | 1–1 | Hereford United | London |
| McAuley 78' |
Spiring 56' |
Stadium: The Valley Attendance: 8704 |
| 2 March 1977 26 | Hereford United | 0–1 | Nottingham Forest | Hereford |
| Curran 38' |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 7503 |
| 5 March 1977 27 | Hereford United | 1–0 | Fulham | Hereford |
| McNeil 55' |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 6590 |
| 12 March 1977 28 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2–1 | Hereford United | Wolverhampton |
| Todd 39' Hibbitt 49' |
Briley 77' |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 22,992 |
| 19 March 1977 29 | Hereford United | 0–1 | Luton Town | Hereford |
| R. Futcher 90' |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 6737 |
| 23 March 1977 30 | Hereford United | 2–2 | Sheffield United | Hereford |
| Davey 28' Carter 34' |
Edwards 31', 81' |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 5504 |
| 1 April 1977 31 | Notts County | 3–2 | Hereford United | Nottingham |
| Bradd 36', 69' Scanlon 46' |
Davey 76' Coughlin 90' |
Stadium: Meadow Lane Attendance: 8080 |
| 6 April 1977 32 | Hereford United | 2–2 | Cardiff City | Hereford |
| Layton 34' Spiring 67' |
Sayer 74', 85' |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 7672 |
| 9 April 1977 33 | Plymouth Argyle | 2–1 | Hereford United | Plymouth |
| Bannister 2', 69' |
Davey 22' |
Stadium: Home Park Attendance: 9787 |
| 11 April 1977 34 | Hereford United | 1–1 | Bristol Rovers | Hereford |
| Paine 13' |
Powell 73' |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 7195 |
| 16 April 1977 35 | Oldham Athletic | 3–5 | Hereford United | Oldham |
| Whittle 7' Shaw 28'Robins 66' |
McNeil 31', 90' Spiring 34', 53'Hicks 62' (o.g.) |
Stadium: Boundary Park Attendance: 7733 |
| 20 April 1977 36 | Hereford United | 3–1 | Millwall | Hereford |
| McNeil 30', 52' Sheedy 35' |
Alexander 83' |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 4837 |
| 23 April 1977 37 | Hereford United | 1–0 | Blackburn Rovers | Hereford |
| McNeil 15' |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 5853 |
| 30 April 1977 38 | Bolton Wanderers | 3–1 | Hereford United | Bolton |
| Hughes 35' (o.g.) Allardyce 78'Taylor 90' |
Carter 85' |
Stadium: Burnden Park Attendance: 18,874 |
| 4 May 1977 39 | Hereford United | 0–0 | Carlisle United | Hereford |
| Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 4448 |
| 7 May 1977 40 | Hereford United | 1–1 | Blackpool | Hereford |
| McNeil 75' |
Finnigan 40' |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 5312 |
| 11 May 1977 41 | Hereford United | 2–0 | Southampton | Hereford |
| Lindsay 13' McNeil 29' |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 6886 |
| 14 May 1977 42 | Orient | 1–1 | Hereford United | London |
| Roffey 40' |
Lindsay 90' |
Stadium: Brisbane Road Attendance: 4956 |
League Cup
| 14 August 1976 First round first leg | Chester | 2–0 | Hereford United | Chester |
| Crossley 37' (pen.) Draper 79' |
Stadium: Sealand Road Attendance: 3866 |
| 18 August 1976 First round second leg | Hereford United | 4–3 | Chester | Hereford |
| McNeil 15', 77' Spiring 39'Tyler 89' |
Draper 6' Crossley 22'Paine 53' (o.g.) |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 5028 |
FA Cup
| 8 January 1977 Third round | Hereford United | 1–0 | Reading | Hereford |
| Briley 57' |
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 7401 |
| 29 January 1977 Fourth round | Middlesbrough | 4–0 | Hereford United | Middlesbrough |
| Souness 31' Armstrong 51', 72' (pen.)Willey 89' |
Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 25,000 |
References
- ^ Parrott 1998, pp. 38–42
- ^ Parrott 1998, p. 197
- ^ Rothmans 1977-78, pp. 205–206
- ^ Parrott 1998, pp. 192–195
- ^ Rothmans 1977-78, p. 204
- ^ a b Parrott 1998, pp. 196
- ^ Rothmans 1977-78, pp. 496–498
- ^ Rothmans 1977-78, pp. 480–483
- Bibliography
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