Hereford Utd v Darlington

Saturday 22nd February 2020, 3pm
Vanarama Conference North

 

Hereford FC: Edgar Street, Hereford, HR4 9JU Tel: 01432 268257; Tweet: @HerefordFC History: The original United club was formed in 1924, when two local clubs merged and started in the Birmingham leagues and eventually reached the Southern League. A non-league attendance record was set at Wigan in the FA Cup in 1954, with more than 24,500 watching. Hereford's most famous FA Cup exploit was the defeat of mighty Newcastle 2-1 in a third round replay in 1972, the year they were also elected to the Football League. Lost in the play-off semi-finals to Darlington in 1996 but then lost their league status a year later on the last day with Brighton staying up. Unlucky to lose out on promotions back under long-serving chairman and manager Graham Turner until the 2006 Conference play-off win over Halifax, while a second promotion soon followed, before the dropped back a division. The club went into financial meltdown in 2014, and like Darlo have had to pull themselves back up from the bottom, with the help of their own fans as a "phoenix" club. The Southern League champions found the step up quite difficult in 2018/19 but the Bulls survived. New recruits include former Darlo favourite Reece Styche up front. Record Attendance: 4,712 vs A.F.C. Telford United (FA Cup, 2017); 18,114 v Sheffield Wed FA Cup 3, Jan 1958 (old club) Capacity: 4,913 Last season: 17th Honours: Division Three champions 1975/76, Div Four runners up 1972/73, Conference play-off winners 2006. Southern League Premier champions 2017/18; Southern League South & West champions 2016/17; Midland Premier champions 2015/16 Record victory: 15–1 vs Tenbury United (2017), 6-0 v Burnley, Div 4 (1987, old club) Defeat: 0-6 v Rotherham Utd, Div 4, April 1989 Nicknames: The Bulls Colours: White Manager: Tim Harris Chairman: Andrew Graham Click here for streetmap of the Hereford's ground Admission prices (2018/19 ) Prices are Adults £15, OAPs £14,ages 16-18 £8; under 16s £2, under 5 free for a seat in the stand on Edgar Street. Away fans also get the lower level terrace, prices are adults £13, OAPs £13 and 16-18 are £7.	Distance from Darlington, 236 miles, allow 4.5 hours. From the North: Take the M1, M42 right to the end and head onto the M5 south, leaving at junction 5 (Droitwich). Follow the A38 towards Worcester, before taking the A449 signposted Hereford. Follow Hereford signs and the A49 will eventually take you into the city and straight past Edgar Street. Parking: There are a number of pay and display car parks within 5-10 minutes walk of the ground, including the large council-owned car park next to the ground. Darlington FC Supporters' Club Coach Contact: Darlington FC Supporters Group, call 01325 250531 or 07951 434731 to book a seat.Details of the supporters' group travel can be found here. Hereford Taxis: 01432 343343 City Taxis: 01432 340350 Blue Line Taxis: 01432 343435 Cathedral Taxis: 01432 343438	Less than a mile away, the ground is no more than a 15- minute walk from Hereford station. Turn right into Commercial Road at the end of the station approach - past Morrisons - and head towards the city centre. You pass a BP garage and shops on your right until ou reach the traffic lights (on the corner by a sofa shop, with a Subway restaurant ahead of you). Then turn right along Newmarket Street, then its right into Widemarsh Street and quickly left into Blackfriars Street to reach the away end. The official site is very good with some useful travel information.
Near the ground and city centre: Beer In Hand, 136 Eign Street/A38, Hereford HR4 OAP Excellent craft ale pub - owned by the Worcester-based Odyssey Brewing Company - specialising in a wide range of ciders and perries and 12 real ales on tap and in bottles. It's in a converted laundrette, a few minutes walk from the ground. Snacks are served. It's quite sizeable too. DAFTS recommended. A great choice of beers in the Beer In Hand Hereford Beer House, 65 West Street, Hereford HR4 0BX Micro bar and bottle shop in the city centre on a quiet street. Six beers on tap, along with a good bottle selection in the fridge. DAFTS recommended. The Victory, 88 St Owen's Street A nautical-themed city centre pub, home to the Spinning Dog brewery and a home also, naturally this being Hereford, to real ciders, as well as guest ales. Food served. There's a beer garden at the side of the pub - the brewery is at the back. Click for street map Barrels (The Lamb), 69 St Owen's Street On the same street as The Victory and my preferred choice - over the traffic lights - this has four or five Wye Valley real ales on hand-pull, cider, a choice of lagers, with four rooms, including pool table and Sky TV. Still a friendly place and the Wye Valley Hopmaster was only £2.80 a pint and in good nick. Also a beer garden at the back. DAFTS recommended Firefly, 16 King St, Hereford HR4 9BX Gastro-pub near the cathedral, with a good craft beer selection. Other city centre/near station Yates's, 58 Commercial Street Airey free house, with food served The Kings Fee, 49-53 Commercial Road On the way up from the station, this JD Wetherpoon's pub is sizeable in the art deco style, with a garden at the rear. They had three beers on during our post-match visit, not bad as these places go, although it looked like a bomb had hit it, with the usual detrius of the afternoon drinking and dining crowd. Non-smoking throughout, Sky Sports screens on "silent" and a cash machine. . Open from 9am.	There is a refreshment hut just inside the away turnstiles - decent enough pies, plus teas and coffees and snacks.