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1975–76 Hereford United F.C. season

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Hereford United
1975–76 season
ChairmanFrank Miles
ManagerJohn Sillett
StadiumEdgar Street
Division Three1st
League CupSecond round
FA CupThird round
Welsh CupRunners-up
Top goalscorerLeague: Dixie McNeil (35)
All: Dixie McNeil (38)
Highest home attendance12,970 v Crystal Palace, Division Three, 31 January 1976
Lowest home attendance1994 v Porthmadog, Welsh Cup, 18 February 1976
Average home league attendance8273
Biggest win5–0 v Chester (H), Division Three, 10 March 1976
Biggest defeat1–4 v Burnley (H), League Cup, 10 September 1975

The 1975–76 season was the 46th season of competitive football played by Hereford United Football Club and their fourth in the Football League. The club competed in Division Three, as well as the League Cup, FA Cup and Welsh Cup.

Summary

Hereford clinched a second promotion in four years following election to the Football League by finishing as champions of Division Three, six points clear of second-placed Cardiff City. They won only one of their opening five league matches but gathered momentum as results improved through the autumn and winter, and went top for the first time with a 4–1 win over Cardiff at the start of February. A crowd of 35,549 saw the Welsh club claim a 2–0 win in the return fixture at Ninian Park on 14 April, but Hereford's promotion was confirmed the following Saturday by a goalless draw at Walsall, with the championship following two days later courtesy of a 3–1 win over Shrewsbury Town.

The squad was bolstered by the arrival of goalkeeper Kevin Charlton, full-back Steve Ritchie, midfielder Jimmy Lindsay and forward Steve Davey. Charlton displaced Tommy Hughes as first-choice keeper, Ritchie and Lindsay were both ever-present, and Davey's 18 league goals took some of the scoring burden off Dixie McNeil. Nevertheless, McNeil finished as leading scorer in the Football League for the second successive year with a haul of 35 goals, thanks to a hat-trick against Preston North End in the final match of the season which enabled him to overtake Walsall's Alan Buckley by one goal. He also became the first Hereford player to score four goals in a league match, doing so in a 5–0 win over Chester.

Veteran midfielder Terry Paine achieved a notable feat when he made his 765th league appearance in Hereford's home match against Peterborough United on 25 October. This established a new Football league record, overtaking the previous record of 764 held by Portsmouth's Jimmy Dickinson.[1]

Squad

Players who made one appearance or more for Hereford United F.C. during the 1975-76 season

Pos. Nat. Name League League Cup FA Cup Welsh Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK  ENG Kevin Charlton 35 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 44 0
GK  SCO Tommy Hughes 11 0 1 0 1 0 4 0 17 0
DF  IRE Tony Byrne 1(1) 0 1 0 0 0 4(1) 2 6(2) 2
DF  ENG Steve Emery 45 2 4 0 4 0 5 0 58 2
DF  WAL Mark Evans 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
DF  ENG John Galley 35 2 3 0 0 0 3 0 41 2
DF  ENG John Layton 38 6 2 0 4 2 5 1 49 9
DF  WAL Julian Marshall 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
DF  SCO Steve Ritchie 46 1 4 1 4 0 3 0 57 2
DF  ENG David Rylands 2 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 5 0
DF  ENG Billy Tucker 17(2) 2 3 0 3 1 4 0 27(2) 2
MF  ENG Les Briley 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
MF  ENG Roy Carter 33 5 4 2 1(1) 1 4 0 42(1) 8
MF  ENG Paul Courtney 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
MF  SCO Jimmy Lindsay 46 2 4 2 4 0 5 2 59 6
MF  SCO Jim McCafferty 0(3) 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 3(3) 0
MF  ENG Terry Paine 40(4) 1 2(2) 1 4 0 2 1 48(6) 3
MF  ENG Brian Preece 0 0 0 0 0 0 3(1) 1 3(1) 1
MF  ENG David Rudge 1(1) 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2(1) 0
MF  IRE Kevin Sheedy 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
MF  ENG Barry Silkman 12(10) 1 1 0 0(2) 0 3(1) 1 16(13) 2
MF  ENG Peter Spiring 5(1) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5(1) 0
MF  ENG Dudley Tyler 34 5 0 0 4 1 3(1) 0 41(1) 6
MF  WAL Shane Walker 7(2) 2 3 0 2 0 4(1) 1 16(3) 3
FW  ENG Steve Davey 42(3) 18 3(1) 0 4 0 5(1) 3 54(5) 21
FW  ENG Dixie McNeil 40(1) 35 3 0 4 2 4 1 51 38
FW  ENG Eric Redrobe 15(5) 1 3 0 0 0 4 1 22(5) 2

[2][3]

League table

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Hereford United (C, P) 46 26 11 9 86 55 1.564 63 Promotion to the Second Division
2 Cardiff City (P) 46 22 13 11 69 48 1.438 57 Cup Winners' Cup preliminary round and promotion to the Second Division
3 Millwall (P) 46 20 16 10 54 43 1.256 56 Promotion to the Second Division
4 Brighton & Hove Albion 46 22 9 15 78 53 1.472 53
5 Crystal Palace 46 18 17 11 61 46 1.326 53
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted

Results

Third Division

Main article: 1975–76 Football League
16 August 1975 1 Hereford United 0–0 Port Vale Hereford
Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 6219
24 August 1975 2 Rotherham United 1–1 Hereford United Rotherham
Breckin 31' Carter 29' Stadium: Millmoor
Attendance: 3825
30 August 1975 3 Hereford United 3–1 Sheffield Wednesday Hereford
Tucker 39'
McNeil 66', 84' (pen.)		 Henson 79' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 7017
6 September 1975 4 Millwall 1–0 Hereford United London
Hill 87' Stadium: The Den
Attendance: 6066
13 September 1975 5 Hereford United 0–0 Colchester United Hereford
Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 5577
20 September 1975 6 Chesterfield 2–3 Hereford United Chesterfield
Darling 58' (pen.)
Burton 69'		 McNeil 50'
Silkman 77'
Redrobe 86'		 Stadium: Saltergate
Attendance: 3000
24 September 1975 7 Hereford United 1–0 Swindon Town Hereford
Emery 8' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 6423
27 September 1975 8 Hereford United 1–1 Gillingham Hereford
Davey 78' Shipperley 80' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 5512
4 October 1975 9 Chester 0–1 Hereford United Chester
Davey 78' Stadium: Sealand Road
Attendance: 4144
11 October 1975 10 Hereford United 2–0 Wrexham Hereford
Layton 23'
Davey 78'		 Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 6228
18 October 1975 11 Halifax Town 0–1 Hereford United Halifax
Tyler 40' Stadium: The Shay
Attendance: 2667
21 October 1975 12 Crystal Palace 2–2 Hereford United London
Swindlehurst 41'
Taylor 56' (pen.)		 Layton 58'
Tyler 79'		 Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 20,232
25 October 1975 13 Hereford United 2–4 Peterborough United Hereford
Lindsay 38' (pen.)
Davey 86'		 Gregory 15'
Turner 59', 75'
Nixon 81'		 Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 8471
1 November 1975 14 Preston North End 3–4 Hereford United Preston
Baxter 4'
Morley 60' (pen.)
Treacy 63'		 Davey 2'
Tucker 31'
McNeil 57'
Lindsay 61'		 Stadium: Deepdale
Attendance: 9682
8 November 1975 15 Hereford United 3–2 Grimsby Town Hereford
McNeil 9', 74'
Davey 70'		 Wigg 52'
Barton 72'		 Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 6391
29 November 1975 16 Hereford United 2–0 Bury Hereford
McNeil 18' (pen.)
Davey 83'		 Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 6867
6 December 1975 17 Brighton & Hove Albion 4–2 Hereford United Hove
Binney 7'
Mellor 43'
Martin 67', 73'		 Tyler 41'
Carter 76'		 Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 17,811
20 December 1975 18 Aldershot 0–2 Hereford United Aldershot
McNeil 64'
Walker 83'		 Stadium: Recreation Ground
Attendance: 4113
26 December 1975 19 Hereford United 1–3 Walsall Hereford
Davey 22' Evans 37'
Buckley 46', 84'		 Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 10,891
27 December 1975 20 Shrewsbury Town 2–1 Hereford United Shrewsbury
Durban 38', 45' Walker 83' Stadium: Gay Meadow
Attendance: 9488
10 January 1976 21 Sheffield Wednesday 1–2 Hereford United Sheffield
Shaw 8' Davey 22'
McNeil 47'		 Stadium: Hillsborough
Attendance: 8155
17 January 1976 22 Hereford United 4–2 Chesterfield Hereford
Hunter 12' (o.g.)
Layton 35'
McNeil 43', 72'		 Bailey 55'
Shanahan 73' (pen.)		 Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 5999
24 January 1976 23 Colchester United 1–4 Hereford United Colchester
Telford 3' McNeil 2', 38'
Dominey 28' (o.g.)
Davey 67'		 Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8155
26 January 1976 24 Southend United 1–3 Hereford United Southend-on-Sea
Silvester 63' McNeil 15', 35'
Layton 83'		 Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 3722
31 January 1976 25 Hereford United 1–1 Crystal Palace Hereford
McNeil 55' Swindlehurst 73' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 12,970
4 February 1976 26 Hereford United 4–1 Cardiff City Hereford
McNeil 8', 15'
Emery 25'
Layton 80'		 Buchanan 76' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 12,962
7 February 1976 27 Mansfield Town 2–2 Hereford United Mansfield
Bird 48'
Clarke 54'		 McNeil 73', 87' Stadium: Field Mill
Attendance: 5997
11 February 1976 28 Hereford United 1–0 Mansfield Town Hereford
Ritchie 28' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 8302
14 February 1976 29 Grimsby Town 1–0 Hereford United Cleethorpes
Lewis 21' Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 5944
21 February 1976 30 Hereford United 2–1 Southend United Hereford
McNeil 8'
Galley 90'		 Silvester 30' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 7264
24 February 1976 31 Swindon Town 0–1 Hereford United Swindon
Davey 27' Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 10,691
27 February 1976 32 Peterborough United 0–3 Hereford United Peterborough
McNeil 18'
Carter 32'
Davey 70'		 Stadium: London Road
Attendance: 14,106
10 March 1976 33 Hereford United 5–0 Chester City Hereford
McNeil 13', 23' (pen.), 55', 68'
Davey 19'		 Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 7103
13 March 1976 34 Wrexham 2–1 Hereford United Wrexham
Sutton 39'
Griffiths 45' (pen.)		 McNeil 19' Stadium: Racecourse Ground
Attendance: 7621
17 March 1976 35 Hereford United 1–2 Halifax Town Hereford
Galley 82' G. Jones 63'
Overton 90'		 Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 7395
20 March 1976 36 Bury 2–3 Hereford United Bury
Williams 67'
Buchan 69'		 Davey 30'
Carter 54'
McNeil 87'		 Stadium: Gigg Lane
Attendance: 6384
27 March 1976 37 Hereford United 1–1 Brighton & Hove Albion Hereford
McNeil 53' Ward 1' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 12,160
31 March 1976 38 Hereford United 2–1 Aldershot Hereford
Richardson 38' (o.g.)
Paine 44'		 Warnock 50' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 7497
3 April 1976 39 Port Vale 1–1 Hereford United Stoke-on-Trent
Griffiths 66' Davey 54' Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 4424
6 April 1976 40 Gillingham 3–4 Hereford United Gillingham
Durrell 12', 44'
Ritchie 50' (o.g.)		 Davey 2', 66'
McNeil 76'
Layton 82'		 Stadium: Priestfield
Attendance: 7914
10 April 1976 41 Hereford United 0–0 Millwall Hereford
Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 10,176
14 April 1976 42 Cardiff City 2–0 Hereford United Cardiff
Livermore 54'
Campbell 88'		 Stadium: Ninian Park
Attendance: 35,549
17 April 1976 43 Walsall 0–0 Hereford United Walsall
Stadium: Fellows Park
Attendance: 9225
19 April 1976 44 Hereford United 3–1 Shrewsbury Town Hereford
Carter 46'
Davey 62'
McNeil 69'		 Kearney 90' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 12,314
24 April 1976 45 Hereford United 3–2 Rotherham United Hereford
McNeil 2'
Tyler 6', 38'		 Finney 53'
Crawford 67'		 Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 8950
28 April 1976 46 Hereford United 3–1 Preston North End Hereford
McNeil 52', 64', 76' Elwiss 16' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 7592

[4][5]

League Cup

Main article: 1975–76 Football League Cup
18 August 1975 First round first leg Port Vale 4–2 Hereford United Stoke-on-Trent
Cullerton 23', 28', 43' (pen.)
Bailey 26'		 Lindsay 52', 64' Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 3787
27 August 1975 First round second leg Hereford United 2–0 Port Vale Hereford
Ritchie 61'
Carter 88'		 Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 4107
1 September 1975 First round replay Hereford United 1–0 Port Vale Shrewsbury
Paine 88' Stadium: Gay Meadow
Attendance: 3637
10 September 1975 Second round Hereford United 1–4 Burnley Hereford
Carter 50' Flynn 35', 65'
Noble 48', 78'		 Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 11,360

[2][6]

FA Cup

Main article: 1975–76 FA Cup
22 November 1975 First round Hereford United 2–0 Torquay United Hereford
Carter 7'
Tucker 82'		 Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 6542
13 December 1975 Second round Bournemouth 2–2 Hereford United Bournemouth
Ashworth 38'
Goddard 86'		 Tyler 60'
McNeil 71'		 Stadium: Dean Court
Attendance: 6181
17 December 1975 Second round replay Hereford United 2–0 Bournemouth Hereford
Layton 55'
McNeil 58'		 Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 6351
3 January 1976 Third round York City 2–1 Hereford United York
Seal 33'
Hosker 38'		 Layton 90' Stadium: Bootham Crescent
Attendance: 5154

[2][7]

Welsh Cup

Main article: 1975–76 Welsh Cup
12 November 1975 Third round Stourbridge 1–2 Hereford United Stourbridge
Smith 18' Walker 45'
Redrobe 50'		 Stadium: War Memorial Ground
Attendance: 669
19 January 1976 Fourth round Newport County 1–2 Hereford United Newport
Aizlewood 5' Aizlewood 18' (o.g.)
Layton 41'		 Stadium: Somerton Park
Attendance: 2400
18 February 1976 Fifth round Hereford United 4–0 Porthmadog Hereford
Preece 10'
Silkman 37'
Davey 47', 64'		 Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 1994
23 March 1976 Semi-final Hereford United 1–1 Shrewsbury Town Hereford
Lindsay 31' Bates 63' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 4748
8 April 1976 Semi-final replay Shrewsbury Town 1–1* Hereford United Shrewsbury
Irvine 63' Byrne 90' Stadium: Gay Meadow
Attendance: 2714
18 May 1976 Final first leg** Hereford United 3–3 Cardiff City Hereford
Davey 67'
Paine 69'
McNeil 75'		 Evans 25'
Dwyer 62', 87'		 Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 3709
19 May 1976 Final second leg Cardiff City 3–2 Hereford United Cardiff
Pethard 11'
Clark 32'
Evans 66'		 Lindsay 50'
Byrne 86'		 Stadium: Ninian Park
Attendance: 2648

* Hereford won 5–4 on penalties.
** The first leg was originally played at Ninian Park on 29 April and ended in a 2–2 draw. This was declared null and void by the Welsh FA after Peter Spiring, scorer of both Hereford goals, was deemed to have been ineligible to play.

[2]

References

  1. ^ Parrott 1998, pp. 32–36
  2. ^ a b c d Parrott 1998, pp. 190–191
  3. ^ Rothmans 1976-77, pp. 205–206
  4. ^ Parrott 1998, pp. 186–189
  5. ^ Rothmans 1976-77, p. 204
  6. ^ Rothmans 1976-77, pp. 505–509
  7. ^ Rothmans 1976-77, pp. 489–495
Bibliography
  • Parrott, Ron (1998). Hereford United: The League Era - A Complete Record. Desert Island Books. ISBN 1-874287-18-X.
  • Rothmans Football Yearbook 1976-77 (Editor: Peter Dunk). Queen Anne Press. 4 June 1976. ISBN 0362-00259-2.
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