1976–77 Hereford United F.C. season explained

Club:Hereford United
Season:1976–77
Manager:John Sillett
Chairman:Frank Miles
Stadium:Edgar Street
League:Division Two
League Result:22nd
Cup1:League Cup
Cup1 Result:First round
Cup2:FA Cup
Cup2 Result:Fourth round
League Topscorer:Dixie McNeil (16)
Season Topscorer:Dixie McNeil (18)
Highest Attendance:13,891 v Wolverhampton Wanderers, Division Two, 2 October 1976
Lowest Attendance:4448 v Carlisle United, Division Two, 4 May 1977
Average Attendance:7239
Largest Win:3–0 v Burnley (H), Division Two, 4 September 1976
Largest Loss:1–6 v Wolverhampton Wanderers (H), Division Two, 2 October 1976
Prevseason:1975–76
Nextseason:1977–78

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.

Squad

Players who made one appearance or more for Hereford United F.C. during the 1976-77 season

Pos.Nat.NameLeagueLeague CupFA CupTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
GKKevin Charlton1602010190
GKTommy Hughes2600010270
DFPhil Burrows80100090
DFTony Byrne80000080
DFSteve Emery1900020210
DFJohn Galley20(3)2200(1)022(4)2
DFDerek Jefferson2600020280
DFJohn Layton2842020324
DFJulian Marshall1400000140
DFChris Price20000020
DFSteve Ritchie3211020351
DFBilly Tucker50000050
MFLes Briley33(1)10(1)02135(2)2
MFRoy Carter18(6)3200020(6)3
MFJimmy Lindsay3342020374
MFBarry Lloyd12(2)0001013(2)0
MFTerry Paine26(1)3202030(1)3
MFAlan Peters10000010
MFBrian Preece3(1)000003(1)0
MFKevin Sheedy13(3)1000013(3)1
MFPeter Spiring32(6)9212036(6)10
MFDudley Tyler4(2)00(1)1004(3)1
MFShane Walker50200070
FWJimmy Coughlin (on loan from Albion Rovers)1(1)100001(1)1
FWSteve Crompton10000010
FWSteve Davey3192020359
FWGary Goodchild1(3)000102(3)0
FWDixie McNeil371622003918
FWColin Sinclair7(2)000007(2)0

Results

Second Division

See main article: 1976–77 Football League.

League Cup

See main article: article and 1976–77 Football League Cup.

FA Cup

See main article: article and 1976–77 FA Cup.

References

Bibliography