1980–81 Hereford United F.C. season

Hereford United
1980–81 season
Chairman	Peter Hill
Manager	Frank Lord
Stadium	Edgar Street
Division Four	22nd
League Cup	First round
FA Cup	Second round
Top goalscorer	League: Frank McGrellis (10); All: Frank McGrellis (14)
Highest home attendance	7745 v Newport County, League Cup, 9 August 1980
Lowest home attendance	1476 v Crewe Alexandra, Division Four, 5 November 1980
Average home league attendance	3355
Biggest win	5–0 v Shrewsbury Town (H), Welsh Cup, 3 March 1981
Biggest defeat	0–5 v Newport County (A), League Cup, 12 August 1980; 0–5 v Crewe Alexandra (A), Division Four, 7 October 1980
	← 1979–80 1981–82 →

The 1980–81 season was the 51st season of competitive football played by Hereford United Football Club and their ninth in the Football League. The club competed in Division Four, as well as the League Cup, Welsh Cup and FA Cup.

Summary

Hereford struggled from the off and had won only four league matches by the New Year, as well as suffering humiliating defeats in both major cup competitions. They were unable to field a settled side due to an injury crisis which resulted in lengthy absences to Tommy Hughes, Mel Pejic, Paul Gilchrist (who eventually retired from playing) and Frank McGrellis. Although doomed to apply again for re-election to the Football League, a run of four wins and three draws from the final eight matches at least enabled them to pull clear of bottom spot above Halifax Town and York City.

In their first Welsh Cup campaign since the 1975–76 season, Hereford's fortunes were significantly better as they reached the final, enjoying excellent wins over higher-graded Shrewsbury Town and Newport County along the way. Their opponents in the two-legged final were Swansea City, fresh from promotion to the First Division for the first time in their history, who narrowly prevailed 2–1 on aggregate.^[1]

Squad

Players who made one appearance or more for Hereford United F.C. during the 1980-81 season

Pos.	Nat.	Name	League		League Cup		Welsh Cup		FA Cup		Total
Pos.	Nat.	Name	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
GK	SCO	Drew Brand	22	0	0	0	2	0	2	0	26	0
GK	ENG	Ray Cashley (on loan from Bristol City)	20	0	0	0	6	0	0	0	26	0
GK	SCO	Tommy Hughes	4	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
DF	ENG	Danny Bartley	45	4	2	1	8	2	2	0	57	7
DF	WAL	Stuart Cornes	32(1)	1	0	0	8	0	2	0	42(1)	1
DF	ENG	Ian Dobson	17	2	2	0	0	0	0(1)	0	19(1)	2
DF	ENG	Keith Hicks	39	1	0	0	7	0	2	0	48	1
DF	ENG	Paul Hunt	8(8)	1	0(1)	0	1	0	2	0	11(9)	1
DF	ENG	John Layton	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
DF	POL	Adam Musial	16	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	17	0
DF	ENG	Richard Overson	1(2)	0	0	0	0(1)	0	0	0	1(3)	0
DF	ENG	Mel Pejic	13	0	2	0	3	0	0	0	18	0
DF	ENG	Chris Price	42	2	2	0	7	0	2	0	53	2
DF	ENG	Steve Strong	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
DF	ENG	Valmore Thomas	9	0	0	0	1	0	2	0	12	0
MF	NIR	Jimmy Harvey	29(1)	1	2	0	7	0	2	0	40(1)	1
MF	ENG	Sean Lane	11(2)	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	13(2)	0
MF	ENG	Gary Lowe	9	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	11	0
MF	ENG	Peter Spiring	40(1)	1	2	0	6(1)	1	2	0	50(2)	2
MF	ENG	Winston White	43	5	0	0	8	2	2	0	53	7
FW	ENG	Trevor Ames	5(1)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5(1)	0
FW	ENG	Fred Binney	2(2)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2(2)	0
FW	ENG	Garry Jones	21(4)	4	2	0	1	1	2	1	26(4)	6
FW	ENG	Joe Laidlaw	19(1)	1	0	0	7	3	0	0	26(1)	4
FW	SCO	Frank McGrellis	24	10	1	0	7	4	0	0	32	14
FW	WAL	Paul Morris	1(1)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1(1)	0
FW	ENG	Stewart Phillips	6(2)	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	7(2)	1
FW	WAL	Derek Showers	22	4	0	0	7	2	0	0	29	6

^[2]^[3]

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion
20	Stockport County	46	16	7	23	44	57	−13	39
21	Tranmere Rovers	46	13	10	23	59	73	−14	36	Re-elected
22	Hereford United	46	11	13	22	38	62	−24	35
23	Halifax Town	46	11	12	23	44	71	−27	34
24	York City	46	12	9	25	47	66	−19	33

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

Results

Fourth Division

16 August 1980 1	Hereford United	1–1	Tranmere Rovers	Hereford
	Harvey 85'		Lumby 41'	Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 3034

19 August 1980 2	Bournemouth	1–0	Hereford United	Bournemouth
	Elliott 42'			Stadium: Dean Court Attendance: 2991

23 August 1980 3	Mansfield Town	4–0	Hereford United	Mansfield
	Bird 18' Burrows 63' Austin 81' Caldwell 87'			Stadium: Field Mill Attendance: 3103

30 August 1980 4	Hereford United	1–1	York City	Hereford
	Jones 46'		Ford 54'	Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2757

6 September 1980 5	Doncaster Rovers	5–1	Hereford United	Doncaster
	Warboys 18', 45' (pen.) Little 36' Nimmo 52', 89'		White 47'	Stadium: Belle Vue Attendance: 2186

13 September 1980 6	Hereford United	0–0	Southend United	Hereford
				Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2464

17 September 1980 7	Hereford United	3–0	Rochdale	Hereford
	Jones 34' Price 71' Hicks 90'			Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2475

20 September 1980 8	Hartlepool United	2–0	Hereford United	Hartlepool
	Houchen 8' Ayre 76'			Stadium: Victoria Park Attendance: 2320

27 September 1980 9	Hereford United	4–1	Northampton Town	Hereford
	White 12' (pen.) Jones 48' Price 49' Bartley 61'		Phillips 28' (pen.)	Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2693

30 September 1980 10	Rochdale	0–0	Hereford United	Rochdale
				Stadium: Spotland Attendance: 2328

4 October 1980 11	Hereford United	0–1	Darlington	Hereford
			Walsh 20'	Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2934

7 October 1980 12	Crewe Alexandra	5–0	Hereford United	Crewe
	Coyne 30', 51', 63', 73' Hunter 70' (pen.)			Stadium: Gresty Road Attendance: 3033

10 October 1980 13	Stockport County	0–0	Hereford United	Stockport
				Stadium: Edgeley Park Attendance: 2303

18 October 1980 14	Hereford United	1–1	Wimbledon	Hereford
	Jones 15'		Hubbick 62'	Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2369

22 October 1980 15	Hereford United	2–3	Port Vale	Hereford
	Dobson 59', 86'		Beech 25' M. Chamberlain 67', 85'	Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2101

25 October 1980 16	Halifax Town	0–0	Hereford United	Halifax
				Stadium: The Shay Attendance: 1288

28 October 1980 17	Bury	2–1	Hereford United	Bury
	Hilton 30' Tully 90'		Hunt 23'	Stadium: Gigg Lane Attendance: 2186

1 November 1980 18	Hereford United	0–2	Lincoln City	Hereford
			Neale 75', 77'	Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2755

5 November 1980 19	Hereford United	0–0	Crewe Alexandra	Hereford
				Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 1476

8 November 1980 20	Scunthorpe United	3–1	Hereford United	Scunthorpe
	Stewart 65', 87' Cammack 76'		Phillips 19'	Stadium: Old Show Ground Attendance: 1539

12 November 1980 21	Hereford United	1–0	Bournemouth	Hereford
	Bartley 48'			Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 1640

29 November 1980 22	Hereford United	1–1	Wigan Athletic	Hereford
	Bartley 45'		Houghton 18'	Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2358

6 December 1980 23	Peterborough United	3–0	Hereford United	Peterborough
	Cooke 52' Robson 67', 74'			Stadium: London Road Attendance: 3281

20 December 1980 24	Hereford United	4–0	Bradford City	Hereford
	McGrellis 1', 69', 80' Showers 18'			Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2114

26 December 1980 25	Aldershot	4–0	Hereford United	Aldershot
	Sanford 11', 85', 87', 89'			Stadium: Recreation Ground Attendance: 3094

27 December 1980 26	Hereford United	0–1	Torquay United	Hereford
			Cox 38'	Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 3412

10 January 1981 27	Hereford United	0–1	Bury	Hereford
			Hilton 23'	Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2382

24 January 1981 28	York City	1–2	Hereford United	York
	Craig 20'		Showers 27' McGrellis 44'	Stadium: Bootham Crescent Attendance: 1924

31 January 1981 29	Hereford United	2–1	Mansfield Town	Hereford
	Showers 19' White 27' (pen.)		Lumby 74' (pen.)	Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2672

6 February 1981 30	Southend United	2–0	Hereford United	Southend-on-Sea
	Pountney 45' Spence 48'			Stadium: Roots Hall Attendance: 3094

11 February 1981 31	Wigan Athletic	1–0	Hereford United	Wigan
	Wright 68'			Stadium: Springfield Park Attendance: 3370

14 February 1981 32	Hereford United	1–3	Doncaster Rovers	Hereford
	White 43'		I. Snodin 21' Nimmo 62', 90'	Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2806

28 February 1981 33	Hereford United	3–0	Hartlepool United	Hereford
	Laidlaw 21' White 41' (pen.) McGrellis 79'			Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2313

8 March 1981 34	Darlington	2–1	Hereford United	Darlington
	Stalker 20', 60'		McGrellis 44'	Stadium: Feethams Attendance: 3491

16 March 1981 35	Port Vale	4–0	Hereford United	Stoke-on-Trent
	Bowles 44', 52' M. Chamberlain 71' Armstrong 81'			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 2379

22 March 1981 36	Wimbledon	0–0	Hereford United	London
				Stadium: Plough Lane Attendance: 3898

28 March 1981 37	Hereford United	0–1	Halifax Town	Hereford
			Allatt 6'	Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2588

4 April 1981 38	Lincoln City	1–0	Hereford United	Lincoln
	Hobson 74'			Stadium: Sincil Bank Attendance: 3655

11 April 1981 39	Hereford United	2–1	Scunthorpe United	Hereford
	McGrellis 9' Cornes 25'		Price 45' (o.g.)	Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2009

14 April 1981 40	Northampton Town	0–0	Hereford United	Northampton
				Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 1380

18 April 1981 41	Torquay United	0–1	Hereford United	Torquay
			McGrellis 63'	Stadium: Plainmoor Attendance: 1865

20 April 1981 42	Hereford United	0–0	Aldershot	Hereford
				Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2946

29 April 1981 43	Tranmere Rovers	2–1	Hereford United	Birkenhead
	Peplow 28' Kelly 67'		Bartley 48'	Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 1126

2 May 1981 44	Hereford United	1–1	Peterborough United	Hereford
	McGrellis 25'		Cooke 88'	Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2102

6 May 1981 45	Hereford United	2–0	Stockport County	Hereford
	Showers 7' Spiring 85'			Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 1707

15 May 1981 46	Bradford City	0–1	Hereford United	Bradford
			McGrellis 23'	Stadium: Valley Parade Attendance: 1249

^[4]^[5]

League Cup

9 August 1980 First round first leg	Hereford United	1–0	Newport County	Hereford
	Bartley 66'			Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 7745

12 August 1980 First round second leg	Newport County	5–0	Hereford United	Newport
	Tynan 1', 74' Aldridge 43', 61' Gwyther 59'			Stadium: Somerton Park Attendance: 5683

^[6]^[7]

Welsh Cup

17 November 1980 Third round	Hereford United	1–0	Newtown	Hereford
	Jones 28'			Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 1030

2 January 1981 Fourth round	Knighton Town	1–4	Hereford United	Knighton
	Hand 82'		Showers 15' McGrellis 47', 50' White 65'	Stadium: Bryn-y-Castell Showground Attendance: 2300

17 February 1981 Fifth round	Shrewsbury Town	2–2	Hereford United	Shrewsbury
	Dungworth 46' McNally 76'		Keay 30' (o.g.) McGrellis 35'	Stadium: Gay Meadow Attendance: 2350

3 March 1981 Fifth round replay	Hereford United	5–0	Shrewsbury Town	Hereford
	Showers 31' Spiring 57' White 60' (pen.) Laidlaw 68' McGrellis 79'			Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 3003

11 March 1981 Semi-final first leg	Hereford United	2–1	Newport County	Hereford
	Bartley 82' Laidlaw 84'		Moore 4'	Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 5251

31 March 1981 Semi-final second leg	Newport County	1–1	Hereford United	Newport
	Lowndes 83'		Bartley 70'	Stadium: Somerton Park Attendance: 5994

4 May 1981 Final first leg	Swansea City	1–0	Hereford United	Swansea
	R. James 12'			Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 13,182

11 May 1981 Final second leg	Hereford United	1–1	Swansea City	Hereford
	Laidlaw 5'		R. James 26'	Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 7038

^[6]

FA Cup

22 November 1980 First round	Southend United	0–1	Hereford United	Southend-on-Sea
			Jones 28'	Stadium: Roots Hall Attendance: 4922

13 December 1980 Second round	Enfield	2–0	Hereford United	Enfield
	Burton 21', 85'			Stadium: Southbury Road Attendance: 2263

^[6]^[8]

References

^ Parrott 1998, pp. 60–64
^ Parrott 1998, pp. 221
^ Rothmans 1981-82, pp. 179–180
^ Parrott 1998, pp. 216–219
^ Rothmans 1980-81, p. 178
^ ^a ^b ^c Parrott 1998, pp. 220
^ Rothmans 1980-81, pp. 430–432
^ Rothmans 1980-81, pp. 466–468

Bibliography

Parrott, Ron (1998). Hereford United: The League Era - A Complete Record. Desert Island Books. ISBN 1-874287-18-X.
Rothmans Football Yearbook 1981-82 (Editor: Jack Rollin). Queen Anne Press. ISBN 0362-02046-9.

[pages_55–59-1] Parrott 1998, pp. 60–64

[rp221-2] Parrott 1998, pp. 221

[8081squad-3] Rothmans 1981-82, pp. 179–180

[rp216–219-4] Parrott 1998, pp. 216–219

[8081leagueresults-5] Rothmans 1980-81, p. 178

[rp220-6] Parrott 1998, pp. 220

[8081leaguecupresults-7] Rothmans 1980-81, pp. 430–432

[8081facupresults-8] Rothmans 1980-81, pp. 466–468

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