# 1973–74 Hereford United F.C. season

The 1973–74 season was the 44th season of competitive football played by Hereford United Football Club and their second in the Football League. Following promotion in their debut league season, the club competed in Division Three, as well as the League Cup, FA Cup and Welsh Cup.

## Summary

Hereford enjoyed a steady start to the season and were as high as fifth in the table by the end of October. A sequence of only four wins in 17 matches between December and March checked their progress, but a nine-match unbeaten run pulled them clear of danger to an eventual 18th-place finish, eight points above the relegation zone.
In the FA Cup, Hereford evoked memories of their giant-killing exploits two years earlier with a 2–1 replay win over West Ham United in the third round. Alan Jones struck the winning goal after a late Pat Holland equaliser had denied Hereford victory in the first match at Upton Park. The Cup run ended in the next round at the hands of Bristol City.
On 26 September 1973, Brian Evans, a pre-season signing from Swansea City, became the first Hereford player to win an international cap when he featured in Wales' 3–0 defeat against Poland in a World Cup qualifier.

## Squad

Players who made one appearance or more for Hereford United F.C. during the 1973-74 season
| Pos. | Nat. | Name | League | League | League Cup | League Cup | FA Cup | FA Cup | Welsh Cup | Welsh Cup | Total | Total |
| Pos. | Nat. | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| GK | ENG | Peta Bala'c (on loan from Plymouth Argyle) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| GK | SCO | Tommy Hughes | 43 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 0 |
| GK | ENG | Fred Potter | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| DF | ENG | David Carver | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| DF | ENG | Steve Emery | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| DF | WAL | Alan Jones | 24(1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 29(1) | 3 |
| DF | WAL | Mick McLaughlin | 43 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 0 |
| DF | ENG | Ken Mallender | 26(1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 27(1) | 1 |
| DF | ENG | Tommy Naylor | 36 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 5 |
| DF | ENG | Billy Tucker | 36 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 1 |
| MF | ENG | Colin Addison | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| MF | WAL | Brian Evans | 30(1) | 8 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 36(1) | 9 |
| MF | ENG | Alan Gane | 6(3) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6(3) | 1 |
| MF | ENG | Harry Gregory | 21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 2 |
| MF | ENG | Ron Radford | 33 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 3 |
| MF | ENG | David Rudge | 27(4) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 33(4) | 3 |
| MF | ENG | Colin Tavener | 22 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 2 |
| MF | ENG | Paul Taylor (on loan from York City) | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1(1) | 0 |
| MF | ENG | Dudley Tyler | 21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 3 |
| FW | SCO | Gary Bell (on loan from Cardiff City) | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| FW | SCO | Willie Brown (on loan from Newport County) | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 5 |
| FW | ENG | Jim Hinch | 22(5) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 28(5) | 9 |
| FW | ENG | David Jenkins | 10(2) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 12(3) | 1 |
| FW | ENG | Paul Lee | 12(4) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12(4) | 2 |
| FW | ENG | Brian Owen | 15(6) | 2 | 0(1) | 0 | 2(2) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17(9) | 3 |
| FW | ENG | Eric Redrobe | 21(4) | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3(1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 25(5) | 6 |
| FW | ENG | John Ritchie | 10(1) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10(1) | 3 |

## League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
| 16 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 50 | 44 | 1.136 | 45 |
| 17 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 17 | 10 | 19 | 59 | 54 | 1.093 | 44 |
| 18 | Hereford United | 46 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 53 | 57 | 0.930 | 43 |
| 19 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 46 | 16 | 11 | 19 | 52 | 58 | 0.897 | 43 |
| 20 | Port Vale | 46 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 52 | 58 | 0.897 | 42 |