# 1977–78 Hereford United F.C. season

The 1977–78 season was the 48th season of competitive football played by Hereford United Football Club and their sixth in the Football League. Following relegation from Division Two the previous season, the club competed in Division Three, as well as the League Cup and FA Cup.

## Summary

Hereford endured a torrid season which saw the resignations of chairman Frank Miles and manager John Sillett, the transfer of prolific striker Dixie McNeil to Wrexham and, ultimately, a second successive relegation. They never fully recovered from five defeats in their opening six matches, although a nine-match unbeaten run (including seven clean sheets) initially steered them towards mid-table. Following a run of only one win in 19 matches, four wins from six in March under caretaker manager Tony Ford briefly raised survival hopes, but Hereford then finished the season with three draws and seven defeats from the final 10 matches.
Goals were severely rationed, with McNeil's three in seven league matches prior to his departure keeping him as leading scorer until the end of January. Away form was particularly dismal with no wins and just six league goals scored on their travels all season.
In both domestic cup competitions, Hereford fell at the first hurdle, including the indignity of their first FA Cup defeat by a non-league club since election to the Football League when Wealdstone beat them 3–2 in a replay at Edgar Street.

## Squad

Players who made one appearance or more for Hereford United F.C. during the 1977-78 season
| Pos. | Nat. | Name | League | League | League Cup | League Cup | FA Cup | FA Cup | Total | Total |
| Pos. | Nat. | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| GK | ENG | Kevin Charlton | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| GK | SCO | Tommy Hughes | 13 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| GK | ENG | Peter Mellor | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 0 |
| DF | ENG | Bryan Bouston | 4(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4(2) | 0 |
| DF | ENG | Phil Burrows | 26 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 31 | 0 |
| DF | WAL | Stuart Cornes | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| DF | ENG | Steve Emery | 39 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 44 | 2 |
| DF | ENG | Derek Jefferson | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| DF | ENG | John Layton | 42 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 47 | 1 |
| DF | WAL | Julian Marshall | 40(1) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 45(1) | 3 |
| DF | ENG | Chris Price | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| DF | SCO | Steve Ritchie | 24 | 1 | 1(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25(1) | 1 |
| MF | ENG | Frank Barton | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 2 |
| MF | ENG | Les Briley | 27 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 1 |
| MF | ENG | Roy Carter | 12(1) | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 17(1) | 2 |
| MF | WAL | Kyle Holmes | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| MF | ENG | Andy Proudlove | 6(5) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 6(6) | 0 |
| MF | IRE | Kevin Sheedy | 33(1) | 3 | 2(1) | 0 | 2 | 1 | 37(2) | 4 |
| MF | ENG | Peter Spiring | 30(4) | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 35(4) | 4 |
| MF | ENG | Kenny Stephens | 26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 1 |
| FW | WAL | Steve Crompton | 23(2) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23(2) | 5 |
| FW | ENG | Steve Davey | 31 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 36 | 7 |
| FW | ENG | Keith Fear (on loan from Bristol City) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| FW | ENG | Billy Holmes | 9(6) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 11(6) | 2 |
| FW | ENG | Dixie McNeil | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 4 |
| FW | ENG | Stewart Phillips | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| FW | ENG | Eric Redrobe | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 |
| FW | SCO | Colin Sinclair | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 2 |

## League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 20 | Rotherham United | 46 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 51 | 68 | −17 | 39 | |
| 21 | Port Vale | 46 | 8 | 20 | 18 | 46 | 67 | −21 | 36 | Relegated |
| 22 | Bradford City | 46 | 12 | 10 | 24 | 56 | 86 | −30 | 34 | Relegated |
| 23 | Hereford United | 46 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 34 | 60 | −26 | 32 | Relegated |
| 24 | Portsmouth | 46 | 7 | 17 | 22 | 41 | 75 | −34 | 31 | Relegated |