# 1979–80 Hereford United F.C. season

The 1979–80 season was the 50th season of competitive football played by Hereford United Football Club and their eighth in the Football League. The club competed in Division Four, as well as the League Cup and FA Cup.

## Summary

In October, with Hereford 12th in the table, manager Mike Bailey left to become head coach at Charlton Athletic, and player-coach Bobby Gould also departed to become assistant manager at Chelsea alongside Geoff Hurst. On the playing side, the team had already been weakened by the transfer of Steve Emery to First Division Derby County for a club record fee of £100,000.
Frank Lord arrived from South African club Cape Town City to fill the vacant managerial role but was unable to reverse Hereford's declining fortunes. Despite having won their opening three league matches of the season under Bailey, they eventually finished in 21st place and were therefore forced to apply (successfully) for re-election to the Football League for the first time.

## Squad

Players who made one appearance or more for Hereford United F.C. during the 1979-80 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 | SCO | Tommy Hughes | 46 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 50 | 0 |
| DF | ENG | Danny Bartley | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| DF | ENG | Phil Burrows | 42 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 44 | 1 |
| DF | WAL | Stuart Cornes | 16(1) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16(1) | 2 |
| DF | ENG | Steve Emery | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
| DF | ENG | Andy Feeley | 25 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 29 | 3 |
| DF | ENG | Paul Hunt | 24(2) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24(2) | 3 |
| DF | ENG | John Layton | 33(2) | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 37(2) | 2 |
| DF | WAL | Julian Marshall | 23 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 27 | 1 |
| DF | ENG | Chris Price | 42 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 45 | 0 |
| DF | ENG | Valmore Thomas | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| MF | ENG | Alan Birchenall | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 11(1) | 0 |
| MF | SCO | Dave Cunningham | 28(2) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 30(2) | 2 |
| MF | ENG | Paul Gilchrist | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 |
| MF | NIR | Jimmy Harvey (on loan from Arsenal) | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| MF | SCO | Ian Hendry | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| MF | WAL | Kyle Holmes | 2(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2(1) | 0 |
| MF | ENG | Peter Spiring | 32(4) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 36(4) | 1 |
| MF | ENG | Kenny Stephens | 5(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5(1) | 0 |
| MF | ENG | Winston White | 30(4) | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 34(4) | 3 |
| FW | ENG | Fred Binney | 19 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 4 |
| FW | ENG | Bobby Gould | 3(2) | 0 | 1(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4(3) | 0 |
| FW | WAL | Dave Jones | 19(2) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21(2) | 3 |
| FW | SCO | Frank McGrellis | 39(2) | 10 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 43(2) | 11 |
| FW | WAL | Paul Morris | 1(1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(1) | 1 |
| FW | ENG | Stewart Phillips | 10(1) | 2 | 0(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11(2) | 2 |

## League table

| Pos | Team v t e | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion |
| 19 | Hartlepool United | 46 | 14 | 10 | 22 | 59 | 64 | −5 | 38 | |
| 20 | Port Vale | 46 | 12 | 12 | 22 | 56 | 70 | −14 | 36 | |
| 21 | Hereford United | 46 | 11 | 14 | 21 | 38 | 52 | −14 | 36 | Re-elected |
| 22 | Darlington | 46 | 9 | 17 | 20 | 50 | 74 | −24 | 35 | Re-elected |
| 23 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 11 | 13 | 22 | 35 | 68 | −33 | 35 | Re-elected |