# 1982–83 Hereford United F.C. season

The 1982–83 season was the 53rd season of competitive football played by Hereford United Football Club and their 11th in the Football League. The club competed in Division Four, as well as the Milk Cup, FA Cup and Welsh Cup.

## Summary

Hampered by a serious financial crisis, Hereford parted company with manager Frank Lord by mutual consent before the end of September. Tommy Hughes took charge in a caretaker capacity until the appointment in March of Hereford-born John Newman, whose most recent role had been as manager of Derby County following the sacking of Colin Addison.
Hereford were winless from their opening 11 league and cup matches and remained in the re-election zone for the entire season. They would have avoided finishing in last place had they taken a point or more from their final match, at home to Peterborough United, but an 89th-minute winner by the visitors' Pat Rayment was the final indignity of a turbulent campaign.
During the course of the season, Hereford used six different goalkeepers, four of whom were making their full Football League debut. A seventh, Mick Kearns (brother of future Hereford player Ollie Kearns), appeared in the Herefordshire Senior Cup final against Newport County after first-choice keeper Drew Brand walked out on the club during pre-season.

## Squad

Players who made one appearance or more for Hereford United F.C. during the 1982-83 season
| Pos. | Nat. | Name | League | League | Milk Cup | Milk 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 | Mel Gwinnett | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| GK | ENG | John Jackson | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| GK | ENG | Gary Plumley | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| GK | WAL | Andy Powell | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| GK | ENG | Kevin Rose | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| GK | WAL | Rhys Wilmot (on loan from Arsenal) | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| DF | ENG | Danny Bartley | 39(2) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 43(2) | 0 |
| DF | ENG | Ian Bray | 26(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 31(1) | 0 |
| DF | ENG | Keith Hicks | 39 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 45 | 0 |
| DF | ENG | Tony Larkin | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| DF | POL | Adam Musial | 4(2) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 5(3) | 0 |
| DF | ENG | Mel Pejic | 45 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 52 | 3 |
| DF | ENG | Chris Price | 41(1) | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 47(1) | 6 |
| DF | SCO | Ian Ross | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| MF | ENG | Len Cantello (on loan from Bolton Wanderers) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| MF | ENG | Mike Carter (on loan from Plymouth Argyle) | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| MF | ENG | John Crabbe | 15(1) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 19(1) | 3 |
| MF | NIR | Jimmy Harvey | 41 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 4 | 2 | 47(1) | 7 |
| MF | ENG | Sean Lane | 26(6) | 3 | 0(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2(1) | 0 | 29(8) | 3 |
| MF | WAL | Paul Maddy (on loan from Cardiff City) | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
| MF | ENG | Peter Spiring | 16(2) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18(2) | 1 |
| MF | ENG | Winston White | 35(2) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 42(2) | 4 |
| FW | ENG | Dixie McNeil | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 5 |
| FW | ENG | Stewart Phillips | 41 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2(1) | 6 | 45(1) | 20 |
| FW | WAL | Derek Showers | 30(2) | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 36(2) | 4 |
| FW | SCO | John Teasdale | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6(1) | 1 |

## League table

| Pos | Team v t e | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion |
| 20 | Rochdale | 46 | 11 | 16 | 19 | 55 | 73 | −18 | 49 | |
| 21 | Blackpool | 46 | 13 | 12 | 21 | 55 | 74 | −19 | 49 | Re-elected |
| 22 | Hartlepool United | 46 | 13 | 9 | 24 | 46 | 76 | −30 | 48 | Re-elected |
| 23 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 11 | 8 | 27 | 53 | 71 | −18 | 41 | Re-elected |
| 24 | Hereford United | 46 | 11 | 8 | 27 | 42 | 79 | −37 | 41 | Re-elected |
* ↑ Blackpool had two points deducted.