# 1980–81 Hereford United F.C. season

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.

## Squad

Players who made one appearance or more for Hereford United F.C. during the 1980-81 season
| Pos. | Nat. | Name | League | League | League Cup | League Cup | Welsh Cup | Welsh Cup | FA Cup | FA Cup | Total | 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 | Joe Laidlaw | 19(1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 26(1) | 4 |
| 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 | 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 |

## League table

| Pos | Teamvte | 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 | Re-elected |
| 23 | Halifax Town | 46 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 44 | 71 | −27 | 34 | Re-elected |
| 24 | York City | 46 | 12 | 9 | 25 | 47 | 66 | −19 | 33 | Re-elected |