The Friday Feature: Hereford Feeling Bullish Once Again

Like it or not, Hereford’s treble back-to-back league titles blur the lines a little. Another championship may not have been widely talked about even within their giddy fan base, but a struggle?

Well that was certainly never on the menu.

The Bulls’ decision to part ways with three-time title winning boss Peter Beadle and think longer term wasn’t universally popular but it was one which was thoroughly considered.

A modern structure in place with a head of football to move forward in an ever demanding National League North, it certainly took its time to prove its worth.

But the green shoots of recovery are starting to show.

Under Marc Richards’ guidance, Hereford are starting to remind their sizeable support what it was like every week since the club was formed up until the very start of the current campaign.

“It has been really tough for the supporters this season,” he told the National League’s Oli Osborn. “I can totally understand how frustrating it’s been.

“But hopefully they can see what we’re trying to do and hopefully they can see things are beginning to get better.

“Come and support us, come and get behind us. We want to do so well for the fans and get ourselves away from where we are and up the table.

“It was never going to change just like that, it will need time.

“It’s been a bit of a struggle at times. We have had a lot of players coming in and a lot of players going out - it’s not been easy but we didn’t expect it to be.

“When a new manager comes in with the position the club was in then you become a team in transition for quite a while.

“I was prepared for that but I think now we’re starting to show that we’re perhaps coming out the other side now.”

If you are going to turn a corner, beating Kidderminster Harriers wasn’t a bad place to start.

Not that results weren’t already on the up. Three wins from four in all competitions and defeat to leaders Bradford (Park Avenue) the only blot on the copybook since mid-November represents substantial progress.

“To hear the stadium erupt when we scored our winning goal against Kidderminster was a great feeling,” said Richards, who joined from Gloucester City in October.

“It wasn’t vintage by any stretch of the imagination but it was all about getting those three points and that’s all that matters.

“We actually didn’t play as well as we have been in the last four or five games but it’s about winning and we did that.

“There were positive signs against Kidderminster. When a team is digging in and getting a result like that it sends a really positive message out.

“We do still need a couple more strings to our bow. Over the past four or five games we have been more consistent and maybe we are getting a lot closer to where we need to be.”

Richards adds: “I think it will keep evolving if I’m being honest, we won’t be doing it just one way.

“I don’t think we will get to the point where I say ‘this is the blueprint to how I want us to play’.

“In terms of this season it’s still probably too early to say where we want to end up. First and foremost we have just got to keep moving up that table. We’ll know more about what the next four months holds then.”