Hereford FC to bring 3,000 fans to Wembley
09.05.2021
May 22 sees the Hereford Bulls return to Wembley for the FA Trophy final. The National League North club’s season ended abruptly in February, but their courageous cup-run resurrected Hereford hopes for sporting glory this year. While 20,000 fans saw their side lose to Morpeth in the 2016 FA Vase final, recent events render the 3,000-fan allowance a triumphant godsend.
Since 2016, much has changed. While pandemic restrictions and social distancing necessities shrink Hereford’s cohort, their footballing fortunes changed dramatically for the better since their last trip to west London.
Hereford’s 2016 Vase run came just two years after financial difficulties forced the club into administration and relegation. From the fallen Hereford United, the phoenix club Hereford FC emerged. If fans in football’s upper echelons need any governance role models, they could do worse than look to Hereford FC, whose Hereford United Supporters Trust (HUST) have guided the club to two cup finals and three promotions since the rebuild.
It’s not often that football fans get the chance to see their club in Wembley at Hereford’s prices either. The club look to distribute their precious 3,000 Wembley seats to season ticket holders, sponsors and volunteers for prices ranging from a £25 adult’s ticket to £1 for under-16s.
Hereford’s turn of fortunes and exemplary infrastructure makes them clear favourites for silverware. The freshness and success of their rookie manager Josh Gowling render the Bulls’ achievements so far all the more impressive. A West Bromwich Albion academy product, Gowling had a long career in the EFL and National League, before joining Hereford as a player in 2018. After 38 appearances and 3 goals with the Bulls, Gowling graduated to interim and then permanent club manager by June 2020.
The club improved in the 20/21 season, pushing for playoff places with a five-game unbeaten run when the league null and voided. Since then The Bulls punched far above their weight in the FA Trophy semi-finals, beating Woking from the league above 1-0.
Hereford face the Isthmian league’s Hornchurch FC in the finals, a club who also eliminated teams in the league above Hereford from the competition. The Hornchurch 'Urchins' most recently beat National League playoff contenders Notts County 7-5 on penalties, showing immense grit and character. The fact that Hornchurch came from behind three times to take their match into extra time at 3-3 reveals the side’s fearless endeavour, infused with a healthy dose of non-league FA Trophy magic.
All in all, this sets the stage for a competitive day out at Wembley, with fans in four figures seeing their clubs for the first time in months.
