1950-1960

The 1950/51 campaign saw United claim the first of what would be many Football League club scalps in the FA Cup when they defeated a strong Scunthorpe United side with a second-minute goal from winger Billy Dodds. However, a Third Round berth continued to prove elusive, when a record Edgar Street crowd of 15,526 saw them lose 0-3 to a powerful Newport County side. Some consolation was achieved with the runners-up spot in the Southern League, with just the, then, all-conquering Merthyr Tydfil finishing above them.

The Southern League Cup was secured in the 1951/52 season after a two-legged victory over Guildford City and, the following year, Edgar Street witnessed floodlit football for the first time. Scunthorpe United exacted revenge over Hereford in the FA Cup after their 1-2 defeat the previous year, by beating them 2-1 in a replay to rob the Bulls, yet again, of a Third Round spot.

Hereford took another FA Cup League scalp in 1953/54 by defeating Exeter City 2-0 after a replay, but were handed a tough away tie in the next round. Lancashire Combination leaders Wigan Athletic were the hosts as an unbelievable 24,526 crowd saw United slump to a 4-1 defeat. The attendance still stands today as a record between two non-league clubs and may never be beaten.

Unfortunately, poor results over the next few seasons saw attendances dwindle to an average of approximately 2,500, and it was not until former Arsenal full-back Joe Wade’s appointment as player-manager in the summer of 1956 that Hereford United’s fortunes began to take a turn for the better.

During his first season in charge United climbed to eighth place in the league and defeated Aldershot in the FA Cup before losing 2-3 at home to Southend in the Second Round. Wade’s charges lifted the Southern League Cup for a second time as well as the Herefordshire Senior Cup, after triumphing 2-1 against rivals Newport County. Joe’s efforts, including drawing against a Second Division Swansea side containing six internationals in the Welsh Cup, helped the average gate rise to 3,261.

The 1957/58 campaign was Hereford’s most successful in cup competitions. FA Cup victories over Heanor Town and Newport (Isle of Wight) set up a Second Round tie with Third Division (South) side Queens Park Rangers. Having repeatedly failed at this stage in the past, 10,131 spectators at Edgar Street saw United romp to an amazing 6-1 win. Although equalled since, the winning margin still stands as a record for a non-league club against a league club in the FA Cup.

After years of trying, Hereford were finally into the Third Round and were rewarded with a home tie against First Division giants Sheffield Wednesday. Edgar Street’s record attendance of 18,114 saw the northerners win 3-0, but gate receipts of £2,996 helped to soften the blow of defeat. United’s coffers were further enriched by Arsenal, who swooped to sign two of Hereford’s promising youngsters, Freddie Jones (Pictured) and Ronny Clayton for a combined fee of £5,000.

The Welsh Cup also saw United produce some impressive displays and, three weeks after the Sheffield Wednesday tie, Hereford travelled to Ninian Park to take on Second Division Cardiff City. Incredibly, United’s part-timers came away with a magnificent 2-0 victory, a win that Secretary Fred Turner described at the time as “the best ever result in the club’s history”.

The Southern League became regionalised for the 1958/59 season, with Hereford winning the North Western Section before suffering defeat in the playoff to Bedford Town, the South Eastern champions. Consolation for this setback was achieved in the form of a third Southern League Cup after a two-legged victory over Bath City.

United had gone unbeaten at Edgar Street in league matches for the first time ever, and repeated the feat two seasons later in 1960/61. No Hereford side to date has managed to match this.