User:Pascopedral/2016–17 Hereford F.C. season

The 2016–17 season was the second season in the existence of Hereford Football Club and their first ever season in the Southern League Division One South & West, the eighth tier of English football, following their promotion from the Midland Football League Premier Division in the previous season. In addition to the league, the club also competed in the FA Cup and the FA Trophy, both for the first time.

Season review
Hereford’s league campaign saw them win a second consecutive league title and promotion, to the Southern League Premier Division. They finished on 107 points, a league record(?), scoring 108 goals in the process, and 18 points clear of runners-up Salisbury. They also went unbeaten in the first 26 league games of the season, a run that finally ended on 14 January 2017, with a 2–1 defeat at home to eventual play-off winners Taunton Town. This would be their only league defeat all season, ending the season unbeaten away from home, winning 16 matches and drawing 5. The league title was secured on 25 March, after a 4–0 away win against Salisbury, combined with both Taunton Town and Tiverton Town losing on the same day.

In the FA Cup, in which Hereford featured for the very first time, they reached the third qualifying round, ultimately losing away to higher-graded Tonbridge Angels. They entered the competition in the preliminary round and were drawn at home against last season’s league rivals Alvechurch. Alvechurch found themselves 1–0 up inside the first minute, before doubling their lead after 10 minutes and putting themselves on course to cause an upset. However, in what would be a remarkable second half turnaround, Hereford scored three goals in the space of four minutes to lead 3–2, before adding a fourth from the penalty spot later on. In the first qualifying round, Hereford drew Romulus and needed a replay at Edgar Street to proceed after drawing 1–1 before winning the replay 3–0. In the second qualifying round, they were drawn at home against Sutton Coldfield Town. A second half injury time penalty enabled Hereford to win 3–2 and proceed to the third qualifying round, where they would be knocked out 4–2 by Tonbridge Angels.

This season, Hereford became eligible to participate in the FA Trophy instead of the FA Vase, and were drawn away against league rivals and last season’s FA Vase semi-finals opponent Salisbury in the preliminary round where they would proceed no further after a 4–2 defeat.

First-team squad

 * As of 1 May 2017 

Pre-season
Source: Hereford FC

Matches
The league fixtures were announced on 15 July 2016, with the season starting on 6 August.

Source: footballwebpages.co.uk

FA Cup
Hereford made their first ever appearance in the FA Cup this season. The club entered the competition in the preliminary round.

Source: FCHD

FA Trophy
Hereford made their first ever appearance in the FA Trophy this season. The club entered the competition in the preliminary round.

Source: FCHD

HFA County Challenge Cup
Source: Bulls News

Squad statistics

 * As of match played 2017-04-22

Appearance and goals

 * The plus (+) symbol denotes an appearance as a substitute, hence 2+1 indicates two appearances in the starting XI and one appearance as a substitute.

!colspan="12" style="text-align:center" | Players who left during the season but made an appearance


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