User:Pascopedral/2023–24 Hereford F.C. season

The 2023–24 season was the ninth season in the existence of Hereford Football Club and their sixth consecutive in the National League North, the sixth tier of English football. In addition to the league, the club also competed in the FA Cup and the FA Trophy.

Pre-season
Hereford entered the season with a new manager in charge, with former Scotland international footballer Paul Caddis, in his first managerial role, having been appointed on 20 April 2023 and taking charge from 1 May.

Caddis did not take long to announce his first three signings in May, including a double-swoop from Bala Town for midfielder Lassana Mendes and defender Oliver Southern, as well as snapping up young Alvechurch midfielder Áurio Teixeira. Former Tottenham Hotspur academy defender Aaron Skinner joined from Bamber Bridge on 24 May 2023. The following day, Banbury United midfielder Alex Babos, who scored against Hereford last season, joined the club. Further additions arrived throughout May and June, notably Hereford-born former Hereford United forward Andy Williams returned, and Adam Rooney was appointed Assistant Manager to Caddis.

Hereford's pre-season kicked off with a 4–1 win at local side Hereford Pegasus, followed by a 2–0 home win over West Bromwich Albion U21. Two of the trialists in these matches, Kyle Howkins and Koby Arthur, were subsequently signed. Hereford also hosted both Swindon Town and Aston Villa U21 during pre-season, winning 2–0 and drawing 2–2 respectively. Their pre-season campaign was rounded off with a 2–0 away win at Redditch United.

August
The season began with an away trip to last season's runners-up King's Lynn Town. Hereford took a seventh minute lead through Babos, before Lynn turned it around by the 61st minute to lead 2–1. Within seconds of the kick off after Lynn's second goal, Jason Cowley equalised, and after multiple excellent saves from Curtis Pond, the game ended 2–2. The first home fixture the following week was against Darlington, with Hereford winning 1–0 thanks to an 89th minute Connor Stanley goal, coming after Adam Rooney had a penalty saved. This was followed up with another 1–0 home win against newly-promoted Rushall Olympic, a match in which Hereford were outplayed by their opponents, but a first half injury-time penalty from Jordan Cranston secured a second straight win. August ended with Hereford suffering three consecutive defeats, beginning with a 2–1 loss away to Blyth Spartans. A narrow 1–0 home defeat to Peterborough Sports followed, before a humiliating 4–0 away defeat to newly-promoted Tamworth rounded out the month. Manager Caddis responded by releasing Stanley Anaebonam and Dylan Barkers and bringing in experienced former Football League defender Paul Downing and Solihull Moors loanee Kian Ryley.

September
September began as August ended, as Hereford lost their fourth straight league fixture, a 1–0 defeat at home to bottom-of-the-league Southport, who had picked up only one point from their first six matches whilst shipping 16 goals in the process. A fifth straight defeat was avoided with a late comeback at Chester to win 2–1, but the following Saturday they were beaten 2–0 at Spennymoor Town. Caddis made two signings before their FA Cup fixture against Anstey Nomads, bringing in Gambian winger Yusifu Ceesay and Australian former Aston Villa midfielder Jordan Lyden, both on free transfers. Both players started, with Ceesay scoring the opening goal, in a 2–0 win over Anstey Nomads to progress to the third qualifying round. Ceesay then scored his second goal in as many games the following weekend, the only goal in a 1–0 home win in the league against Bishop's Stortford. The month ended with a fourth win in five games after a 3–0 home win over Cambridge City in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round in which Ceesay scored his third goal in as many games.

October
Off the field, the month began with Yusifu Ceesay being awarded the club's player of the month for September after his three goals in three appearances. On the field, it began with a trip to newly-promoted South Shields, who were sat in 2nd place with a 100% win record at home. Hereford earned a point in a 0–0 draw, with South Shields dropping points at home for the first time this season. They also reached the first round proper of the FA Cup for the second consecutive season during the month, knocking out higher-graded Rochdale 1–0 thanks to Kidderminster Harriers loanee Ethan Freemantle's 78th minute goal. The club was also bolstered by the news that both Jordan Lyden and Paul Downing had agreed contracts until the end of the season.

After the cup win over Rochdale, Hereford hosted Curzon Ashton in a match that contained 3 on-field red cards and a member of the Curzon Ashton non-playing staff also sent off. Curzon Ashton went 1–0 up before Kyle Howkins equalised in first-half injury time. Hereford then took the lead through Babos before Howkins was given a second yellow card for kicking the ball away and being sent off. As second-half injury time approached, Curzon Ashton's goalkeeper handled the ball outside of his area and was himself given a second yellow. Defender Marcus Poscha had to go in goal due to Curzon Ashton having used all three of their substitutes, and pulled off an excellent save from the resulting free-kick, only for Adam Rooney to score from the rebound to secure a 3–1 win. Defender Devon Matthews and goalkeeping coach Kieran Bentley were sent off for their protests during Hereford's celebrations.

The following Tuesday, Hereford travelled to Alfreton Town and were beaten 3–1 themselves. Babos scored his second goal in as many games to put the Bulls ahead in the second half, but two quick-fire penalties and a late third for Alfreton denied Hereford three points. The month ended with a potentially difficult away trip to Chorley's Victory Park, with the Lancashire club sitting in 6th. Second half Jack Tolley and Alex Babos goals, the latter his third in as many games, ensured Hereford returned with three points and their sixth league win of the season to end the month in 13th, three points off the play-offs.

November
A busy November saw Hereford playing twice a week for the entire month, including eight fixtures across three competitions. The month started with the FA Cup first round fixture at Edgar Street against EFL League Two Gillingham and despite a brave and spirited second-half performance, Hereford were defeated 2–0. The following Tuesday, Edgar Street again hosted as Brackley Town visited in the National League North, Yusifu Ceesay scoring his fourth goal of the season and the only goal of the game in a 1–0 victory that saw Hereford move up to 10th. A 1–0 away defeat to Boston United followed, dropping Hereford down to 17th, before a comprehensive 4–1 home victory over Banbury United saw them move back into 10th in a congested league table. The following Saturday saw a break from the league with the visit of Redbridge for an FA Trophy second round fixture and despite falling behind to the Isthmian League North Division club, two levels below Hereford, they came back in the second half to secure a 4–1 win and progress to the third round.

Returning to the league, Hereford continued to struggle away from home, with a 2–1 defeat at Buxton before a 0–0 draw at Farsley Celtic. However at home their good form continued with a fourth straight win and their eighth in nine games, beating Scarborough Athletic 3–1 to end the month in 8th, level on points with teams in the play-off positions.

December
December began with a humbling 5–1 defeat at home to Scunthorpe United, which put the Lincolnshire-based club top of the league. Going into the tie, Hereford had only conceded five goals and lost twice from their nine home league fixtures. That defeat was quickly put to bed the following Tuesday with a 2–1 home win over Warrington Town. Despite the away side being reduced to nine men in the first half, they scored a penalty on the stroke of half time to level the score at 1–1 and held out until the 77th minute before Ethan Freemantle scored the winner. Progression to the fourth round of the FA Trophy followed as Isthmian League South Central Division club South Park were defeated 1–0 at Edgar Street thanks to a first half Adam Rooney header. Hereford then proceeded to win their three remaining league fixtures in December, including a narrow 1–0 away win at bottom club Bishop's Stortford, a 2–1 home win over Spennymoor Town with a 91st minute winner from Jason Cowley, which also saw the return of Andy Williams from injury for his debut, and finally a 3–2 away win at local rivals Gloucester City. Against Gloucester on Boxing Day, with the game 0–0 at half time, Yusifu Ceesay opened the scoring for his seventh goal of the season, before Gloucester hit back twice to lead 2–1 by the 76th minute, the first goal scored by former Hereford midfielder Harry Pinchard. Andy Williams was brought on once again for his second appearance and scored twice, grabbing the vital touch from Ceesay's free-kick to score the winner in the ninth minute of added time.

After half of the league played on New Year's Eve, Hereford sat 4th, although had played more fixtures than every other team around them.

January
Hereford started 2024 with the return fixture of the Boxing Day clash with Gloucester City on New Year's Day. A season best (to date) crowd of 4,516 saw Andy Williams score his third goal in two matches in first half stoppage time, before Ben Beresford equalised 12 minutes from full time to rescue a point for Gloucester. Hereford then travelled to Scarborough Athletic the following Saturday. Harry Green put the home side ahead after 25 minutes, before Jason Cowley was sent off in the 40th minute for an off the ball altercation with a Scarborough defender. Green went on to complete a hat-trick as Hereford were comprehensively beaten 3–0. Between the Gloucester and Scarborough fixtures, Yusifu Ceesay earned his second player of the month award for December, while Lassana Mendes' equaliser against Spennymoor before Christmas earned him goal of the month.

A welcome distraction from the league followed with an FA Trophy fourth round tie against National League South club Torquay United. Goals from Pugh and a Ceesay penalty saw Hereford progress. Hereford then proceeded to throw away a 2–0 lead at home to King's Lynn Town, Pugh's second goal in as many games, a long range strike that saw him earn goal of the month and Tope Obadeyi's first goal for the club saw them ahead at the break, before conceding twice in the second half, including a 91st minute equaliser, resulting in a repeat of the opening day score line in the reverse fixture. Hereford's only league win of the month came the following Tuesday, a 1–0 away win at Rushall Olympic in difficult conditions, with Obadeyi scoring his second goal in successive games, a second half header from loanee Maziar Kouhyar, making his second debut for the club. Hereford went on to lose their last two fixtures in the month, beginning with a 2–0 away defeat at struggling Darlington, before a 3–0 home defeat by South Shields the following Tuesday.

Hereford were busy with playing personnel changes throughout the month. Koby Arthur joined Stourbridge on dual registration, before being released by Hereford altogether later in the month. Winger Tope Obadeyi was brought in on loan from Banbury United until the end of the season, whilst Tom Pugh's loan from Scunthorpe United was also extended until the end of the season. However, Scunthorpe retained the option to recall Pugh with 24 hours notice and duly did so on 23 January. Left-back Jordan Cranston joined Redditch United on an initial one-month loan. Jack Tolley left the club at the end of his short-term contract, going on to join Gloucester City. Two players arrived on 23 January, former Hereford player Maziar Kouhyar returned on loan for a month from York City, and Ghanaian midfielder Collins Tanor arrived on dual registration from Stratford Town. Finally, three new players were announced at the end of the month, beginning with former Nuneaton Borough right-back Camron McWilliams. Kidderminster Harriers forward Kieran Phillips then joined on loan until the end of the season, before Rushall Olympic left-back Lewis Hudson arrived on a contract until the end of next season.

Hereford only picked up one win in the league during the month, dropping them down to 8th, level on points with teams in the play-offs but also having played more fixtures.

February
Hereford went unbeaten in the league in February, winning two and drawing two, but were knocked out of the FA Trophy at the fifth round stage. The month started with the second of five straight home fixtures, a 5–2 win over Blyth Spartans in which Jason Cowley scored his first hat-trick for the club. The following Saturday, National League club Gateshead visited Edgar Street in the FA Trophy fifth round, knocking Hereford out with a 1–0 win after Marcus Dinanga came off the bench to score the winning goal late on.

A week later, Hereford hosted league leaders Tamworth, holding them to a 0–0 draw. Lassana Mendes was sent off after the final whistle, his second red card of the season, resulting in a four-match suspension. Third-placed Chester then visited the following Tuesday, and took a 1–0 lead into half-time through Elliot Whitehouse after a Curtis Pond mistake. Andy Williams scored his fifth goal of the season from the penalty spot late on to secure a point. Their run of home games was halted at the end of the month with a visit to Southport, returning with a 2–1 win, their sixth away win of the season.

During the month, Jordan Cranston's loan at Redditch United was extended until the end of the season, whilst defender Mark Derricott joined Bromsgrove Sporting on loan until the end of the season. Maziar Kouhyar returned to York at the end of his one-month loan spell, and Camron McWilliams left for Rushall Olympic after making just one appearance. Due to player departures, injuries and suspensions, Hereford could only name three substitutes in the win at Southport. Since the Gateshead match, Hereford have deployed a 5-3-2/3-5-2 formation, with three centre-backs and wing-backs instead of wingers due to the absences of Obadeyi and Ceesay through injury.

Hereford did drop as low at 11th during the month, due to their two draws and other teams playing their games in hand, but ended the month back in 8th, one point off the play-off places and have a game in hand of their own over various clubs above them.

March
March began with a trip to Curzon Ashton, Hereford suffering a 1–0 loss thanks to a 93rd minute Jimmy Spencer goal. The following Tuesday they travelled to Peterborough Sports, the rearranged league clash from 10 February. Andy Williams, Oliver Southern with his first Hereford goal, and an Alex Babos brace secured a 4–1 win. Hereford then hosted in-form Chorley, with the away side taking the three points courtesy of a single Jack Hazlehurst first-half strike. This was the first of a three-match winless run, with Hereford next hosting fellow play-off hopefuls Alfreton Town. Cowley put Hereford 1–0 up within the first ten minutes but by half-time Alfreton were 3–1 up, the third goal scored by former Bull Kennedy Digie. Babos brought the score to 3–2 with a fine solo effort in the second half, before goalkeeper Curtis Pond earned a third assist of the season in the dying moments, teeing up Aaron Skinner whose deflected strike saw Hereford snatch a 3–3 draw. Hereford's run of playing fellow play-off contenders continued with a trip to Brackley Town. Another former Hereford defender got on the scoresheet, Zak Lilly scoring the second late on in a 2–0 win for the hosts. The final match of the month saw Hereford host struggling Farsley Celtic, with the Bulls ending their winless spell by racing to a 4–0 half-time lead through Obadeyi, Babos, Phillips and loanee Okeke for his first goal for the club. Farsley grabbed a late consolation, a 93rd-minute deflected effort to prevent a clean sheet.

During the month Hereford brought in three new faces, starting with Stockport County right-back/winger Jid Okeke, who had a loan spell at Chester earlier in the season. Former Gloucester City midfielder Dom McHale joined on loan from Scarborough Athletic for the rest of the season and finally Banbury United midfielder Lawson D'Ath joined at the end of the month, on the eve of Hereford's scheduled match with Banbury that was later postponed.

By the end of the month, due to their indifferent form, Hereford dropped to 12th, five points adrift of the play-offs although again had a game in hand on a number of clubs above them.

Matches
The fixtures were released on 5 July 2023, with the season starting on 5 August 2023.

FA Cup
Hereford entered the competition in the second qualifying round, with the draw taking place on 4 September 2023. They were drawn against Leicester-based Northern Premier League Division One Midlands club Anstey Nomads, two steps below Hereford in the National League System. After defeating Anstey Nomads 2–0, Hereford were again drawn at home in the third qualifying round, and again against a Northern Premier League Division One Midlands club, Cambridge City. They were drawn at home for the third consecutive round after defeating Cambridge City 3–0, facing National League club Rochdale in the fourth qualifying round. Ethan Freemantle scored the only goal in a 1–0 win against Rochdale to set up a first round tie, again at Edgar Street, with League Two club Gillingham. Hereford's FA Cup run came to an end against Gillingham, losing 2–0 in front of a crowd of 4,376 courtesy of a first-half deflected goal and a late second-half penalty.

FA Trophy
Hereford entered the competition in the second round, with the draw taking place on 30 October 2023. They were drawn at home to Isthmian League North Division club Redbridge, two steps below Hereford in the National League System. After defeating Redbridge 4–1, they were drawn at home, for the sixth consecutive time across both the FA Cup and the FA Trophy, in the third round against either Bognor Regis Town or South Park. After narrowly dispatching South Park 1–0 thanks to Adam Rooney's first half header, Hereford were drawn yet again at home to National League South club Torquay United. Torquay were defeated 2–0 with first half goals from Tom Pugh and Yusifu Ceesay, setting up a fifth round tie at home against National League club Gateshead. Hereford were knocked out of the competition by Gateshead in their fifth round tie, losing 1–0 after a late goal from substitute Marcus Dinanga. Hereford goalkeeper Curtis Pond nearly equalised at the death to take the tie to penalties, missing a close range header from a corner.

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" | Youth team players

!colspan="12" style="text-align:center" | Players out on loan

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


 * }

Goals
Source: BBC Sport

End-of-season awards

 * Player of the Season: Aaron Skinner
 * Goal of the Season: Áurio Teixeira (vs. Chester, 5 September 2023)

Player of the month award
Awarded monthly to the player that was chosen by fans voting on herefordfc.co.uk

Goal of the month award
Awarded monthly to the goal that was chosen by fans voting on herefordfc.co.ukHereford score listed first, score column indicates score after each goal