We take a brief look at our FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round opponents; who they are, where they play and their brief history.   Firstly, we’ll say who they are not, and Hereford FC is not the same club we faced in the 4th Qualifying Round of the FA Cup in 2013 when an injury time winner for the Bulls meant it was they who progressed to the 1st Round proper.  That was Hereford United.

Hereford United completed the 2013/14 season but were expelled from the Conference in June 2014 for financial irregularities before being formally wound up in the high court in December 2014.

It was then that our current cup opponents were formed, a phoenix club, Hereford FC, built from the ashes of the old Hereford United.

Hereford FC’s first season was 2015/16 and they played in the Midland Football League Premier division which is the 9th tier of English football (the equivalent of the Essex Senior League).  During that season they went on a 27 game winning run, gained promotion to the Southern League South and West, won the Midland Football League Cup, won the Herefordshire County Cup and reached the final of the FA Vase where they lost to Morpeth Town.  A very successful debut season by any stretch of the imagination.

Last season Hereford FC played in the Southern League South and West (the equivalent of our Isthmian North) and finished the season as champions gaining promotion to the Southern Premier.

This season the Bulls are competing in the Southern Premier (the equivalent of the Isthmian Premier) and have started well; winning 4, drawing 2 and losing only 1 of their opening 7 league games.  They have played 2 FA Cup games, an 8-0 home demolition of Godalming Town and a 4-0 win in the last round at Kempston Rovers.

Hereford FC are still known as the Bulls and play their games at the same stadium, Edgar Street.  Their home league crowds average over 2,600 and their one home FA Cup tie (an 8-0 win vs Godalming Town) was watched by 1,737 spectators.

Should be a great game.