MATCH PREVIEW: Chippenham Vs Hereford FC | Club Friendly Match | Saturday 2nd August 2025
Harry Minton previews our final pre-season friendly of 2025/26
Pre-season action does continue on Saturday for the Bluebirds as this time we welcome Hereford to the Thornbury Surfacing Stadium.
Paul Caddis’ side are looking to have a good season this year in the National League North, although the Bulls finished in tenth, they were only a point away from the playoff places. The side’s pre-season so far has looked very promising indeed, with wins coming against the likes of Wellington FC and Sporting Club Inkberrow away from home. Hereford also drew 1-1 at Malvern Town and were involved in a goalless draw at Alvechurch.
On the flip side, Chippenham have had a mixed bag of results in just their last few pre-season outings. They suffered a defeat to Southern League outfit Taunton Town away by a goal to nil. However, our boys in blue did win by the same scoreline the weekend following the defeat, this time Harlee Vozza scoring the only goal as they beat Frome Town. And also, we got to see the coaching staff in action on the football pitch as Chippenham Town hosted a charity game against a team filled with Manchester United and Liverpool Legends. The match finished 4-1 to the hosts in what was another great day for the non league side.
Hereford has a proud footballing history in the West Midlands, which dates all the way back to the original club known as Hereford United. They were formed a little over a hundred years ago in 1924, following the merger of two local football clubs called St Martins and Rotherwas. And Hereford came to prominence in English football in the early 1970s. The club’s FA Cup run in the 1971/1972 season as a non league team was remarkable. In the first two rounds, they had to go through a couple of replays to get the better of Kings Lynn and Northampton Town respectively, eventually winning 1-0 and then 2-1. Then in round three, they would get a dream tie, an away game at one of the most prestigious clubs in the country, against Newcastle United. The non league side made the trip up north and came away with a hard earned 2-2 draw, bringing the tie back to Edgar Street for a replay. That replay ultimately would be a game that would change the history of the club forever, Hereford dumped out first division side Newcastle at home, winning by two goals to one. This would in fact set up a fourth round tie with West Ham United at home, which the Bulls impressively took to a replay once again, following a 0-0 draw. It was at Upton Park where the fairytale run came to an end however, as the hammers produced a professional display on Hereford, winning by three goals to one.
Hereford gained plenty of attention following this run in the FA Cup, so much in fact that the next season, they were accepted into the football league. They ended up joining the fourth division of English football. Their football league journey started in 1972 and would last for a total of twenty five years. Meanwhile, the first six years alone were a lot for the Bulls fans to take. Two promotions saw the club as high as the second division at one point, however then came back to back relegations meaning they were back in the basement of the English football league by 1978. The midland outfit remained a fourth division regular for a good amount of time, and the Bulls flirted with promotion in the 1995/1996 season, reaching the playoffs in the end. Sadly they would not progress through the semi finals, as they got beaten by Darlington by four goals to two on aggregate over two legs. The next season however, was not a memorable one at all for Hereford. As the season ended in a very heartbreaking relegation, as it came down to goal difference between them and Brighton and Hove Albion for that final relegation place, for the first time in twenty five years, Hereford were out of the football league. It took the club nine years to return back to the EFL, in 2006 they beat Morecambe in the playoff semi finals before being involved in a thrilling match up against Halifax in the final at the King Power Stadium. The Bulls had to come from behind twice, and eventually won by three goals to two in extra time to clinch promotion back to the football league. Their stay in the football league lasted six years, which even included a spell in the third tier in 2008 for the first time in thirty years. However, 2012 would be the last time we would see Hereford United in the football league, they were relegated back down to the conference. Finishing twenty third place in League Two, just two points off safety. And as heartbreaking as relegation was for the fans, they had not seen the worse of it yet. In December 2014, after ninety years of history with Hereford United, it was liquidated just like that and the club was no more following constant financial issues, the club ceased to exist at the end of 2014.
A new phoenix club was quickly formed, and since 2018 it has competed in the National League North. The Bulls had a very good season in the Southern Premier in 17/18, recording an incredible 113 points, scoring 111 goals in the process. By far the club’s most successful season since being reformed. In 2016 however, they did make it to Wembley for the FA Vase final, and even took the lead very early on through a goal from Rob Purdie against Morpeth Town. Unfortunately though, in front of a crowd of 46,781 they fell to a 4-1 defeat. A similar story happened when they reached Wembley again for the FA Trophy final this time, a familiar face to all Bluebirds fans in Tom Owen-Evans gave them the lead but Hornchurch did come back to win by three goals to one to win the trophy.
It promises to be another tough test and another exciting pre-season game at the Thornbury Surfacing Stadium. Feel free to come down, and cheer on our boys in blue. COME ON THE BLUEBIRDS!!!
Tickets are still available to purchase until midday on Saturday, via our Eventbrite page!
Come on you Bluebirds 💙
