The 1976–77 season was the 48th season of competitive football played by Hereford United Football Club and their fifth in the Football League. Following promotion as champions of Division Three the previous season, the club competed in Division Two, as well as the League Cup and FA Cup.
Summary Hereford's rapid progress up the Football League was halted as they became the first team to finish bottom of the Second Division having been promoted as Third Division champions the previous season.
After a promising start which saw only one point dropped in the first three matches, Hereford's form nosedived as it became clear that most other clubs possessed greater strength in depth and players more suited to the demands of Second Division football. This was amply demonstrated by successive matches in the autumn when Hereford were beaten 4–1 at Fulham by a team containing Bobby Moore, Rodney Marsh and George Best, then thrashed 6–1 at home a week later by a Wolverhampton Wanderers side containing Steve Kindon, Kenny Hibbitt, Alan Sunderland and Bobby Gould.
Despite a late rally (four wins and only one defeat from the final nine matches), relegation was confirmed following a goalless draw against Carlisle United with three matches still to play.
Squad Players who made one appearance or more for Hereford United F.C. during the 1976-77 season Pos.Nat.NameLeagueLeague CupFA CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKKevin Charlton1602010190GKTommy Hughes2600010270DFPhil Burrows80100090DFTony Byrne80000080DFSteve Emery1900020210DFJohn Galley20(3)2200(1)022(4)2DFDerek Jefferson2600020280DFJohn Layton2842020324DFJulian Marshall1400000140DFChris Price20000020DFSteve Ritchie3211020351DFBilly Tucker50000050MFLes Briley33(1)10(1)02135(2)2MFRoy Carter18(6)3200020(6)3MFJimmy Lindsay3342020374MFBarry Lloyd12(2)0001013(2)0MFTerry Paine26(1)3202030(1)3MFAlan Peters10000010MFBrian Preece3(1)000003(1)0MFKevin Sheedy13(3)1000013(3)1MFPeter Spiring32(6)9212036(6)10MFDudley Tyler4(2)00(1)1004(3)1MFShane Walker50200070FWJimmy Coughlin (on loan from Albion Rovers)1(1)100001(1)1FWSteve Crompton10000010FWSteve Davey3192020359FWGary Goodchild1(3)000102(3)0FWDixie McNeil371622003918FWColin Sinclair7(2)000007(2)0
League table
Results
Second Division
League Cup
FA Cup
References
Bibliography