The 1985–86 season was the 57th season of competitive football played by Hereford United Football Club and their 14th in the Football League. The club competed in Division Four, as well as the Milk Cup, FA Cup, Welsh Cup and Freight Rover Trophy.
Summary This was a season of disappointments for Hereford. They were unable to mount a promotion challenge and remained anchored in mid-table for the entire season, hampered by lamentable away form (only three wins and 13 points from 23 matches), although their home record was the second-best in the division after champions Swindon Town.
In the Welsh Cup, Hereford reached the semi-finals but were knocked out by Kidderminster Harriers after conceding an 88th minute goal in the second leg, having clawed back a 4–1 first leg deficit, and they were seven minutes from knocking Arsenal out of the Milk Cup on away goals in the second round before a Charlie Nicholas goal gave the First Division side a 2–1 aggregate win.
The biggest disappointment came in the Southern Area final of the Freight Rover Trophy against Bristol City. Despite winning the first leg 2–0 at Edgar Street, Hereford missed out on the opportunity of playing at Wembley for the first time in the club's history after losing the second leg 3–0, with the decisive goal coming a minute from the end of extra time.
Squad Players who made one appearance or more for Hereford United F.C. during the 1985-86 season Pos.Nat.NameLeagueMilk CupFA CupWelsh CupFreight Rover TrophyTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKKevin Rose46040205060630DFWayne Cegielski29(3)22020506034(3)1DFIan Dalziel40(1)34000306053(1)3DFKevin Davies0(1)0000000000(1)0DFSteve Devine8(3)1000(1)010009(4)1DFBruce Halliday30140104020411DFMel Pejic45140205060621DFChris Price41431205160576DFIan Rodgerson14(5)210100(2)00(1)016(8)2MFGary Beacock9(4)10000210(2)011(6)2MFPaul Butler19(2)02(2)000210023(4)1MFMike Carter30(1)92023206142(1)13MFJohn Delve38630204140517MFJimmy Harvey429411054615814MFPaul Maddy32(1)73020436147(1)11FWDanny Corner0000000(1)0000(1)0FWOllie Kearns331331213(1)54(1)145(2)21FWStewart Phillips18(2)53200102124(2)8FWIan Wells32(3)92120435245(3)15
League table
Results
Fourth Division
Milk Cup
FA Cup
Welsh Cup
Freight Rover Trophy
References
Bibliography