HEREFORD FC will be back playing at Edgar Street on Tuesday when the Bulls face Coleshill Town in a Midland Football League Premier Division clash.

More than 4,000 fans watched their opening league game against Dunkirk and – despite it being a midweek match – another healthy crowd is expected.

But being able to play at Edgar Street at all seemed more of a dream rather than a reality after the winding up of Hereford United last December.

Yet thanks to a dedicated bunch of volunteers, football is once again being played at the famous old ground.

Hereford FC operations director Ken Kinnersley has been at the forefront of that hard work.

“At the end of March, chairman Jon Hale turned the key to the main door of Edgar Street only to be confronted by racks containing literally hundreds of keys,” recalled Kinnersley.

“We soon discovered they were largely unnecessary as most doors had been damaged, including expensive fire doors.

“Once inside there was a strong damp smell which, coupled with the Christmas trees, lights and decorations, gave a surreal atmosphere to a general scene of chaos and destruction.

“Most bizarre was a plate of mince pies, apparently untouched, still on the bar and by then three months past their best before date.

“Stacked in the kitchen were a dozen or more loaves of ‘green’ sliced bread.

“The freezer had been unplugged for weeks, leaving various foodstuff rotting inside.

“There was rubbish just about everywhere.

“There were years of accumulated paper files, receipts, card transaction slips, bank statements, just junk occupied literally every cupboard.

“The VP Club seemed to have been used as a dormitory or breakfast room.

“Rice Krispies covered the carpet and a couple of well used toasters were balanced on drink chillers.

“Moving into the home dressing room, the floor was covered with discarded football kit, from shirts, shorts, socks, boots, underwear, towels and shin pads.

“We later decided to donate the usable kit to KitAid so the volunteers spent some time sorting and bagging the various items.

“We understand the kit is now being worn by young footballers in Ghana so we are hoping it will be a long-term investment for Hereford FC.

“The amount of work that needed to be done multiplied with every part of the stadium we inspected.

“It was obvious to the board that an incredible amount of work was going to be needed before a ball could be kicked.”

Kinnersley says he is very proud of the work that was done to ensure the ground was ready for the season.

“The level of support and goodwill has been exceptional but it is extremely doubtful that any accurate calculation of the financial savings Hereford FC have enjoyed could ever be made,” said Kinnersley.

“We are well aware that we have neither paid the full commercial price for all of the parts, furnishings and equipment supplied, nor have we been charged a realistic labour rate of works undertaken in the stadium over the past four months.

“Many fans have passed comment about the smart new cladding along the entire length of the Meadow End.

“Comments such as ‘it’s the best I’ve ever seen the old girl look’ and ‘what a difference it makes’ have been common place.

“It’s almost become a tourist attraction.

“So, with the phase one works just about complete, we will soon be starting phase two which will be a continuous maintenance programme for which we will again be looking to our volunteers for support.”

If you would like to help, email Ken Kinnersley at operations@herefordfc.co.uk