ONE of the many clichés in sport states that ‘there’s no room for sentiment in football’.

And a few fans have quoted this line while justifying Peter Beadle’s decision to deny Joel Edwards another season at Edgar Street.

But that phrase seems to hint that there was a fairly obvious reason for the Hereford FC manager to release the young defender when the opposite is true.

For no one can question Edwards’ footballing skill – he has already performed admirably much higher in the football pyramid.

Wingers, who have felt the full force of an Edwards challenge, will vouch for his commitment too while his ability to play at either left back or centre half make him an adaptable member of any squad.

There is also the question of cost when it is commonly understood that Edwards received a lot less in wages than other members – despite being club captain.

Edwards left Westfields to make the short trip across the A49 to help the side to two promotions and a Wembley final and, just like Jamie Cuss who also made the same journey, was living a dream to play at Edgar Street.

Fans, of course, do not care where a player was born but there is something special to see a schoolmate or former teammate represent their side.

And it was not just childhood mates who knew the defender in Hereford.

Edwards made many friends – and new fans of the club – by attending community events and represented the team with a maturity which belied his age off the pitch.

The fact that he had visited a Westfields junior coaching session only hours before he had his final meeting with Beadle was typical of him.

Peter Beadle has done everything that has been asked in terms of results and promotions.

And football is a cut-throat business where players come and go frequently.

But this decision has left many supporters scratching their heads and asking just what more the young, fit and skilful footballer had to do to remain at the club he obviously cared about as much as the fans on the Meadow End.