The Hereford Times

The afternoon the Strongbow ran out

12:15pm Friday 2nd May 2008

ALMOST 1,500 Hereford United fans saw the Bulls get promoted at Griffin Park. Hereford Times news editor IAN MORRIS was among those present and he gives his take on an unforgettable day.

BY 5.30pm the landlady in the New Inn outside Brentford FC was starting to lose her patience.

“We ‘ave run out of Strongbow,” she shouted in a sharp cockney accent for the fifth time in as many minutes.

But those fans thirsty for cider were in a jubilant mood, having just seen their team promoted, and were comforted when crates of Bulmers Original were brought to the bar.

Saturday had been a day made for the county’s most famous beverage; the sun shone brightly from the minute fans set off for their journey down the M4.

The warm weather seemed to set the scene for a more relaxed end-of-season affair, but those supporting Hereford knew there was much more at stake than a gentle Spring kickabout.

Promotion was possible a game early. While many Bulls’ fans fancied Hereford to win at Brentford few thought Barnet would see off Stockport to secure an unlikely double and the crucial third spot.

Outside the ground it was clear the United players would have a strong vocal backing. The hundreds of fans who bought their tickets in Hereford were joined by a collection of exiles who had made their way to the ground from their new homes in London and beyond.

A carnival atmosphere ensued inside the stadium as fans mingled with friends they had not seen for years, while a group in fancy dress let off balloons and started the singing.

And it was not long before the songs intensified as Gary Hooper and Theo Robinson put the Bulls 2-0 up at the break.

Rumours were flying around the away end at half time with everyone anxious to find out the progress of promotion rivals Stockport.

Radio reports confirmed the game was scoreless but minutes into the second half a roar spread through the away terrace like a Mexican wave.

Jason Puncheon had put Barnet one up - a goal that, with Hereford winning, would secure promotion.

Just minutes later and another cheer went up, but this time the phone call or text message was wrong. Stockport had equalised meaning Hereford’s ascent to League 1 would be put on hold - for one more game at least.

However, with just nine minutes remaining, Cliff Akurang regained the lead for Barnet and this time the reports were correct.

The chant of “we are going up” was in full flow when Simon Johnson tapped home right in front of the Bulls’ legion of fans to round off an incredible 90 minutes of football.

What then followed was an emotional release of feelings from fans and players alike. The Hereford heroes joined in with the supporters’ songs, threw their shirts into the crowd and danced on the pitch to thank those who had cheered them on all season.

The on-the-field celebrations were rounded off when Graham Turner punched the air before Trevor Benjamin and Kris Taylor poured a water cooler over their boss.

Bulls fans then returned to their newfound Ealing local and by 6pm had finished off the Bulmers Original.

But by then nobody cared. Hereford were up and the party would continue back in the ‘shire where there was sure to be more cider.