Success at Forest Green Rovers is the goal for former Bulls trio

5:01pm Wednesday 16th July 2008

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WHILE all of Hereford United fans are focusing on the new season in League 1, several will also be keeping an eye on events down in the Blue Square Premier.

And at the heart of their interest will be the progress of Forest Green Rovers who boast a triple Bulls connection second-to-none, counting between them 904 appearances for the Edgar Street club and 97 goals.

Boss Jim Harvey led the Nailsworth side to their best-ever finish in the top tier of non-league football last season, with the able assistance of his number two Jamie Pitman.

Now, joining the duo to make an all ex-Hereford triumvirate at the top is physio Ian Rodgerson. And all three live in the city of Hereford.

“When I joined Forest Green, it was a big plus to know that Jamie was there,” said Harvey. “I was aware of his ability from his days at Yeovil and at Hereford.

“After my first year, I appointed Jamie assistant manager and it has been a great appointment. He has really lived up to my expectations and been first class.

“He has some very strong qualities and great enthusiasm for the job.”

Pitman was similarly enthusiastic about the role.

“It has been a great learning curve for me,” he admitted.

“Jim is someone with a great knowledge of the game and he puts that knowledge across better than anyone I have worked with. And I have come on in leaps and bounds in my own football knowledge.”

The third part of the management jigsaw is Rodgerson, who will combine his physio duties at the New Lawn with a private practice which he has started at The Archways Health and Fitness in Hereford’s St Owen St.

Harvey sees the appointment as crucial to his side’s success.

“When Ian let me know he was interested in the job, I was delighted,” he said.

“For four years in his studies he applied himself and then worked for five more at Birmingham City. To get him is a powerful appointment.

“We have just a small squad and so the ability to keep people fit is vital.

“He has only just started with us but already we have seen good signs.”

“I jumped at the possibility when Jim mentioned it,” said 42-year-old Rodgerson, who provides a link between the 32-year-old Pitman and Harvey, 50, having played with both during his two spells at Edgar Street.

“I had five years at Birmingham working under some excellent physios but it was time to be the head of my own show.

“And this also gives me the chance to develop my own private practice as well,” added the former Bulls full-back and midfielder, who is a Chartered Physiother-apist.

The trio have plenty to live up to after seeing the Gloucestershire side finish in their highest ever Blue Square placing last season, in eighth spot.

“We are under pressure to repeat that and improve,” admitted Harvey.

“We know we are playing the right way and we have received recognition for the style of our play. The fans had not seen anything like it up there.”

While the trio are firmly fixed on their futures with Forest Green, they still all look back fondly to their time at Edgar Street.

“For me, the highlight was my first spell in the mid-1980s,” said Rodgerson.

“We had some great players and some great characters. Everyone lived in the town and there was a great team spirit.

I particularly remember my second first-team game, which was against Arsenal in the Milk Cup. All of a sudden, I was up against players of the calibre of Graham Rix and Kenny Sansom.”

“Winning the play-off final was great but I shall never forget the season two years before that – the players we had and the way we played,” said Pitman.

“To score 103 goals and get 91 points, that will live in my memory for a long time.”

“I loved the whole experience here from the day I came on loan to the time I left,” said Harvey.

“Supporters will recollect the combination that I had with Chris Price but the whole period was the most enjoyable time of my career.”

Ian Rodgerson Physiotherapy Services are based at The Archways Health and Fitness in St Owen Street and can be contacted on 07787528700.