JON Hale could not bear to go to Edgar Street when he heard that Hereford United had been liquidated last December.

The long-standing Bulls supporter just felt bitter that 90 years of history had gone and thousands of fans no longer had a team to support.

But fast forward eight months and there are smiles all around Edgar Street once again.

With the help of experts and a hardcore bunch of volunteers, the Hereford chairman has helped form a new club in the city that will begin its league campaign this Saturday at home to Dunkirk.

Hereford FC may be starting life in the ninth tier of English football in the Midland Football League, but to many Bulls fans, that is immaterial.

They now have a club to support again and are about to start a journey that Mr Hale hopes will get them back to where it belongs.

“I had mixed emotions and couldn’t bear to go the ground when I heard Hereford United had gone because I was very upset and bitter for all of the fans,” said Mr Hale.

“But it was tinged with a feeling that we had an opportunity to move forward.

“At that stage I didn’t know if we would even get Edgar Street or accepted by the FA, so it has really been a great team effort by everybody, not just myself.

“There is a buzz in the city again and people are talking about Hereford in a favourable light, which can only be good.”

Mr Hale added that a lot of people have worked extremely hard to ensure Hereford could start the 2015/16 season.

“On a personal level, I am very proud, but it has been a real team effort,” he said.

“We have all got different skill sets which we have brought to the table, but I am also really proud of what the supporters have done, because without them none of this would have been achieved.

“The reason Jewson [the club’s main sponsor] came on board was because of our supporters and you’ve got a 70-goal partnership [John Mills and Pablo Haysham] who say they wanted to come here because of the fans.

“It will be great if we can have a bit of success, but we are well aware that it is going to be a difficult league.

“We want people to embrace the club and ensure there is a football club in 90 years’ time.”