ONE of the biggest cheers of the match between Hereford United ’s fans and legends came when Chris Price came off the bench to join the legends’ team.

The 52-year-old, one of Hereford’s greatest ever players, nearly died 18 months ago when he was swept out to sea by a strong current off a beach near his home in Queensland.

Lifeguards found him a short time later face down in the water and not breathing and he later contracted pneumonia due to the amount of sea water that had got into his lungs.

Price was back in Hereford to attend his father’s funeral after he died last week and accepted the invitation to play for the legends’ team.

“I found it pretty hard work, but enjoyable,” he said.

“I can’t get back to full fitness because of my lung capacity and oxygen and I can’t get the air in quick enough.

“I’m never going to get any better, so I need to stop doing these games really and stop getting hurt.”