CHANGES in officials were made at the Hereford Times Here-fordshire Football League annual meeting.

Bill Morris retired as chairman and was succeeded by Pat Ellis, a former player, referee and official, while Brian Nugent stepped down as general secretary. He will remain on the committee as treasurer and the secretary is Derek Senior, a newcomer to the area.

Mr Morris said in his report that he had filled the vacancy as chairman for 12 months in the absence of volunteers and, after completing 42 years of service with the league in all the officer positions, he wished to hand over to a younger man.

As a life member he would wish to attend meetings and give whatever assistance he could.

He thanked the secretary and the referees and fixture secretaries for their dedicated work during a trying and frustrating season hampered by foot and mouth restrictions and bad weather.

In his report Brian Nugent said that league fixtures in the 2000-01 season had been discontinued at the end of February due to the foot and mouth outbreak. That followed abnormally wet weather in the early months of the new year and a postponement of matches on September 16 when the fuel crisis struck.

He said: "It is gratifying that almost all club officials supported this action which had been taken in support of the farming community."

The league cup finals had been played, however, and he hoped future circumstances would be more favourable.

A loss of £215 was reported on the year but the league was still in a sound financial position.

Two clubs, Kington Colts and Hereford Lads Club, were fined according to rule after failing to be represented at the meeting.

The Premier Division and Division 1 will kick-off on Saturday, August 25, followed by one mid-week fixture. The other two divisions will start on Saturday, September 1.

Officers: president, R Marshall; vice-presidents, Mayor of Hereford and G Hyde; chairman, P Ellis; vice-chairman, P Watkins; general secretary, D Senior; treasurer, D Nugent; fixture secretary, G Williams; referees secretary, P West; registrations secretary, G Hughes.

Management committee - Premier Division: B Weekes (Civil Service), A Morris (Westfields), J Williams (Sutton), K Alden (Pegasus); Division 1: N Jenkins (co-opted), S Nicholson (Pencombe); Division 2: A Stokes (Burghill), P Stead (Civil Service Res); Division 3: S Greves (Kingstone Rovers), M Best (Poachers).

LEAGUE LINE-UP 2001-02

Premier Division (12 teams): Ewyas Harold, Fownhope, Hereford Civil Service, Hinton, Leominster, Pegasus, Ross United Services, Sutton United, Wellington Rangers, Westfields, Weston, Woofferton.

Division 1 (13): Colwall Rangers, Dorstone United, Fownhope Reserves, Golden Valley, Hereford Lads Club, Kington Colts, Ledbury Town Reserves, Painters, Pencombe, Tupsley, Weobley, Widemarsh, Woofferton Reserves.

Division 2 (11): Bartestree, Burghill, Ewyas Harold Reserves, Hereford Civil Service Reserves, Holme Lacy, Leintwardine Colts, Orleton, Ross United Services Reserves, Stoke Prior, Sutton United Reserves, Wellington Rangers Colts.

Division 3 (11): Bartestree Reserves, Bulmers, Kingstone Rovers, Leintwardine Colts Reserves, Marriots (formerly K's), Poachers, Shobdon, Skenfrith United, Tupsley Colts, Weston Reserves, Wincanton.