THE Rocky theme song will be reverberating around Edgar Street at around 2.55pm on Sunday.

Bill Conti’s famous Gonna Fly Now anthem will accompany Hereford United’s players on to the pitch against Crewe.

United vice-chairman Tim Russon hopes the team’s entrance music will give the Bulls a knockout punch.

“We are trying to make things better for the fans and we thought about having a piece of music for when the teams run out,” he said.

“Bradford City and Sheffield Wednesday play music to get their fans going.

“They had Hi Ho Silver Lining at Hillsborough and that created a tremendous atmosphere - the place was rocking.

“Everton run out to the Z Cars theme and we wanted to see whether we could do something fresh at Hereford to get the fans going.”

A shortlist of tunes was drawn up after fans had phoned their favourites into BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester.

The shortlist included The Monkees’ I’m a Believer and EMF’s Unbelievable.

Stadium announcer Matt Healey said: “We played the shortlist at the Barnet match and the Rocky theme got the biggest cheer.

“I am a big fan of the Rocky films and this version from 1982 is very motivational. I hope it will inspire Hereford’s players and fans.”

The Rocky anthem is often played at sporting events and the original accompanied the boxing movie starring Sylvester Stallone.

However, Russon said that United’s supporters had booted goal music into touch.

“Our policy has been to consult and speak with the fans and they said they were not interested in goal music.

“They play the Dambusters March at Lincoln City when they score and that was a deafening and overpowering sound when we were on the receiving end of it. But our fans say they like to cheer and chant after the goals - so we won’t be taking the goal music idea any further.”

Russon believes United have made big strides off the pitch this season.

“Our number one priority is obviously results on the pitch but we want to make the matchday experience as good as we can,” he said.

“We’ve secured the Family Excellence Award and we want to give the fans what they want.

“Two mystery families recently came to Edgar Street and they gave us 10 out of 10 for the catering.

“One woman said the pies were the best she had ever tasted at an outdoor event.”