A championship winning side will normally be packed with talent and well backed with money. The Lambs seen to be neither. How are they top with such an average-sounding and rather older squad? Average age is nearly 28, so probably the oldest squad at our level. If they can do it, why can’t we? Their success gives everyone hope.
My best guess is. manager Andy Peaks is doing a remarkable job. He was bought in at the business end of last season to keep them in step 3. He didn’t succeed though no-one was complaining because he got them promoted to Step 2 instead. Now his side are dreaming of the National League. Peaks previously achieved two promotions with his previous club who without him are going backwards rapidly. I’m surprised bigger clubs aren’t sniffing around him. Back-to-back promotions step 3 to step one has only ever been achieved onc (by Chester).
I have huge admiration for Jamie Willetts. Lovely, lovely guy yet it doesn’t seem credible that he might earn his way into being a step one player. He was named msn of the match in their last game. Likewise, Kyle Finn who used to have patches of good form suddenly looks a world beater with 12 goals, his best ever total. They’ve recently added Tommy Tonks, a tiny midfielder who was always good for amusement at step 3 games. Tonks has a big throw and the Lambs take full advantage of it. Their 1-0 win over Farsley Celtic stemmed from his large chuck.
Tamworth do have some decent reputation players, notably the excellent ‘keeper Jaz Singh and midfielder Ben Milnes who is a dominant force in the middle. Striker Dan Creaney has netted 74 times in 3 seasons though missed a big chunk of this season through injury.
Our visitors have the top away record with 32 points. Won 10 including at Scunthorpe, drawn 2 and lost 3. Their first away defeat was on October 31. Buxton, South Shields and Chester are the three clubs to defeat them. Tamworth do score a lot of goals – 20+ more than Hereford – and have a nasty habit of scoring during added on time. Our visitors also have the meanest defence in the top 9 leagues. Keeper Singh hasn’t conceded for over 800 minutes and is rumoured to hang a hammock between the posts.
I suppose we have to mention what happened early season. The 4-0 fleecing was a freak afternoon. We had so many players out we resorted to triallists and loaners in our midfield, a couple of whom were rapidly shown the exit door days later There was the bizarre spectacle of high balls vaguely aimed at Koby Arthur who was marked by Jamie Wllletts – talk about a mismatch.
There are four ex Hereford players in total on the Lambs fields – the others being Culliane Liburd (who was sent off last Saturday and will miss our game) and Brad Gascoigne. The last name was at Edgar Street for “that season”. “Bamber” Gascoigne is 29 and at his 21st club. He’s a bit part player now so surely club 22 isn’t far away.
Tamworth is owned by director Bob Andrews who is 78 and living a dream. He’s thought to be the person owed nearly £1 million on the club accounts. One of those pay-it-back-when-the-club-make-a-profit debt.
The Tamworth game will see the long-awaited return of Talking Bull. Special thanks to our new writers who helped sweating, swearing editors get over the line. Another crammed advert free 48 pager for £3. Available in print from our sales team behind the main stand or as a pdf. As usual, any surplus will support a Hereford FC project.
Hosting the league leaders is a very attractive prospect so expect to see everyone at the Street.
For those who can’t make it, BBC Hereford & Worcester and the Radio Hereford FC media teams will be right across the game with full match commentaries.
Simon Wright
