Bulls on the way back up

FA Trophy Final, Saturday KO 4.15pm

LEICESTER and Hereford went in opposite directions after facing each other in League One 12 years ago.

The East Midlanders went on to win the Premier League, while Hereford disappeared.

They were relegated from the Football League and then wound up in December 2014 with debts of around £1million.

The fans formed a phoenix club and, as Hereford FC, the Bulls are on their way back.

Three successive promotions have taken them to within two more of League Two, and on Saturday Josh Gowling leads them out at Wembley for the FA Trophy final against Hornchurch.

Gowling (below) played in defence for United in League One in 2008-2009 against Leicester, Leeds and Brighton, and returned as a player in December 2018 before becoming manager last January.

“That season in League One we were up against some real giants,” he remembered.

“We were punching above our weight a bit and the reason we went down was because we conceded too many goals.

“Hereford United ended up going bust.

“But the fans brought the club back and we are probably bigger now than some Football League clubs. We like to think that with our support, we could be pushing for League One.

“We hope to win at Wembley and take the momentum into the new season.

“This isn’t a quick job. But we are on the way back.”