December 11 – Far away from the riches of the Champions League, 42 years after achieving one of the great iconic upsets in English football history, Hereford United have been suspended “from all football activity” by the Football Association.
The club, currently playing in the Southern Premier League four divisions below league status, “failed to comply” with a deadline to answer questions about their current state of affairs and have been suspended with immediate effect after a long and painful financial battle.
In June Hereford were expelled from the Conference, the top non-league division, over non-payment of debts and were forced to plummet down the football pyramid while the local council began proceedings to re-possess their ground.
In a statement the FA said that it “understands the importance of football clubs to their local communities and will continue to work with all relevant parties to ensure senior football returns to Hereford at the earliest opportunity, although this will be contingent on the club complying with the regulations and subsequent orders of the Independent Regulatory Commission.”
In 1972, Hereford famously knocked Newcastle United out of the FA Cup in a third-round replay, a game that is still talked about whenever the tournament comes around.
Local reports say the ban is expected to be lifted now that the club have new owners to pay off the debts and guarantee investment. In the meantime Hereford are expected in court next Monday to contest the latest in a number of winding-up orders because of monies still owed.
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