Match Preview

Kempston Rovers face Hereford in the FA Cup second qualifying round at Hillgrounds this weekend. Hereford were formed in December 2014 after the collapse of Hereford United. In the summer of 2015 they took a place in the Midland Football League. They won this division with a points haul of 108, only losing four league games in the season. the club also won their league and county cups in their debut season. they missed out on making it four trophies in one season, however, losing 4-1 to Morpeth at Wembley in the FA Vase final. In their second season, played in Southern League Division One South West, Hereford were again runaway champions with 107 points – eighteen clear of second place. The club retained the county cup and added the Southern League Division One Champions Shield, played against Royston Town in May. The club have, so far, declined to participate in the Southern League Cup. Hereford boast a level of support that most clubs in the Southern League can only dream of, their average gate so far this season is over two and half thousand (more than several sides in League Two). Two men to watch for Hereford are Rob Purdie, who was one of the first players to sign up for the new club from the ashes of the old. Purdie had three spells with the old Hereford United in a career that has also included spells with Darlington and Oldham. The other man to watch is John Mills who is a goal machine. His scoring form attracted the interest of Bulls manager Peter Beadle and he helped himself to fifty two in his first season with the club and forty eight in his second to make it an even hundred in two seasons.
The old Hereford United have plenty of FA Cup pedigree, we have all seen the clips of Ronnie Radford and that goal against Newcastle, but since their foundation, Hereford have entered the competition once, last season. they reached the third qualifying round before being knocked out by Isthmian League Premier side Tonbridge Angels.

Hereford arrive at Hillgrounds having taken 11 points from their 6 league games so far to sit ninth in the Southern League Premier table.
Kempston have never played Hereford or the old Hereford United in any competition before.

A special programme will be issued for this game, priced at £2. Programmes will be numbered and one lucky number will be drawn at random to win a prize.

The ground will be open at midday, including the bar. Extra food and drink facilities are being made available on the day. Supporters are advised to arrive early to avoid queues at the turnstiles.

Entry prices are £9 for adults, £5 concessions and still just £1 for under 16s. Supporters club discount does not apply to this fixture.

For Hereford fans on their travels;
Hillgrounds, Hillgrounds Road, Kempston, Bedford, Bedfordshire MK42 8SZ

Coming by train, the closest station is Bedford (1½m from the ground). Outside the station, follow signs for the short walk to Bedford bus station (about 10 mins walk from the station) where you can catch the number 53. The bus is half hourly and passes the ground on right. An average journey takes 8 mins. Alternately, the number 1 bus (also from the bus station) stops at Addison Howard park on the top of Hillgrounds Road, leaving you with a short walk down the hill to the ground.
Coming by car, take junction 13 off the M1 and follow signs for the A421 for Bedford and Cambridge. From the A421, take the exit signed for Northampton A428 and at the roundabout take exit signed for Kempston. Follow the sign posts for Kempston at the following two roundabouts. When you reach the roundabout at the Shell garage, take the second exit (right), this takes you to a set of traffic lights by Sainsburys. Turn right at these lights and you will pass a row of shops and then Addison Howard park on your left hand side. At the lights by the park, turn left into Hillgrounds Road and the ground is at the bottom of the hill on the right. Please be considerate and respectful of our neighbours when parking.

Enjoy your short stay in Kempston