Tribute to Colin Addison

HUST, like all Hereford fans, are greatly saddened at the loss of Colin Addison. He was truly a ‘Hereford Great’ in every sense.

Richard Tomkins, HUST Chair, shares some personal memories. “For those of us who witnessed that period in the Club’s history, they were remarkable times. I well remember when my father came home with the evening newspaper and read out the headline ‘Regrets All Round as Big John Resigns’. John Charles had built a tremendous team, now who would go on to manage it? Fans were at a low ebb. Then out of the blue we heard that a young Sheffield United player wanted to come and manage us! The Blades were in the First Division (now Premier League) at the time, and here was this young chap who wanted to come and manage us. What an accolade to our small club!

The rest is history. When Colin spoke, everybody listened. Big John’s team became Colin’s team, and he inspired them. We were startled enough with Brian Owen’s 17-second opener at St James’s Park, but when we were 2-1 down Colin equalised with a low driving shot from left field, we were delirious. He led that team to a wonderful replay victory against Newcastle United at Edgar Street. The match launched John Motson’s career, and I recall John interviewing Colin afterwards and he used his favourite word ‘tremendous’ but with feet still firmly on the ground.

That event got us into the Football League for the first time, and Colin went on to an illustrious career at home and abroad, showing his calibre. It’s only a few years back I bumped into him and Peter Isaac as we dined at The Cock of Tupsley. Colin settled in Tupsley after moving from Sheffield and he was still keen to talk about Edgar Street all those years later.

We have lost a former manager, but his legend will live forever.”