Matt Healey continues the series.
Brian McGorry was born in Liverpool on the 16th April 1970. He was an apprentice at Anfield but failed to make the grade and joined Weymouth. After impressing in the non league he then signed for Bournemouth for a fee of £30,000 in 1991.
Spells then followed at Peterborough, Wycombe Wanderers and Cardiff City and he arrived at Hereford United on deadline day 1997.
The Bulls were in a relegation battle and as well as McGorry signing on the dotted line at Edgar Street. Hereford manager Graham Turner also bought in Tony Agana, Bradley Sandeman and his own son Mark.
I asked McGorry what persuaded him to join Hereford.
“I knew about Graham Turner having a great history as a manager, I had a horrendous two year spell at Wycombe due to repeated hamstring injuries. Graham called me and asked if I could help them beat relegation, I drove over to Edgar Street and as soon as I met up with Graham I could tell he was the manager for me”
Hereford had seven games to go to save their football league status.
“We had a good team spirit, my first game was against Fulham and we drew 0-0, they were going for promotion and we probably could have nicked the three points, we then drew 1-1 with Hull on Easter Monday. We beat Colchester a week later and I scored the winning goal”
There were four games to go, and Hereford were five points ahead of Brighton, but it was still extremely edgy and anxious. Next up was a 1-1 draw at Scarborough on the 12th April 1997, then another 1-1 draw, this time at home to Torquay a week later.
Brighton had closed the gap and with two games to go Hereford were three points ahead of them. Brighton though had a better goals scored column. Usually when a team is level on points, the usual system of goal difference would kick in, but that season it was changed to goals scored, and with Hereford scoring less than Brighton it made for a very nervous time at Edgar Street.
On the penultimate weekend Hereford would lose 2-1 at Leyton Orient on the 26th April 1997, whereas Brighton beat Doncaster Rovers 1-0 in a highly charged emotional final game at the Goldstone Ground (The ground was demolished the following season) Brighton were now ahead of the Bulls going into the final game.
Hereford were tragically relegated from the Football League on 3rd May 1997. In an end of season shootout. The final game of the season was against Brighton. To stay in the Football League Hereford needed to win. Brighton needed a win or a draw. The game ended 1-1.
“On the final game, it could have gone either way, we had our chances to win, it was a very sad day being relegated and I drove home to Bournemouth in a bit of a daze”
McGorry would stay at Edgar Street for the following season.
“I knew non league from my Weymouth days, it was blood and thunder, I don’t think some of the other lads realised what it would be like. I remember going away to Slough Town and the dressing rooms were so small we all couldn’t fit in, the 2nd half of the season we picked up and started to turn the corner, but with no play offs back then and Halifax running away with the title we were never in contention”
Hereford would have success in the FA Cup and reached the 3rd round, on the way to it they would face Brighton in the 1st round. McGorry, Rob Warner and Andy deBont were the only survivors from the relegation game. Hereford would gain revenge with a 2-1 win and two goals from Neil Grayson.
I asked McGorry to compare the two matches.
“Brighton in the league was depicted as do or die, in reality it was a one off game of football, the FA Cup game we were the underdogs against the league team, we proved we could compete, Graham kept the squad relaxed and I remember the Bull going around the pitch before kick off. It was nice to get revenge on them”
Hereford were struggling financially and top scorer Neil Grayson was sold to Cheltenham Town in February 1998. If Grayson hadn’t been sold the club was close to administration.
“Neil Grayson leaving was massive. It could have been a number of players who could have left. Graham managed to keep hold of Gavin Mahon and Gavin Williams. Neil was such a fantastic trainer and was still playing at National League level for Stafford ten year later in his early forties, he was so professional and ended up going to Cheltenham and having great success, when you get older you realise the constraints on the financial side of football”
With club skipper David Norton sidelined through injury. McGorry would captain the side the 2nd half of the season. Hereford would finish in a creditable 6th position. Which in the modern era would have clinched a play off place. He would depart though that summer.
“I had agreed to stay at Hereford for two more seasons and be the club captain, I had done a bit of coaching with Keith Downing and loved it. I then got an offer from Torquay in League Two. Me and Graham both mutually decided that I would go to Torquay, it was very amicable”
McGorry had one season at Plainmoor but then dropped back into non league.
“When I left Torquay in 1999, I was at a crossroads and had started a degree, my mind was then turning to my next career. Telford made me an offer to go part time, It was a good move for me, I had a chat with Graham Turner about coming back, but Hereford were full time and I needed to think about my career away from football”
McGorry would later play for Southport, Chester, Tamworth and Nuneaton.
McGorry is now working alongside Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler.
“I worked hard at school and loved studying. Education was massive for me. In 2004 I set up my own company helping players to obtain a qualification. I had a phone call in 2013 from someone who knew Robbie Fowler. For Robbie it’s him putting something back into the community. I oversee the education and we have had plenty of lads go onto university and scholarships”
You can read more about the foundation here -> The Fowler Academy – In Partnership with Liverpool FC Foundation
Photos supplied by MH Archive, Ron Parrott and Brian McGorry
