Matt Healey has written the below tribute in memory of Eric Redrobe.
After winning promotion to the Football League in 1972 Hereford had started poorly and after 10 games were in 21st position in the old Division Four (Now League Two)
Cue the arrival of a certain Eric Redrobe. Colin Addison signed him from Southport for £6,000 in October 1972
The man would become a legend amongst the fans. He was a fearsome figure with a wicked toothless grin. He could have played Rugby but opted for Football. He would be the catalyst for an upturn in fortunes and the club would go on a remarkable run which saw promotion to the old Division Three (Now League One)
“Redrobe, Redrobe, Redrobe Redrobe, Born is the King of Edgar Street” the Meadow End would sing.
The following season in the FA Cup 3rd round Redrobe scored the opening goal at West Ham in a 1-1 draw (Which you can watch below). Hereford would win the replay 2-1 at Edgar Street.
Redrobe was still an important part of the squad and made 20 league appearances during the 1975/1976 3rd Division title winning campaign. Hereford would now be playing in the old 2nd Division which is the Championship now.
Redrobe would leave the club at the end of the season and dropped into non league football with Bath City. He also played locally for Westfields and Ledbury.
An injury crisis saw Redrobe return to Edgar Street as a non contract player in January 1978 and he made a solitary substitute appearance in a 3-1 home defeat to Plymouth Argyle. He later became a bailiff and retired to live in Wigan.
In total he made 87 Football League appearances scoring 17 goals for Hereford United.
Sadly there isn’t much footage of Redrobe playing for Hereford, but there is a funny Peter Hill story from the Giantkillers reunion about him which you can watch from the 16 minute and 25 second point.
Photos supplied by MH Archive & Ron Parrott Archive