Hereford swoop for Gulls pair

Ahead of the Bulls’ first training session, Hereford have secured the double signing of the Weston-Super-Mare duo Jacob Jagger Cane and Jason Pope.

Both players have extensive experience in the National League South, having started their careers in the Exeter City Academy.

Jagger Cane, 25, also captained Weston and is regarded as a combative, ball winning midfielder.

This from Weston: The skipper is a great all-rounder, possessing great athleticism and technical ability, with the central midfielder known for his box-to-box ability and cutting out the opposition attacks as quickly as possible.

Exeter-born Jagger Cane joined his hometown club at the age of eight years old. He progressed through the ranks and signed a two-year professional contract in 2012 after the U18s reached the final of the Youth Alliance Cup. He made his senior debut in September 2012, coming on as an 89th minute substitute in a 3-2 win over Wycombe Wanderers in a Sky Bet League Two fixture at St. James Park.

In March 2013, the midfielder went out on loan to Evo-Stik League Southern Division One South & West side Poole Town, where he made 15 appearances and scored two goals as the Dolphins won the league title.

In September 2013, he returned for a second loan spell at Poole, then in the Southern League Premier Division, on a one-month loan and made seven appearances for Tommy Killick’s side.

In March 2014, Jagger Cane was out on loan again as he joined Weymouth FC, Poole’s divisional rivals, where he made nine appearances before heading back to the Grecians, while he was then released at the end of his contract in the summer of 2014.

He joined Weston permanently in that same summer under Mickey Bell’s tutelage, and in a strange twist of fate, Jacob’s first appearance as a Seagull was against Exeter in a preseason friendly at the Woodspring Stadium. 

Having played alongside experienced midfielders during his first four seasons with the Seagulls, as well as forming an exciting partnership with loanee Lloyd Humphries in 2016-2017 under Scott Bartlett, the player was handed the armband in January 2018 after Dayle Grubb’s departure. 

In 2017-2018, his fourth in a Weston shirt, the central players performances got better and better, scoring three goals and picking up many Man of The Match awards, scooping the MVP award at the end of season awards in April 2018.

Hereford head coach Marc Richards has reflected on the move, “Some people have referred to Jacob as one of the best pressers in the central midfield area, but he also comes with a lot of quality and pops up with goals”.

Pope, 23, confirmed continued contract offers from Weston for the pair were rejected after talking to Hereford.

“I met Marc Richards at Hartpury, and after seeing the facilities and seeing what the club has to offer the players, I really knew that I wanted it to happen. I’m really glad that I’m here now and can’t wait to get going”.

This from Weston: The ball-playing defender, who has been deployed at right-back and central midfield as well as centre-back in his time with the Seagulls, has enjoyed a consistent spell with Weston thus far.

Jason joined Exeter City’s youth setup in 2003, aged eight. He then progressed through the Academy team, and was awarded a professional deal in April 2014. Pope made his first-team debut on 7th October, replacing Scott Bennett in a 1–3 Football League Trophy away loss against Coventry City.

During the 2015/16 season, Jason, along with Alex Byrne, joined the Seagulls on a six-month youth loan, extending this in January until the end of the season. He then signed a permanent contract with the Club for the 2016-17 season.

Having started his permanent spell with Weston at centre-back alongside Clayton Fortune, Pope was transitioned into an overlapping right-back when Scott Bartlett took over in October 2016.

Winning the Supporters Player of The Year for the 2016-2017 season, after a consistent season, Pope was moved back to centre-back, this time for the entire season, under current Seagulls boss Marc McGregor for the 2017-2018 season after Bartlett’s departure.

The young defender was part of the Somerset Premier Cup side in 2018, starting at centre-back in the final and picked up the Players’ Player and Manager’s player at the end of 2017-2018.

Pope stayed for the 2018-2019 season, again consistently performing despite a two-month injury layoff at the turn of the year.

Images: Hereford FC & Weston S-Mare AFC