Earlier this year, I had a letter published in the non-league paper about Hereford’s opponents and their celebrations when they scored a goal. The trend seems to be deliberate. Don’t celebrate with your teammates, but taunt opposing supporters.
At many games this season, our opponents have scored in front of the Meadow End terrace. Which to be honest, has not exactly been a hard thing to do at times. This has resulted in players rushing towards the home fans and taunting them. I can understand their euphoria at scoring, and it is probably the highlight of their career scoring in front of a crowd instead of one man and his dog, but to taunt the opposing supporters, I think, is out of order. Look at the level they are playing at, I don’t think there are going to be many Premier League scouts watching in the Meadow End.
It is not unheard of for a supporter to lash out in the heat of the moment. Then what would happen? The club could get a fine or worse, points deducted. There would be a lot of bad publicity for the club. The headlines would be Hereford hooligan punches opposing player. Not, player taunts fans. The player would cry about being attacked, but he would be in the starting line-up for his team the next match whilst the fan would get a lifetime ban at least. I don’t condone violence, but who hasn’t done something in the heat of the moment that they have regretted afterwards? People can get very wound up emotionally at times.
In the games I have seen, the match officials have done nothing about this, or do not appear to have the power to do anything. That is what I thought, until the Oxford City game when the referee did go across when the Hoops scored and moved them away from the Hereford fans. So it appears they can do something, but most choose not to.
At the Macclesfield game, on scoring Paul Dawson ran towards the home supporters and was gesticulating towards his groin area. I’m not sure what exactly he meant, but as there were children in the crowd, could be classed as an obscene gesture. Yellow cards are issued if a player scoring removes his shirt when celebrating, so surely players should be booked for such intimidating behaviour.
Lifelong Hereford supporter who has endured the rise and fall of the club through progressive generations.
Sports journalist, broadcaster and commentator who will never forget his Edgar Street roots.
