The rousing atmosphere at Edgar Street before, during and after the cup-tie against Rochdale was very much a throwback to the magical FA cup matches enjoyed by Hereford United fans in the 60s and 7os. This got some of us here at Talking Bull HQ discussing pre-match nostalgia and we were reminded about some of the music the old tannoy system used to blare out across the ground.
Indeed, we even have an archive in recognition of the late great Don Cooke entitled “Don’s Discs” and we are sure many, many Hereford supporters will recall his voice, as well as his music. Don operated the public address system at Edgar Street for the best part of 25 years.
Here at Talking Bull we have received a number of requests from Hereford supporters to add the original Colonel Bogey March to this archive. That is hardly surprising given the fact it was another of Dons’ favourite tracks and he must have played it just before kick-off on many hundreds of occasions. We are unsure as to when it might have been first played over the PA system at Edgar Street, but may well have coincided with speakers being hung around the old ground prior to World War II.
The “Colonel Bogey March” is a popular march that was written in 1914 by Lieutenant F. J. Ricketts (1881–1945), a British army bandmaster who later became director of music for the Royal Marines at Plymouth.
If anyone can recall the first tannoy system being incorporated within the Edgar Street Athletic Ground please let us know. Indeed, if you can remember the Colonel Bogey March booming out of the speakers when the team entered the pitch in the 1950s too, it would be great to hear your memories of the Southern League days after the War. Please email us at editor@talkingbull.org
If you have a favourite song you loved hearing at Edgar Street, let us know here at Talking Bull email us:
editor@talkingbull.org
