Coachloads of fans of all ages, from Herefordshire, were joined by many families and individuals from the Ross area, for the journey to Wembley for the FA Vase Final on Sunday, May 22nd.

The mood was bouyant as they made their way to the home of football, eager to round off the season with one last success. Sadly it was not to be but rather than dwelling on the final result Ross fans of Hereford FC have been determined to celebrate their team’s amazing season.

Hereford has already won two cups and a league title this season and they brought more than 19,000 fans with them to Wembley.

Alex Mellor was just one of the many Ross football fans who made the trip from Ross-on-Wye to Wembley to support Hereford FC in the FA Vase Final.

Alex told the Ross Gazette it was an incredible day, although he has been to Villa Park and Old Trafford he had never been to Wembley for a football match before. He said:?“It was a shame about the result but that did not take away from Hereford’s fantastic season, they have won three out of the four trophies they entered and at one stage had a 27 winning game streak.” Alex added that the trip to Wembley was a celebration of the whole season for the players and the fans.

Alex supports Villa but used to support Hereford as a youngster when he lived in Ross. He was looking for a local team to support and at £8 a ticket he thought it would be a good idea to go to Hereford. He said:?“I ended up going to nearly every single home game.” And he is planning on buying a season ticket for next year.

Fans also turned out in their hundreds to cheer on the players during an open top bus parade in Hereford city centre.  Jon Hale, Chairman of Hereford FC said it was a great opportunity to thank all their incredible supporters.

Hereford FC fans were thrilled by Robert Purdie’s goal, which he scored in the first 75 seconds of the game.

Sadly this was the only Hereford goal of the game which saw Morpeth Town came from behind to claim a 4-1 victory over Hereford in the thrilling FA Vase Final.

Chris Swailes became the oldest player to score at the new Wembley when the 45-year-old – who has had to overcome heart surgery in his remarkable career – chested in the Morpeth equaliser.

The battle between two teams in the ninth tier of English football, Hereford from the Midland League and Morpeth Town from the Northern League, was a great exhibition of football to open the FA’s Non-League Finals Day.

Purdie’s second-minute belter set the tone for a frenetic first half as Morpeth Town were forced to chase the game from the off.

The midfielder – who made more than 100 Football League appearances for Hereford – strode through midfield and blasted past startled Morpeth keeper Karl Dryden from 20 yards.

Sirdic Grant should have doubled the lead a couple of minutes later but Dryden this time was equal to it, and minutes later Grant cracked the Highwaymen’s bar with an 18-yard screamer.

And in the 23rd minute the highly effective Mike Symons set up Pablo Haysham for a tap-in, but somehow he contrived to miss, before Symons himself was slow to react when the ball pin-balled around the goal area.

Morpeth Town had chances too, but then machine operator Swailes made the headlines as he bundled the ball home and from then on the game went Morpeth’s way.