THIS season, Edgar Street is once again playing host to Southern League Premier Division football.

Hereford FC have sold well in excess of 1,000 season tickets to watch the fare on offer, and that's considerably more fans than attended any game the last time a city-based club played at this level - during the ill-fated and curtailed campaign three years ago which saw the old Bulls wound up just before Christmas.

But, 45 years ago, crowds were even bigger to watch the club which had escaped from the Southern League on fulfilling the dream of the city's football fans by being elected to the Football League's fourth division.

Colin Addison's side had been elected at the Cafe Royal - these were the days well before automatic promotion and relegation between league and non-league - in June 1972 on the strength of the fantastic deeds of the famous Giantkillers side which had beaten Newcastle United and run West Ham close in the FA Cup earlier in the year.

And excitement had been building during the summer as fans anticipated finally becoming part of the exclusive group.

Skipper Tony Gough, striker Billy Meadows and Newcastle goal-hero Ricky George had moved on, while future England boss Ron Greenwood had come brandishing a cheque book to secure the signature of Dudley Tyler for top-flight West Ham.

But the nucleus of that celebrated side remained and Addison had moved into the transfer market to sign up some experience in the form of full-back Tommy Naylor (Bournemouth), winger Clive Slattery (Swansea) and striker George Johnston (Fulham) as well as taking a punt on promising forward Ken Wallace, who had been released by West Ham.

The fixture planners weren't too kind, allocating United a first-day trip to Colchester.

But that didn't stop a considerable exodus from the county, around 500 in all, to Essex to see the Bulls make their debut.

There was no happy ending to their journey, however, as a Steve Foley goal handed the home side a 1-0 win.

And an even more salutary welcome to the 92-club awaited in midweek when, in front of a crowd of more than 32,000, Aston Villa progressed to the second round of the Football League Cup at United's expense with a 4-1 win.

But the fans' enthusiasm was hardly sapped by these two set-backs and a crowd of 8,839 turned up at Edgar Street for United's home debut against Reading.

Addison, who had been suspended for the first two games and missed the trip to Villa Park altogether due to a bout of flu, returned to the Hereford midfield.

And Johnston, who had scored United's consolation goal in the League Cup as a substitute, was handed his first start.

But it was another newcomer, Wallace, who made the first real impact, leaping above the visiting defence to head United into the lead after 27 minutes.

Addison, who would have sent modern-day sports scientists apoplectic by treating the after-effects of his flu with a tot of brandy before the game - and another at half-time - enjoyed the distinction of heading in the Meadow End's first Football League goal midway through the second period.

And big striker Ivan Hollett wrapped up the win by nodding home the third from a Brian Owen cross not long before the end.

Football League secretary Alan Hardaker, who attended the game to take an early look at his organisation's new boys, was suitably impressed.

"I think Hereford will do very well in the league," he said. "They've got a very good set-up here, a nice ground and excellent support.

"If they play like they did today they should have no problems."

Ultimately, he was proved right but only after something of a switchback campaign.

The win over Reading was United's only success in their first 10 league games but, after they had put that horrid start behind them, they showed their quality to soar up the table to finish in second place and earn a spot in Division 3 for the following season.

Their fine run had included a repeat success over Reading at Elm Park in December.

After conceding the double, thanks to a solitary Owen goal, the Royals' boss Charlie Hurley couldn't venture the same excuse for the defeat that he had used at Edgar Street in August.

"Our defence was shocking," said the former Eire international on that occasion. "Maybe it was the sun. We don't see it very often in Reading."