THE general manager at Stourport Swifts says he is worried his club will not be able to cope when Hereford come to town.

The two clubs will face each other at Stourport's Walshes Meadow ground on Tuesday, August 11 – Hereford's first away game in the Midland Football League Premier Division.

Hereford supporters have already shown that they are willing to back the new club, with nearly 2,000 making the short trip to Malvern for their first ever game.

With Stourport only being 30 miles away – and the match taking place during the summer holidays – another large following is expected.

"It's going to cause all sorts of problems," said John McDonald, who is also Stourport's treasurer.

"I've have been quoted that they will bring between 500 and 600, which we can cope with, but I have since been told it could be at least 2,000.

"If that is the case, we cannot cope.

"I have tried to reverse the fixture, but Hereford cannot do that so we are left with all possible problems.

"The ground is big enough, but we have staff away on holiday so have to import in other people.

"The consequences are bad and I'm going to call the Worcestershire FA, the FA and the police to cover our backs."

McDonald added that Stourport, who beat Wellington in the FA Cup last season, haven't got the means to sell tickets and they only average crowds of about 100.

"We had Kidderminster in a friendly recently and there were 300 there for that, but we have never been here before.

"Many years ago, the fire brigade put the capacity at 2,500 because it's such a big ground and a lot of space around it.

"But we have had no advise from anybody about the possible consequences of 2,000 people turning up.

"They are in the wrong league, they should be in the Southern League South and West."

A spokesman for the FA told the Hereford Times that Hereford FC were placed at an "appropriate level" in accordance with current National League System regulations.

The game takes place three days after Hereford open their league account with a home game against Nottinghamshire side Dunkirk.

It has also been confirmed that Hereford will travel to city rivals Westfields on August Bank Holiday Monday (August 31) with the return fixture at Edgar Street on Boxing Day.

But fixtures from September 1 onwards could be changed due to some clubs being unhappy about their schedule.

Westfields open their account with an away trip at Loughborough University before hosting Lye Town on the following Tuesday.

"It's a brilliant opening month because after Lye, we have Pegasus in the FA Cup, Quorn in the league, Stourport away, Hereford on Bank Holiday Monday and Atherstone in the Vase," said Westfields chief executive Andy Morris.

"We couldn't have wished for a more exciting start to the season."

If Westfields beat Pegasus, they will entertain Kidsgrove Athletic on August 29.

However, even if they draw that game, Morris said the Hereford game should still go ahead on the Monday as planned.

"There are a lot of if's and but's, but if that happens, we would ask Kidsgrove if we can play them on the Wednesday or Thursday," said Morris.

Hereford travel to AFC Wulfrunians on New Year's Day, with Westfields at home to Lye.

The Easter weekend sees Hereford home to Bardon Hill on March 26 and away to Alvechurch on Easter Monday, with Westfields hosting Sporting Khalsa.

The last game of the season will see Hereford travelling to Shepshed Dynamo and Westfields home to Rocester.