Pic: John Rose
SAVE your time, Peter Beadle has heard it all before. He had it all last season, and the likelihood is he'll be responding to similar pokes once the clocks go forward in 2018 as well.
‘They're so full of themselves down at Hereford, they should have won it in February' is a typical one-liner. Or how about ‘they pay their players so much money they should be winning every game' as a main course?
Beadle just shoots a careless smile. He's almost as good as turning the other cheek as he is at following up on his promises.
“People think it's easy to win a championship,” the 44-year-old said. “Let me tell you, it's bloody well not! Those who think winning leagues is a piece of cake should try it. How many times do favourites come second in a race?”
Subdued
He has a valid point. It's all very well saying they should, but his Hereford side have to actually perform. Every week, and in front of an expectant and success-hungry set of supporters who – perhaps rightly – don't believe they should be watching football at the level they are following years of awful mismanagement at Edgar Street.
And against teams who class this as their Cup Final. Last weekend, they clinched the Southern League South & West title at the home of a club who, like them, had to reform.
“It was actually a little subdued on the way home from Salisbury,” added the manager, who won the treble last season, their first campaign since forming, and also took the club – and its 20,000 fans – to Wembley in the FA Vase final.
“I know we've probably known for a few weeks we'll win it, but because the odds were really against us at Salisbury, we had to win and the other two clubs had to draw or lose. Incredibly it happened, it was a bit surreal but we took care of our business and that's all you can ask for.”
Against the odds last weekend perhaps, but those who aren't fans of the start-up clubs with big support bases will say that's a first. Those who reform aren't wildly popular amongst long standing clubs who pay their taxes.
Those who, understandably, aren't a happy team with thousands of fans and a Football League history plonked in their division – reducing their chances of progression.
“There are a lot of preconceived ideas about us,” Beadle added. “I've heard ‘Hereford are this, Hereford are that' ever since we restarted this club. A lot think we're arrogant, Billy Big B******s.
“The problem is that we genuinely aren't. Absolutely not, we do not think we are bigger than we are. We never say we're looking to win a league. It's lacking in respect for teams, there are some small clubs in there, but trust me they get every ounce of respect they deserve. Our budget was the biggest in the league, we spend what we bring in. There's nobody throwing money at us.
“There's no big ‘I am' here. We have made friends along the way. Some turn up thinking ‘oh they've got a big ground and a nice pitch, they're full of themselves'.
Expectation
“I've had a fair number of club officials come up to me and say they walked in feeling that, but left thinking we're lovely people. That's good enough for me.”
Hereford have not been moved from top spot and after making easier work of the South & West than they did the Midland League last year, many forecast three in a row next season in the Southern Premier.
“It really doesn't work like that,” Beadle said. “Our budget is good for the level, no arguments about that, but it's not as high as many people say.
“It's never easy to win a championship – resources are no guarantee. There's expectation and pressure, but the players have coped.
“Next year everything will be a step up. We have some big clubs in our league, clubs like Kettering who have lost their way. But well run clubs, and it will be a real test.
“Please don't think it will be a cakewalk again just because our crowds are the biggest. I draw your attention to FC United of Manchester. They spent many years trying to get out of Step 3 and they've only just done it.”
