Hereford, once a Football League mainstay, have been dogged by off-field problems in recent times and now ply their trade in the Midland Football League Premier Division.
Hereford FC v Salisbury
FA Vase
Semi-final, first leg
3pm, Saturday 12 March 2016
Edgar Street
Winning sides receive £6,000 from The FA prize fund
Yet it is not just hardcore Bulls supporters that have stuck with the club. They have regularly played league matches this term in front of crowds in excess of 3,000 and Mills back his team-mates to rise to the occasion once more in the semi-final showdowns with Steve Claridge’s men.
“This club has had its highs – the days of Ronnie Radford – but we have not been to Wembley for a long time and that’s an experience we would like to give the fans,” he said.
“Everyone wants a day out at Wembley. The closer you get to the final, the more the buzz has grown around the place. After the extra-time winner against Camberley in the last round that really got everyone excited, so we can’t wait.
“We have 3,000-plus fans regularly at our games so I think we will cope fine with it. They will be the ones who might struggle with it.
“On Boxing Day we had a crowd of 4,381 so we’re used to the big occasion.
Take your place at @wembleystadium for the first-ever #NonLeagueFinalsDay on Sunday 22 Mayhttps://t.co/hdwThHZqmp pic.twitter.com/60wbwXUqME
— The FA (@FA) March 11, 2016
“It would have been a great final, but you never turn down a tie like this. Our place is sold out and I’m sure theirs will be for the second leg, so these are great occasions.
“This kind of experience will be invaluable for the players and whoever gets to the final will then be firm favourites.
“The history, the social media build-up and excitement about the place makes this tie feel like the final”
John Mills Hereford's top scorer
“The history, the social media build-up and general excitement about the place almost makes this tie feel like the final.”
Hereford go into the weekend sitting at the top of the league table, largely thanks to Mills and his 44-goal tally.
His prolific season follows last term’s 57-goal haul for former club Didcot Town but the hitman shrugs off any suggestion that for the Bulls to be successful he must shine.
“I’m not even sure of a starting place!” he added.
“I’ve been on the bench a few times recently and that’s what I’ve deserved because the lads have been playing out of their skins.
“This season I have been lucky to have so many good players around me. If you look at the goals we have scored they have been unbelievable. We’re averaging 3.5 per game. Confidence is so high.”
The first ever Non-League Finals Day takes place at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 22 May – with The FA Trophy final taking place immediately after the FA Vase decider.
