NON-LEAGUE Hereford United and FA Cup legend Ronnie Radford has died aged 79, it has been confirmed.
Radford scored one of the best FA Cup goals of all time in Hereford’s shock 2-1 giant-killing of Newcastle United in 1972.
The ex-midfielder’s 30-yard strike was a hopeful swing of a boot at a mud-curdled Edgar Street.
Radford’s wonderstrike of an equaliser sparked a pitch invasion.
Hereford team-mate Ricky George went on to score the winner, dumping Newcastle out of the FA Cup.
On his goal, Radford wrote in the Sun’s Goals pull out on January 26, 2009: “As soon as I hit the ball from 30 yards out I knew it was going in.
“I was running away with my hands above my head long before the ball had even hit the back of the net.
“Like a perfect golf drive, or a six off the middle of the bat in cricket, the ball sat up for me and I connected with it perfectly.
“It was goal of the month and then goal of the season on Match of the Day in 1972.
“It was a moment that Iâve described many times over the last 37 years, but I have as much enthusiasm recalling it now as I did when I celebrated with my arms aloft.
“Supporters invaded the pitch but there was not a hint of trouble. It was just a spontaneous outpouring of excitement and joy from the Hereford faithful.
“Everyone returned to the terraces so that play could resume.”
