The Reds’ current physio and erstwhile centre-back is remembered - fondly – by serious Hereford United man Nigel Preece

Remember Mike Pejic. He played once or twice for England in the mid-seventies and scored an own goal against Scotland?

Well, Hereford United signed his brother, Mel, also from Stoke City in 1980. The reason I mention Mike is that Mel hated being just classed as Mike's brother. I think in subsequent years he's done more than enough to have Mike known as Mel's brother.

When Mel first arrived at Edgar Street he played as a full back. And he did not give a very favourable impression. When he played that was. He was always injured. He played only a handful of games in his first season and when he was fit, he wasn't even guaranteed a place in a team that avoided bottom place in the Football League by winning their last two games. The first game of the 81-82 season, away at newly relegated Sheffield United, we promptly went 2-0 down, Pej was carried off on a stretcher and without him in the second half we made a stirring come back to draw 2-2. As a young, ignorant fan (as opposed to middle-aged and ignorant) I wasn't too impressed with Mel Pejic. I'm glad I was wrong.

Finally injury-free Mel played for the rest of the decade hardly missing a game. He holds the record number of appearances for a United player in Football League matches (412). He was the supporters' Player of the Year on three occasions. He may not have been the greatest full back in the world, but he turned into one of the best centre-halves in the lower divisions. His prime ability was his tackling. His timing was superb. He also read the game better than most and had that uncanny knack of always just getting there in time to snuff out danger.

As Hereford United challenged for promotion in the mid-eighties the bulwark of the team was formed by

Mel's partnership with the more typically lower division style centre-half Keith 'Chinno' Hicks - a classic Jack Charlton, Bobby Moore pairing if ever there was one. Unfortunately, for us long suffering United fans, we failed to get promotion in 1985, the following season we failed to get to Wembley in the Freight Rover Trophy (as it was called then) by conceding a goal at Ashton Gate two minutes from the end of extra time, we almost knocked Arsenal out of the League Cup, again a late goal costing a win on the away goals rule, we even failed to get to the Welsh Cup Final when after we clawed back a three-goal deficit against Kidderminster we conceded yet another late goal to cock that one up. It was a fine team by Fourth Division standards, but didn't win a thing. Perhaps, like Mel, the team was a little 'too nice'.

As that team broke up, John Newman left and was replaced by ex-Forest European Cup winning star Ian Bowyer. Bowyer was a fine coach, whose teams always tried to play nice football, but you felt he was trying too hard to be like his mentor, Brian Clough, and some of his decisions and behaviour were crazy. He always seemed to require a scapegoat for any failings. Initially he had Phil Stant. Two hot-headed types, the rest of the team let them get on with it. When Stanty left for greater things (well, Notts County), Bowyer appeared to turn on Pejic. On one notable occasion he was blamed (unfairly) for a goal at Halifax, Bowyer actually giving him abuse from the touchline; Mel answered him back - all this within easy earshot of the travelling fans who were firmly in the Mel Pejic camp. We had several other decent centre halves at the time, notably Darren Peacock, so Mel played quite often in midfield and grabbed a number of vital goals, including a last minute winner against Walsall in the FA Cup 3rd round to give us a home cup tie with Manchester United, whose beleaguered manager, one Alex Ferguson, was one cup defeat away from the sack. The fact that could have been humble Hereford United is difficult to believe nowadays, but we had plenty of chances to win the game before Clayton Blackmore got the vital goal five minutes from time.

Finally, later that season, Mel got the silverware he deserved, when United beat Wrexham in the 1990 Welsh Cup Final at the Arms Park (please see the picture). OK, I know you lot don't agree but at least you still got to qualify for Europe.

That season was also testimonial year for Mel. Ten years at one club is not very common (even less so now, I suspect, with the Bosman ruling) and I attended several events, including his testimonial dinner, which not being the sort of person who enjoys that sort of formal function says something about how I (and many others) felt about Mel Pejic. His relationship with Ian Bowyer was now terminal and when a reserve match was arranged for the night of the dinner and many of the players who would have attended were forced to play there were those who felt Ian Bowyer was being deliberately petty.

Finally, just hours before Mel and his team paraded around Hereford with the Welsh Cup in an open top bus (I know, I

know, but winning trophies isn't a habit Hereford teams have mastered, so any success has to be seriously milked) Ian Bowyer informed him that his services were no longer required.

A few short weeks later Ian Bowyer was dismissed on the pretext of not signing on his son Gary, who had played in the Welsh Cup Final and looked a quality young player. Bowyer Junior was snapped up by, of all clubs, Nottingham Forest. The United directors were not impressed, especially considering Ian Bowyer's long links with that club and Brian Clough. Word had it the Board disliked Bowyer's forthright style and therefore just used the situation to their advantage. Either way, Bowyer was out, Colin Addison, the man who led United into the League and to promotion in our first season, returned and his first signing was Mel Pejic.

Mel played in every 4th Division match that season and was as steady and reliable as ever. The following year another United legend took over the reigns, John Sillett. He was manager when we won the Third Division Championship in 1976. Like Addison he couldn't repeat that success and lasted only a year. What he did do was sell Mel Pejic. He had just played against Wrexham on Boxing Day in a 3-1 win, he scored against Barnet two days later, and was promptly sold to Wrexham. The supporters were not happy, but you could see Sillett's point; we had a collection of slow defenders, as he'd signed the rest he let the one he hadn't signed go - also the rest were all crap, no-one could possibly have wanted any of them. Pejic's first 'game' at Wrexham was watching that famous victory over Arsenal.

The sudden transfer was a sad end to his great service to Hereford United. For over a decade his attitude, ability and honesty had lit up our football club. When you have servants like that, you really should hold on to them; he could be doing the same job at Edgar Street that he is doing for Wrexham now, physio plus passing on his experience to younger players. I was delighted for him when he finally achieved some real success. Like other long serving ex-Hereford players of the 80s, Jimmy Harvey and Chris Price, it was sad that he had to find that success elsewhere. ˜ RP

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