MANAGER Pete Beadle believes Hereford will have a tough battle ahead in this season’s Midland League Premier Division.

The newly-formed Bulls play their first competitive match against Nottingham - shire outfit Dunkirk at Edgar Street tomorrow (3pm).

Hereford are marking the occasion with a pre-match parade of champion bull Hawkesbury Ronaldo, while supporter Jo Clements is making a 10,000 mile round-trip from her home in Los Angeles for the occasion.

Jo, who hails from Ross-on-Wye, supported Hereford United since her childhood and cannot wait for the match.

Jo, who is a journalist by profession, is planning to help out in the Hereford club office today and is a familiar face in the main stand.

Boss Beadle said: “We know it’s going to be tough whether we are home or away because we will be the proverbial big team and everyone wants to beat us. It will be like their cup final. We need to make sure our home form is good and when we go away from home we prepare as best we can.

“There’s going to be a lot of new teams coming here and when they first come out, they will be happy with the ground and the pitch, but I’m hoping our fans will be vocal and make it hard for visiting teams. Players won’t be used to this sort of environment and hopefully that will put them on edge a little bit.”

Dunkirk narrowly avoided relegation Premier Division last season but joint-manager Nick Hawkins says his team is now much stronger.

“We will embrace the game because it’s not every day that you play in front of 3,000-plus people.

Hereford need to know whoever they play will be a cup final for them and will do whatever it takes to win.”

Former Nottingham Forest midfielder Eugen Bopp has come out of retirement to play for Dunkirk this season, while Tristram Whitman, who earned promotion to the Football League with Don - caster, is also on board.

Fellow Hereford club, Westfields, travel to Loughborough University in their opening Premier Division match, while Stourport Swifts, who host Hereford on Tuesday night, make the trip to Rocester.

Pershore Town are travelling to play Hinckley outfit Leicester Road in Division One.

West Midlands League Premier Division Malvern Town open their new campaign at home to Haughmond and are be aiming to repeat last season’s success which saw them finish fifth in the table