Colin Addison, the esteemed football figure from Somerset, has passed away at the age of 85. Born in Taunton, Addison is best remembered for guiding Hereford United to their historic 1972 FA Cup victory over Newcastle United, one of the competition’s most famous upsets.
In addition to his impactful time at Hereford, Addison managed Yeovil Town FC and Forest Green Rovers during the early 2000s. Yeovil Town FC expressed their condolences on Facebook, stating, “Everyone at Yeovil Town are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Colin Addison. During his tenure, one of the standout moments was the FA Cup second round triumph at Blackpool. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all who admired him throughout his career. Rest in peace, Colin.”
Forest Green Rovers also paid tribute via X, remarking, “We’re very sad to learn of the passing of former Forest Green Rovers manager Colin Addison on October 31. Colin led the club to its best-ever finish in the 2002–03 season, securing a top-half league position. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends.”
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Addison’s football journey began as a player with Arsenal and Nottingham Forest before he became player-manager at non-league Hereford in 1971. The following year, Hereford produced a stunning 2-1 victory over Newcastle in a third-round replay at Edgar Street, marked by Ronnie Radford’s unforgettable long-range equalizer and Ricky George’s winning goal — an upset that went down in FA Cup history and helped launch commentator John Motson’s career.
Under Addison’s leadership, Hereford United also reached the Football League for the first time ever, cementing his legacy at the club. Hereford FC chairman Chris Ammonds reflected, “Everyone connected to Hereford United or Hereford FC will be devastated. The word ‘legend’ is often overused, but it perfectly describes Colin’s tremendous achievements, especially at Hereford in the early 1970s.”