By Mark Mitchener

They love their football here at Hereford Alan Connell

Striker Alan Connell feels Hereford United have acquitted themselves well on their return to the Football League.

Having won the Conference play-offs last season, Graham Turner's side are 13th in League Two after 12 games.

"It's very early days - I think we'd have settled for where we are, but at the same time, we want to be higher come May," Connell told BBC Sport.

"We've had a few bad results, but we've seemed to bounce back every time, and that shows the character in the squad."

The 23-year-old moved to Edgar Street from Torquay in the summer after a disappointing climax to the 2005/06 season.

Despite scoring seven goals in 12 league starts for the Gulls, he only started two league games after the departure of Leroy Rosenior - the manager who had signed him - in January.

"To be honest, I really couldn't wait for the end of the season at Torquay," Connell admitted.

"There were a lot of things there that disillusioned me - I went out and played my best in every game, but I didn't feel I was given any sort of a chance in the second half of the season.

"I needed to get away and get a fresh start somewhere else, so I spoke to Graham Turner in the summer, and after speaking to him I was very keen to join Hereford.

"He just spoke honestly and told me he had a young, hungry, athletic squad who are willing to work for each other which he thinks can do well in this division."

ALAN CONNELL FACTFILE Born: Enfield, 5.2.1983 Position: Striker 2002-2005: Bournemouth 2005-2006: Torquay 2006-date: Hereford

It has been a welcome return to League football for the Edgar Street faithful, who watched their club lose League status in 1997, and Connell can still feel the sense of excitement from both players and fans.

"Everyone was on a crest of a wave in pre-season," he explained.

"And I've been very impressed by the supporters, right from the opening day at Stockport in our first game back.

"I think the club had hoped for higher attendances, but the ones that turn up are phenomenal and they get behind us for 90 minutes in every game.

"They love their football here, and they've been very good towards me - you get recognised around the town and you always hear people talking about the club."

The Bulls have had a mixed start to the campaign - with only one draw in their first 12 league games, although beating Coventry in the Carling Cup was an early highlight.

"It's a very tight division - you win two games and you're in the play-offs, but lose two and you're near the relegation zone," Connell said.

"We've got a fair amount of points without playing particularly well, but then we've had a couple of games where we've played well but haven't got any points.

"I think every team in the world strives to win games and play consistently well. It doesn't always happen - but the best teams grind out results when things aren't going their way, like we did last Saturday against Macclesfield.

"Everyone in this division probably thinks they can make the play-offs and we're no different.

"The league's probably stronger this season with Walsall, Swindon, Hartlepool and Milton Keynes having come down. But when you play the top teams, you've got to play to your own strengths.

"There aren't many teams that can pass it as well as us in this division, and that suits my game, but there are a lot of other aspects to the game - we've got a lot of fighting spirit here and I'm sure we'll need it in the coming months.

"We've seen clubs like Carlisle and Doncaster get successive promotions from the Conference to League One, so you never know what can happen."

We'll just try and get everyone talking about us by the end of the season Alan Connell

Connell is pleased to have found the net twice already for Hereford, where he has formed part of a strikeforce including experienced ex-Aldershot marksman Tim Sills and youngsters Stuart Fleetwood and Andy Williams.

He explained: "I've been playing in a slightly deeper role than I'm used to, behind the front two strikers.

"I've got a couple of goals, but I've had a few assists that have pleased me too.

"We're especially strong in the striking department, so even when I've been out of the side, I wasn't complaining as I know we've got four very good strikers.

"Hopefully between us we'll score the goals to give the fans something to cheer about."

Conference champions Accrington's return to League status after 44 years has attracted much more media attention than Hereford's return after nine - but Connell feels the Bulls are happy to fly in under the radar.

"I've heard a lot more about Accrington this season than Hereford so far," he said.

"But we don't mind, we'll just go about our business and try and get everyone talking about us by the end of the season, when hopefully we can be looking towards the top half of the table.