Pitchero Non League

Craig Herbert

....Herbert has returned as Dave Stringer's new assistant-manager.

Herbert, a fans' favourite, spent ten seasons with Rugby playing over 300 games and scoring ten goals, making him the club's second all-time appearance maker.

The 36-year-old former defender has been involved in some local football in Coventry since leaving the club three years ago but has returned as part of Stringer's managerial team after Martin Sockett, who broght Herbert to the club back in 2000 in the first instance, parted company with Valley a couple of weeks ago.

Herbert first joined the in the 2000/01 season having played League football with West Bromwich Albion and Shrewsbury Town and was appointed club captain at the start of the 2001/02 season.

A strong and committed player, Herbert spent his nine and a half seasons with Valley as a very calm defender with skill on the ball and the occasional display of flair from time to time.

He spent five seasons with Valley before leaving for then Solihull Borough at the end of the 2004/05 season with ex-manager Tony Dobson but he soon re-joined Rugby in October 2005.

Herbert also has the accolade of having played a one-off game for Hayes against Yeovil in the first-ever live televised Conference game.

Injuries meant a few fragmented seasons but since 2006, Herbert enjoyed a relatively injury-free spell which helped to win him many player of the year accolades in 2006/07 and 2007/08.

He was made caretaker-manager in December 2007 following Billy Jeffrey's resignation and secured two wins and a draw before Rod Brown took over in January 2008.

A 33-year-old Herbert finally decided to call it a day in November 2009 and brought an end to a terrific career at Butlin Road.

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