“It was when I had to come off the lads’ group chat,” laughed the rookie Saints boss, now appropriately distanced from the teammates he has taken to within 90 minutes of promotion in his first season in charge.
“I’d just been named as interim player/manager and realised that I was still on it, so I thought it best to ask them to take me off.”
For context, this was just a few weeks into pre-season last summer when Noble decided to unceremoniously end a glittering playing career which took in over 300 Football League appearances at the likes of Exeter City, Bristol City and Rotherham United.
At the age of 40, and after six years at Clarence Park, Noble was still registered as a player when he took over as interim boss following the departure of Ian Allinson last September.
“It was difficult to make the transition, I still find it hard now,” explained the Hitchin-born midfielder affectionately known as ‘Nobby’, who uniquely played for both England and Scotland development sides. “I was a teammate before, now I had to earn their respect as a manager. You have to have that separation.
Denne historien er fra May 14, 2023-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
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Denne historien er fra May 14, 2023-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
WRAGGY WILL BE SORELY MISSED
MACCLESFIELD FC have led the tributes to “colossal” former manager Peter Wragg, who has passed away.
BURY & RAMMY HIT BIG STAGE!
BRYANLY’S late penalty kept Bury top of the tree in front of another record-breaking crowd at Gigg Lane on Boxing Day.
BRAVE BERKO ARE ON TRACK
Ducks demolition maintains title tilt
OWLS THAT! CLEE GLEE ON TOP OF THE TREE
CLEETHORPES Town maintained their four-point lead at the top of NPL East with a hard-fought 2-1 derby win over North Ferriby at the Myenergi Stadium.
HAWKS SWOOP IN FOR DERBY GLORY
REUBEN AUSTIN hailed Havant & Waterlooville teammate Leon Maloney’s wonder goal as ‘a hell of a strike’ as the Hawks continued their promotion push with a 3-1 local derby success over Gosport Borough.
JULIUS DICTATES - BUT FANS MIST IT
JULUS Ndene handed Leek Town a famous victory in the mist – not that any of the fans got to see it!
GOLDEN BROWN BACK AT THE TOP
PHIL Brown gave his Kidderminster Harriers players Christmas off – and was rewarded with a climb to the top of the tree.
BRENNAN'S BOYS SALVAGED IN 'KAMIKAZE' YEAR END
STRAIGHT talking Dean Brennan lamented ‘kamikaze’ defending despite seeing his Barnet nick a dramatic late point to end 2024 at the National League summit.
FIVE-STAR PIRATES PUMMEL ROVERS
IN the final game of the year at the Ledger Stadium, second-placed Real Bedford faced off against fourth-placed Barton Rovers, who arrived as the league’s in-form side.
MOORE'S LATE GOAL SEALS BIG REDS WIN
GEORGE Moore was the hero grabbing a stoppage-time winner to sink Kingstonian and take Uxbridge to third in the table in what is becoming a fascinating promotion race in the Pitching-In Isthmian South Central.
