Bristol City's playoff hero David Noble has made his first permanent steps into management after being appointed St Albans City's head coach.
Noble, 40, was the club's interim coach from September following the sacking of Ian Allinson. He helped turn around their form in the National League South league with five victories and two draws in 10 matches before being handed the full-time role. His side currently sit sixth, 13 points off the top.
Defeat against Kidderminster at the weekend in the FA Trophy took the gloss from his appointment but Noble shared his delight at taking up the role, even if he does have to sacrifice his work-life balance.
Reported by The Herts Advertiser, he said: "I'm delighted. There is a lot of work to be done and now I can focus on doing it."
Noble had previously opened up on the difficulties in juggling a work/life balance of being interim manager while working in a full-time job. Speaking three weeks ago, he added: "You can't switch off from it. That’s the one thing I've learnt. You're thinking about it 24/7.
"I've got another job at the minute, one that pays the bills and puts food on the table, and then there's the football side. There are not enough hours in the day.
"I'm at work and I finding myself thinking about passing moves and who's playing tonight and how can I tell this person he's not playing. Your mind is just constantly awash with football.
"Usually I'd just get in my car and go home but now I'll be at work, laying blocks, and I'll be getting phone calls from the doctors about people who are injured and who's available. It's a gig where your mind just does not switch off. I'll have to take a pillow and quilt to work as I'll need a lie down to think."
Noble ended his career as a player at St Albans last season and moved into coaching. He played for 11 clubs over 20 years having come through the academy at Arsenal.
The midfielder moved to City permanently in January 2006 for an £80,000 fee from Boston United following a successful loan spell. Noble notably scored two goals against Rotherham in 2007 helping secure promotion to the Championship on the final day of the campaign.
He almost went one better a year later when he scored a screamer from 30 yards against Crystal Palace in their playoff semi-final first-leg at Selhurst Park. City's passage to Wembley was secured with an extra-time victory in the return fixture before Hull's Dean Windass crushed dreams of playing in the top flight.
Noble would later describe his strike as the best goal of his career during an interview with Bristol Live as a mural of that memorable goal was painted on the wall outside Temple Meads station. He left BS3 in March during the 2008/09 season when joining Yeovil on loan before being released at the end of the season.
He would later play for Exeter, Rotherham, Cheltenham and Oldham before joining St Albans City in the twilight of his career.
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