Andover New Street midfielder has hit a unique milestone for a non-league player.
During the clubs 2-0 victory over New Milton this weekend, Claudio Herbert made his 100th appearance for the greens.
It wasn’t the centenary of dreams for Herbert, who had the opportunity to hit the millstone last week against bitter rivals Andover town before the game was called off due to a waterlogged pitch.
The achievement while common in the higher echelons of football, is less so in non-league and is achieved by fewer players.
That’s because a number of non-league players are uncontracted, participating in pay as you play which in comparison to players in the top leagues who are restricted by contracts and transfer windows, is easier to leave.
This means players have to wait until the club says they can go whereas non-contracted players can more easily leave for elsewhere.
With top level footballers having more money than sense, many don’t need to leave for the financial reasons, often being provided all the luxuries in life by clubs they could leave.
However non-league players who are paid drastically less often have to leave to seek higher pay.
Reaching the millstone is also easier for top clubs as they provide a higher standard of treatment for the players, identifying, nursing and healing injuries to get them back to fitness quicker than what can be done further down the pyramid.
This makes achievements like Herberts all the more impressive, with the acknowledge that money hasn’t completely spoilt the game, and there’s still love in it yet.
Photo credit: https://www.ansfc.co.uk/player/1068/claudio-herbert
