A Tribute To David Rudge

News has just been received by Hereford’s Club Historian Ron Parrott, of the passing of former player David Rudge. Ron has put together the following tribute and details of David’s playing career:-

 

“Many thought that David’s career had ended when he broke a leg playing for Villa and never played for them again. However, United’s manager Colin Addison had faith in him making a full recovery and paid a then club record fee of £6,500 to bring him to Edgar Street. David, along with his Villa team-mate Harry Gregory and striker Eric Redrobe were the final pieces in Colin’s jigsaw, designed to take United up into the old Third Division at their very first attempt. David immediately slotted into midfield where his work ethic was unbelievable. He was tenacious in the tackle, tireless in his tracking back, all of which made him very popular with fans. He played in what was then known as an inside-forward position and rather than beating opponents with lightning pace, he would bamboozle opponents by bursting forward and combining in neat triangles with Eric Redrobe, Harry Gregory and Brian Owen.

Off the field, David was as talkative as he was on it, and his enthusiasm was boundless. He had the kind of boyish and mischievous presence that endeared him to colleagues and supporters alike and was never afraid to volunteer for anything. So when in 1973, sponsors Rothman’s announced a Herefordshire County Quiz, David was the first to volunteer for the Hereford United team along with Colin Addison, Eric Redrobe and “Son of God” David Icke. With typical panache, David’s team made it to the final but there weren’t enough spiritual messages making it through to the players and they lost to the mighty Civil Service team, comprising those sagacious Lawson brothers, Hedley & Garth, Brian Weekes and Ray Harris.

In my opinion, David was one of the finest midfielders we’d ever had, so thanks for all the great memories on the field mate and for all the laughter off it. Rest in peace my old friend.”

 

Appearances: 99 (91+8 sub.) Goals: 9

Seasons played: 1972/73 to 1975/76

Born Wolverhampton 21st January 1948, died 24th August 2022

David was an England youth international and signed as an apprentice  with Aston Villa as a 17-year-old in May 1965. He made his first-team debut against Arsenal  in 1966 and was very highly thought of at Villa Park, where he went on to play 55 League games for them, scoring 10 times before his career was interrupted by a broken leg. Hereford United’s Colin Addison paid a then club record transfer fee of £6,500 to bring him to Edgar Street. David was another piece in Addison's jigsaw designed to take United through the old Fourth Division at the first attempt and he was a  revelation with his hard-working, dynamic approach to the midfield David formed a very productive partnership with his former Villa team-mate Harry Gregory. What he lacked in height,, he more than made up in tenacity and fight. He was a very busy player, always in the thick of the fight, chasing and working, tackling back, winning the ball and setting up attacks. David's enthusiasm was boundless and he had the kind of boyish and mischievous presence that endeared him to colleagues and supporters alike. In my opinion, Dave was the best midfielder United had until Jimmy Harvey came along 27 years later. He failed by one game to make his century of first-team games for Hereford and scored nine times before moving to Torquay United in 1975, where he spent another three seasons playing a further 71 times before dropping into non-league football with Barnstaple Town in the Western League in 1978. At the end of his career, he also assisted local clubs Kingsbury FC and Newton Abbot FC. After retirement, David settled in South Devon and worked for Pro-Direct for many years. Sadly, he died in August 2022 after a short illness, aged 74.