Billy
Jeffrey was appointed
as the new Rugby
Town manager following
Tony Dobson's departure
in June 2005 after
spending six years
at Stamford.
Jeffrey
had a good track
record in management
roles in non-league
football, following
a successful professional
playing career which
saw him make more
than 400 league
appearances at three
clubs – Oxford United,
Blackpool and Northampton
Town.
As
a player, Billy was
capped as a youth
international with
Scotland before embarking
on a lengthy career
with Oxford, where
he was the youngest
ever player at the
time culminating in
a spell as the club
captain. After
spells at Northampton
and Blackpool, Billy
spent time with Kettering
in a player/coach
role before having
a short stay in Australia
to see out his playing
career. He
joined the club
after six and a
half years as manager
of Stamford – where
after securing four
consecutive top
seven finishes in
the Southern League
Eastern Division,
he led the club
into the Premier
Division for the
first time in 2004.
Prior
to this Billy had
had a lengthy spell
as assistant manager
at Rushden &
Diamonds, where
under manager Roger
Ashby and then Brian
Talbot he helped
the club gain promotion
to Conference level
football.
Billy
started life at
Rugby with the mammoth
task of finding
an entire new squad
as most of the 04/05
team left with Tony
Dobson to Solihull.He
made some shrewd
signings and led
the team to a credible
15th place finish.
His
second season in
charge saw the arrival
of several young
talents and Rugby
started the season
very well and by
November were 2nd
in the table having
had a reasonable
run to the 3rd Qualifying
Round of the FA
Cup. However, Valley
had a barren run
and eventually finished
the season in 17th
place.
Billy
resigned in December
2007.
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