David John Hibbert (born 28 January 1986) is an English former footballer who played as a forward; he is now working as a coach at Stoke City.

David Hibbert
Hibbert in 2014
Personal information
Full name David John Hibbert[1]
Date of birth (1986-01-28) 28 January 1986 (age 38)[2]
Place of birth Eccleshall, England
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[1]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Stoke City U18 (lead coach)
Youth career
1995–2004 Port Vale
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2005 Port Vale 9 (2)
2005–2007 Preston North End 10 (0)
2006–2007Rotherham United (loan) 21 (2)
2007Bradford City (loan) 8 (0)
2007–2010 Shrewsbury Town 104 (29)
2010–2013 Peterborough United 7 (1)
2013–2014 Nuneaton Town 28 (4)
2014–2015 Tamworth 35 (8)
2015–2017 AFC Telford United 59 (7)
Total 281 (53)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Starting his professional career with Port Vale in 2004, the following year he was signed controversially by Preston North End – who eventually paid Vale £45,000 for his services. Following loans out to Rotherham United and Bradford City, he transferred to Shrewsbury Town in 2007 for £75,000. He managed to become a key first-team player for the "Shrews" before leaving them for Peterborough United in 2010. After picking up a serious injury in November 2010, he did not play a competitive game and announced his retirement from football in April 2013. He returned to the game with Nuneaton Town in October 2013 on a part-time basis before moving on to Tamworth in June 2014. He joined AFC Telford United in June 2015 before retiring at the end of the 2016–17 season.

Playing career

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Port Vale

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Born in Eccleshall, Staffordshire, Hibbert started his career at League One Port Vale, rising through the ranks from the age of nine years old.[3] He made three starts and seven substitute appearances in first season with Vale; and his promising maiden season was restricted only by a head injury sustained at Milton Keynes Dons.[4] His two goals for the club both came in his second starting appearance in a 3–1 win over Luton Town on 26 February 2005. In June 2005, Championship side Preston North End signed him to a contract. As Hibbert was under the age of 23, the fee was decided by a tribunal according to UEFA regulations.[5] Preston were ordered to pay Port Vale £35,000 upfront with add ons of £10,000 for each 10 of his first 50 appearances for Preston (Vale would only receive the first of these due to him only making 13 appearances in total for Preston); a £280,000 bonus if Preston achieved promotion to the Premiership; plus a 25% sell-on clause if Hibbert was sold on. Vale chairman Bill Bratt was highly disappointed with the news and stated: "I believe he has potential, and he is worth a lot more than we have ended up with."[6] Meanwhile, Preston manager Billy Davies stated that: "We are very fortunate to get this young lad because there were several clubs interested. We think his finishing is very good and – like David Nugent – he is very quick, but to be honest I think he is quite a way from first-team action."[7]

Preston North End

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He started just one game for Preston in 2005–06, playing the full ninety minutes of a 1–1 draw with Crystal Palace in the FA Cup. The young striker squandered numerous chances to win the tie.[8] He also made twelve substitute appearances in both league and cup competitions.

In July 2006 he joined Rotherham United on a six-month loan.[9] He played 22 times for the "Millers", scoring two goals. Returning to Deepdale in January 2007, he was immediately loaned out to Bradford City on a one-month deal. He made his City debut in their 1–0 win against his old club Port Vale at Vale Park on 6 January.[10] The loan was later extended, keeping him at Valley Parade until April 2007.[11] During his prolonged stay at Valley Parade, however, Hibbert suffered an ankle injury on 28 February[12] and did not feature again for the "Bantams" after tests revealed he had ruptured ligaments.[13] He remained at Bradford for a further month so that caretaker manager David Wetherall could see if the injury improved, before he returned to Preston in April.

Shrewsbury Town

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In May 2007, having never started a league game for North End, Hibbert was transfer listed.[14] The next month he was sold to League Two side Shrewsbury Town for a nominal £75,000 fee.[15][16] He hoped Shrewsbury could improve his game.[17] He scored the first goal at Shrewsbury's New Meadow stadium, in a pre-season friendly, his first match in "Shrews" colours.[18] Along with this, he was also the first ever league goalscorer at New Meadow, scoring a penalty against former club Bradford on 18 August. His strong performances that month earned him a nomination for the division's Player of the Month award, though he lost out to Morecambe defender Jim Bentley.[19] With four goals in five games in September he was a contender for the award for a second-successive month, though this time he lost out to Hereford United's Trevor Benjamin.[20] Despite suffering from a hamstring injury in mid-season,[21] Hibbert finished the 2007–08 season as Shrewsbury's top goalscorer with twelve goals in 46 games. His goals were crucial in helping the club to avoid relegation out of the Football League.[22]

Following a solid start to the 2008–09 campaign,[23] Hibbert was sidelined with a broken nose picked up in training,[24] before failing to start a game between October and March due to a foot injury.[25] He finished the season having scored just three goals in 25 appearances. He spent the following summer undertaking physiotherapy sessions to cure his long-standing foot injury.[26]

Hibbert started the 2009–10 season in fantastic form, building a strong partnership with Nathan Elder.[27] A brief spell on the sidelines through an Achilles injury slowed up his impressive flurry of goals.[28] He then scored five on the trot against Macclesfield Town, Bradford City, Chesterfield, Burton Albion and Dagenham & Redbridge; eventually hitting six goals in eight games.[29] Though he suffered a groin injury late in the season and missed out on his target of twenty goals,[30][31] his fifteen goals made him Shrewsbury's top goalscorer for the second time in three seasons earned him the club's Player of the Year award.[16]

Peterborough United

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He turned down a new contract with Shrewsbury,[16] and instead signed a three-year deal with Peterborough United in May 2010,[32] becoming Gary Johnson's first signing as manager of Peterborough.[33] Hibbert scored his first goal for the club on 11 September 2010, in a 5–2 win over Oldham Athletic. This was his only goal of the season, as he started just one Football League Trophy game. He was limited to eleven substitute appearances in other competitions thanks to injury and the form of other players. The success of Aaron McLean and Craig Mackail-Smith's strike partnership restricted to a cameo role in the club's promotion out of League One,[34][35][36] before a serious knee injury sustained in November kept him sidelined for eight months and threatened to end his whole career.[37][38] The injury caused him to miss the entirety of the 2011–12 and 2012–13 seasons. He announced his retirement from football in April 2013.[39]

Non-League

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In October 2013, Hibbert made a return to playing football in the Conference Premier with Nuneaton Town after joining on non-contract terms.[40] He went on to feature 28 times for Brian Reid's "Boro" in the 2013–14 season, scoring four goals.

In June 2014, Hibbert signed a contract with Conference North side Tamworth, and was joined at the club on the same day by former Nuneaton Town colleagues Kevin Thornton and Danny Sleath.[41] On 21 March, Hibbert scored his first hat-trick for the club in a 3–1 win over local rivals Hednesford Town.[42] He finished the 2014–15 season with eight goals in 35 league games.

Hibbert joined AFC Telford United in June 2015,[43] and also began coaching the Stoke City under-21s. However, he admitted that Telford's poor form hurt him as they finished just one point above the relegation zone at the end of the 2015–16 season.[44] He hit two goals in 29 games in the 2016–17 campaign as the "Bucks" posted a 17th-place finish.

Coaching career

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Hibbert went into coaching after retiring as a player, and by April 2019 was the head coach of the under-15's and under-16's at the Stoke City Academy.[45] In June 2023, he was promoted to under-18 lead coach.[46]

Personal life

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In May 2013, he was studying for a sports science degree at Loughborough University, taking his UEFA B coaching badge, and playing cricket for Eccleshall.[47]

Career statistics

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Port Vale 2004–05[48] League One 9 2 0 0 0 0 1[a] 0 10 2
Preston North End 2005–06[49] Championship 10 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 13 0
2006–07[50] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 10 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 13 0
Rotherham United (loan) 2006–07[50] League One 21 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 22 2
Bradford City (loan) 2006–07[50] League One 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
Shrewsbury Town 2007–08[51] League Two 44 12 0 0 2 0 0 0 46 12
2008–09[52] League Two 22 3 0 0 1 0 2[a] 0 25 3
2009–10[53] League Two 38 14 1 0 1 1 0 0 40 15
Total 104 29 1 0 4 1 2 0 111 30
Peterborough United 2010–11[54] League One 7 1 2 0 2 0 1[a] 0 12 1
2011–12[55] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2012–13[56] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 7 1 2 0 2 0 1 0 12 1
Nuneaton Town 2013–14[57] Conference Premier 28 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 28 4
Tamworth 2014–15[58] Conference North 35 8 2 0 0 0 0 0 37 8
AFC Telford United 2015–16[58] National League North 31 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 31 5
2016–17[58] National League North 28 2 0 0 0 0 1[b] 0 29 2
Total 59 7 0 0 0 0 1 0 60 7
Career total 281 53 8 0 7 1 5 0 301 54
  1. ^ a b c Appearance/s in the EFL Trophy
  2. ^ Appearance/s in the FA Trophy

Honours

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Individual

References

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  1. ^ a b Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2009). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84596-474-0.
  2. ^ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 511. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
  3. ^ "Hibbert still learning the game". BBC Sport. 10 October 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  4. ^ "Hibbert is released from hospital". BBC Sport. 14 March 2005. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  5. ^ "Preston complete Hibbert signing". BBC Sport. 27 June 2005. Retrieved 1 June 2009.
  6. ^ "Tribunal sets fee on Hibbert move". BBC Sport. 6 September 2005. Retrieved 1 June 2009.
  7. ^ "Davies delighted by Hibbert deal". BBC Sport. 28 June 2005. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  8. ^ "Preston 1–1 C Palace". BBC Sport. 28 January 2006. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  9. ^ "Millers snap up Preston's Hibbert". BBC Sport. 31 July 2006. Retrieved 1 June 2009.
  10. ^ "Port Vale vs Bradford City". bradfordcityfc.co.uk. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  11. ^ "Muirhead set to join Dale on loan". BBC Sport. 6 February 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2009.
  12. ^ Parker, Simon (28 February 2007). "Hibbert scan blow for City". The Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 1 June 2009.
  13. ^ "Hibbert sidelined for six weeks". BBC Sport. 1 March 2007. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  14. ^ "Preston put four on transfer list". BBC Sport. 8 May 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2009.
  15. ^ "Shrewsbury sign striker Hibbert". BBC Sport. 11 June 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2009.
  16. ^ a b c d "Dave Hibbert uncertain over his Shrewsbury Town future". BBC Sport. 12 May 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  17. ^ "Hibbert hopes to improve his game". BBC Sport. 12 June 2007. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  18. ^ "Shrewsbury 4–0 A-Line All-Stars". BBC Sport. 16 July 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2009.
  19. ^ "Morecambe's Bentley earns prize". BBC Sport. 5 September 2007. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  20. ^ "Benjamin receives monthly honour". BBC Sport. 9 October 2007. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  21. ^ "Hibbert making it back to fitness". BBC Sport. 15 November 2007. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  22. ^ "Hibbert tipped to rediscover form". BBC Sport. 18 March 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  23. ^ "Simpson pleased with Hibbert form". BBC Sport. 17 September 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  24. ^ "Simpson may consider loan signing". BBC Sport. 11 September 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  25. ^ "Hibbert hopeful of quick return". BBC Sport. 5 March 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  26. ^ "Hibbert makes sharp Shrews start". BBC Sport. 13 August 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  27. ^ "Simpson praises Shrews strikers". BBC Sport. 17 August 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  28. ^ "Better news for Shrews striker". BBC Sport. 20 October 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  29. ^ "Hibbert silences Shrews doubters". BBC Sport. 17 September 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  30. ^ "Shrewsbury striker Dave Hibbert could make quick return". BBC Sport. 17 March 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  31. ^ "Shrewsbury top-scorer Dave Hibbert sets 20-goal target". BBC Sport. 25 March 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  32. ^ "Peterborough sign Shrewsbury Town striker Hibbert". BBC Sport. 17 May 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  33. ^ "Peterborough sign Shrewsbury Town striker Dave Hibbert". BBC Sport. 18 May 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  34. ^ "Peterborough striker Dave Hibbert eyes March return". BBC Sport. 13 December 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  35. ^ "Dave Hibbert plays Peterborough United waiting game". BBC Sport. 11 November 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  36. ^ "Peterborough striker Dave Hibbert adjusting to bench". BBC Sport. 1 September 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  37. ^ "Peterborough United striker Hibbert dislocates knee". BBC Sport. 17 November 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  38. ^ "Peterborough striker Dave Hibbert feared for career". BBC Sport. 6 June 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  39. ^ "Peterborough striker David Hibbert forced to retire". Sky Sports. 5 April 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  40. ^ "Nuneaton bring ex-Peterborough man Dave Hibbert out of retirement". BBC Sport. 9 October 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
  41. ^ "Tamworth FC land Nuneaton duo". Tamworth Herald. 9 June 2014. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  42. ^ Panter, Matt (22 March 2015). "Tamworth storm back to win Hednesford Town derby". Tamworth Herald. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  43. ^ "Dave Hibbert: AFC Telford sign former Shrewsbury striker". BBC Sport. 17 June 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  44. ^ "Dave Hibbert 'hurting' at Telford's struggle". Shropshire Star. 11 September 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  45. ^ Hillback, Ryan (5 April 2019). "Interview: Former Shrewsbury Town Striker David Hibbert". Shropshire Live. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  46. ^ "Ryan Shawcross returns as Under 18s Academy Coach". Stoke City. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  47. ^ "Former Port Vale striker Dave Hibbert makes impact at Eccleshall". The Sentinel. 3 May 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  48. ^ "Games played by David Hibbert in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  49. ^ "Games played by David Hibbert in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  50. ^ a b c "Games played by David Hibbert in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  51. ^ "Games played by David Hibbert in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  52. ^ "Games played by David Hibbert in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  53. ^ "Games played by David Hibbert in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  54. ^ "Games played by David Hibbert in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  55. ^ "Games played by David Hibbert in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  56. ^ "Games played by David Hibbert in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  57. ^ "Games played by David Hibbert in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  58. ^ a b c David Hibbert at Soccerway
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