Shane Burger has been described as a “truly outstanding ambassador” for Radlett after ending his 12-year stay by helping the club finish top of the league.

The Cobden Hill side’s all-rounder and director of coaching bowed out on Saturday following the 73-run victory over Letchworth Garden City and returned to South Africa on Tuesday to become the coach of of Kwa-Zulu Natal Inland.

Burger said: “When I came to Radlett for my first overseas job as a pro, I never thought I would spend 12 years at the same club. It just didn’t happen to others. But I’m glad I did because I have had the most fantastic time in Hertfordshire.

“I’m lucky to have been based at a fine ground and a great club – members and fellow players. I have found coaching youngsters especially rewarding, including schools in the Watford and Borehamwood area. Over the years it has been great to play in the same side as some of these boys in Radlett’s first team.”

The 33-year-old added: “I am taking back a host of memories from on and off the field. I owe much to the local club cricket for an improvement in my batting over the years, especially playing spin, which has a much bigger impact than back home in South Africa. Obviously winning back-to-back Hertfordshire league titles with Radlett has been special.”

Burger arrived at the club in 2004 after replacing former Zimbabwe coach Dave Houghton, who left to become Derbyshire coach.

Born in Johannesburg, Burger won 11 honours at Radlett, helping them to two Home Counties Premier League Division Two East and two Herts Premier League titles.

He also contributed to three final victories in the Herts Knockout Cup, one County T20 success and three Watford Observer Shield triumphs.

Radlett president and chairman Tony Johnson said: “His influence has not been on just the first team but on so many players, young and old, male and female, emerging and established. His commitment to the junior section has also been second to none and he will be a hard act to follow as demonstrated by the fact that we have players in the first team now such as Will Wright and Ben Lederman who he first coached ten years ago.

“At Radlett and at other clubs you will not find a bad word spoken about him, and he has been a truly outstanding ambassador for Radlett Cricket Club. He will be sorely missed by Stuart (Browne) and me, along with every other member of the club.”

Reliable all-rounder Burger scored 12 league centuries and his highest score of 140 came against Welwyn Garden City in 2011. In 12 seasons and almost 350 games, he scored more than 11,000 runs at an average of just over 50 and took 400 wickets at an average of just under 20. His best bowling figures were eight for 43 against Stevenage in 2006.

Arguably Burger’s most memorable game for the club came in a victory at home to Aston Rowant in the Home Counties Premier five years ago.

He scored 79 and snatched victory for the side after taking three wickets in the final over, including two off the last two balls possible.

This season Burger has scored 421 runs at an average of 60.15.

Head of senior cricket Stuart Browne said: “It was pretty clear from the very early stages of Shane’s time at Radlett that he was not just another overseas player - although I doubt anyone would have imagined back in 2004 that he would still be such a big part of the club over a decade later. It is unheard of that an overseas player stays at the same club for such a long time.

“Shane arrived at a time when the club was in a transitional era trying to come to terms at all levels with the demands of the ECB Premier League system and I not only saw how much effort Shane put in on and off the field, but also how much he cared about what he was doing and the high standards he wanted to establish through the club.

“He has been an immense support to the club, even to the extent of keeping in touch from back home over the English winter to discuss and formulate plans for those forthcoming seasons.

“He was a huge part of our promotion-winning team in 2006, as well as the outstanding 2007 team that finished third in the Home Counties Premier League. More recently he has been instrumental alongside first XI captain Jono McLean in driving the club forward and reaching the summit of Hertfordshire cricket.”