Sky Andrew
Encyclopedia
Skylet Andrew is English
former Olympic
and Commonwealth Games
table tennis
player for Great Britain
, who was the first Black British
sports agent
.
, to a London Transport
bus driver father, and a mother who worked in an East End pie factory.
, he represented GB at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, and won three Commonwealth gold medals. Andrew retired from competitive table tennis after the 1994 European Championships.
in his youth, Andrew met young footballer Sol Campbell
, with whom he struck up a friendship.
After retiring from table tennis, Andrew wanted to get into show business
, but ended up becoming an agent, representing acting clients including Martine McCutcheon
.
In the mid-1990s at Campbell's suggestion, he became the first licensed black British football agent, engineering Campbell's move from Tottenham Hotspur to Arsenal
. Andrew has since represented Jermaine Pennant
, Kelvin Etuhu
, Jay Bothroyd
and Jermain Defoe
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
and Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
table tennis
Table tennis
Table tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth using table tennis rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net...
player for Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, who was the first Black British
Black British
Black British is a term used to describe British people of Black African descent, especially those of Afro-Caribbean background. The term has been used from the 1950s to refer to Black people from former British colonies in the West Indies and Africa, who are residents of the United Kingdom and...
sports agent
Sports agent
A sports agent procures and negotiates employment and endorsement contracts for an athlete.In return, the sports agent generally receives between 4 and 10% of the athlete's playing contract, and 10 to 20% of the athlete's endorsement contract, though these figures vary...
.
Biography
Skylet Andrew was born in Upton Park, LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, to a London Transport
London Transport Executive
The London Transport Executive was the organisation responsible for public transport in the Greater London area, UK, between 1948-1962. In common with all London transport authorities from 1933 to 2000, the public name and operational brand of the organisation was London Transport.-Creation:On 1...
bus driver father, and a mother who worked in an East End pie factory.
Table tennis
After becoming a table tennis player, he won 14 individual Great Britain national titles, and in doubles competition mainly with Desmond DouglasDesmond Douglas
Desmond Douglas MBE is a British table tennis player. He was an attacking, left-handed, player, notable for his scissor jump smash. He was famous for his use of pips-out block on the backhand side, mixing pace with powerful topspin from his forehand side.Douglas was 11 times English Table Tennis...
, he represented GB at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, and won three Commonwealth gold medals. Andrew retired from competitive table tennis after the 1994 European Championships.
Sports agent
While training at Lilleshall HallLilleshall Hall
Lilleshall Hall is a large former country house and estate located near Lilleshall in Shropshire, England. It was founded as an Augustinian Abbey in the 12th century, with its estate running to some...
in his youth, Andrew met young footballer Sol Campbell
Sol Campbell
Sulzeer Jeremiah "Sol" Campbell is an English footballer who is currently a free agent. A central defender, Campbell has played for Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Portsmouth, Notts County and Newcastle United, as well as the English national team.Born in East London to Jamaican parents, Campbell's...
, with whom he struck up a friendship.
After retiring from table tennis, Andrew wanted to get into show business
Show business
Show business, sometimes shortened to show biz, is a vernacular term for all aspects of entertainment. The word applies to all aspects of the entertainment industry from the business side to the creative element ....
, but ended up becoming an agent, representing acting clients including Martine McCutcheon
Martine McCutcheon
Martine McCutcheon is an English singer, television personality and Laurence Olivier Award-winning actress. McCutcheon had minor success as one third of the pop group Milan in the early 1990s; however, it was her role as Tiffany Mitchell in BBC's EastEnders that made her a household name in the UK...
.
In the mid-1990s at Campbell's suggestion, he became the first licensed black British football agent, engineering Campbell's move from Tottenham Hotspur to Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
. Andrew has since represented Jermaine Pennant
Jermaine Pennant
Jermaine Lloyd Pennant is a footballer who plays for Stoke City in the Premier League.Born in Nottingham, Pennant played for his local side Notts County as a youngster. He earned promising reviews in the youth team at County and Arsenal signed him in 1999...
, Kelvin Etuhu
Kelvin Etuhu
'Kelvin Etuhu' is a Nigerian-English professional football player who is currently without a club after his release from Manchester City....
, Jay Bothroyd
Jay Bothroyd
Jay Bothroyd is an English footballer who plays for Queens Park Rangers as a striker. He has also played for the England national team. He was a product of the Arsenal Academy and came to prominence during the 1999–2000 FA Youth Cup Final win against Coventry City...
and Jermain Defoe
Jermain Defoe
Jermain Colin Defoe is an English footballer who plays as a striker for English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, and the England national football team....
.
Honours
Andrew won a Barclays Bank "Man of Merit Award" in 2002, and was named the BEA Entrepreneur of The Year in 2003.External links
- Personal website
- Skylet Andrew at the British Olympic AssociationBritish Olympic AssociationThe British Olympic Association is the national Olympic committee for Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It was formed in 1905 in the House of Commons, and at that time consisted of seven national governing body members from the following sports: fencing, life-saving, cycling, skating, rowing,...
- Skylet Andrew Management Website