Wayne Andrews
Encyclopedia
Wayne Michael Hill Andrews (born 25 November 1977 in Paddington
) is an English
footballer of Barbadian
heritage who is currently a free agent.
, making his debut on 17 August 1996, the first day of the season, as a substitute in a 2–1 away victory against Bournemouth
. On 27 August 1996 he started his first league game and he went on to make 27 more appearances in Watford's first season back in the third tier for 17 years. Early in the 1997–98
season Andrews broke his ankle and subsequently missed the rest of the campaign. In his absence Watford were promoted to Division One and Andrews found himself behind a number of other strikers. In October 1998 he was loaned to Cambridge United
, for whom he only played twice, and, in February 1999, to Peterborough United
, for whom he scored four goals on his debut, a 5–2 win over Barnet
.
Upon being released from his contract in April 1999, Andrews moved into non-league football with St Albans City
, Aldershot Town
and Chesham United
before being spotted and signed by Iain Dowie
for Oldham Athletic
in summer 2002. During his time in non-league football Andrews had a small role in the film Mean Machine, which starred ex-footballer Vinnie Jones
.
, for whom he played 36 times, scoring 16 goals. At end of the 2004 summer transfer window
, Dowie, who had led Crystal Palace to promotion the previous season, signed Andrews to bolster his Premiership squad.
Andrews found it very difficult to establish a first-team place at Crystal Palace. He found himself behind a number of more established strikers at the club and was even tested as a winger. Following the lack of opportunities, Andrews was released by mutual consent in June 2006.
. He had only scored one goal for Palace in his two seasons there, ironically against Coventry. He scored his first Coventry goal in a 1-0 win over Barnsley in October 2006, the goal coming seconds after Andrews came off the bench.
In November 2006, after impressing in a game against his Sheffield Wednesday
side, Brian Laws
signed Andrews on loan in time for their next game to fill in for the injured Wade Small
on the right wing. Andrews made nine appearances for the South Yorkshire team in which they only lost twice. He scored his only goal in a Yorkshire derby away at Barnsley
, the first in a 3–0 victory.
On 19 January 2007 Andrews joined League One
promotion contenders Bristol City
on a month long loan. The following day he made his debut, coming on at half time to score the third goal in a 3–0 win over previous employers Oldham Athletic. On 17 February 2008 he scored City's only goal in a win away to promotion rivals Blackpool
, who would eventually finish in third behind City, with two points less. He also scored once for City in the Football League Trophy, against Brighton.
Andrews returned to Coventry, where he failed to force himself into first team contention; he started only one game at the start of the 2007–08 season. Andrews was sent on loan to Leeds United
on 1 October 2007 with the intention of easing their striker shortage problem. Andrews initially joined on a one-month loan deal with the option to extend the deal until the end of December, but he was sent back to Coventry at the end of the month having made only two starts for the club.
On 24 March 2008 it was confirmed by Coventry that Andrews would be released at the end of the 2007–08 campaign. Shortly afterwards he joined Bristol Rovers
on loan for the rest of the season. Unfortunately for Andrews, he suffered knee ligament
damage just seventeen minutes into his debut with Bristol Rovers, bringing an early end to his time with the club.
, where he received treatment on his knee. On 17 October 2008 Andrews signed for Luton Town on a short term contract and made his debut the following day against Accrington Stanley. Andrews' contract was not renewed, and he was released by Luton at the beginning of 2009, having made 10 appearances in all competitions.
Following his release from Luton, he had a trial period at Yeovil Town
, the club where he had injured his knee the previous season while playing for Bristol Rovers. He was not offered a contract with the Somerset club however, as it was felt that he was lacking match fitness. He then spent some time training with Leyton Orient
before returning to Yeovil for a second spell on trial in February 2009.
Paddington
Paddington is a district within the City of Westminster, in central London, England. Formerly a metropolitan borough, it was integrated with Westminster and Greater London in 1965...
) is an English
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...
footballer of Barbadian
Barbadian people
Barbadians are people originating on the Caribbean island of Barbados whether they live there or in the Barbadian diaspora.Rihanna is by far the most popular Barbadian on the planet.-Diaspora:...
heritage who is currently a free agent.
Watford, non-league and Oldham
Andrews began his career with WatfordWatford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
, making his debut on 17 August 1996, the first day of the season, as a substitute in a 2–1 away victory against Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
. On 27 August 1996 he started his first league game and he went on to make 27 more appearances in Watford's first season back in the third tier for 17 years. Early in the 1997–98
1997-98 in English football
The 1997-1998 season was the 118th season of competitive football in England.-Premier League:Arsenal overhauled Manchester United's lead during the final weeks of the season to win the Premiership title...
season Andrews broke his ankle and subsequently missed the rest of the campaign. In his absence Watford were promoted to Division One and Andrews found himself behind a number of other strikers. In October 1998 he was loaned to Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
, for whom he only played twice, and, in February 1999, to Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
, for whom he scored four goals on his debut, a 5–2 win over Barnet
Barnet F.C.
Barnet Football Club is an English football team from High Barnet, London, England, currently playing in Football League Two. The ground is in the town of Barnet within the London Borough of Barnet....
.
Upon being released from his contract in April 1999, Andrews moved into non-league football with St Albans City
St Albans City F.C.
St Albans City Football Club is a football club based in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. It was founded in 1908 and plays its home matches at Clarence Park, about 800 yards from the city centre. The club is in the Premier Division of the Southern League...
, Aldershot Town
Aldershot Town F.C.
Aldershot Town Football Club is an association football club based in Aldershot, Hampshire, England, founded in the spring of 1992 just after the closure of debt-ridden Fourth Division club Aldershot Football Club...
and Chesham United
Chesham United F.C.
Chesham United is an English football club based in Chesham, Buckinghamshire, currently playing in the Southern League. They are nicknamed "The Generals" because they were once the football team of the General Baptist Church in Chesham. Chesham Generals merged with Chesham Town to form United...
before being spotted and signed by Iain Dowie
Iain Dowie
Iain Dowie is a former footballer and manager. He is currently without a club. He has previously managed Hull City and Queens Park Rangers and was assistant manager of Newcastle United...
for Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
in summer 2002. During his time in non-league football Andrews had a small role in the film Mean Machine, which starred ex-footballer Vinnie Jones
Vinnie Jones
Vincent Peter "Vinnie" Jones is an English film actor and retired Welsh footballer.Born in Hertfordshire, England, Jones represented and captained the Welsh national football team, having qualified via a Welsh grandparent. He also previously played for Chelsea and Leeds United. As a member of the...
.
Colchester and Crystal Palace
In the summer of 2003, Andrews moved to Colchester UnitedColchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
, for whom he played 36 times, scoring 16 goals. At end of the 2004 summer transfer window
Transfer window
The transfer window is the period during the year in which a football club can transfer players from other countries into their playing staff. Such a transfer is completed by registering the player into the new club through FIFA...
, Dowie, who had led Crystal Palace to promotion the previous season, signed Andrews to bolster his Premiership squad.
Andrews found it very difficult to establish a first-team place at Crystal Palace. He found himself behind a number of more established strikers at the club and was even tested as a winger. Following the lack of opportunities, Andrews was released by mutual consent in June 2006.
Coventry City
Shortly after his release he was signed by Coventry CityCoventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
. He had only scored one goal for Palace in his two seasons there, ironically against Coventry. He scored his first Coventry goal in a 1-0 win over Barnsley in October 2006, the goal coming seconds after Andrews came off the bench.
In November 2006, after impressing in a game against his Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
side, Brian Laws
Brian Laws
Brian Laws is an English former footballer and manager, most recently of Burnley.Playing as a defender, Laws made over 100 appearances for each of Burnley, Middlesbrough, and Nottingham Forest. In 1994, Laws became player-manager of Grimsby Town before taking a similar position with Scunthorpe...
signed Andrews on loan in time for their next game to fill in for the injured Wade Small
Wade Small
Wade Kristopher Small is an English professional footballer who is currently playing for Tooting & Mitcham United...
on the right wing. Andrews made nine appearances for the South Yorkshire team in which they only lost twice. He scored his only goal in a Yorkshire derby away at Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
, the first in a 3–0 victory.
On 19 January 2007 Andrews joined League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
promotion contenders Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
on a month long loan. The following day he made his debut, coming on at half time to score the third goal in a 3–0 win over previous employers Oldham Athletic. On 17 February 2008 he scored City's only goal in a win away to promotion rivals Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
, who would eventually finish in third behind City, with two points less. He also scored once for City in the Football League Trophy, against Brighton.
Andrews returned to Coventry, where he failed to force himself into first team contention; he started only one game at the start of the 2007–08 season. Andrews was sent on loan to Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
on 1 October 2007 with the intention of easing their striker shortage problem. Andrews initially joined on a one-month loan deal with the option to extend the deal until the end of December, but he was sent back to Coventry at the end of the month having made only two starts for the club.
On 24 March 2008 it was confirmed by Coventry that Andrews would be released at the end of the 2007–08 campaign. Shortly afterwards he joined Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
on loan for the rest of the season. Unfortunately for Andrews, he suffered knee ligament
Ligament
In anatomy, the term ligament is used to denote any of three types of structures. Most commonly, it refers to fibrous tissue that connects bones to other bones and is also known as articular ligament, articular larua, fibrous ligament, or true ligament.Ligament can also refer to:* Peritoneal...
damage just seventeen minutes into his debut with Bristol Rovers, bringing an early end to his time with the club.
Luton Town
Following his release by Coventry, Andrews spent the 2008 pre-season at Bristol Rovers recuperating from his knee injury and attempting to earn a contract with the club. During July 2008 he spent some time at LilleshallLilleshall 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...
, where he received treatment on his knee. On 17 October 2008 Andrews signed for Luton Town on a short term contract and made his debut the following day against Accrington Stanley. Andrews' contract was not renewed, and he was released by Luton at the beginning of 2009, having made 10 appearances in all competitions.
Following his release from Luton, he had a trial period at Yeovil Town
Yeovil Town F.C.
Yeovil Town F.C. are an English association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset. The club play in League One after having won the League Two championship in 2004–05...
, the club where he had injured his knee the previous season while playing for Bristol Rovers. He was not offered a contract with the Somerset club however, as it was felt that he was lacking match fitness. He then spent some time training with Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
before returning to Yeovil for a second spell on trial in February 2009.