Former Players
Despite their relatively low stature, a few notable players have represented Andover FC in the past. The most famous of these in recent times is Nigel Spackman, a local player who began his career for his home town before moving to AFC Bournemouth in 1980. From there, he enjoyed a successful career culminating in an English league championship win with Liverpool, and numerous Scottish league and cup winners medals with Rangers. Since retiring, he has ventured into club management as well as becoming a television football pundit.
Like Spackman, Bill Rawlings was another Andoverian who began his career at the club. He joined Southampton in 1919 where he enjoyed a successful career scoring 175 goals in 327 league appearances, making him their third all-time goalscorer behind Mick Channon and Matthew Le Tissier. He earned two England caps in 1922 against Wales and Scotland respectively. He also played for Manchester United and Port Vale.
Dick Rowley was signed in September 1922 by Andover whilst serving at nearby Tidworth army base. After a few years playing the wing for the club, he was signed by Swindon Town and went on to play for Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Preston North End. He won six caps for Ireland in the years between 1929 and 1931, scoring two goals against Scotland and Wales.
The only other former Andover player who went on gain international experience is Colvin Hutchinson, a centre-forward who had a brief spell with the Lions in 1993. He won eight caps for Trinidad & Tobago in 1997 and 1998.
Another league player who started his career for Andover is James Sharp who left Andover in 2000 to play for Hartlepool United. Since then, he has had spells at Falkirk, Torquay United, Rochdale and Airdrie United in the Scottish League.
However, it has often been the case that league players have joined Andover after retiring from professional football. One of the most notable of these in modern times is Matt Crossley, who ended his career with the Lions after playing more than 100 matches for Wycombe Wanderers. After leaving Andover in 2001, Crossley later became assistant manager at Woking where he gained notoriety in December 2006 after he headbutted an opposing player who had tried to break up a fight. Maurice Evans is another former professional who, after briefly taking over as Andover's player-manager in 1967, went on to lead Reading to the Fourth Division championship, and Oxford United to Milk Cup victory.
Another such player is Nicky Banger who played for Andover in their Wessex League championship winning team of 2002, the Lions being one of a string of local non-league clubs that he played for after leaving professional football. Mel Blyth, who was on Southampton's 1976 FA Cup winning team, ended his career with Andover in 1982. His cup final team-mate David Peach also played for Andover, this time in the 1983–84 season when he scored five goals for the club. Other ex-league players who have represented Andover in the past include Colin Barrett (who joined Andover in 1981 after playing league football for Manchester City, Nottingham Forest and Swindon Town), Stuart Barfoot, Peter Brown, and former player-coach Phil Andrews.
Read more about this topic: Andover F.C.
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