Andy Gurney Explained

Andy Gurney
Fullname:Andrew Gurney
Birth Date:25 January 1974
Birth Place:Bristol, England
Position:Defender, midfielder
Years1:1992–1997
Years2:1997–1999
Years3:1999–2001
Years4:2001–2004
Years5:2004–2006
Years6:2005–2006
Years7:2005–2006
Years8:2006–2007
Years9:2007
Years10:2007
Years11:2007–2008
Years12:2008
Years13:2008–2010
Years14:2010
Years15:2010–2011
Clubs1:Bristol Rovers
Clubs2:Torquay United
Clubs3:Reading
Clubs4:Swindon Town
Clubs5:Swansea City
Clubs6:Swindon Town (loan)
Clubs7:Swindon Town
Clubs8:Clevedon Town
Clubs9:Weston-super-Mare
Clubs10:Havant & Waterlooville
Clubs11:Weston-super-Mare
Clubs12:Newport County
Clubs13:Weston-super-Mare
Clubs14:Mangotsfield United
Clubs15:Bridgwater Town
Caps1:108
Caps2:67
Caps3:67
Caps4:132
Caps5:28
Caps6:12
Caps7:16
Caps8:8
Caps9:10
Caps10:0
Caps11:7
Caps12:28
Caps13:4
Goals1:9
Goals2:10
Goals3:3
Goals4:22
Goals5:1
Goals6:1
Goals7:0
Goals8:2
Goals9:3
Goals10:0
Goals11:1
Goals12:9
Goals13:1
Manageryears1:2008–2009
Managerclubs1:Weston-super-Mare (caretaker)
Manageryears2:2009–2010
Managerclubs2:Weston-super-Mare
Manageryears3:2015–
Managerclubs3:Roman Glass St George

Andrew Gurney (born 25 January 1974) is an English former professional footballer. He played at right-back as well as in the centre of defence, central midfield or as a sweeper. He manages Roman Glass St George.

Playing career

Early life and beginnings of career

Gurney was born in Bristol, England, and began his career as an apprentice with his hometown club Bristol Rovers, turning professional in July 1992. His league debut came in the 1993–94 season and he went on to make 108 league appearances scoring 9 goals before being released in the summer of 1997. He began training with Cardiff City and was also linked with a move to Cambridge United, but on 8 July 1997 he signed a three-month contract with Torquay United.

His form in the early part of the season urged manager Kevin Hodges to upgrade his contract to a yearly deal, and his partnership with Paul Gibbs led to one of the most effective wing-back partnerships in the Third Division that season as Torquay made the play-offs.

Reading & departure

Gurney left Plainmoor on 10 January 1999, signing for Reading for a fee of £100,000, having scored 10 times in 64 league games for the Gulls—a better strike rate than many of the forwards to have played for United during the 1990s. He settled in well at the Madejski Stadium and was a regular member of the side until early 2001 when he lost his place. He was transfer listed at his own request in February 2001[1] and was released in the summer, joining local rivals Swindon Town on 30 June.

Swindon and Swansea

Gurney was made captain at Swindon, where he clocked up almost 150 games for the Robins. Shortly after the 2004–05 season had started, he surprisingly left the County Ground and joined Swansea City on a free transfer. Swindon's then manager Andy King explained that the club could no longer afford to turn down Swansea's wage offer to Gurney, which was deemed surprising because Gurney had one more year left on his Swindon Town contract. Subsequent rumours began to circulate on the internet that an alleged personal feud with a teammate was the real reason for his departure.

Gurney played just over 30 games for Swansea, getting booked 5 times and sent-off once (for kicking an opponent[2] and was transfer listed in May 2005.[3]

Andy King refuted claims that Gurney was to rejoin Swindon, but in August 2005 Gurney joined on loan. This was later turned into a permanent deal in January 2006.[4] Conveniently, the other player alleged in the personal feud with Gurney had left a short while before his return to Swindon.

Retirement and return

A few months into the 06–07 season Gurney retired from football due to a recurring ankle injury which had kept him sidelined all season. In December 2006, he came out of retirement to join Clevedon Town,[5] scoring on his debut against Gloucester City.

In February 2007, Gurney left Clevedon to join Weston-super-Mare,[6] but moved again in May 2007, joining Conference South rivals Havant & Waterlooville.[7]

Soon after joining Havant & Waterlooville, Gurney stated he found the travel difficult. Weston-super-Mare manager Tony Ricketts saw an opportunity and approached for Gurney's services multiple times. He was eventually successful in convincing Gurney to join the Seagulls on 22 December 2007 and he was instilled as captain of the side straightaway.[8]

The stay at Weston-super-Mare was short-lived as Gurney signed for fellow Conference South side Newport County on 12 February 2008.[9] However, despite Newport narrowly missing out on the promotion play-offs and winning the 2008 FAW Premier Cup final, Gurney was released by Newport at the end of the 2007–08 season.

Managerial career

In May 2008, Gurney returned to Weston-super-Mare as player-assistant manager.[10] In August 2009, Gurney took over as manager of Weston[11]

After leaving Weston-super-Mare in 2010, Gurney had spells with Mangotsfield United and Bridgwater Town before retiring.[12]

In 2015, Gurney was appointed manager of Roman Glass St George.[13]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Gurney heading for Reading exit. BBC Sport. 22 February 2001. 2008-12-19.
  2. News: Jackett accepts Gurney dismissal. BBC Sport. 27 December 2004. 2008-12-19.
  3. News: Gurney fights for Swansea career. BBC Sport. 21 May 2005. 2008-12-19.
  4. News: Gurney completes Swindon transfer. BBC Sport. 18 January 2006. 2008-12-19.
  5. http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=39329 Gurney coup for Bater
  6. http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?&newsmode=FULL&nid=40624 Weston go for Gurney
  7. http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=42423 Gurney becomes a Hawk
  8. http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=47089 Gurney Joins Seagulls
  9. News: Gurney for Exiles . NonLeagueDaily . 12 February 2008 . 2008-12-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120923233211/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=48189 . 23 September 2012 .
  10. News: Gurney takes Weston role . NonLeagueDaily . 30 May 2008 . 2008-12-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120923233222/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=50312 . 23 September 2012 .
  11. News: Gurney appoints Smith as number two . NonLeagueDaily . 8 December 2008 . 2008-12-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120923233238/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=54032 . 23 September 2012 .
  12. News: Dray persuades Gurney to join Bridgwater . Hungerford Town F.C. . 8 October 2011 . 2018-04-01.
  13. News: Where are they now? Andy Gurney . Swansea City A.F.C. . 6 December 2017 . 2018-04-01.