Andy Needham

Andrew Paul Needham (born 13 September 1955) is an English former professional footballer who scored 30 goals from 103 appearances in the Football League playing for Birmingham City, Blackburn Rovers and Aldershot.[1][3] He played as a forward.

For the American tax lawyer, see Andrew W. Needham. For the cricketer, see Andrew Needham.

Andy Needham
Personal information
Full name Andrew Paul Needham[1]
Date of birth (1955-09-13) 13 September 1955[1]
Place of birth Oldham, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2]
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
1971–1973 Birmingham City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1973–1976 Birmingham City 3 (1)
1976–1977 Blackburn Rovers 5 (0)
1977–1980 Aldershot 95 (29)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Needham was born in Oldham, Lancashire.[1] When he left school in 1971, he joined Birmingham City as an apprentice, and turned professional two years later.[4] He made his debut in the First Division on 20 March 1976, deputising for Peter Withe in a 1–1 draw at home to Coventry City, came on as substitute to score in the next game, and started the next.[5] Those were the only first-team appearances he made for Birmingham. He signed for Second Division club Blackburn Rovers in the 1976 close season, but after only five league appearances he moved on again in March 1977, this time to Aldershot of the Fourth Division.[4]

At Aldershot he formed a good partnership with fellow new arrival John Dungworth. Dungworth was a prolific goalscorer – 58 league goals from 105 games, compared with Needham's 29 from 95[3][6] – but Needham's contribution was described by teammate Alex McGregor thus:

I know John Dungworth was the star, but Needham was such a great partner for him because he used to run and take players away from John to score the goals. Andy never got the credit he deserved because he was a wonderful player and a wonderful lad as well.[7]

A hip injury forced Needham's retirement from League football in 1980 at the age of 24,[8] and he became a taxi driver.[7]

References
  1. "Andy Needham". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  2. Rollin, Jack, ed. (1980). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1980–81. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 46. ISBN 0362020175.
  3. "Aldershot Town: 1946/47–1991/92 & 2008/09–2012–13". UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  4. Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 114. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
  5. Matthews, p. 211.
  6. "Where are they now? A–H (John Dungworth)". Aldershot Football Club 1926–1992. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
  7. "Red N Blue Legends– Alex McGregor Part 2". Aldershot Town F.C. 25 July 2008. Archived from the original on 13 November 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  8. "Newbury switch on for Saints". Evening Post. Reading. 29 October 1980. p. 14. Striker Andy Needham, forced to pack up League soccer with Aldershot because of a hip injury, could be making a comeback with Wokingham. Town manager Roy Merryweather said: 'Andy is fit enough to play in non-league football.'
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