Andy Townsend

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Townsend's football journey began in August 1980 with Welling United in the Athenian League, all while punching the clock as an ICL computer operator for Greenwich Borough Council. After 105 appearances for Welling, he was snapped up by Weymouth in March 1984 for £13,500. In January 1985, Lawrie McMenemy brought him to First Division Southampton for £35,000, and he made his professional debut at home to Aston Villa on 20 April 1985. A brutal broken leg in a pre-season friendly against Weymouth in August 1986 sidelined him, but he battled back to rejoin the side the following January. During the 1987–88 season, he was a virtual ever-present, forming a gritty midfield trio alongside Jimmy Case and Glenn Cockerill. Norwich City signed him in August 1988 for £300,000, and under Dave Stringer he was a key cog in the side that finished fourth in the top flight and reached the FA Cup semi-finals. At season's end, Townsend was shortlisted for the PFA Players' Player of the Year award. Norwich cashed in handsomely when they sold him to Chelsea for £1,200,000 in July 1990.

In Their Own Story

Townsend made his Norwich debut as a substitute against Middlesbrough on 3 September 1988, before stepping in for the suspended Trevor Putney to make his first full start in a 3–1 win over Spurs on 22 October. He locked down a spot in the Norwich midfield and ended the season with 36 league appearances (5 as substitute) and five goals. He also made six FA Cup appearances, bagging two goals against Port Vale in the Third Round on 7 January 1989. After racking up 138 appearances for Chelsea, scoring 12 goals but winning no trophies, Townsend moved to Aston Villa in July 1993 for £2.1 million. At age 30, he debuted on 14 August in a 4–1 home thrashing of QPR. Townsend finally got his hands on silverware when Villa won the 1994 League Cup, beating Manchester United 3–1. He captained Villa to a second League Cup triumph in 1996, a commanding 3–0 victory over Leeds United. In August 1997, he made his final Villa appearance in a 2–3 loss to Spurs at White Hart Lane before transferring to Middlesbrough for £500,000, having made 134 league appearances for the Villans and scoring eight league goals.

Reader's Guide

Townsend made 37 appearances in his first season on Teesside, scoring twice as Boro won promotion to the Premier League.

Did You Know?

• Townsend began his playing career with Welling United in the Athenian League while working as an ICL computer operator for Greenwich Borough Council.
• He broke his leg in a pre-season friendly against his old club Weymouth in August 1986 but fought his way back to fitness.
• Townsend was shortlisted for the PFA Players' Player of the Year award in 1989, which was won by Mark Hughes.
• He captained Aston Villa to victory in the 1996 League Cup final, a 3–0 win over Leeds United.