Andy Gurney

Infobox Football biography
playername = Andy Gurney


fullname = Andrew Gurney
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1974|1|25
cityofbirth = Bristol
countryofbirth = England
height = height|ft=5|in=7
position = Defender/Midfielder
currentclub =
clubnumber =
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1992–1997
1997–1999
1999–2001
2001–2004
2004–2006
2005–2006
2005–2006
2006–2007
2007
2007
2007–2008
2008–2008
clubs = Bristol Rovers
Torquay United
Reading
Swindon Town
Swansea City
→ Swindon Town (loan)
Swindon Town
Clevedon Town
Weston-super-Mare
Havant & Waterlooville
Weston-super-Mare
Newport County
caps(goals) = 108 0(9)
067 (10)
067 0(3)
132 (22)
028 0(1)
012 0(1)
016 0(0)
008 0(2)
010 0(3)
000 0(0)
007 0(1)
028 0(9)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = 15:40, 24 April 2008 (PDT)
ntupdate =

Andrew Gurney (born 25 January 1974, in Bristol, England) is an English footballer. He can play at right back as well as in the centre of defence, central midfield or as a sweeper.

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 July 8, 1997 he signed a three-month contract with Torquay United.

His form in the early part of the season was good enough for 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.

He left Plainmoor on January 10, 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 and was released in the summer, joining local rivals Swindon Town on the June 30th.

He was made captain at Swindon, where he clocked up almost 150 games for the Robins. Shortly after the 2004-05 season had started, Gurney 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 team-mate was the real reason for his departure.

Gurney played just over 30 games for Swansea, getting booked 5 times and sent-off once and was soon transfer listed.

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. Conveniently, the other player alleged in the personal feud with Gurney had left a short while before his return to Swindon.

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 [ [http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=39329 Gurney coup for Bater] ] , scoring on his debut against Gloucester City.

In February 2007, Gurney left Clevedon to join Weston-super-Mare, [ [http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?&newsmode=FULL&nid=40624 Weston go for Gurney] ] but moved again in May 2007, joining Conference South rivals Havant & Waterlooville. [ [http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=42423 Gurney becomes a Hawk] ]

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. [ [http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=47089 Gurney Joins Seagulls] from NonLeagueDaily.com, Posted 22 December 2007.]

The stay at Weston-super-Mare was short-lived as Gurney signed for fellow Conference South side Newport County on February 12 2008. 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.

References

External links

*
* [http://www.scfc.co.uk/agurney.html Player profile]