Andy Marshall

Infobox Football biography
playername = Andy Marshall


fullname = Andrew John Marshall
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1975|4|14
cityofbirth = Bury
countryofbirth = England
height = height|ft=6|in=2
position = Goalkeeper
currentclub = Coventry City
clubnumber = 33
youthyears = 1992–1994
youthclubs = Norwich City
years = 1994–2001
1996
1996
2001–2004
2003–2004
2004
2004–2006
2006–
clubs = Norwich City
→ Bournemouth (loan)
→ Gillingham (loan)
Ipswich Town
→Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan)
→ Millwall (loan)
Millwall
Coventry City
caps(goals) = 195 (0)
011 (0)
005 (0)
053 (0)
000 (0)
007 (0)
060 (0)
058 (0)
nationalyears = 1996
nationalteam = England U21
nationalcaps(goals) = 004 (0)
pcupdate = 00:13, 21 September 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 00:13, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

Andrew John "Andy" Marshall (born 14 April 1975 in Bury, Greater Manchester) is an English professional footballer. He is a goalkeeper and is currently on the books of Coventry City. He has played for the England Under-21s, Norwich City, Bournemouth, Gillingham, Ipswich Town and Millwall. He is married to a law graduate and ex-model.

Playing career

Norwich City

Marshall began his career as a trainee with Norwich City. He made his first successful team debut on 27 December 1994 as a substitute in an away match at Nottingham Forest, following an injury to first-choice goalkeeper Bryan Gunn. Gunn's injury kept him out of action for the rest of the season and Marshall played in the majority of City's remaining matches that season.

Gunn was re-instated as first choice goalkeeper at Carrow Road at the start of the following season, and Marshall had loan spells at Bournemouth and Gillingham to increase his first team experience. Gunn remained the first choice until the end of the 1996–97 campaign when he was dropped for the first time in his Norwich career. Marshall seized the opportunity to establish himself as Norwich's number one, and he became an outstanding player and popular figure and with the club's supporters during his time at Carrow Road. Marshall would go on to make 219 appearances for the Canaries.

The 2000–01 season was Marshall's best for Norwich and also his last. Marshall's form in goal was a crucial factor in the team avoiding relegation. The supporters recognised his contribution by voting him as their player of the season. However, Marshall's contract was due to expire in the summer of 2001 and he had refused to sign a new deal with the club citing that he wanted to play Premier League football having proved his capabilities.

Marshall's yearly return to Carrow Road sparks controversy, and The Barclay voices it's dislike to the player, branding him a "Judas" for leaving Norwich for bitter rivals Ipswich Town.

Ipswich

He joined the then Premier League club Ipswich Town on a free transfer. Ipswich had recently qualified for the UEFA Cup. The move created a great deal of anger among Ipswich and Norwich City fans alike.

Marshall sought to further his ambition of playing for England by playing regular football in the Premier League and increasing his profile.

Things never worked out for Marshall with many Ipswich fans not accepting him due to his past club. Even an impressive clean sheet at Norwich where Marshall celebrated wildly did not give him the acceptance he desired.

In November of the 2003–04 season he commenced a one month loan spell at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Millwall

In January 2004, Marshall began another loan spell, this time at Millwall which led to a permanent move in March 2004. During his time at the club Marshall won many Man of the Match awards and was part of the Millwall side that fulfilled every footballers' dream of playing in the FA Cup Final at the end of the 2003/04 season. In the final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, Millwall were beaten 3-0 by Manchester United, in which Marshall put in an outstanding performance.

Marshall remained at Millwall for the following two seasons for the duration of his contract.

Coventry City

On 30 June 2006, Marshall joined Coventry City on a free transfer becoming a favourite with the fans. For the 2006–07 season he won the London Supporters Player of the Year Trophy, the Wales Supporters Player of the Year and the Player of the Season Award as voted for by all the fans.

External links

* [http://www.ccfc.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10269~8726,00.html Andy Marshall player profile] at ccfc.co.uk
*Soccerbase|4842
* [http://www.ex-canaries.co.uk/players/marshall.htm Career information at ex-canaries.co.uk]