Focus On…..Andy Preece

Series continues on players who have spent some of their careers as a player or manager in the Southern League.

The 6`2” striker started his playing career with Worcester City, then members of the Alliance Premier League, making his first-team debut at the age of just 16.

He remained a key player for City after they were relegated to the Southern League in 1985.

He left City in 1987 and, after a short spell in the Midland Combination with Evesham United, signed for Northampton Town.

However, he made only one senior appearance for the Cobblers and had a four-game loan spell in Wellingborough Town`s final season in the Southern League in 1988/89.

He returned to Southern Premier Division side Worcester in 1989 and in March 1990, joined Fourth Division Wrexham, where he played over 50 times and scored 7 goals.

In December 1991, he joined Stockport County for a fee of £10,000 and after making over 100 appearances for the Hatters, netting 42 goals, he signed for Crystal Palace in June 1994, as strike partner to Chris Armstrong, for a fee of £350,000.

However, he struggled to establish himself at Selhurst Park and joined Blackpool for a fee of £200,000 in July 1995, playing 129 times for the Seasiders and netting 35 goals.

In July 1998, Andy joined Bury, initially as a player, and made more than 170 appearances, with 27 goals.

Andy`s managerial career began after being recommended by departing Bury boss Neil Warnock as joint caretaker manager of Bury with Steve Redmond in December 1999.

The pair were placed in charge until the end of the 1999/00 season when Andy took up the permanent managerial position at Bury with Redmond becoming assistant manager at Gigg Lane.

Working under extremely difficult financial circumstances, with the Shakers facing the prospect of extinction Preece kept the club in League One for two seasons but was unable to prevent the club from relegation to League Two in the 2001/02 season when the club entered administration.

Andy remained upbeat and loyal to the club and, despite the wage restrictions, led them to the play-off semi-final the following season.

Defeat was hard to take, and the 2003/04 campaign was mixed in the first few months, but the Shakers remained in the top half of the table as the manager continued to battle against the difficult financial circumstances at the club.

In December 2003, Andy left the club by `mutual consent'.

After leaving Bury, Andy returned to playing and helped Carlisle United achieve promotion to League Two.

In February 2005, he left Carlisle to manage his first club, a now relegation-threatened Worcester City in the Conference North.

He led them from 18th to eighth position at the end of that season and the following two seasons ended with another two top ten finishes.

Andy won three manager of the month awards and the club reached the Second Round of the FA Cup live on TV.

This generated vital revenue for the Worcester resulting in their first operating profit in over twenty years.

In February 2009, Andy joined Northwich Victoria and led them to an incredible run of six consecutive wins at the end of the season.

This was achieved despite the uncertainty of the club`s future, after Northwich were locked out of their ground and the players not being paid.

A superb achievement was recognized with the award of Conference Premier manager of the month for April.

Success continued to follow in the 2009/10 season where he led the club to victory over high-flying Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup.

He remained with Northwich until January 2012 before he joined Welsh Premier side Airbus UK Broughton as their Director of Football.

Andy later made history by becoming the first black English manager to coach in European competition by leading his side out to face Ventspils in the Europa League.

In February 2017, he returned to the North West to become the new manager of National League side Southport, replacing Steve Burr, until the end of the season.

After a spell coaching in Vietnam, Andy moved into his current role as Director of Football at Chorley.

Clubs played for:

Worcester City, Evesham United, Northampton Town, Wrexham, Stockport County, Crystal Palace, Blackpool, Bury, Carlisle United and Northwich Victoria.

Best Game Played In?

Stockport versus QPR - FA Cup - scored the winner a big cup shock. Never had a moment like that before so went a bit crazy when I scored!

Best 11 played With:

Nigel Martyn (Crystal Palace)

Lee Todd (Stockport County)

Chris Coleman (Crystal Palace)

Andy Morrison (Blackpool)

Gareth Southgate (Crystal Palace)

David Frain (Stockport County)

Micky Mellon (Blackpool)

Dean Gordon (Crystal Palace)

Terry Dunfield Bury)

Chris Armstrong (Crystal Palace)

Tony Ellis (Bury/Blackpool)

Subs:

Dean Kiely (Bury)

Kevin Francis (Stockport County)

John Salako (Crystal Palace)

Glenn Murray (Carlisle United)

Although any 11 from those could start!

Best Captain?

David Frain (Stockport County)

Filled you full of confidence not a shouter and baller just led by example.

Funniest Team-Mate/Manager:

David `Dusty` Miller Stockport. He only had to open his mouth and I’d fall about laughing, funny man.

Best Manager?

Danny Bergara (Stockport County)

He would have been at the very top of the game if around today. Probably ahead of his time. I learned so much from him.

Best Mate in Football?

Andy Morrison - Never a dull moment!

Are You Still Involved in the Game?

Yes, I am Director of Football at National League North club Chorley. Combine first team coaching duties with heading up the club`s Education Programme.

Words of Advice?

Give everything you have in every session you take part in and love every minute. Don’t waste a second because a career in football is so short.