*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
Andy Blondrage
Appearances: 57+6 Goals: 3
Date / Year of birth: 9th April 1965
Position: Midfielder / Centre-back
Season of first appearance: 1996/97
Season of last appearance: 1997/98
Also played for: Gillingham (0), Gravesend & Northfleet, Ashford Town, Hastings Town and Sittingbourne
Tough-tackling midfielder born in Gravesend who could also play as a central defender. Andy started his career at Gillingham and played in their youth teams before dropping into local football in the Gravesend area.
He played for Shorne in the Gravesend League before Gravesend & Northfleet signed him for the 1985/86 season. Within weeks Andy was given a trial at his old club Gillingham and he played several reserve team games for the Gills.
In July 1986 Andy joined Ashford and went on to make 32 Southern League appearances during the 1986/87 campaign, scoring twice.
In July 1987 Andy rejoined Gravesend & Northfleet and he won the club's 'Player of the Year' award for 1987/88. He'd made a total of 92 appearances for the Fleet (three as sub) and scored four goals by the time he moved to Hastings Town for the 1988/89 campaign.
Andy went on to spend almost six seasons with Hastings and won their 'Player of the Year' award for 1989/90. He was club captain by the time he was transferred to Sittingbourne at the end of March 1994. The fee was £5,000.
Andy became the Brickies' captain for 1994/95 and won Sittingbourne's 'Players Player of the Year' award that season. His 1994/95 'pen picture' published in matchday programmes said "Has a future here if he can lose some weight ! A big-hearted, tough tackling midfield man who lives life to the full - our captain and inspiration on the field and leader in the bar." During 1995/96 Andy broke his leg in a game at Trowbridge but tried to play on before being forced off the field. However he still walked around in the bar afterwards before finally going to get treatment. His Sittingbourne player profile that season stated that his ambition was "to get out of the centre circle" and named Andy's hobbies as "eating and drinking".
In March 1997 Andy joined Margate and made his debut in a 2-2 draw with Waterlooville at Hartsdown Park. The Thanet Times said he turned in "an excellent performance" in midfield but also noted that Andy was booked for a "typically crunching tackle". He was a fixture in the side for the remainder of the 1996/97 campaign and generally played in midfield although he sometimes featured in the heart of Margate's defence. Andy finished the season having made 12 appearances. He scored once - in a 3-1 win home win over Cinderford on 19.4.97.
In an interview with The Far Post ahead of the 1997/98 campaign Margate manager Chris Kinnear described Andy as "totally committed and strong" but Andy missed the first two games of the new season through suspension. He returned to the side for a 3-0 win at Baldock on 20.8.97 and the Thanet Times said he turned in a "commanding" performance at centre-back in a 3-0 home win over Witney on 23.8.97. On 11.10.97 Andy was sent off in the last minute of a 2-1 win over Deal at Hartsdown Park in the FA Cup. He was dismissed for a second bookable offence and the Thanet Times said his second caution was for a "needless late challenge".
Andy continued to turn in consistently rugged performances and on 24.10.97 he scored in a 3-0 win against Staines at Chertsey in the 4th Qualifying Round of the FA Cup. His goal was a close-range effort following a free-kick routine that had been rehearsed in training but ironically work commitments meant that Andy had been the only player to miss the practice session involving the free-kick drill. In the weeks that followed he often caught the eye of the local press and the Thanet Times said Andy was a "pillar of strength" in defence during a 3-2 home win over Waterlooville on 8.11.97. On 16.11.97 he played as Margate lost 2-1 at home to Fulham in the 1st Round of the FA Cup and the Daily Mail noted that Andy "produced a couple of coarse challenges".
He rarely failed to impress the local papers and the Isle of Thanet Gazette said Andy "reigned supreme in the middle" of defence in a 4-0 win over St.Leonards Stamcroft at Hartsdown Park on 6.1.98 whilst the Thanet Times praised his "tight marking and vigorous tackles" in a famous 1-0 win at holders Woking in an FA Trophy tie on 10.1.98.
At the start of February 1998 Andy fell out of favour and in the eight matches between 3.2.98 and 7.3.98 he only featured twice as a substitute. He returned to the starting line-up for a 2-1 home defeat against Bashley on 10.3.98 and on 17.3.98 he scored as Margate beat Fleet 2-1 at Hartsdown Park. Andy was in and out of the side for the remainder of the campaign and on 7.4.98 he came on as a substitute as Margate beat Redditch 2-0 in the 1st Leg of the Southern League Cup Final at Hartsdown Park. Andy then played in the 2nd Leg on 21.4.98 which the home side won 1-0. That result meant that Margate claimed the trophy with a 2-1 aggregate victory. On 2.5.98 he wore the number five shirt for the last time as Margate lost 2-1 at Cirencester and Andy left the club at the end of the season having scored twice in 51 appearances (six as sub) during 1997/98.
He moved to the USA after leaving Margate and in 2003 Andy was coaching a youth team at Bear Creek Soccer Club in Houston, Texas.
In 2011 he was living in New Jersey and working for a company that serviced swimming pools and spas.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
KSC |
KLC |
KSS |
|
|
1996/97 (MFC) |
12 (48) |
0 |
1 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (5TH OF 22) |
PR |
1QR |
2R |
1R | |
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
| |
|
1997/98 (MFC) |
45 (67) |
6 |
2 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (6TH OF 22) |
1R |
2R |
W |
W |
|
|
Played in FA Cup 1st Round
(16.11.97 - lost 2-1 to Fulham at home).
Played (as sub) in Southern League Cup Final 1st Leg (07.04.98 - beat Redditch United 2-0 at home). Played in Southern League Cup Final 2nd Leg (21.04.98 - lost 1-0 at Redditch United). | |||||||||