Andrew Nicholas
Encyclopedia
Andrew Peter Nicholas is an English footballer currently playing for Barrow
. Nicholas plays as a central defender.
Nicholas began his career at Liverpool
, where he was timed as being faster than England international Michael Owen
. Andrew Nicholas was released in the summer of 2003 but swiftly snapped up by Swindon Town
manager Andy King on a one year contract.
Nicholas did not appear in the Swindon first team until October but soon found himself a regular as the Robins earned a place in the Division Two play-offs only to lose narrowly to Brighton & Hove Albion
in the semi-finals. During the season a two-year extension to his Swindon contract was offered which he accepted. Injuries and lack of form kept "Nico" out of the team in his next season and spent a month out on loan to Chester City
before returning for the remaining fixtures of Swindon's season.
He found himself out of the squad at the start of the 2005/06 season, not helped by a poor showing against Oldham Athletic
, but Swindon suffered a horrendous run of form which saw King sacked and Iffy Onuora
take over as Swindon manager. "Nico" found himself back in the starting line-up for the remainder of the season. Nicholas was offered a one-year contract by Onuora at the end of the season but before agreeing terms, Onuora was dismissed as manager and was swiftly replaced by Dennis Wise
. Wise felt it was unfair to withdraw the offer and Nicholas signed up for the 2006/07 League Two campaign becoming Swindon's longest serving player in the process.
He was released by new manager Maurice Malpas
at the end of the 2007–08 season, ending his five-year career with Swindon with 6 goals from 141 games in all competitions. He then signed for Rotherham United
at the end of August 2008. He spent two seasons in the club, including a loan spell at Mansfield Town
. After leaving Rotherham he signed for Barrow
of the Football Conference
. In May 2011 he was transfer listed by Barrow, but removed from the list in July.
Barrow A.F.C.
Barrow A.F.C. are an English football club founded in 1901 based in the town of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria. Following promotion at the end of the 2007–08 season, they currently play in the Conference National. The club spent over fifty years in the Football League between 1921 and 1972, and have...
. Nicholas plays as a central defender.
Nicholas began his career at Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
, where he was timed as being faster than England international Michael Owen
Michael Owen
Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997...
. Andrew Nicholas was released in the summer of 2003 but swiftly snapped up by Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
manager Andy King on a one year contract.
Nicholas did not appear in the Swindon first team until October but soon found himself a regular as the Robins earned a place in the Division Two play-offs only to lose narrowly to Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
in the semi-finals. During the season a two-year extension to his Swindon contract was offered which he accepted. Injuries and lack of form kept "Nico" out of the team in his next season and spent a month out on loan to Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
before returning for the remaining fixtures of Swindon's season.
He found himself out of the squad at the start of the 2005/06 season, not helped by a poor showing against Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
, but Swindon suffered a horrendous run of form which saw King sacked and Iffy Onuora
Iffy Onuora
Ifem "Iffy" Onuora is a coach a former professional footballer born in Scotland of Nigerian descent.He was recently the head coach of the Ethiopia national team...
take over as Swindon manager. "Nico" found himself back in the starting line-up for the remainder of the season. Nicholas was offered a one-year contract by Onuora at the end of the season but before agreeing terms, Onuora was dismissed as manager and was swiftly replaced by Dennis Wise
Dennis Wise
Dennis Frank Wise is an English former football manager and player, and former Executive Director at Newcastle United....
. Wise felt it was unfair to withdraw the offer and Nicholas signed up for the 2006/07 League Two campaign becoming Swindon's longest serving player in the process.
He was released by new manager Maurice Malpas
Maurice Malpas
Maurice Daniel Robert Malpas is an ex-footballer and the assistant manager at Inverness Caledonian Thistle having joined the club on 27 January 2009 along with their new manager Terry Butcher...
at the end of the 2007–08 season, ending his five-year career with Swindon with 6 goals from 141 games in all competitions. He then signed for Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
at the end of August 2008. He spent two seasons in the club, including a loan spell at Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
. After leaving Rotherham he signed for Barrow
Barrow A.F.C.
Barrow A.F.C. are an English football club founded in 1901 based in the town of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria. Following promotion at the end of the 2007–08 season, they currently play in the Conference National. The club spent over fifty years in the Football League between 1921 and 1972, and have...
of the Football Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
. In May 2011 he was transfer listed by Barrow, but removed from the list in July.