Andy Gregory
Encyclopedia
Andrew "Andy" Gregory is an English former rugby league
footballer. A Great Britain international
representative /, he is an inductee of the Wigan Hall of Fame. He was also the first man to win the Lance Todd Trophy
twice, first player to win five Challenge Cup Final winners medals, first player to play in eight Challenge Cup finals, and only player to play in six Ashes series against Australia.
side. He also had a trial for Salford
(where his father had played) at the age of 17, but was signed by Widnes
.
for his first Challenge Cup
Final, against Hull KR
. Despite having a tooth removed the night before the game, he finished the game with a try, and almost won the Lance Todd Trophy
as Widnes won 18-9. Gregory reached the final the following season as Widnes reached the final again, but this time losing to Hull in the final. In total, he played 141 games for Widnes scoring 43 tries, and earning GB caps while at the club.
A 1984 deal between Widnes and Warrington
saw Gregory move to Warrington, and £75,000 and John Fieldhouse move to Widnes. Before leaving Warrington in 1986, he played 60 games as they won the 1986 Premiership Trophy Final
against Halifax
.
Gregory signed for Wigan
in 1986 for a reported then world record fee of £130,000. He made an immediate impact as he won the 1987 the Player of the Year award, no small achievement as Wigan went on a run of 29 consecutive wins. Also in 1987, he played a big part in the inaugural World Club Challenge
win over Manly
and although he was only small in height he dominated games on the field from scrum half
. In 1998, Gregory also kicked a goal in Wigan's 32-12 Challenge Cup final win over Halifax, winning the Lance Todd Trophy
for the first time, a feat he repeated in 1990 as Wigan thumped Warrington 36-14.
Gregory had a successful career at Wigan, playing 182 times for the club and winning awards including the World Club Challenge, five Challenge Cups (the first player to do so), four Championships, two Regal Trophies, two Lancashire Cup's, the John Player Trophy, and a Premiership. He also became the first player to appear in eight Challenge Cup finals.
In 1989, Gregory, and fellow Brit Steve Hampson
played several months of the 1989 season in the Winfield Cup
with the battling Illawarra Steelers
. Gregory playing a big role in their thrilling mid-week Panasonic Cup Final loss against the Brisbane Broncos
, winning the man-of-the-match award. It remains Illawarra's only appearance in a cup final.
Andy also played nine league games for Illawarra, scoring tries against Penrith
, Gold Coast
, and Souths
. His first league game was in Round 9 against Manly, and his last was in Round 20 against Easts
.
During the 1991–92 Rugby Football League season, Gregory played for defending champions Wigan at scrum half in their 1991 World Club Challenge
victory against the visiting Penrith Panthers
.
Andy was transferred to Leeds
in 1992, after feeling he had no option but to leave Wigan when they gave him the terms of his contract extension following his return from the Great Britain Lions tour of Australasia. He failed to achieve the same heights at Leeds as he did at Wigan, something not helped by the journey from home and successive injuries, and was then transferred to Salford after two seasons.
Andy joined Salford for the 1994 season for a fee of £10,000, and in 1995 took on a player/coach role, finishing his playing career.
's 7-8 defeat to France
in the friendly
at Stadio Pierluigi Penzo
, Venice
on 31 July 1982. Gregory went on to win 26 Great Britain
caps.
Andy considers the third test of the 1988 Ashes series against Australia to be the highlight of his test career. He was named Man of the Match as the British Lions overcame Australia. Gregory set up Martin Offiah
for the first try, and Phil Ford
for the second. In the second half, it was Gregory again who chipped the ball for Henderson Gill
to score. Andy also contributed to the final try as he ran from dummy half escaped his markers and found Mike Gregory
for a final 70 metre try under the posts, their first win over Australia since 1978.
His peers also recognised Andy Gregory's talent. When former Australian player Wally Lewis
was asked which English player caused him and his team most problems, he replied "A certain little halfback! That little bastard! I admired Andy Gregory as much, if not more, than any other player because of the creativity that he boasted and the determination to cause defeat for Australia. He was also one of the toughest players that I ever played against."
Despite previously announcing his retirement from international rugby league, he received a call to go on the 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australasia, where he earned his 26th, and final international cap.
Gregory is the only player to play in six Ashes series against Australia.
Salford then went on to finish mid-table in 1997, and the Challenge Cup semi-finals in 1998, losing to eventually winners Sheffield.
Despite the initial success, Gregory left Salford by mutual consent in May 1999.
In 2006 Gregory returned to professional rugby league, as he was appointed as coaching coordinator at National League Club Leigh
.
In 2007 Gregory took over struggling National League Two side Blackpool
, his first head coach role in eight years. Blackpool had not won for 25 games when he took over, however he was unable to turn things around, and the club finished the season without a win,and Gregory left the club at the end of the season.
In 1996, Gregory also coached the Great Britain Nines side for the twelve nation World Cup in Australia, leading them to the semi-finals before an eventual loss to Western Samoa.
, and fund raising games for the GB All Stars to support the charity Life for a Kid, among others.
In 2000 Gregory's book, Pint Size was published.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer. A Great Britain international
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
representative /, he is an inductee of the Wigan Hall of Fame. He was also the first man to win the Lance Todd Trophy
Lance Todd Trophy
The Lance Todd Trophy is awarded to the Man-of-the-Match in rugby league football's Challenge Cup Final.The trophy was introduced in 1946, in memory of Lance Todd, the New Zealand-born player and administrator, who was killed in a road accident during the Second World War...
twice, first player to win five Challenge Cup Final winners medals, first player to play in eight Challenge Cup finals, and only player to play in six Ashes series against Australia.
Early life
Gregory was born near Wigan and having played junior rugby league in the town for the local Wigan St PatricksWigan St Patricks
Wigan St. Patricks is an Amateur Rugby League football club. It is situated in the Scholes area of Wigan, Greater Manchester.The first team plays in the National Conference League Premier Division. There is a Reserve side which plays in the North West Counties League First Division. The club also...
side. He also had a trial for Salford
Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...
(where his father had played) at the age of 17, but was signed by Widnes
Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
.
Playing career
Gregory played for Widnes from 1980 until 1984, towards the end of the famous "Cup Kings" era. In his first season for Widnes, he forced his way into the first team and became a regular fixture from them on. The end of his debut season was capped with a trip to WembleyWembley
Wembley is an area of northwest London, England, and part of the London Borough of Brent. It is home to the famous Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena...
for his first Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
Final, against Hull KR
Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006...
. Despite having a tooth removed the night before the game, he finished the game with a try, and almost won the Lance Todd Trophy
Lance Todd Trophy
The Lance Todd Trophy is awarded to the Man-of-the-Match in rugby league football's Challenge Cup Final.The trophy was introduced in 1946, in memory of Lance Todd, the New Zealand-born player and administrator, who was killed in a road accident during the Second World War...
as Widnes won 18-9. Gregory reached the final the following season as Widnes reached the final again, but this time losing to Hull in the final. In total, he played 141 games for Widnes scoring 43 tries, and earning GB caps while at the club.
A 1984 deal between Widnes and Warrington
Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
saw Gregory move to Warrington, and £75,000 and John Fieldhouse move to Widnes. Before leaving Warrington in 1986, he played 60 games as they won the 1986 Premiership Trophy Final
Rugby League Premiership
The Rugby League Premiership was a competition for British rugby league clubs that operated between 1973 and 1995. As the Super League Premiership the competition continued to operate until 1997....
against Halifax
Halifax RLFC
Halifax RLFC is one of the most historic rugby league clubs in the game, formed over a century ago, in 1873 in the Yorkshire town of Halifax. Known as 'Fax', the official club colours are blue and white hoops, blue shorts and blue socks . They share The Shay stadium with football club FC Halifax Town...
.
Gregory signed for Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
in 1986 for a reported then world record fee of £130,000. He made an immediate impact as he won the 1987 the Player of the Year award, no small achievement as Wigan went on a run of 29 consecutive wins. Also in 1987, he played a big part in the inaugural World Club Challenge
World Club Challenge
The World Club Challenge is an annual rugby league football match held between the champions of the Australasian National Rugby League and the European Super League competitions to determine the world's best rugby league club...
win over Manly
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
and although he was only small in height he dominated games on the field from scrum half
Rugby league positions
A rugby league football team consists of thirteen players on the field, with four substitutes on the bench. Players are divided into two general categories: "forwards" and "backs"....
. In 1998, Gregory also kicked a goal in Wigan's 32-12 Challenge Cup final win over Halifax, winning the Lance Todd Trophy
Lance Todd Trophy
The Lance Todd Trophy is awarded to the Man-of-the-Match in rugby league football's Challenge Cup Final.The trophy was introduced in 1946, in memory of Lance Todd, the New Zealand-born player and administrator, who was killed in a road accident during the Second World War...
for the first time, a feat he repeated in 1990 as Wigan thumped Warrington 36-14.
Gregory had a successful career at Wigan, playing 182 times for the club and winning awards including the World Club Challenge, five Challenge Cups (the first player to do so), four Championships, two Regal Trophies, two Lancashire Cup's, the John Player Trophy, and a Premiership. He also became the first player to appear in eight Challenge Cup finals.
In 1989, Gregory, and fellow Brit Steve Hampson
Steve Hampson
Steve R. Hampson is a former rugby league player. He played for Wigan in the Rugby League Premiership and alongside fellow import Andy Gregory for the Illawarra Steelers in the NSWRL premiership in 1989. He played as a...
played several months of the 1989 season in the Winfield Cup
Winfield Cup
The Winfield Cup was an Australian rugby league trophy awarded to the winner of the New South Wales Rugby League premiership's Grand Final from 1982 to 1994, and to the winner of the Australian Rugby League Grand Final in 1995...
with the battling Illawarra Steelers
Illawarra Steelers
The Illawarra Steelers are an Australian rugby league football club based in the city of Wollongong, New South Wales. The club competed in Australia's top-level Rugby League competition from 1982, when they, along with the Canberra Raiders, were admitted into the then New South Wales Rugby Football...
. Gregory playing a big role in their thrilling mid-week Panasonic Cup Final loss against the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
, winning the man-of-the-match award. It remains Illawarra's only appearance in a cup final.
Andy also played nine league games for Illawarra, scoring tries against Penrith
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
, Gold Coast
Gold Coast Chargers
Gold Coast were a professional Rugby league football club which played in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership from 1988 to 1994, the Australian Rugby League premiership from 1995 to 1997, and the National Rugby League premiership in 1998...
, and Souths
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
. His first league game was in Round 9 against Manly, and his last was in Round 20 against Easts
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
.
During the 1991–92 Rugby Football League season, Gregory played for defending champions Wigan at scrum half in their 1991 World Club Challenge
1991 World Club Challenge
The 1991 World Club Challenge was contested by 1990–91 RFL Championship winners, Wigan and 1991 NSWRL season premiers, the Penrith Panthers. The match was played on a dry Wednesday the 2nd of October, 1991 at Anfield, Liverpool...
victory against the visiting Penrith Panthers
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
.
Andy was transferred to Leeds
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
in 1992, after feeling he had no option but to leave Wigan when they gave him the terms of his contract extension following his return from the Great Britain Lions tour of Australasia. He failed to achieve the same heights at Leeds as he did at Wigan, something not helped by the journey from home and successive injuries, and was then transferred to Salford after two seasons.
Andy joined Salford for the 1994 season for a fee of £10,000, and in 1995 took on a player/coach role, finishing his playing career.
International career
Andy Gregory made his debut as a substitute in Great BritainGreat Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
's 7-8 defeat to France
France national rugby league team
The France national rugby league team represent France in international rugby league tournaments. They are also sometimes referred to as "Les Tricolores" or more commonly "Les Chanticleers"...
in the friendly
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
at Stadio Pierluigi Penzo
Stadio Pierluigi Penzo
Stadio Pierluigi Penzo is a multi-use stadium in Venice, Italy. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of F.B.C. Unione Venezia. The stadium holds 10,500 people and is located on the island Sant'Elena. It is the only ground in Italy's top flights to which...
, Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
on 31 July 1982. Gregory went on to win 26 Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
caps.
Andy considers the third test of the 1988 Ashes series against Australia to be the highlight of his test career. He was named Man of the Match as the British Lions overcame Australia. Gregory set up Martin Offiah
Martin Offiah
Martin Offiah MBE is an English former rugby league and rugby union footballer.He is known as "Chariots" Offiah after the film Chariots of Fire...
for the first try, and Phil Ford
Phil Ford
Phil Jackson Ford Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association. He graduated from Rocky Mount Senior High School in 1974.- North Carolina :...
for the second. In the second half, it was Gregory again who chipped the ball for Henderson Gill
Henderson Gill
Henderson C. Gill is an English former rugby league footballer. He played for Bradford Northern, Wigan and Rochdale Hornets in the Rugby League Premiership and South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NSWRL competition...
to score. Andy also contributed to the final try as he ran from dummy half escaped his markers and found Mike Gregory
Mike Gregory
Michael Keith "Mike" Gregory , was a rugby league player and later coach; the former head coach of Wigan and player for Warrington and Great Britain.-Playing career:...
for a final 70 metre try under the posts, their first win over Australia since 1978.
His peers also recognised Andy Gregory's talent. When former Australian player Wally Lewis
Wally Lewis
Walter James "Wally" Lewis AM is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and coach. Currently a commentator of the sport, he is widely regarded as the greatest rugby league player of all time...
was asked which English player caused him and his team most problems, he replied "A certain little halfback! That little bastard! I admired Andy Gregory as much, if not more, than any other player because of the creativity that he boasted and the determination to cause defeat for Australia. He was also one of the toughest players that I ever played against."
Despite previously announcing his retirement from international rugby league, he received a call to go on the 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australasia, where he earned his 26th, and final international cap.
Gregory is the only player to play in six Ashes series against Australia.
Coaching career
Gregory coached Salford from 1995 until 1999. In 1995, Salford were excluded from the top division because of their resistance to a merger with nearby club Oldham, and despite finishing six points clear of the relegation zone. However, Gregory led them to a first place finish in their Centenary Season (although they were not promoted), and first place again in 1996, when they were promoted to the Super League, a moment that Gregory describes as the highlight of his coaching career.Salford then went on to finish mid-table in 1997, and the Challenge Cup semi-finals in 1998, losing to eventually winners Sheffield.
Despite the initial success, Gregory left Salford by mutual consent in May 1999.
In 2006 Gregory returned to professional rugby league, as he was appointed as coaching coordinator at National League Club Leigh
Leigh Centurions
Leigh Centurions is an English professional rugby league club based in Leigh, Greater Manchester who play in the Co-operative Championship.The club was founded in 1878 as Leigh Rugby Football Club and is one of the original twenty-two clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in...
.
In 2007 Gregory took over struggling National League Two side Blackpool
Blackpool Panthers
Blackpool & The Fylde Panthers RLFC was an English professional rugby league club based in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire. They played at Woodlands Memorial Ground owned by Fylde rugby union club...
, his first head coach role in eight years. Blackpool had not won for 25 games when he took over, however he was unable to turn things around, and the club finished the season without a win,and Gregory left the club at the end of the season.
In 1996, Gregory also coached the Great Britain Nines side for the twelve nation World Cup in Australia, leading them to the semi-finals before an eventual loss to Western Samoa.
Outside Professional Rugby League
Since leaving professional rugby league, Gregory has taken an active role in charity work, including charity evenings to support The Royal British LegionThe Royal British Legion
The Royal British Legion , sometimes referred to as simply The Legion, is the United Kingdom's leading charity providing financial, social and emotional support to those who have served or who are currently serving in the British Armed Forces, and their dependants.-History:The British Legion was...
, and fund raising games for the GB All Stars to support the charity Life for a Kid, among others.
In 2000 Gregory's book, Pint Size was published.