Andy Harris (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Andy Harris is a former English
–raised footballer. He previously played in The Football League
for Southend United
, Leyton Orient
and Chester City
, he is also a firm fans favourite at former conference side Weymouth, where during their title winning season he scored a memorable second half equaliser against Nottingham Forest at The City Ground. He now teaches at Kingston Maurward College
and is a member of the coaching staff at Dorchester Town F.C.
but failed to make a first–team appearance at Anfield
before he moved to Southend United
in July 1996. After three years with the Shrimpers, Harris switched to Leyton Orient
ahead of 1998–99
. His four year stint with Orient included an appearance at the Millennium Stadium
against Blackpool
in the Football League Division Three play–off final in May 2001. Despite being a near ever–present in his last three seasons with the club, Harris was released at the end of 2002–03
and joined Chester City
on a free transfer, being described as a "major signing" by manager Mark Wright.
However, Harris was to start just 19 league games in two years at the club, the first ending with the club finishing as champions of the Conference National
. His second season included a loan spell with Forest Green Rovers
and ended with him joining Weymouth
. During the 2005–06 season
, Harris scored a shock equaliser for Weymouth in an FA Cup
tie at Nottingham Forest
and helped them win the Conference South
championship. But he did not feature again after knee
surgery and he dropped back into the Conference South with Eastleigh
, with a loan move quickly becoming a permanent transfer on October 10, 2006.
On May 26, 2009 he moved back to Weymouth
for their 2009–10 season in the Conference South
.
As Weymouth
are a part-time club now, Harris has Moved into teaching and teaches a National Football Studies Course at Kingston Maurward College
in Dorset.
Away from football, Harris is a member of Mensa International
, possessing an IQ of 153. He appeared on the ITV1
programme, Britain’s Brainiest Footballers, in 2002.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
–raised footballer. He previously played in The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
for Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
, Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
and 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...
, he is also a firm fans favourite at former conference side Weymouth, where during their title winning season he scored a memorable second half equaliser against Nottingham Forest at The City Ground. He now teaches at Kingston Maurward College
Kingston Maurward College
Kingston Maurward College is a college for land-based studies situated two miles east of Dorchester, Dorset, England. The college is a member of the Landex group , an association of institutions that provide courses in agriculture and horticulture....
and is a member of the coaching staff at Dorchester Town F.C.
Dorchester Town F.C.
Dorchester Town Football Club are a semi-professional football club, based in Dorchester, Dorset, England, and currently playing in the Blue Square Bet South...
Playing career
Harris began with LiverpoolLiverpool 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...
but failed to make a first–team appearance at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
before he moved to Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
in July 1996. After three years with the Shrimpers, Harris switched to Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
ahead of 1998–99
1998-99 in English football
-Premier League:Manchester United overcame close competition from Arsenal, Aston Villa and Chelsea to win their fifth Premiership title in seven seasons thanks to the comeback of Roy Keane after his long-term injury and a transfer raid totalling nearly £30 million which netted Aston Villa striker...
. His four year stint with Orient included an appearance at the Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
against Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
in the Football League Division Three play–off final in May 2001. Despite being a near ever–present in his last three seasons with the club, Harris was released at the end of 2002–03
2002-03 in English football
The 2002-03 season was the 123rd season of competitive football in England.-Most Memorable rise:*Wigan Athletic marked their 25th season of Football League membership by winning the Division Two championship and reaching the league's second tier for the very first time.-Most Memorable...
and joined 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...
on a free transfer, being described as a "major signing" by manager Mark Wright.
However, Harris was to start just 19 league games in two years at the club, the first ending with the club finishing as champions of the Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
. His second season included a loan spell with Forest Green Rovers
Forest Green Rovers F.C.
Forest Green Rovers Football Club is an English football club based in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, currently the longest-serving members of the Conference National. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA.-Early years:...
and ended with him joining Weymouth
Weymouth F.C.
Weymouth F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Weymouth, who currently play in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:Weymouth Football Club were founded in 1890 and played their first game on 24 September of that year...
. During the 2005–06 season
2005-06 in English football
The 2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*The rebuilt Wembley Stadium was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August 2005, The Football Association reserved the Millennium Stadium as a backup, as there was some doubt whether...
, Harris scored a shock equaliser for Weymouth in an FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
tie at Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
and helped them win the Conference South
Conference South
Conference South is one of the second divisions of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National...
championship. But he did not feature again after knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
surgery and he dropped back into the Conference South with Eastleigh
Eastleigh F.C.
Eastleigh Football Club is an English semi-professional football club based in Eastleigh, Hampshire. The club are currently members of the Conference South and play at the Silverlake Stadium.-History:...
, with a loan move quickly becoming a permanent transfer on October 10, 2006.
On May 26, 2009 he moved back to Weymouth
Weymouth F.C.
Weymouth F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Weymouth, who currently play in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:Weymouth Football Club were founded in 1890 and played their first game on 24 September of that year...
for their 2009–10 season in the Conference South
Conference South
Conference South is one of the second divisions of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National...
.
As Weymouth
Weymouth F.C.
Weymouth F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Weymouth, who currently play in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:Weymouth Football Club were founded in 1890 and played their first game on 24 September of that year...
are a part-time club now, Harris has Moved into teaching and teaches a National Football Studies Course at Kingston Maurward College
Kingston Maurward College
Kingston Maurward College is a college for land-based studies situated two miles east of Dorchester, Dorset, England. The college is a member of the Landex group , an association of institutions that provide courses in agriculture and horticulture....
in Dorset.
Away from football, Harris is a member of Mensa International
Mensa International
Mensa is the largest and oldest high-IQ society in the world. It is a non-profit organization open to people who score at the 98th percentile or higher on a standardised, supervised IQ or other approved intelligence test...
, possessing an IQ of 153. He appeared on the ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
programme, Britain’s Brainiest Footballers, in 2002.