Andy Love (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Andrew "Andy" Love is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League
as a goalkeeper for Grimsby Town
.
, Lincolnshire
, and began his football career as a trainee at hometown club Grimsby Town
in 1995. Initially third-choice goalkeeper behind Paul Crichton
and Jason Pearcey
, he made his debut in Grimsby's 2–1 league defeat against Birmingham City
on 1 March 1997. Crichton left Grimsby for West Bromwich Albion
in 1997, but Love dropped down the pecking order again on the arrival of Aidan Davison
. He joined Southern League
club Ilkeston Town
on loan during the 1998–99 season, and on his return had a brief run in Grimsby's first team. Finding himself again third choice, this time behind newcomer Danny Coyne
and youngster Steve Croudson
, he returned to Ilkeston on loan.
, he was released in 2000 and signed for the Southern League
club on a permanent deal. He left Ilkeston at the end of the 2001–02 season, returned the following season, but was released from his contract at his own request in October 2003.
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...
as a goalkeeper for Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
.
Grimsby Town
Love was born in GrimsbyGrimsby
Grimsby is a seaport on the Humber Estuary in Lincolnshire, England. It has been the administrative centre of the unitary authority area of North East Lincolnshire since 1996...
, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
, and began his football career as a trainee at hometown club Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
in 1995. Initially third-choice goalkeeper behind Paul Crichton
Paul Crichton
Paul Andrew Crichton is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper and is currently the goalkeeping coach of Football League Championship side Sheffield United, where he is also registered as a player...
and Jason Pearcey
Jason Pearcey
Jason Pearcey was a former professional footballer.Pearcey started his professional career at Mansfield Town at the age of 18...
, he made his debut in Grimsby's 2–1 league defeat against Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
on 1 March 1997. Crichton left Grimsby for West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
in 1997, but Love dropped down the pecking order again on the arrival of Aidan Davison
Aidan Davison
Aidan John Davison is an English-born Northern Irish former footballer and football coach who is Head Coach of American side FC JAX Destroyers.As a player he played as a goalkeeper from 1987 until 2008...
. He joined Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
club Ilkeston Town
Ilkeston Town F.C.
Ilkeston Football Club is an English football club based at the New Manor Ground in Ilkeston, Derbyshire.-History:The club was established in 1894 as Ilkeston Town F.C.....
on loan during the 1998–99 season, and on his return had a brief run in Grimsby's first team. Finding himself again third choice, this time behind newcomer Danny Coyne
Danny Coyne
Daniel "Danny" Coyne is a Wales international footballer who plays for Middlesbrough as a goalkeeper. He has previously played for Tranmere Rovers, Grimsby Town, Leicester City and Burnley.-Tranmere Rovers:...
and youngster Steve Croudson
Steve Croudson
Steven "Steve" Croudson is a former English professional footballer who played in the position of goalkeeper . He notably played for his home town club Grimsby Town between 1998 and 2003. He retired from injury at the age of 26 and returned to Grimsby to serve as the clubs Goalkeeping Coach...
, he returned to Ilkeston on loan.
Ilkeston Town
Having spent time on loan to Ilkeston TownIlkeston Town F.C.
Ilkeston Football Club is an English football club based at the New Manor Ground in Ilkeston, Derbyshire.-History:The club was established in 1894 as Ilkeston Town F.C.....
, he was released in 2000 and signed for the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
club on a permanent deal. He left Ilkeston at the end of the 2001–02 season, returned the following season, but was released from his contract at his own request in October 2003.