Andrew Surman
Encyclopedia
Andrew Ronald Edward Surman (born 20 August 1986) is a South African-born English
footballer who plays as a midfielder
for Norwich City
. He spent the first five years of his career with Southampton
where he played more than 100 games and has also played for Wolverhampton Wanderers
and loan spells at Walsall
and Bournemouth
.
, South Africa
, where his British parents had moved whilst his father worked for an insurance company. His parents returned to Southampton in 1995, and he joined Tyro League club Hedge End
Rangers, where he was spotted by Southampton scouts and invited to join the Saints academy
. He attended St. Mary's College in Bitterne and captained the football team.
took his record. He scored on his league debut when on loan to Walsall
during the 2004–05 season, and, when he rejoined the Saints at the beginning of the 2005–06 season, he performed well on their pre-season tour of Scotland
. He then enjoyed a successful loan spell with Bournemouth
between August 2005 and January 2006, playing in every league game for the team, and scoring six goals. He might have figured in Southampton's
FA Cup tie against MK Dons
, but was cup-tied having played earlier in the season for Bournemouth against Tamworth
.
He made his full team debut for Southampton on 25 January 2006 under new manager George Burley
at home to Crystal Palace
, and in the next league game scored his first Southampton goal in a 2–1 defeat against Plymouth Argyle
. On 17 February 2007, he scored a hat-trick (two strikes from outside the penalty box and a penalty
) in the 5–2 victory over Barnsley
.
He became a vital part of the Southampton first team over the 2006–07 Season, and was a part of their unsuccessful play-off bid, losing on penalties to Derby County
after a 4–4 aggregate draw, where his great strike wasn't enough to take Saints to Wembley.
Although qualified to play for South Africa
, he was selected for the England U21
team for the European Championship qualifiers away to Montenegro on 7 September and Bulgaria on 11 September. In the match against Montenegro he came on as a second-half substitute and scored the final goal in a 3–0 victory, tapping the ball home in stoppage time from a knock-down by former Saints' trainee Dexter Blackstock
.
in a three-year deal, plus another year’s option, for a fee worth around £1.2m on 1 July 2009. He made his debut on 18 August 2009 against Wigan Athletic
, coming on for Greg Halford
. Surman made his first Premier League start on 21 November 2009 against Chelsea
, but struggled to hold down a first team place, making just nine appearances in total for the club.
on 22 June 2010 in a three year deal for an undisclosed fee. He made his debut on 6 August 2010 in the 3–2 defeat to Watford
at Carrow Road
. After an impressive start to his Norwich City career, he sustained a knee injury in training, two days before the 2–1 victory over Barnsley
on 11 September 2010. He returned to action against Leeds United
on 20 November in a 1–1 draw. He was subbed on 60 minutes. He suffered a reoccurrence of the injury in the 4–1 victory over Ipswich which sidelined him till February 2011. In order to improve his fitness, Surman played 65 mins in the Norfolk Senior Cup match against Dereham. He made 3 appearances off the bench for the first team before making his first start in the 2–0 victory over Barnsley, playing the full 90 minutes. He scored his first goal for Norwich in a 3–1 win against Bristol City. Surman scored the opener in the 5–1 win over Ipswich Town at Portman Road on 21 April 2011.
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...
footballer who plays as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
for Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
. He spent the first five years of his career with Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
where he played more than 100 games and has also played for Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
and loan spells at Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
and Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
.
Early career
Surman was born in JohannesburgJohannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, where his British parents had moved whilst his father worked for an insurance company. His parents returned to Southampton in 1995, and he joined Tyro League club Hedge End
Hedge End
Hedge End is a town and civil parish located in Hampshire in England. It is situated to the east of the City of Southampton, adjoining the districts of West End and Botley. Hedge End lies within the Borough of Eastleigh and is part of the Southampton Urban Area.It is sometimes mistakenly claimed...
Rangers, where he was spotted by Southampton scouts and invited to join the Saints academy
Southampton F.C. Academy
Southampton Football Club Academy or Saints Academy is the youth organisation run by Southampton Football Club to encourage and develop young footballers in the South of England...
. He attended St. Mary's College in Bitterne and captained the football team.
Southampton
He was the youngest player ever to play for the Saints Reserves until Theo WalcottTheo Walcott
Theo James Walcott is an English footballer of Jamaican descent who plays for Arsenal and the England national team. Walcott is a product of the Southampton F.C. Academy. He is a striker who is usually deployed on the right wing as a wide forward to exploit his speed...
took his record. He scored on his league debut when on loan to Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
during the 2004–05 season, and, when he rejoined the Saints at the beginning of the 2005–06 season, he performed well on their pre-season tour of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. He then enjoyed a successful loan spell with Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
between August 2005 and January 2006, playing in every league game for the team, and scoring six goals. He might have figured in Southampton's
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
FA Cup tie against MK Dons
Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
, but was cup-tied having played earlier in the season for Bournemouth against Tamworth
Tamworth F.C.
Tamworth Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Tamworth, Staffordshire. Nicknamed 'The Lambs', they are currently members of the Conference National, the fifth highest tier in the English league system....
.
He made his full team debut for Southampton on 25 January 2006 under new manager George Burley
George Burley
George Elder Burley is a Scottish football manager and former player and manager, formerly the manager of Crystal Palace Football Club. Burley had a professional career spanning 21 years as a player making 628 appearances and earning 11 Scotland caps...
at home to Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
, and in the next league game scored his first Southampton goal in a 2–1 defeat against Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
. On 17 February 2007, he scored a hat-trick (two strikes from outside the penalty box and a penalty
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
) in the 5–2 victory over Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
.
He became a vital part of the Southampton first team over the 2006–07 Season, and was a part of their unsuccessful play-off bid, losing on penalties to Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
after a 4–4 aggregate draw, where his great strike wasn't enough to take Saints to Wembley.
Although qualified to play for South Africa
South Africa national football team
The South Africa national football team represents South Africa in association football and is controlled by the South African Football Association, the governing body for football in South Africa. South Africa's home ground is Soccer City, known as FNB Stadium due to a naming rights deal, in...
, he was selected for the England U21
England national under-21 football team
England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team....
team for the European Championship qualifiers away to Montenegro on 7 September and Bulgaria on 11 September. In the match against Montenegro he came on as a second-half substitute and scored the final goal in a 3–0 victory, tapping the ball home in stoppage time from a knock-down by former Saints' trainee Dexter Blackstock
Dexter Blackstock
Dexter Anthony Titus Blackstock is an English footballer who currently plays for Nottingham Forest in the Football League Championship. He plays as a centre-forward.-Southampton:...
.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Surman joined newly promoted Premier League side Wolverhampton WanderersWolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
in a three-year deal, plus another year’s option, for a fee worth around £1.2m on 1 July 2009. He made his debut on 18 August 2009 against Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
, coming on for Greg Halford
Greg Halford
Gregory "Greg" Halford is an English footballer who plays for Portsmouth. He is naturally a right wingback or winger, but has played a number of other positions throughout his career, including striker and centre back....
. Surman made his first Premier League start on 21 November 2009 against Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
, but struggled to hold down a first team place, making just nine appearances in total for the club.
Norwich City
Surman signed for newly-promoted Championship side Norwich CityNorwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
on 22 June 2010 in a three year deal for an undisclosed fee. He made his debut on 6 August 2010 in the 3–2 defeat to Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
at Carrow Road
Carrow Road
Carrow Road is a football stadium in Norwich, England, and is the home of Norwich City Football Club. The stadium is located toward the easterly end of the city, not far from Norwich railway station and the River Wensum....
. After an impressive start to his Norwich City career, he sustained a knee injury in training, two days before the 2–1 victory over Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
on 11 September 2010. He returned to action against Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
on 20 November in a 1–1 draw. He was subbed on 60 minutes. He suffered a reoccurrence of the injury in the 4–1 victory over Ipswich which sidelined him till February 2011. In order to improve his fitness, Surman played 65 mins in the Norfolk Senior Cup match against Dereham. He made 3 appearances off the bench for the first team before making his first start in the 2–0 victory over Barnsley, playing the full 90 minutes. He scored his first goal for Norwich in a 3–1 win against Bristol City. Surman scored the opener in the 5–1 win over Ipswich Town at Portman Road on 21 April 2011.