Andy Linighan
Encyclopedia
Andrew "Andy" Linighan is a former English
football player.
Linighan was born in Hartlepool
into a footballing family – his brothers David
and Brian
were also professional footballers. He first played for his local side, Hartlepool United
, before spells at Leeds United (1984–1986), Oldham Athletic
(1986–1988) and Norwich City
(1988–1990). A tall, imposing centre back, Linighan became notable for his calm performances in defence for Norwich, and was snapped up by George Graham
's Arsenal
for £1.2 million in the summer of 1990 (despite Arsenal already having England
international defenders Tony Adams
and Steve Bould
in the side). Linighan had been very reluctant to leave Norwich, but was told by then-chairman Robert Chase that he was being sold.
Linighan mainly played as backup to Adams and Bould at Arsenal. In his first season, in which Arsenal won the First Division
, Linighan managed to put in 10 performances, which were only just enough for him to win a medal. His biggest moment for the club came at the end of the 1992-93
season; having already beaten Sheffield Wednesday
in the League Cup
final, Arsenal faced Wednesday again in the FA Cup
final. The final finished 1-1, forcing a replay, which finished 1-1 after 90 minutes and went to extra time; with 119 minutes gone, Linighan (suffering from a broken nose after Mark Bright
had struck him in the face with his elbow) came up for a corner
and headed in the winner. Fittingly, it was Bright who Lingham outjumped in order to score. Thanks to his goal, Arsenal became the first club in English football to win the Cup Double. His former club, Norwich City, qualified for the UEFA Cup
as a result of his cup final goal, as it meant that Arsenal qualified for the Cup Winners' Cup
, so the European place for the League Cup winner went to the team who had finished third in the Premier League
instead.
By then, Linighan's place in the Arsenal side was further in doubt, as the club had signed Martin Keown
earlier that year (Linighan had only played in the cup finals because Keown was cup-tied
). Despite this, he stayed on at the club as fourth-choice centre-back, until he was sold to Crystal Palace
in January 1997. He helped Palace as they won promotion to the Premiership
, and became club captain. He stuck with Palace during the club's financial problems, even after they were forced to loan him to Queens Park Rangers
for part of 1998-99
in order to reduce the wage bill. Linighan returned to the club after his loan spell, and was voted the fans' player of the year in 1999-2000
, but after falling out with new owner Simon Jordan
, he was given a free transfer in the autumn of 2000.
Linighan saw out the rest of the season with Oxford United
, which ended in disappointment – United were relegated to the Third Division
. Afterwards he briefly played for non-league St Albans
, before retiring completely from the game to run his own plumbing
business.
FA Cup - 1993
League Cup - 1993
European Cup Winners Cup - 1994
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...
football player.
Linighan was born in Hartlepool
Hartlepool
Hartlepool is a town and port in North East England.It was founded in the 7th century AD, around the Northumbrian monastery of Hartlepool Abbey. The village grew during the Middle Ages and developed a harbour which served as the official port of the County Palatine of Durham. A railway link from...
into a footballing family – his brothers David
David Linighan
David Linighan is an English former professional football player. He played as a centre-back.-Career:Born in Hartlepool, County Durham, Linighan began his career at Hartlepool in 1982 as a 17-year-old...
and Brian
Brian Linighan
Brian Linighan is a former English football defender. He started his career at Sheffield Wednesday, making just one appearance on January 11, 1994 and was sold to Bury in 1998. After that, he played for non-league sides Gainsborough Trinity, Worksop Town and Whitby Town...
were also professional footballers. He first played for his local side, Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
, before spells at Leeds United (1984–1986), 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...
(1986–1988) and 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...
(1988–1990). A tall, imposing centre back, Linighan became notable for his calm performances in defence for Norwich, and was snapped up by George Graham
George Graham (footballer)
George Graham is a Scottish former football player and manager. He is best remembered for his success at Arsenal, as a player in the 1970s and then as manager from 1986 until 1995.-Early life:...
's Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
for £1.2 million in the summer of 1990 (despite Arsenal already having England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
international defenders Tony Adams
Tony Adams (footballer)
Tony Alexander Adams, MBE is an English football manager and former player.Adams spent his entire playing career of 22 years as a defender at Arsenal. He is considered one of the greatest Arsenal players of all time by the club's own fans and was included in the Football League 100 Legends...
and Steve Bould
Steve Bould
Stephen Andrew Bould is an English former football player and current coach. He played professionally for Stoke City, Torquay United, Arsenal and Sunderland.-Stoke City:...
in the side). Linighan had been very reluctant to leave Norwich, but was told by then-chairman Robert Chase that he was being sold.
Linighan mainly played as backup to Adams and Bould at Arsenal. In his first season, in which Arsenal won the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
, Linighan managed to put in 10 performances, which were only just enough for him to win a medal. His biggest moment for the club came at the end of the 1992-93
1992-93 in English football
The 1992–1993 season was the 113th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season saw the birth of the FA Premier League. This meant a break-up of the 104-year-old Football League that had operated until then with four divisions....
season; having already beaten Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
in the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
final, Arsenal faced Wednesday again in the 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...
final. The final finished 1-1, forcing a replay, which finished 1-1 after 90 minutes and went to extra time; with 119 minutes gone, Linighan (suffering from a broken nose after Mark Bright
Mark Bright
Mark Abraham Bright is a former English footballer who is now a sports pundit and BBC London's sport presenter, as well as a coach at Crystal Palace....
had struck him in the face with his elbow) came up for a corner
Corner kick
A corner kick is a method of restarting play in a game of association football. It was first devised in Sheffield under the Sheffield Rules 1867...
and headed in the winner. Fittingly, it was Bright who Lingham outjumped in order to score. Thanks to his goal, Arsenal became the first club in English football to win the Cup Double. His former club, Norwich City, qualified for the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
as a result of his cup final goal, as it meant that Arsenal qualified for the Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
, so the European place for the League Cup winner went to the team who had finished third in the Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
instead.
By then, Linighan's place in the Arsenal side was further in doubt, as the club had signed Martin Keown
Martin Keown
Martin Raymond Keown is a former English footballer. Widely regarded as one of the best man-markers of his generation, Keown played for six different football clubs during his career but it was with Arsenal that he will be best remembered. Keown made over three hundred appearances for Arsenal...
earlier that year (Linighan had only played in the cup finals because Keown was cup-tied
Cup-tied
Cup-tied is an adjective, used primarily in association football, to describe a player who is ineligible to play in a knockout cup competition after transferring from another club during that competition.-Application:...
). Despite this, he stayed on at the club as fourth-choice centre-back, until he was sold 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...
in January 1997. He helped Palace as they won promotion to the Premiership
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
, and became club captain. He stuck with Palace during the club's financial problems, even after they were forced to loan him to Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
for part 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...
in order to reduce the wage bill. Linighan returned to the club after his loan spell, and was voted the fans' player of the year in 1999-2000
1999-2000 in English football
-Premier League:Manchester United were crowned FA Premier League champions with an 18-point margin over runners-up Arsenal and with just 3 league defeats all season. This was despite their failure to retain the European Cup and withdrawal from the FA Cup in order to compete in the FIFA Club World...
, but after falling out with new owner Simon Jordan
Simon Jordan
Simon Jordan is an English businessman who made his fortune in the mobile phone industry. In 2000 he purchased Crystal Palace Football Club and remained chairman of the club until they entered administration in early 2010....
, he was given a free transfer in the autumn of 2000.
Linighan saw out the rest of the season with Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
, which ended in disappointment – United were relegated to the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
. Afterwards he briefly played for non-league St Albans
St Albans City F.C.
St Albans City Football Club is a football club based in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. It was founded in 1908 and plays its home matches at Clarence Park, about 800 yards from the city centre. The club is in the Premier Division of the Southern League...
, before retiring completely from the game to run his own plumbing
Plumbing
Plumbing is the system of pipes and drains installed in a building for the distribution of potable drinking water and the removal of waterborne wastes, and the skilled trade of working with pipes, tubing and plumbing fixtures in such systems. A plumber is someone who installs or repairs piping...
business.
Honours
Football League champions - 1991FA Cup - 1993
League Cup - 1993
European Cup Winners Cup - 1994