Andy Preece
Encyclopedia
Andrew Preece is a part-time English footballer and manager. He is currently the player-manager at Northwich Victoria
.
, Worcestershire
, Preece began his career as a junior with Worcester City
, making his debut in the Conference
aged 16. He subsequently played for Evesham United
before joining Northampton Town
in August 1988. He made just one appearance, as a substitute, before being released at the end of the following season.
In July 1989 he rejoined Worcester City and in March 1990 signed for Wrexham. In December 1991 he joined Stockport County
for a fee of £10,000. He impressed enough (including scoring the winning goal in a giant-killing feat against Queens Park Rangers
in the FA Cup
) that he signed for Crystal Palace
in June 1994, as strike partner to Chris Armstrong
, for a fee of £350,000.
However, he struggled to establish himself and joined Blackpool
for a fee of £200,000 in July 1995.
In July 1997 Preece joined Bury
on a free transfer and in 1999 was appointed player-manager. He was released in December 2003 as Bury tried to cut costs and joined Carlisle United
as a player. He was unable to prevent Carlisle's relegation to the Conference, but chose to remain with the Cumbrians for the following season.
In February 2005, Preece joined Worcester City
as player-manager and led the side to three consecutive top ten finished in the Conference North
and in 2006 to the second round of the FA Cup
. In October 2007, he left Worcester City.
He became caretaker manager
of Northwich Victoria
on 25 February 2009. On 14 May 2009, Preece agreed a one-year contract to take over permanently at Northwich as manager
.
In the 2009-10 season, he led Northwich to the Second Round of the FA Cup, a considerable achievement, and saw his side defeat former Premier League side Charlton Athletic
in the process. In the same season, he saw his side finish 12th in the Conference North
in his first season in charge, however financial issues saw his side relegated to the Northern Premier League Premier Division. In spite of relegation and financial uncertainty, he stayed at the club along with his assistant Andy Morrison
.
On 21 August 2010, at the age of 43, he returned to football action for the first time in three years by coming off the substitutes' bench in the 90th minute, in a game which Northwich won 1–0 against Retford United
on the opening day of the 2010–11 Northern Premier League Premier Division
season. On 17 February 2011, he scored a seven-minute hat-trick as Northwich defeated Barnton in the Mid-Cheshire Senior Cup.
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
.
Career
Born in EveshamEvesham
Evesham is a market town and a civil parish in the Local Authority District of Wychavon in the county of Worcestershire, England with a population of 22,000. It is located roughly equidistant between Worcester, Cheltenham and Stratford-upon-Avon...
, Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
, Preece began his career as a junior with Worcester City
Worcester City F.C.
Worcester City Football Club is an English football club based in Worcester, Worcestershire. The club are currently members of the Conference North and play at St George's Lane.-History:...
, making his debut in the Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
aged 16. He subsequently played for Evesham United
Evesham United F.C.
Evesham United F.C. are an English football club based in Evesham, Worcestershire. They reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup for the first time in the 2008-2009 season. In 2005, they entered the Southern League Premier Division for the first time in their history but were relegated after...
before joining Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
in August 1988. He made just one appearance, as a substitute, before being released at the end of the following season.
In July 1989 he rejoined Worcester City and in March 1990 signed for Wrexham. In December 1991 he joined Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
for a fee of £10,000. He impressed enough (including scoring the winning goal in a giant-killing feat against 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...
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...
) that he signed for 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 June 1994, as strike partner to Chris Armstrong
Chris Armstrong (footballer born 1971)
Christopher Peter "Chris" Armstrong is an English former England B international footballer who has played as a striker for Wrexham , Millwall, Crystal Palace, Tottenham Hotspur and Bolton Wanderers between 1989 and 2005.-Crystal Palace:After short spells with Wrexham and Millwall, Armstrong found...
, for a fee of £350,000.
However, he struggled to establish himself and joined 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...
for a fee of £200,000 in July 1995.
In July 1997 Preece joined Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
on a free transfer and in 1999 was appointed player-manager. He was released in December 2003 as Bury tried to cut costs and joined Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
as a player. He was unable to prevent Carlisle's relegation to the Conference, but chose to remain with the Cumbrians for the following season.
In February 2005, Preece joined Worcester City
Worcester City F.C.
Worcester City Football Club is an English football club based in Worcester, Worcestershire. The club are currently members of the Conference North and play at St George's Lane.-History:...
as player-manager and led the side to three consecutive top ten finished in the Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
and in 2006 to the second round of 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...
. In October 2007, he left Worcester City.
He became caretaker manager
Caretaker manager
In association football, a caretaker manager is someone who takes temporary charge of the management of a football club, usually when the regular manager is dismissed or leaves for a different club. However, a caretaker may also be appointed if the regular manager is ill or unable to attend to his...
of Northwich Victoria
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
on 25 February 2009. On 14 May 2009, Preece agreed a one-year contract to take over permanently at Northwich as manager
Manager (association football)
In association football, a manager is responsible for running a football club or a national team. The manager of a professional club is responsible directly to the club president. The position of manager is almost exclusively used in British football...
.
In the 2009-10 season, he led Northwich to the Second Round of the FA Cup, a considerable achievement, and saw his side defeat former Premier League side Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
in the process. In the same season, he saw his side finish 12th in the Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
in his first season in charge, however financial issues saw his side relegated to the Northern Premier League Premier Division. In spite of relegation and financial uncertainty, he stayed at the club along with his assistant Andy Morrison
Andy Morrison
Andrew Charles "Andy" Morrison is a Scottish ex-football player who played at centre half. He is currently Assistant Manager at Northwich Victoria.-Early career:...
.
On 21 August 2010, at the age of 43, he returned to football action for the first time in three years by coming off the substitutes' bench in the 90th minute, in a game which Northwich won 1–0 against Retford United
Retford United F.C.
Retford United Football Club are an English football club based at Cannon Park in Retford, Nottinghamshire. They currently play in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division.-History:...
on the opening day of the 2010–11 Northern Premier League Premier Division
Northern Premier League Premier Division
The Premier Division is the top division of the Northern Premier League. It is at Step 3 of the National League System, placing it six divisions below the Premier League...
season. On 17 February 2011, he scored a seven-minute hat-trick as Northwich defeated Barnton in the Mid-Cheshire Senior Cup.