Andy Aitken (footballer, born 1978)

Andrew Robert Aitken (born 2 February 1978) is a Scottish former professional footballer who made over 300 appearances for Queen of the South. A left sided defender, he also played for Gretna and Ayr United.

For other people named Andrew Aitken, see Andrew Aitken (disambiguation).
Andy Aitken
Personal information
Full name Andrew Robert Aitken
Date of birth (1978-02-02) 2 February 1978
Place of birth Dumfries, Scotland
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–2004 Queen of the South 237[1] (4)
2004–2006 Gretna 41[2] (2)
2006–2009 Queen of the South 54[1] (0)
2009–2010 Ayr United 22[3] (1)
2010–2013 Annan Athletic 21 (0)
2013 Celtic Nation 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 7 March 2011

Career

Aitken joined a Queen of the South in 1996 with new chairman Norman Blount getting the wheels moving on the club's revival. In 1997 Queen of the South reached the Scottish Challenge Cup final for the first time. Second Division Queens lost 1–0 to 1st Division Falkirk despite a rousing Queens display at Motherwell's Fir Park; a performance that included the man of the match award going to Queens veteran central midfield playmaker Tommy Bryce and an early career appearance for Jamie McAllister.[4] A late chance for a Derek Townsley equaliser went agonisingly over for Queens.[5][6]

Aitken spent two seasons at Gretna playing during the reign of Brooks Mileson.[6] Aitken returned to Palmerston Park[6] & immediately brought some pace to the defence. In combination with Stuart Lovell and Jim Thomson the Annan native managed to secure one of the tightest defences in the league over the last three months of last season. In pre-season 2006, Aitken sustained a knee ligament injury in a friendly match 3–0 victory away against Coleraine on 22 July that meant a lengthy spell on the treatment table.[6][7]

Andy Aitken was a mainstay of the Queens side that made it to final of the 2008 Scottish Cup Final, where they faced Rangers. The Doonhamers lost 3–2.[6][8] His appearances for Queen of the South have placed him 15th within the club's record appearances list. Along with Jim Thomson they are the only Queens players to earn four senior Scottish football medals while playing for the club – (winners of the 2001/02 Second Division and 2002/03 Scottish Challenge Cup; runners up in the 1997/98 Scottish Challenge Cup and 2007/08 Scottish Cup).[6][8]

Aitken joined Ayr United in the 2009 close season. His time there was impacted by an injury that was to keep him out for nine weeks ironically sustained against QoS at Palmerston.[6] At the end of the 2009-10 season rejoined Annan Athletic who had by now joined the Scottish Football League.[9] He became Assistant Manager after the departure of Derek Townsley, Aitken's ex teammate from the '97 Challenge Cup Final team..

He had a spell at Carlisle based Celtic Nation in 2013.

References
  1. Queen of the South stats on Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database profile
  2. Gretna stats on Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database profile
  3. Ayr United stats on Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database profile
  4. "Jamie McAllister interview on www.qosfc.com". Retrieved 2012-02-07.
  5. "Tommy Bryce profile on "Queens Legends" on the official Queen of the South FC website". Retrieved 2012-02-07.
  6. Andy Aitken career profile on 'Queens Legends' www.qosfc.com
  7. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/preview?id=212427&campaign=rsssrch&source=paul%20mccall&&cc=5739
  8. "Club History" on the official Queen of the South website
  9. "Aitken returns to Annan". Scottish Football League. 13 May 2010. Archived from the original on 15 April 2010. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
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