Andy Awford

Andrew Terry Awford (born 14 July 1972) is an English football coach and former footballer who was most recently the caretaker manager of Luton Town. Prior to this, he was the manager of Portsmouth, a club where he spent the vast majority of his playing and coaching career. Awford was selected by the FA in 2012 to participate on their new level 5 qualification, The FA Professional / Elite Award, which he successfully completed and graduated in June 2013 at St Georges Park.

Andy Awford
Personal information
Full name Andrew Terry Awford
Date of birth (1972-07-14) 14 July 1972
Place of birth Worcester, England
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1987–1989 Worcester City
1989–2000 Portsmouth 313 (3)
National team
1992–1993 England U21 10 (0)
Teams managed
2000–2006 Portsmouth Academy (scout)
2006–2007 Oxford United (Assistant coach)
2008–2009 Bognor Regis Town (Assistant coach)
2011–2014 Portsmouth Academy
2013 Portsmouth (caretaker)
2014 Portsmouth (caretaker)
2014–2015 Portsmouth
2015 Luton Town (Development Manager)
2015–2016 Luton Town (caretaker)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Awford began his career at his home-town club Worcester City where he became the youngest player ever to appear in the FA Cup, aged just 15 years 88 days, when he came on as substitute in a tie at Boreham Wood.[1]

He went on to sign professional terms with Second Division side Portsmouth in 1989 at the age of 16, making almost 400 first-team appearances in an 11-year career. Awford was part of the Pompey side that reached the FA Cup semi-final in 1992, losing to Liverpool in a penalty shootout. In his time at the club, he also played ten times for the England under-21s.

In 1994, Awford suffered a succession of injuries, including a broken leg, which kept him from playing for 14 months. He went on to play in subsequent campaigns, but further injuries throughout the 2000–01 season led him to retire from professional football at the age of 28. His last competitive appearance for Pompey came against Queens Park Rangers on 4 November 2000.[2]

Coaching career

After retiring, Awford took up the position of chief scout and later reserve team manager at Portsmouth. In April 2006, he was appointed the first team coach at Oxford United under his former Portsmouth manager Jim Smith and in June 2008 became assistant manager of Bognor Regis Town. Awford resigned along with manager Mick Jenkins in January 2009.[3]

He obtained a UEFA 'A' Licence and worked as a PE Teacher in Petersfield before returning to Portsmouth as the club's Academy Manager in February 2011.[4] Following Michael Appleton's move to Blackpool in November 2012, Guy Whittingham was made caretaker manager of Portsmouth with Awford appointed as his assistant. Despite being given only temporary roles, the pair remained in charge for the rest of the 2012–13 season. In June 2013 Awford successfully graduated from The FA Professional / Elite level 5 accreditation. In November 2013, Whittingham, who had been named as permanent manager, was sacked and Awford named as caretaker manager.[5] On 9 December, Richie Barker was named as permanent manager with Awford returning to work with the club's academy.[6]

On 27 March 2014, Barker left on mutual terms and Awford was named caretaker manager until the end of the 2013–14 season. Awford won his first five matches in charge to ensure Portsmouth would avoid relegation from The Football League.[7] Awford subsequently won April's League Two Manager of the Month.[8]

On 1 May 2014, it was announced that Awford would be appointed as Portsmouth manager on a permanent basis on a one-year rolling contract.[9] Awford won the League Two Manager of the Month award for February during the 2014–15 season following an unbeaten month, guiding the club to four wins and two draws.[10] However, a poor run of form in the next ten games led to Awford leaving Portsmouth by mutual consent on 13 April 2015, with the club sitting in 14th position in the table.[11]

On 26 June 2015, Awford joined Luton Town as Youth Academy and Development Manager.[12] Awford took over as caretaker manager following John Still's sacking in December 2015, leading the club to one win, a draw and two losses. Awford returned to his academy role following the appointment of Nathan Jones as permanent Luton manager in January 2016.[13]

Managerial statistics
As of 6 January 2016[14]
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record
PWDLWin %
Portsmouth (caretaker) 25 November 2013 9 December 2013 3 0 2 1 000.0
Portsmouth (caretaker) 27 March 2014 1 May 2014 7 5 2 0 071.4
Portsmouth 1 May 2014 13 April 2015 48 15 15 18 031.3
Luton Town (caretaker) 17 December 2015 6 January 2016 4 1 1 2 025.0
Total 62 21 20 21 033.9

Honours
Individual

Personal life

Awford has a son, Nick, who progressed through the Portsmouth Academy and currently plays for Farnborough.[15]

References
  1. "Gills' Freeman makes Cup history". BBC. 12 November 2007. Archived from the original on 13 November 2007. Retrieved 12 November 2007.
  2. "QPR 1–1 Portsmouth". BBC. 4 November 2000. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  3. "Jenkins resigns as Bognor manager". BBC Sport. 5 January 2009. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  4. "Awford backed for youth revolution". The News (Portsmouth). 5 February 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  5. "Portsmouth have parted company with manager Guy Whittingham". Sky Sports. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  6. "Richie Barker leaves Portsmouth by mutual consent after three months". Guardian. 28 March 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  7. "Andy Awford: Portsmouth caretaker set for manager talks". BBC. 23 April 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  8. "Portsmouth: Andy Awford targets Championship". BBC. 2 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  9. "Portsmouth appoint Andy Awford as full-time manager". BBC Sport. 1 May 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  10. "Andy Awford named Sky Bet League 2 Manager of the Month". Football League. 6 March 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  11. "Andy Awford leaves Portsmouth manager post after just two wins in 10". The Guardian. 13 April 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  12. "Andy Awford appointed Academy & Development Manager at Luton Town". Luton Town F.C. 26 June 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  13. "Nathan Jones: Brighton coach appointed Luton Town boss". BBC Sport. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  14. Andy Awford management career statistics at Soccerbase
  15. "Former Pompey midfielder Nick Awford signs for Farnborough". Portsmouth News. 5 June 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
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