Andy Blair (footballer)

Andrew Blair (born 18 December 1959) is a former footballer who was born in Scotland but grew up in England and spent his career in English football. He played in the Aston Villa team that beat Barcelona 3-0 at Villa Park to win the 1982 European Super Cup.

Andy Blair
Personal information
Full name Andrew Blair[1]
Date of birth (1959-12-18) 18 December 1959[1]
Place of birth Kirkcaldy,[1] Scotland
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1978–1981 Coventry City 93 (6)
1981–1984 Aston Villa 33 (0)
1983 → Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan) 10 (0)
1984–1986 Sheffield Wednesday 58 (3)
1986–1988 Aston Villa 21 (1)
1987–1988 → Barnsley (loan) 6 (0)
1988–1989 Northampton Town 3 (0)
Total 224 (10)
National team
1980–1982 Scotland U21[3] 5 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Football career

Born in Kirkcaldy, Fife, Blair grew up in Bedworth, Warwickshire, and was educated at Nicholas Chamberlaine School in the town. He made his league debut for Coventry City, whom he had joined as an apprentice, on 28 October 1978 in a 2-1 win against Birmingham City. He also played top-flight football at Aston Villa (in two separate spells) where he won the Charity Shield in 1981 (shared)[4] and the European Cup in 1982 as an unused substitute.[5] Blair also played for Sheffield Wednesday and on loan at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

In November 1984, while playing for Sheffield Wednesday against Luton Town, he achieved the unusual distinction of being the first player to ever score a hat-trick of penalties in the League Cup.[6]

He also appeared for Barnsley and Northampton Town, before a knee injury ended his professional career in 1989, at the age of 30. He is currently working as a scout for Stoke City.

Business career

In 1991, Blair opened the first of a small chain of garment decoration shops across Coventry, selling sports clothing, sports goods, and school uniforms.[7]

Personal life

Blair's son Matty also played for Kidderminster Harriers, and currently plays for Football League Two side Cheltenham Town.

References
  1. "Andy Blair". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  2. Dunk, Peter, ed. (1987). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 50. ISBN 978-0-356-14354-5.
  3. "Andrew Blair". www.fitbastats.com. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  4. "1981/82 Charity Shield". footballsite.co.uk. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  5. https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villas-european-cup-team-13095606
  6. "Sheffield Wednesday Official Website". 12 June 2007. Archived from the original on 23 July 2008.
  7. "The final whistle is yet to blow". Printwear and Promotion. 27 (5): 66–7. May 2019.


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