Andy Thorn (footballer)

Andrew Charles Thorn (born 12 November 1966) is an English football manager and former professional footballer. He was most recently the manager of Kidderminster Harriers.

For other people named Andy Thorn, see Andy Thorn (disambiguation).

Andy Thorn
Personal information
Full name Andrew Charles Thorn[1]
Date of birth (1966-11-12) 12 November 1966[1]
Place of birth Carshalton,[1] London, England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1984–1988 Wimbledon 107 (2)
1988–1989 Newcastle United 36 (2)
1989–1994 Crystal Palace 128 (3)
1994–1996 Wimbledon 37 (1)
1996 Hearts 2 (0)
1996–1998 Tranmere Rovers 35 (1)
Total 345 (9)
National team
1987–1988 England U21 5 (0)
Teams managed
2011 Coventry City (caretaker)
2011–2012 Coventry City
2014 Kidderminster Harriers
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

As a player, he was a defender from 1984 until 1998. Whilst with Wimbledon, he was part of the side that achieved the famous victory over Liverpool in the 1988 FA Cup Final. He also played in the 1990 FA Cup Final for Crystal Palace, although this time ended up on the losing side. He also played for Newcastle United, Hearts and Tranmere Rovers.

Club career

Thorn began a playing career with Wimbledon in 1984, playing as a traditional English centre half in the Crazy Gang, alongside Dennis Wise, Lawrie Sanchez and Vinnie Jones. During his initial period at the club he played 107 league games, scoring twice, and also winning five England U21 caps.[3] One of his league goals for the Dons was their first in the First Division after promotion in 1986, a consolation goal in a 3–1 opening day defeat to Manchester City at Maine Road.[4]

Thorn left Wimbledon in 1988 to play for Newcastle United. Although he stayed at St James' Park for only one year, he was nevertheless a mainstay in the starting line-up during the 1988–89 season, before moving on to Crystal Palace in November 1989, where he is now remembered as a legend.[3]

He was credited with improving a poor defence, helping secure Palace's top-flight status for four successive seasons. He appeared in Palace's first Cup Final; the 1990 FA Cup Final.[3]

He returned to Wimbledon in 1994, playing 37 league games in two seasons before moving to Scottish Premier League side Heart of Midlothian, where he played a handful of games, and then finally to Tranmere Rovers, before retiring prematurely in 1998 due to a knee injury, aged 31.[5]

Managerial career

Thorn joined Coventry City as chief scout before becoming caretaker-manager alongside Steve Harrison after Aidy Boothroyd's departure. Coventry enjoyed a successful close to the season under his leadership, losing only one game against Middlesbrough. His first game as the official manager of the club was the final home game of the 2010–2011 season against Reading.

However, the 2011–2012 season saw Coventry relegated to the Football League First Division following a home defeat by Doncaster Rovers on 21 April 2012.[6] Thorn claimed an inability to buy new players and conflict at boardroom level had been major contributors towards Coventry's relegation.[7] The club agreed to keep Thorn to oversee their promotion campaign back to the Championship for the forthcoming 2012–13 season. However, Thorn was sacked as manager on 26 August 2012 after a 2–2 home draw against Bury in which Coventry lost a two-goal advantage in the second half and were booed off at the end of the game.[8]

On 8 January 2014, Thorn was appointed manager of Kidderminster Harriers.[9] On 5 March, after less than two months in the role, Thorn was sacked.[10]

Personal life

Thorn has a son, Jack, who plays for Aberystwyth Town as a midfielder.

References
  1. "Andy Thorn". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  2. Dunk, Peter, ed. (1987). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 396. ISBN 978-0-356-14354-5.
  3. "Crystal Palace | Club | Palace Legends | Palace Legends | Andy Thorn". Cpfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 27 August 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 13 November 2009. Retrieved 1 October 2009.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "Knee injury forces Andy Thorn to hang up his boots". The Wirral Globe. 10 February 1998. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  6. "Coventry 0–2 Doncaster". BBC Sport. 21 April 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  7. "Andy Thorn calls for end to Coventry City backroom turmoil". BBC Sport. 23 April 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
  8. "Andy Thorn sacked as manager by Coventry City". BBC Sport. 26 August 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  9. "Andy Thorn Appointed Manager". Kidderminster Harriers FC. 8 January 2014. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  10. "Kidderminster Harriers: Gary Whild replaces sacked Andy Thorn". BBC Sport. 5 March 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
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