Blast From The Past: On This Day 2007 – Rams Beat Sky Blues In Race For Handy Andy’s Signature

Andy Todd (Blackburn)

Thanks to CCFC historian Steve Phelps for reminding us of ‘one that got away’ from the Sky Blues, Andy Todd!  The memory above is excerpted from his book ‘Coventry City On This Day’ (Pitch Publishing 2010) which points up lots of interesting Sky Blue anniversaries*. Clearly there was not too much Sky Blue related news on this particular June day up to then!

Derby born Todd (son of another famous footballer Colin) started out with Middlesbrough from a trainee debuting in 1992 but making only a handful of league appearances plus a baker’s dozen on loan to Swindon Town before he found his feet at Bolton Wanderers (1995-99) with over 100 appearances. Before he went to Ewood Park Andy further developed his career at Charlton Athletic plus a loan period with Grimsby Town. Andy arrived at Blackburn Rovers in May 2002 with a reputation as a rumbustious no-nonsense defender. At Blackburn there was further controversy and a loan spell at Burnley but also he became the team’s captain for a while. He had clocked up 123 appearances netting four times at Ewood Park.

By the time the Sky Blues and his home town club Derby County showed an interest Andy had got a career total of more than 250 league games under his belt with an occasional goal threat. The Sky Blues instead relied on the likes of Elliott Ward, Arjan De Zeeuw  and latterly Scott Dann to provide the central defensive steel (all three are now CCFPA members).

Elliott Ward

Scott Dann

Arjan De Zeeuw

The Rams got Andy’s signature for about £750k and he promptly scored on his debut, his only goal in thirty six games for the Rams between 2007-09 (plus seven games on loan at Northampton Town)! Then County boss Nigel Clough released Andy in 2009 so he tried his luck in Australia with Perth Glory before returning home in 2011 as his professional career petered out with Oldham Athletic and Hereford United (2011) and Armadale back in Australia (2013).

Andy has since then been assistant gaffer at both Linfield in Ireland, Newport County in Wales and coach at Blackpool FC in England. In March 2019 Todd was appointed assistant manager to Lee Bowyer at Bradford City but he left them in May 2019 after the club was relegated to League Two. Most recently (2021) Andy has been working in Bulgaria as Assistant Manager at FC Pirin Blagoevgrad.

*Steve’s most recent work on the Sky Blues about the 1980-81 squad ’29 Minutes From Wembley’ was published by Pitch Publishing in 2017 and all his CCFC books are available online and from all good bookshops.

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images