Andy Griffin

Andy Griffin

Personal information
Full name	Andrew Griffin
Date of birth	7 March 1979 (1979-03-07) (age 30)
Place of birth	Higher End, Wigan, England
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Playing position	Full back
Club information
Current club	Reading (on loan from Stoke City)
Number	40
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1996–1998	Stoke City	57	(2)
1998–2004	Newcastle United	76	(2)
2004–2007	Portsmouth	43	(0)
2006–2007	→ Stoke City (loan)	33	(2)
2007–2008	Derby County	15	(0)
2008–	Stoke City	35	(0)
2010–	→ Reading (loan)	4	(0)
National team‡
1999	England U21	3	(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 00:14, 7 February 2010 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 20:18, 5 September 2008 (UTC)

Andrew "Andy" Griffin (born 7 March 1979 in Billinge Higher End, Wigan, Greater Manchester) is an English footballer, currently playing on loan at Reading from Stoke City.

Club career

Stoke City

Griffin began his career at Stoke City,^[1] where he established a reputation as a solid wing-back defender. His impressive performances for the Potters meant he was signed by Newcastle United for a fee of £1.5million in January 1998.^[2]

Newcastle United

Griffin settled quickly into the Newcastle side, earning call-ups to the England Under-21 team.^[3]

Griffin enjoyed something of a resurgence under Sir Bobby Robson and made several solid performances during the 2002-03 season,^{[citation needed]} including in the UEFA Champions League, when his winning goal against Juventus^[4] rekindled his side's campaign.^[5] Whilst at Newcastle he played in the 1999 FA Cup Final.

Portsmouth

However, strong competition for places^{[citation needed]} and yet another niggling injury took their toll in 2003-04, and when his contract expired at the end of the season he moved to Portsmouth on a free transfer, having played 97 games for Newcastle,^[2] scoring three goals.^{[citation needed]}

By the summer of 2006 he appeared to be out of Harry Redknapp's plans and in September of that year he was loaned to Stoke.^[6]

Griffin again joined Stoke City on loan on 19 January 2007 until June 2007, with a view to making his move permanent. He returned to Portsmouth at the close of the 2006/07 season, however Stoke City manager Tony Pulis admitted he was keen to bring Griffin back to the club.^[7]

Derby County

Griffin in action for Derby County.

On 31 July 2007 Griffin signed for Derby County on a three year deal.^[8] He was initially Derby's first choice right back, but when Tyrone Mears returned from injury and Paul Jewell replaced Billy Davies as Derby manager, he found his chances in the first team restricted. In January 2008, he moved back to Stoke City.

Return to Stoke City

On 11 January 2008 Andy moved back to Stoke City for a fee of £300,000, signing a 4 and a half year contract.^[9] He was handed the number 2 squad number. On January 31, 2008, Stoke City sold captain John Eustace to Watford.^[10] This move saw Griffin named Stoke's new captain despite only being back at the club for three weeks,^[11] nonetheless Griffin was delighted describing it as a "proud moment in my career."^[11]

Reading

On 11 January 2010 he joined Reading on loan for the remainder of the season.^[12]

Statistics

^[13]

References

External links

• Andy Griffin player profile at Stoke City
• Andy Griffin career stats at Soccerbase
• BBC profile