Andy Thorn (footballer)
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Andrew Charles Thorn[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 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) | |
| International career | |||
| 1987–1988 | England U21 | 5 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2011 | Coventry City (caretaker) | ||
| 2011–2012 | Coventry City | ||
| 2014 | Kidderminster Harriers | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
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.
As a player, he was a defender from 1984 until 1998. Whilst with Wimbledon, he was part of the side that achieved a 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.
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 to secure Palace's status in English football's top division 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]
