Andy Legg

Andrew Legg (born 28 July 1966) is a Welsh football manager and former Wales international player.

Andy Legg
Personal information
Full name Andrew Legg[1]
Date of birth (1966-07-28) 28 July 1966[1]
Place of birth Neath,[1] Wales
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2]
Playing position(s) Left winger / left back
Youth career
Baglan Boys Club
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
0000–1988 Briton Ferry Athletic
1988–1993 Swansea City 163 (29)
1993–1996 Notts County 89 (9)
1996–1998 Birmingham City 45 (5)
1997 → Ipswich Town (loan) 6 (1)
1998 Reading 12 (0)
1998 → Peterborough United (loan) 5 (0)
1998–2003 Cardiff City 175 (12)
2003–2005 Peterborough United 81 (5)
2006 Maesteg Park 1 (0)
2006 Newport County 3 (0)
2006 Llanelli 4 (0)
2006–2007 Hucknall Town 29 (4)
2007 → Llanelli (loan) 0 (0)
2007–2012 Llanelli 111 (7)
Total 724 (72)
National team
1996–2001 Wales 6 (0)
Teams managed
2007 Hucknall Town
2009–2012 Llanelli
2016 Bangor City
2017–2019 Cardiff City U23
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Born in Neath, he began his professional career with Swansea City after joining the club from local non-league football at the age of 22. He made his senior debut in 1988 and went on to make over 150 appearances for the club in all competitions before being sold to Notts County in 1993.

He also played for Birmingham City, Ipswich Town, Reading, Peterborough United, Cardiff City and Newport County.

He was known for having the longest throw-in in football, being able to regularly throw the ball over 30 metres and once held the world record with a distance of 44.6 m (48.8 yards).[3][4]

Early life

As a teenager, Legg attended Glan Afan Comprehensive School in Port Talbot.[5] After leaving school, he worked for the Forestry Commission and later as a supervisor in a shelving systems factory.[6] Legg's brother, Paul, was also a footballer and spent time on trial with Swansea City, Cardiff City, Shrewsbury Town and Hull City.[7]

Career

Early career

After playing for local youth side Baglan Boys Club, where his father was manager, Legg joined Welsh League side Briton Ferry Athletic where he attracted attention from several Football League clubs. He first joined Middlesbrough on trial, playing up front alongside Bernie Slaven for the club's reserve side. However, manager Bruce Rioch was unhappy with Legg's hair, describing him as "too scruffy",[8] and told him to cut his hair or to not come back.[9] Legg decided not to return and travelled back home. He was instead offered a trial at Manchester City and played for the reserve side, again as a forward, before being asked to return at the start of the following season for pre-season training in order for manager Mel Machin to assess him.[9]

Swansea City

After returning from Manchester, Legg was offered a trial with his home town club Swansea City, playing in a reserve fixture against Cardiff City and, in August 1988, he was offered a professional contract by manager Terry Yorath, starting his professional career at the relatively late age of 22.[6] A stress fracture of his leg meant he was forced to wait for his debut, eventually making his first appearance in a 2–0 defeat to Bristol City.

He went on to make over 150 appearances at Vetch Field and helped win the Welsh Cup in 1989 and 1991 as well as featuring in the team's European Cup Winners' Cup campaigns, playing against Panathinaikos and AS Monaco.[10] During his time with Swansea, Legg's long throw-in ability gained significant attention and he was credited with a Guinness World Record in 1992 after taking part in a long throw competition arranged by the BBC television show Record Breakers held at Wembley Stadium in 1992 against Dave Challinor and Neil Thompson.[11] He recorded a throw distance of 44.6m, a record that stood until the 1996–97 season when it was beaten by Challinor who recorded a throw of 46.3m.[12][13]

He was sold to Notts County in July 1993 for a fee of £275,000,[10] where he was part of the side that won the Anglo-Italian Cup during the 1994–95 season.[14]

Birmingham City

Along with Paul Devlin, Legg was sold to Birmingham City in February 1996. Originally signed by Barry Fry, he spent two years, winning his first cap for Wales on 24 April 1996 in a 2–0 defeat to Switzerland but was forced off after 30 minutes due to injury.[15] In the final year of his contract during the 1997–98 season, Legg began negotiations over an extension but, after failing to agree terms, was dropped to the reserve side by manager Trevor Francis. He was instead allowed to join Ipswich Town on loan as cover for the injured Bobby Petta and after a month Ipswich manager George Burley attempted to negotiate a permanent deal, which later collapsed.[7]

Reading

Soon after, Jason Bowen, a friend of Legg's joined Reading and, thanks to Bowen's praise of the club, he agreed a deal to sign for the Berkshire based side in February 1998. Just several weeks later manager Terry Bullivant was sacked and replaced by Tommy Burns who soon fell out with several players including Legg and Bowen. Burns ignored the group of players, who later became known as the "gang of five", and refused to let them be a part of the first team, resulting in them taking part in separate training sessions taken charge of by reserve team manager Alan Pardew, who took over from Burns following his dismissal. Pardew later commented that ""I wish they had stayed. Andy would certainly be in my team now and Jason showed he had a lot of talent."[16]

Cardiff City

After a brief spell on loan at Peterborough United, he joined Cardiff City in 1998. Legg was initially unpopular with fans due to his previous spell with South Wales rivals Swansea City, even being sent death threats, former teammate Winston Faerber had his finger sliced open after opening one of Legg's letters which contained a razor blade.[8] However, he eventually became a fan favourite and was awarded the club's player of the season award in the 1999–2000 and 2000–01 seasons.[17] In 1999, Legg's wife Lucy noticed a lump on his neck which was later diagnosed as a non-malignant tumour. With the 1999–2000 season coming to an end, Legg decided to play on for the remainder of the season, the only people aware of his condition at the club being manager Billy Ayre, physio Mike Davenport and club doctor Len Noakes, before having the tumour removed at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend in May 2000.[7]

He left the club in July 2003 after being asked to take a 70% pay cut for the 2003–04 season, stating "It's a big wrench to leave Cardiff, I'm absolutely gutted [...] I think I deserve better than a 70% pay cut".[18] As a result, his final game for Cardiff was in the 2003 Football League Second Division play-off Final, helping the club win promotion to Division One.

Peterborough United

Following his departure, Legg joined Peterborough United as a player-coach, making his debut on the opening day of the season in a 3–4 defeat to Hartlepool United. As assistant manager to Steve Bleasdale at Peterborough United he featured briefly in the TV series Big Ron Manager alongside Ron Atkinson and Barry Fry. In 2004, a second lump appeared in his throat and, after seeing a specialist, he decided to again wait until the end of the season before undergoing surgery to remove it. However, during a match against Oldham Athletic on 22 January 2005 he was hit in the neck by an elbow from Neil Kilkenny. Reacting angrily, Legg was later sent off for a retaliatory foul on Kilkenny.[7][19]

Feeling pain from his neck for the first time, Legg booked himself in for the operation in April 2005, making his last appearance for Peterborough on 9 April 2005 in a 1–0 win over Blackpool,[20] a match which would later turn out to be his last match as a professional. He underwent surgery several days later at Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham. The operation to remove it was successful, although he was forced to undergo a 28 session course of radiation therapy,[7] and Legg was able to return to football, despite having believed that he would be forced to retire.

Return to football

He made his return with Maesteg Park on 1 February 2006 during a 2–0 win over Bettws.[21] After short spells playing for Newport County and Llanelli, Legg joined Conference North side Hucknall Town. In January 2007, he was appointed manager of Hucknall Town. He remained manager until September 2007, when he resigned following six consecutive defeats at the start of the 2007–2008 season.[22] He returned to play for Llanelli,[23] and was appointed manager of the side in April 2009, replacing Peter Nicholas.[24] At the age of 42, Legg was part of the Llanelli side that inflicted a shock defeat on Scottish Premier League side Motherwell in the first qualifying round of the Europa League in July 2009.[25]

Already a holder of a UEFA A coaching licence, Legg began studying for his UEFA Pro Licence in June 2010.[26]

Legg returned to football as manager of Bangor City in August 2016 but was sacked from the job three months later.[27] In September 2016 he was appointed under-23 manager at his former club Cardiff City.[28] As part of an academy shake-up, Legg left his position on 25 November 2019.[29]

Career statistics
As of 1 July 2010
Club statistics
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals
Swansea City 1988–89 60
1989–90 253
1990–91 395
1991–92 469
1992–93 4612
Subtotal 1632916410018520738
Notts County 1993–94 302302
1994–95 343343
1995–96 254254
Subtotal 8998011015612315
Birmingham City 1995–96 131000000131
1996–97 324304000394
1997–98 0000000000
Subtotal 455304000525
Ipswich Town (loan) 1997–98 6100100071
Reading 1997–98 100000000100
1998–99 2000100030
Subtotal 120001000130
Peterborough United (loan) 1998–99 5000000050
Cardiff City 1998–99 242300000272
1999–2000 422504000512
2000–01 393402000453
2001–02 352401000402
2002–03 353502040463
Subtotal 17515210904020915
Peterborough United 2003–04 420201020470
2004–05 395301010445
Subtotal 815502030915
Maesteg Park 2005–06 1000000010
Newport County 2005–06 3000000030
Llanelli 2006–07 4000002060
Hucknall Town 2006–07 24200242
2007–08 5200000052
Subtotal 294000000292
Llanelli 2007–08 261506100371
2008–09 334302020404
2009–10 272403020362
2010–11 18000002020
2011–12 30
2012–13 40
Subtotal 1117120111601408
Total 724 72 65 4 49 1 48 11 886 88

Honours

Swansea City

Notts County

Cardiff City

Llanelli

  • Welsh Premier League winner: 2007–08

Individual

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References
  • "Player Details: Season 2007–2008 Andy Legg". SoccerFacts UK. Retrieved 12 March 2003.
  • "Player Details: Season 2006–2007 Andy Legg". SoccerFacts UK. Retrieved 12 March 2003.
  1. "Andy Legg". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  2. Sewell, Albert, ed. (1996). News of the World Football Annual 1996–97. London: Invincible Press. p. 401. ISBN 978-0-00-218737-4.
  3. "King of the long throws: Andy Legg, not Rory Delap". thisissouthwales.co.uk. 13 November 2008. Archived from the original on 11 January 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
  4. "Legg's arm under microscope". BBC Sport. 4 March 2002. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
  5. "Spring 09 news". Glan Afan Comprehensive School. Archived from the original on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  6. "My dream job would be to manage Cardiff City". South Wales Echo. 11 March 2006. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  7. Legg, Andy (2009). Alive and Kicking. Accent Press Ltd. ISBN 978-1-906373-74-0.
  8. "Hardest battle of the lot for Andy Legg". welsh-premier.com. 21 February 2009. Archived from the original on 3 January 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  9. "Legg up to 700". Peterborough Today. 3 March 2005. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  10. "Past players". Swansea City A.F.C. Archived from the original on 9 March 2010. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
  11. Mark Jones (12 October 2016). "Gareth Bale? I can still launch it further and I'm 50!' Throw-in legend Andy Legg on being king of the flingers". WalesOnline. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  12. "New Record Leaves Legg Trailing". welsh-premier.com. 20 January 2010. Archived from the original on 17 May 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  13. Simon Brunton (19 December 1999). "Explain... long throws". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  14. "Anglo-Italian Cup 1994/95". rsssf.com. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  15. "Wales – International results – 1990–1999 – Details". rsssf.com. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  16. "Cardiff duo are royally missed". Daily Mirror. 25 March 2000. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  17. Hayes, Dean (2006). The Who's Who of Cardiff City. Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-462-0.
  18. "Legg leaves Cardiff". BBC Sport. 2 July 2003. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  19. "Peterborough 1–2 Oldham". BBC Sport. 22 January 2005. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  20. "Blackpool 0–1 Peterborough". BBC Sport. 9 April 2005. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  21. Terry Phillips (2 February 2006). "Legg back in action". South Wales Echo. Retrieved 12 March 2008.
  22. "News Article". Hucknall Town F.C. 1 August 2006. Retrieved 3 July 2009.
  23. "Reds Hit Llangefni for Five!". Llanelli A.F.C. 7 September 2007. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2010.
  24. "Legg appointed as Llanelli boss". BBC Sport. 30 April 2009. Retrieved 30 April 2009.
  25. "Motherwell 0–1 Llanelli". BBC Sport. 2 July 2009. Archived from the original on 3 July 2009. Retrieved 3 July 2009.
  26. "FAW / UEFA Pro Licence". Welsh Football Trust. 24 June 2010. Archived from the original on 9 July 2010. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  27. "Andy Legg holds "no hard feelings" towards Bangor City after axing". Daily Post. 22 November 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  28. "Academy". Cardiff City F.C. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  29. Cardiff City Under-23s boss Andy Legg leaves club as part of academy shake-up, walesonline.co.uk, 25 November 2019
  30. "Dream team 2008/09". welsh-premier.com. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
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