Andrew Linighan.
Born. Hartlepool 18 - June - 1962. (The same day as Admin, just 20 years off!)
Debut. Stockport. 23 - August - 1981.
Local boy Andy played played for Murton colliery welfare before been picked up by Pools and he made steady progress though the ranks until his first full appearance against Stockport County.
This 6'2" man mountain was blessed with good feet as well as being awesome in the air and was earmarked for a big future.
Andy was offered a trial at Everton but opted to join second division side Leeds United for a fee of £20-000.
Andy did well for Dirty Leeds but was sold to Oldham in 1986 for a quick profit the fee was £45-000.
The big man had 2 great seasons for Oldham till Norwich City moved in for him with a big fee £350-000. Andy once said that his days at Norwich were the most enjoyable days of his football career. He was called up and won England B team caps the big clubs were taking note of the big mans performances and the mighty Arsenal put in a bid of 1.25 million and Andy became a gunner.
He was the first Hartlepool born footballer to break the magical million mark.
In my opinion it was a strange signing at the time because Arsenal had 5 of the best centre backs in the country Adams, Bould, Keown, O'Leary and Pates.
With this amount of quality on the books Linighan only made 101 appearances in 6 seasons but in that 6 seasons he picked up a championship medal, league cup winners medal, European cup winners medal and scored the late winning goal to give him and Arsenal the F.A. cup not bad for a Poolie boy.
At the age of 34 he moved across London to Crystal palace making over 100 appearances. His last league move was to Oxford at the age of 38 he bowed out of league football.
He has a spell at St Albans then set up his own business in the south.
Andy came from a big footballing family.
Dad Brian: pools res and Lincoln.
Brothers: David pools Shrewsbury and Ipswich. Brian Sheff Wed. John Sheff Wed. Mark pools res.
cousin Micheal pools youth team
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