Andy Hessenthaler

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Andy Hessenthaler
Personal information
Full name Andrew Hessenthaler
Date of birth August 17, 1965 (1965-08-17) (age 42)
Place of birth    Dartford, England
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current club Dover Athletic
Youth clubs
Dartford
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
 ?–1983
1983–1984
1984–1986
1986–1990
1990–1991
1991–1996
1996–2006
2005
2006–2007
2007–		 Corinthian
Charlton Athletic
Corinthian
Dartford
Redbridge Forest
Watford
Gillingham
→ Hull City (loan)
Barnet
Dover Athletic		 unknown
000 0(0)
unknown
unknown
unknown
195 (11)
303 (20)
010 0(0)
040 0(2)
026 0(4)   
National team
1990 England National Game XI 001 0(0)
Teams managed
2000–2005
2007–		 Gillingham
Dover Athletic

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 12:11, 28 April 2008 (UTC).
* Appearances (Goals)

Andrew "Andy" Hessenthaler (born 17 August 1965 in Dartford, Kent) is an English footballer. He is currently player-manager of Dover Athletic of the Isthmian League. Hessenthaler began his career in non-league football and did not turn professional until he joined Watford at the age of 26. In 1996, he joined Gillingham and spent the next ten years at the club as player and later player-manager, managing the club to its highest ever finish in the English football league system and becoming regarded as a legend of the Kent club. After leaving Gillingham, he had a short spell at Barnet before joining Dover Athletic in 2007. In his first season in charge, he led the team to the championship of Isthmian League Division One South.

Contents

[edit] Career

[edit] Non-league career

As a teenager, Hessenthaler played for the youth team of his local club Dartford.[1] He later joined Fawkham-based amateur team Corinthian, but Charlton Athletic took him on in 1983 on a non-contract trial basis.[2][3] He failed to secure a contract with the club, however, and returned to playing on a part-time basis while working as a builder.[4] In 1986, he was spotted by Dartford manager Peter Taylor while playing in a Kent Senior Cup match. Hessenthaler signed for his hometown club on a wage of £40 per week, the first regular income he had ever received for playing.[2]

Hessenthaler spent four years at the club, during which time Dartford reached the semi-finals of the FA Trophy on two occasions and finished twice as runners-up in the Southern League.[5] In 1990, he was called up to the England National Game XI, the national team for semi-professional players. Although he gained only one cap,[6] he was included by the Football Association on a list of the best ever semi-professional players to represent England in 2002.[7] Later that year, he moved on to Redbridge Forest, where he spent one season and helped the team win the Isthmian League championship.[8]

[edit] Watford and Gillingham

On the recommendation of Peter Taylor, who was by now assistant manager of Watford, Hessenthaler was signed by the Hertfordshire club for a transfer fee of £65,000 at the beginning of the 1991–92 season.[1] He opted to make the move even though becoming a full-time professional player would mean taking a drop in earnings compared to what he was making combining semi-professional football with building work.[2] His professional debut was against Everton in the Football League Cup on 24 September 1991,[2][9] and, despite having made a move of four divisions up the English football league system, he immediately established himself as a regular at Vicarage Road, making 35 Football League appearances in his first season.[10] In five seasons with the Hornets, he made 217 appearances in total, scoring 14 goals,[11] and also served as the team's captain.[12] He is fondly remembered by Watford fans for his workrate and all-round ability,[13] and he was one of the club veterans selected to represent Watford in the 2006 London Masters football event, where he was named "Player of the Tournament".[14]

At the end of the 1995–96 season, shortly after Watford's relegation from the First Division,[15] Hessenthaler signed for Gillingham for £235,000, a record fee for the Kent club.[3] He quickly became a key player at Priestfield Stadium and won the club's Player of the Year award in his first season at the club,[1] but his form dropped the following season, which was attributed to the fact that he was building a new house at Northfleet.[16] In the 1998–99 season, he returned to his best form,[16] and he played in the Gills' first ever match at Wembley Stadium. This match was the final of the play-offs against Manchester City, which Gillingham lost after a penalty shoot-out.[17] Shortly afterwards, Gillingham manager Tony Pulis, who had signed Hessenthaler, was dismissed from his post.[18] He was replaced by Peter Taylor, who appointed Hessenthaler as player-coach.[19] In his first season in this new role, he was once again a regular in the Gillingham team,[20] making a total of 47 appearances as the club recorded its highest position to date in the English football league system and best ever run in the FA Cup.[21] Although the cup run came to an end with a 5–0 defeat at the hands of Chelsea of the Premier League, Hessenthaler's high-energy performance prompted Chelsea chairman Ken Bates to joke that he had been keen to sign the player until he discovered to his surprise that he was 35 years old (although Hessenthaler was in fact only 34 at the time).[22] Gillingham once again qualified for the play-off final, with Hessenthaler making his second appearance at Wembley as the Gills beat Wigan Athletic 3–2 after extra time to secure promotion to the Football League First Division for the first time in the club's history.[23]

[edit] Player-management

Immediately after guiding Gillingham to promotion, Peter Taylor left to manage Leicester City,[24] and Hessenthaler was appointed player-manager.[25] In his first season in charge, he guided the club to a thirteenth place finish while continuing to play regularly.[26] A serious leg injury sustained in an FA Cup match against AFC Bournemouth in January 2001 kept him out for the remainder of the season but did not prevent him being selected for the Football League's Team of the Season.[1] Despite many of the club's rivals having greater budgets available with which to sign and pay players,[16] the team finished the 2001–02 season in twelfth place and the following season in eleventh place in the First Division, Gillingham's best ever finish in over seventy seasons in the Football League.[21] During the 2003–04 season, however, the Gills' fortunes declined, and the team only avoided relegation on goal difference after holding Stoke City to a draw in the last match of the season.[27] As the team continued to struggle at the start of the following season, club owner Paul Scally reiterated his confidence in Hessenthaler but brought in former Swindon Town and Wycombe Wanderers manager John Gorman to assist him.[28] The following month, with no significant improvement in the team's fortunes, Hessenthaler tendered his resignation.[29]

He remained at the club as a player but was rarely selected for the team,[30] and in January 2005, he went on loan to Hull City, where he was reunited once again with Peter Taylor.[31] He made ten appearances for Hull, who gained promotion to the Football League Championship (the new name for what had been previously been called the First Division), while Gillingham were relegated from the same division.[32][33] He returned to the Gillingham team at the start of the 2005–06 season and made a further 17 appearances, the final one in a 3–0 home win against Port Vale on 10 December 2005.[34] At forty years and four months of age, he was the oldest player ever to represent the club.[16] He rounded out his Gillingham career by returning to Priestfield Stadium for a testimonial match in July 2006.[35] He is widely regarded as a club legend by Gillingham fans, who in 2005 voted him the team's best ever player in a local radio poll,[36] and he was also named Gillingham's greatest ever player by the Professional Footballers' Association in November 2007.[37]

[edit] Subsequent career

On 19 January 2006, it was announced that Hessenthaler had signed for League Two strugglers Barnet on a short-term contract until the end of the season.[38] Although he considered retiring at the end of the season, he was persuaded by manager Paul Fairclough to sign a new contract for a further year.[39] In October 2006, he was named in the League Two team of the week,[40] but at the end of the 2006–07 season, Barnet announced that his contract would not be renewed.[41]

Shortly after his departure from Barnet, Hessenthaler was appointed manager of Dover Athletic of the Isthmian League First Division South.[42] In his first season in charge, he played regularly, making over 30 appearances as he led the team to the championship of the division and promotion to the Premier Division.[43][44]

[edit] Personal life

Hessenthaler is married with two children,[4] including a son who is a youth player with Chelsea.[45] He is the brother-in-law of his assistant at Dover, Darren Hare.[46]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Roger Triggs (2001). The Men Who Made Gillingham Football Club. Tempus Publishing Ltd, p156. ISBN 0-7524-2243-X. 
  2. ^ a b c d Jamie Jackson (2007-01-28). Last lap for Barnet's running man. The Observer. Retrieved on 2008-04-29.
  3. ^ a b John Ley (2001-01-22). FA Cup: Hessenthaler building big future with Gillingham. The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved on 2008-04-29.
  4. ^ a b Nick Townsend (2001-01-21). Football: Chelsea warned: Welcome to the discomfort zone. The Independent. Retrieved on 2008-04-29.
  5. ^ Dartford. The Football Club History Database. Retrieved on 2008-04-30.
  6. ^ Williams, Mike; Tony Williams (2007). Non-League Club Directory 2007. Tony Williams Publications Ltd, p858. 1-8698-3355-4. 
  7. ^ England's finest semi-professionals. The Football Association (2002-05-16). Retrieved on 2008-04-30.
  8. ^ Redbridge Forest. The Football Club History Database. Retrieved on 2008-04-30.
  9. ^ Watford 1991/1992 results and fixtures. Soccerbase. Retrieved on 2008-05-01.
  10. ^ Bateson, Bill; Albert Sewell (1992). News of the World Football Annual 1992–93. Harper Collins, p339. ISBN 0-85543-188-1. 
  11. ^ Andy Hessenthaler. Soccerbase. Retrieved on 2008-04-30.
  12. ^ Adam Scally (2002-04-21). Watford vs Gillingham. Gillingham F.C.. Retrieved on 2008-04-30.
  13. ^ Gone But Not Forgotten: Andy Hessenthaler. BSAD. Retrieved on 2008-05-01.
  14. ^ London Masters 2006. Masters Football. Retrieved on 2008-05-01.
  15. ^ Watford. The Football Club History Database. Retrieved on 2008-05-01.
  16. ^ a b c d Andy's Colourful Career. Dover Athletic F.C. (2007-05-28). Retrieved on 2008-05-01.
  17. ^ League One Play-Off Final. Soccerbase. Retrieved on 2008-05-01.
  18. ^ End of ills for Gills. BBC (2001-04-30). Retrieved on 2008-05-01.
  19. ^ Hessenthaler steps down at Gills. BBC (2004-11-23). Retrieved on 2008-05-01.
  20. ^ Games played by Andy Hessenthaler in 1999/2000. Soccerbase. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  21. ^ a b Gillingham. The Football Club History Database. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  22. ^ Parry, Haydn (2000). Never Look Back - The Official Account of The Gills 1999/2000 Promotion Season. Gillingham Football Club plc, p81. 
  23. ^ Second time lucky for Gills. BBC (2000-05-28). Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  24. ^ The Peter principle. BBC (2000-06-12). Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  25. ^ Gills clinch promotion at last. BBC (2000-06-29). Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  26. ^ Games played by Andy Hessenthaler in 2000/2001. Soccerbase. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  27. ^ Stoke 0–0 Gillingham. BBC (2004-05-09). Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  28. ^ Gorman to join Gillingham. BBC (2004-10-05). Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  29. ^ Hessenthaler steps down at Gills. BBC (2004-11-23). Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  30. ^ Games played by Andy Hessenthaler in 2004/2005. Soccerbase. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  31. ^ Hessenthaler joins Hull on loan. BBC (2005-01-27). Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  32. ^ Final 2004/2005 Football League One Table. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  33. ^ Final 2004/2005 Football League Championship Table. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  34. ^ Games played by Andy Hessenthaler in 2005/2006. Soccerbase. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  35. ^ Luke Cawdell (2006-07-31). Gills legend's rapturous send off. Kent Online. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  36. ^ Hessenthaler shock at BBC honour. BBC (2005-01-17). Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  37. ^ Luke Cawdell (2007-11-29). Hess named greatest Gills player. Kent Online. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  38. ^ Barnet sign veteran Hessenthaler. BBC (2006-01-19). Retrieved on 2008-05-01.
  39. ^ Hessenthaler pens new Barnet deal. BBC (2006-05-17). Retrieved on 2008-05-01.
  40. ^ Coca-Cola League 2 Team of the Week (30/10/2006) (PDF document). The Football League. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  41. ^ Veteran pair released by Barnet. BBC (2007-05-02). Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  42. ^ Hessenthaler named Dover manager. BBC (2007-05-29). Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  43. ^ Parmenter reveals Dover ambition. BBC (2008-04-07). Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  44. ^ Player Statistics for Season 2007-2008. Dover Athletic F.C.. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  45. ^ Athletic edge nearer to title. YourDover.co.uk (2008-03-10). Retrieved on 2008-04-29.
  46. ^ Darren Hare. margatefchistory.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-04-29.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Gillingham F.C. – Managers

Groombridge (1896–1906) • Smith (1906–08) • Groombridge (1908–19) • Collins (1919–20) • McMillan (1920–23) • Curtis (1923–26) • Hoskins (1926–29) • Hendrie (1929–31) • Maven (1932–37) • Ure (1937–38) • Harvey (1938–39) • Clark (1939–58) • Barratt (1958–62) • Cox (1962–65) • Hayward (1965–71) • Nelson (1971–74) • Ashurst (1974–75) • Summers (1975–81) • Peacock (1981–87) • Paul Taylor (1987–88) • Burkinshaw (1988–89) • Richardson (1989–92) • Roeder (1992–93) • Flanagan (1993–95) • Smillie (1995) • Pulis (1995–99) • Peter Taylor (1999–2000) • Hessenthaler (2000–04) • Gorman (2004) • Ternent (2004–05) • Cooper (2005) • Jepson (2005–07) • Docherty (2007) • Onuora (2007) • Stimson (2007–)