Andy Poole (footballer)

Andrew John Poole (born 6 July 1960) is an English former footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He spent four years at Northampton Town between 1978 and 1982 before entering the non-league scene after unsuccessful spells with Wolverhampton Wanderers and Port Vale.

Poole played for Mansfield Town, before signing with Northampton Town in 1978. Under Mike Keen's stewardship, the "Cobblers" finished 19th in the Fourth Division in 1978–79, two places and two points above the re-election zone. They rose to 13th in 1979–80 under new boss Clive Walker, and Poole was voted as the club's Player of the Year. However, after Bill Dodgin took over at the County Ground, Northampton finished 10th in 1980–81, before dropping to third-from-bottom of the Football League in 1981–82, and having to seek re-election. Poole started the 1982–83 season with Wolverhampton Wanderers, before he joined Port Vale in March 1983. His debut came in a 1–1 draw with local rivals Crewe Alexandra at Vale Park on 5 March, but after just one more match he had his contract cancelled that same month. Both Wolves and the "Valiants" went on to win promotion out of the Second Division and Fourth Division respectively in 1982–83. He moved on to Gillingham, Nuneaton Borough, Coventry Sporting, Worcester City, Buckingham Town, Kettering Town and finally Brackley Town; where he served as player-manager.

• Sourced from Andy Poole profile at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)

• Northampton Town F.C. Player of the Year: 1979–80