| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Andrew Terry Awford | ||
| Date of birth | (1972-07-14)14 July 1972 (age 53) | ||
| Place of birth | Worcester, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[1] | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1987–1989 | Worcester City | ||
| 1989–2000 | Portsmouth | 313 | (3) |
| International career | |||
| 1992–1993 | England U21 | 10 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2000–2006 | Portsmouth Academy (scout) | ||
| 2006–2007 | Oxford United (Assistant coach) | ||
| 2008–2009 | Bognor Regis Town (Assistant coach) | ||
| 2011–2014 | Portsmouth Academy | ||
| 2013 | Portsmouth (caretaker) | ||
| 2014 | Portsmouth (caretaker) | ||
| 2014–2015 | Portsmouth | ||
| 2015 | Luton Town (Development Manager) | ||
| 2015–2016 | Luton Town (caretaker) | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Andrew Terry Awford (born 14 July 1972) is an Englishfootball coach and former footballer who was most recently the Youth Academy and Development Manager atLuton Town. Prior to this, he was the manager ofPortsmouth, a club where he spent the vast majority of his playing and coaching career. Awford was selected by the FA in 2012 to participate on their new level 5 qualification, The FA Professional / Elite Award, which he successfully completed and graduated in June 2013 at St Georges Park.
Awford began his career at his home-town clubWorcester City where he became the youngest player ever to appear in theFA Cup, aged just 15 years 88 days, when he came on as substitute in a tie atBoreham Wood.[2]
He went on to sign professional terms withSecond Division sidePortsmouth in 1989 at the age of 16, making almost 400 first-team appearances in an 11-year career. Awford was part of the "Pompey" side that reached the FA Cup semi-final in 1992, losing toLiverpool in apenalty shootout. In his time at the club, he also played ten times for theEngland under-21s.
In 1994, Awford suffered a succession of injuries, including a broken leg, which kept him from playing for 14 months. He went on to play in subsequent campaigns, but further injuries throughout the2000–01 season led him to retire from professional football at the age of 28. His last competitive appearance for "Pompey" came againstQueens Park Rangers on 4 November 2000.[3]
After retiring, Awford took up the position of chief scout and later reserve team manager atPortsmouth. In April 2006, he was appointed the first team coach atOxford United under his former Portsmouth managerJim Smith and in June 2008 became assistant manager ofBognor Regis Town. Awford resigned along with manager Mick Jenkins in January 2009.[4]
He obtained aUEFA 'A' Licence and worked as a PE Teacher inPetersfield before returning to Portsmouth as the club's Academy Manager in February 2011.[5] FollowingMichael Appleton's move toBlackpool in November 2012,Guy Whittingham was made caretaker manager of Portsmouth with Awford appointed as his assistant. Despite being given only temporary roles, the pair remained in charge for the rest of the2012–13 season. In June 2013 Awford graduated from The FA Professional / Elite level 5 accreditation. In November 2013, Whittingham, who had been named as permanent manager, was sacked and Awford named as caretaker manager.[6] On 9 December,Richie Barker was named as permanent manager with Awford returning to work with the club's academy.[7]
On 27 March 2014, Barker left on mutual terms and Awford was named caretaker manager until the end of the2013–14 season. Awford won his first five matches in charge to ensure Portsmouth would avoid relegation fromThe Football League.[8] Awford subsequently won April'sLeague TwoManager of the Month.[9]
On 1 May 2014, it was announced that Awford would be appointed as Portsmouth manager on a permanent basis on a one-year rolling contract.[10] Awford won theLeague TwoManager of the Month award for February during the2014–15 season following an unbeaten month, guiding the club to four wins and two draws.[11] However, a poor run of form in the next ten games led to Awford leaving Portsmouth by mutual consent on 13 April 2015, with the club sitting in 14th position in the table.[12]
On 26 June 2015, Awford joinedLuton Town as Youth Academy and Development Manager.[13] Awford took over as caretaker manager followingJohn Still's sacking in December 2015, leading the club to one win, a draw and two losses. Awford returned to his academy role following the appointment ofNathan Jones as permanent Luton manager in January 2016.[14] Awford left Luton in April 2022.[15]
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | |||
| Portsmouth (caretaker) | 25 November 2013 | 9 December 2013 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 000.0 |
| Portsmouth (caretaker) | 27 March 2014 | 1 May 2014 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 071.4 |
| Portsmouth | 1 May 2014 | 13 April 2015 | 48 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 031.3 |
| Luton Town (caretaker) | 17 December 2015 | 6 January 2016 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 025.0 |
| Total | 62 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 033.9 | ||
Awford has a son,Nick, who progressed through thePortsmouth Academy and currently plays forFarnborough.[17]
