Andy Gregory

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Andy Gregory
Personal information
Full nameAndrew Gregory
Born (1961-08-10) 10 August 1961 (age 62)
Ince-in-Makerfield, Lancashire, England
Playing information
Height5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)[1]
PositionScrum-half
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1979–84[2] Widnes 131+10 43 24 7 191
1984–86[3] Warrington 58+2 11 4 1 53
1986–92[4] Wigan 176+6 17 22 6 118
1989 Illawarra 9 3 0 0 12
1992–93 Leeds 27+1 2 1 0 10
1993–95 Salford 31+4 4 8 2 34
Total 455 80 59 16 418
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1981–92 Great Britain 26 3 0 0 11
1988 Rest of the World 1 0 0 0 0
1981–89 Lancashire 9 1 0 0 4
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
1995–99 Salford Reds
2007 Blackpool Panthers
Total 0 0 0 0
Source: [5][6]

Andrew Gregory (born 10 August 1961) is an English former professional

1990 and 1992), the other being Garry Schofield
.

Early life

Gregory was born in Ince-in-Makerfield, Lancashire, England.

He played junior rugby league in the town for the local Wigan St Patricks ARLFC side. He also had a trial for Salford (where his father had played) at the age of 17, but was signed by Widnes.

Playing career

Widnes

Gregory played for Widnes from 1979 until 1984, towards the end of the famous

1982 Challenge Cup Final replay during the 1981–82 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Wednesday 19 May 1982, in front of a crowd of 41,171, .[7] In total, he played 141 games for Widnes scoring 43 tries, and earning GB caps while at the club.[8]

Gregory played

1983 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1983–84 season at Central Park, Wigan
on Saturday 1 October 1983,

Gregory played

1983–84 John Player Special Trophy Final during the 1983–84 season at Central Park, Wigan
on Saturday 14 January 1984.

Gregory played

1984 Challenge Cup Final during the 1983–84 season at Wembley Stadium, London
on Saturday 5 May 1984, in front of a crowd of 80,116.

Warrington

At the start of the 1984–85 season, Gregory refused to play for Widnes, and held out for a chance to play for his home town team. But Widnes refused the deal, and sold him in a deal between Widnes and

Halifax.[9][10]

Andy Gregory played

1985 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1985–86 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens, on Sunday 13 October 1985.[11]

Wigan

Gregory finally signed for

Halifax, winning the Lance Todd Trophy for the first time, a feat he repeated in 1990 as Wigan thumped Warrington 36–14. He was then selected to go on the 1988 Great Britain Lions tour
.

Gregory had a successful career at Wigan, playing 182 times for the club and winning awards including the World Club Challenge, five Challenge Cups (the first player to do so), four Championships, two Regal Trophies, two Lancashire Cups, the John Player Trophy and a Premiership.[12] He also became the first player to appear in eight Challenge Cup finals.

Gregory played

1988 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1988–89 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Sunday 23 October 1988.[14]

Gregory appeared as a

League Cup (rugby league) Final during the 1988–89 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 13 January 1990.[16]

In 1989, Gregory, and Wigan teammate,

man-of-the-match award.[17] It was the first time Illawarra had qualified for a cup final, the second coming in a 4-2 win over the Broncos in the 1992 Tooheys Challenge Cup
Final.

Gregory also played nine league games for Illawarra, scoring tries against Penrith, Gold Coast Seagulls and South Sydney. His first league game was in Round 9 against Manly, and his last was in Round 20 against Eastern Suburbs.[18]

During the 1991–92 season, Gregory played for defending champions Wigan as a scrum-half in their 1991 World Club Challenge victory against the visiting Penrith Panthers at the famous Anfield stadium in Liverpool.

Later career

Gregory was transferred to

Great Britain Lions tour of Australasia. Gregory had no intention of leaving and wanted to retire as a Wigan player, but the club has been informed by medical staff that he was becoming too injury prone. He was sold for just £15,000. Gregory failed to achieve the same heights at Leeds as he did at Wigan, something not helped by the journey from home and successive injuries,[1]
and was then transferred to Salford after two seasons.

Gregory joined Salford for the 1994 season for a fee of £10,000, and in 1995 took on a player-coach role, finishing his playing career.

International career

Gregory made his début as a substitute in

Great Britain caps.[19]

Gregory considers the

1978 Kangaroo tour, played at the Odsal Stadium in Bradford[21]

His peers also recognised Andy Gregory's talent. When Australian former captain Wally Lewis was asked which English player caused him and his team most problems, he replied "A certain little halfback! That little bastard! I admired Andy Gregory as much, if not more, than any other player because of the creativity that he boasted and the determination to cause defeat for Australia. He was also one of the toughest players that I ever played against."[22]

Despite previously announcing his retirement from international rugby league, he received a call to go on the

1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australasia, where he earned his 26th, and final, test cap in the 22–6 loss to the Mal Meninga led Aussies in the first test of the series in Sydney.[1]
He regretted the decision, as he left the tour injured as he had not recovered from a leg strain that he received at the end of Wigan's season, and it was this injury that prompted the club's desire to sell him.

Gregory is one of only two players to play in six Ashes series against Australia, playing in the

1994
.

Coaching career

Gregory coached Salford from 1995 until 1999. In 1995, Salford were excluded from the top division because of their resistance to a merger with nearby club Oldham, and despite finishing six points clear of the relegation zone. However, Gregory led them to a first-place finish in their Centenary Season (although they were not promoted), and first place again in 1996, when they were promoted to the Super League, a moment that Gregory describes as the highlight of his coaching career.[20] Ironically, he coached Salford when they defeated Wigan in the quarter-final of the 1996 Challenge Cup competition, ending their 42 match unbeaten cup run.

Salford then went on to finish mid-table in 1997, and the Challenge Cup semi-finals in 1998, losing to eventually winners Sheffield Eagles.[6]

Despite the initial success, Gregory left Salford by mutual consent in May 1999.[17]

In 2006 Gregory returned to professional rugby league, as he was appointed as coaching coordinator at National League club

Leigh.[23]

In 2007 Gregory took over struggling National League Two side Blackpool, his first head coach role in eight years. Blackpool had not won for 25 games when he took over,[24] however he was unable to turn things around, and the club finished the season without a win, and Gregory left the club at the end of the season.[25]

In 1996, Gregory also coached the Great Britain Nines side for the twelve nation World Cup in Australia,[26] leading them to the semi-finals before an eventual loss to Western Samoa.[27]

Outside professional rugby league

Since leaving professional rugby league, Gregory has taken an active role in charity work, including charity evenings to support

the Royal British Legion,[28] and fund raising games for the GB All Stars to support the charity Life for a Kid,[29] among others.[30]

In 2000 Gregory's book, Pint Size was published. The book was warmly received by fans, despite some stories that were easily contested, including his description of a Wigan versus Halifax match that actually took place after he had joined Leeds.

References

  1. ^ a b c d Corrigan, Peter (2 January 1994). "Profile: The scrum-half and a half: Andy Gregory". The Independent. Archived from the original on 7 May 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  2. ^ Widnes archive at https://rugby.widnes.tv/playerprofile.php?mid=297
  3. ISBN 0752424149
  4. ISBN 0951609823
  5. ^ a b "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  6. ^ a b "Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  7. ^ Richard de la Riviere
  8. ^ Widnes.tv
  9. ^ a b "This is Cheshire – Warrington's World Cup Heroes – Andy Gregory". Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 21 February 2010.
  10. ^ "Statistics wolvesplayers.thisiswarrington.co.uk". wolvesplayers.thisiswarrington.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  11. ^ "1985–1986 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Archived from the original on 26 September 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  12. ^ "Wigan Warriors Official Website – Andy Gregory". Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2011.
  13. ^ "1987–1988 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Archived from the original on 26 September 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  14. ^ "1988–1989 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Archived from the original on 13 July 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  15. ^ "7th January 1989: Wigan 12 Widnes 6 (John Player Trophy Final)". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  16. ^ "13th January 1990: Wigan 24 Halifax 12 (Regal Trophy Final)". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  17. ^ a b "LoveRugbyLeague.com – Legends: Andy Gregory". Archived from the original on 12 September 2011. Retrieved 20 July 2011.
  18. ^ "stats.rleague.com – Andy Gregory". Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  19. ^ RugbyLeagueProject.com – Andy Gregory
  20. ^ a b Richard de la Riviere – Andy Gregory Interview
  21. ^ Museumstuff.com
  22. ^ Wally Lewis Interview
  23. ^ Daily Mirror – Gregory Returns at Leigh
  24. ^ "BBC Sport – Gregory takes over at Blackpool". BBC Sport. 20 June 2007. Retrieved 10 September 2007.
  25. ^ BBC Sport – Panthers End 45-Game Winless Run
  26. ^ independent – Clever Gregory
  27. ^ Gregory earns top marks as GB coach
  28. ^ "An Evening with Andy Gregory". Archived from the original on 14 October 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  29. ^ "All Star Rugby – 2011 Results". Archived from the original on 27 April 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  30. ^ Legens of Rugby League and Union will Clash in Charity Match
Achievements
Preceded by Rugby league transfer record
Warrington to Wigan
1987 		Succeeded by

External links

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