Andy Ritchie joined his hometown club of Manchester United from
school - and was to score a hat-trick against Leeds before being
released from Old Trafford. He built himself a good reputation in two
and a half years at Brighton before a swap deal brought him to Elland
Road with Terry Connor heading in the other direction. He was always a
combative player and he scored his fair share of goals, and it was a
shame to see him move to Oldham in 1987. He stayed at Oldham as a
player for 8 years, spent 18 months with Scarborough and then returned
to Boundary Park where he became the manager.
Although he was nominally only the manager, he still found himself
on the pitch in the LDV Final in 2001, coming on to the park 42 days
beyond his 40th birthday after the squad had been decimated by
illness. After being booted out of Oldham, Andy returned to Leeds
where he is a key man in the Academy setup.
Andy Koziol says: Andy thanks for the fantastic memories at OAFC
all the very very very best at Leeds Utd.
Dave Buckley (ex OAFC) says: I thought Andy was treated abysmally
by Oldham Athletic whom he served so well as both a player and a
manager. I have not been near Boundary Park since this ludicrous
ruthless sacking. All the best at Leeds Andy - I believe the Leeds
youth set up is excellent.
Nick says: Ritchie you are the king!!
Martin Beanlands says: Shared a four pack of John Smith's with
Andy, on the Kings Cross to Leeds train on a Friday afternoon back in
the Mid Eighties (Feb or March 1986 I think?) Andy was on his way
back after failing a medical at Portsmouth, (dodgy knee) I was one of
the first to find out which was exciting when I read it in the papers
over the following weekend. The failing of Portsmouth to sign Andy
came back to haunt Pompy very soon after our meeting, as if I remember
correctly Andy scored twice down at Fratton Park as Leeds won 3 - 2.
Super Leeds!
MW says: I played against him as a schoolboy in 1976. He was head
and shoulders above everyone on the pitch. I have been in the States
for 20 odd years and was just wandering what ever happened to him
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