Josh Andrews (footballer)

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Josh Andrews
Personal information
Full name Joshua Matthew Andrews[1]
Date of birth (2001-10-16) 16 October 2001 (age 20)[2]
Place of birth Solihull, England
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[3]
Position(s) Striker
Club information
Current team
 Rochdale
(on loan from Birmingham City)
Number 19
Youth career
2009–2020 Birmingham City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020– Birmingham City 0 (0)
2021 → Harrogate Town (loan) 3 (0)
2021– → Rochdale (loan) 12 (3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 10:40, 23 January 2022 (UTC)

Joshua Matthew Andrews (born 16 October 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for EFL League Two club Rochdale, on loan from Birmingham City of the EFL Championship. He made his Football League debut while on loan to Harrogate Town of League Two in 2021.

Early and personal life[]

Andrews was born in Solihull, where he attended Langley School.[2] He was a childhood fan of Birmingham City.[2]

Career[]

He joined Birmingham City's academy in 2009,[2] and took up a scholarship with the club in July 2018.[4] According to his club profile at under-23 level, he "cites his finishing, hold-up play and runs in behind as his main attributes and is looking to make improvements in his heading."[2]

Birmingham City made him an offer of professional terms in April 2020, and in July he signed a two-year contract with an option for a third year.[5][6] In November, coach Steve Spooner highlighted his having "grown into his body", so that the 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) youth had become a large man with increasing ability to use his physicality, as well as "finding and working space for himself inside the box".[7] He scored seven goals in four matches for Birmingham's under-23 team in October and November, including all four in a 5–4 loss to Ipswich Town U23 and winners against Swansea City U23 and Colchester United U23,[7] and by the end of January 2021 had nine goals and four assists from eleven appearances.[8][9]

Andrews signed for League Two club Harrogate Town on 1 February 2021 on loan for the remainder of the season.[9] According to Harrogate manager Simon Weaver, "It's his first loan which means it's not about starting every game but adapting to the culture and learning. When Birmingham told me he's the type of lad that's willing to learn, it became a no-brainer for us."[8] His Birmingham U23 team-mate Mitchell Roberts had made the same move a few weeks earlier.[10] Andrews made his club and Football League debut on 6 February, as a very late substitute in a 3–1 win away to Crawley Town.[11] He made an equally brief appearance in the next match,[12] returned to Birmingham for treatment to an injury,[13] and was not used again until the final fixture of the season.[12] He returned to help Birmingham's U23s win the overall Professional Development League title. According to the Birmingham Mail, his introduction at half-time was "a big reason for Blues' improved second half showing" in the semi-final against Bristol City U23,[14] and he played the last quarter-hour of the final, in which Birmingham beat Sheffield United U23 2–0.[15]

Andrews joined another League Two club, Rochdale, on 10 August 2021 on loan for the 2021–22 season.[16] He made his debut a week later, replacing the injured Jake Beesley after 24 minutes of a 2–1 defeat at home to Forest Green Rovers.[17] Andrews started the next match, away to previously unbeaten Northampton Town; after 73 minutes, he beat the offside trap to score his first senior goal and help his side secure their first win of the season.[18]

Career statistics[]

As of match played 22 January 2022
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Birmingham City 2020–21[12] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2021–22[19] Championship 0 0 0 0 — — 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Harrogate Town (loan) 2020–21[12] League Two 3 0 — — — 3 0
Rochdale (loan) 2021–22[19] League Two 12 3 2 1 2 0 1[a] 1 16 5
Career total 15 3 2 1 2 0 1 1 20 5
  1. ^ Appearances in EFL Trophy

References[]

  1. ^ "Club list of registered players" (PDF). English Football League. 23 June 2020. p. 3. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Josh Andrews". Birmingham City F.C. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  3. ^ "Josh Andrews". Harrogate Town A.F.C. Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  4. ^ "List of Players Registered as Scholars in Accordance with Rule C.3 Between 01/07/2018 and 31/07/2018". The Football Association. p. 49. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 August 2019.
  5. ^ "Blues offer first professional deals to five". Birmingham City F.C. 29 April 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  6. ^ "Andrews pens professional deal". Birmingham City F.C. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  7. ^ a b Dick, Brian (12 November 2020). "Seven in four – The teenage striker on fire for Birmingham City's Under 23s". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  8. ^ a b Howell, Rhys (1 February 2021). "Opportunity to take young Birmingham City hot-shot on loan too tempting for Harrogate Town to turn down". Harrogate Advertiser. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Harrogate sign Blues striker Andrews". BBC Sport. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  10. ^ Howell, Rhys (8 January 2021). "Mitchell Roberts 'buzzing' to join Harrogate Town on loan from Birmingham City". Harrogate Advertiser. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  11. ^ "Crawley 1–3 Town – It's another win on the road!". Harrogate Town A.F.C. 6 February 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  12. ^ a b c d "Games played by Josh Andrews in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  13. ^ Rayner, Stuart (26 March 2021). "Josh Andrews and Mitch Roberts back but Harrogate Town will not rush them onto the pitch". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  14. ^ Dick, Brian (14 May 2021). "Birmingham City Under 23s player ratings vs Bristol City: Redmond strikes late to send Blues through". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  15. ^ Dick, Brian (24 May 2021). "Blues U23s vs Sheff Utd U23s player ratings: Man City trainee sparkles as George blunts Blades". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  16. ^ "Josh Andrews: Birmingham City loan forward to Rochdale for the season". BBC Sport. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  17. ^ "Report: Rochdale 1–2 Forest Green Rovers". 15 August 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  18. ^ Heneghan, James (21 August 2021). "Dale deliver at Sixfields as Cobblers suffer first defeat of the season". Northampton Chronicle. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  19. ^ a b "Games played by Josh Andrews in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
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