Andy Hessenthaler 4674285 225837529 2008-07-15T17:06:02Z DoverAthleticFC 7197850 {{Football manager infobox | playername = Andy Hessenthaler| image = [[Image:AndyHess2.jpg|200px]]| fullname = Andrew Hessenthaler| dateofbirth = {{birth date and age|1965|8|17}} | cityofbirth = [[Dartford]] | countryofbirth = [[England]] | currentclub = [[Dover Athletic F.C.|Dover Athletic]] | clubnumber = | position = [[Midfielder]] | youthyears = | youthclubs =[[Dartford F.C.|Dartford]]| years = ?&ndash;1983<br />1983&ndash;1984<br />1984&ndash;1986<br />1986&ndash;1990<br />1990&ndash;1991<br />1991&ndash;1996</br>1996&ndash;2006</br>2005</br>2006&ndash;2007</br>2007&ndash; | clubs = [[Corinthian F.C. (Kent)|Corinthian]]<br />[[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]]<br />[[Corinthian F.C. (Kent)|Corinthian]]<br />[[Dartford F.C.|Dartford]]<br />[[Redbridge Forest F.C.|Redbridge Forest]]<br />[[Watford F.C.|Watford]]</br>[[Gillingham F.C.|Gillingham]]</br>→ [[Hull City F.C.|Hull City]] (loan)</br>[[Barnet F.C.|Barnet]] </br>[[Dover Athletic F.C.|Dover Athletic]] | caps(goals) = ''unknown''<br />{{0}}{{0}}0 {{0}}(0)<br />''unknown''<br />''unknown''<br />''unknown''<br />195 (11) </br> 303 (20) </br>{{0}}10 {{0}}(0)</br>{{0}}40 {{0}}(2) </br> {{0}}26 {{0}}(4)| nationalyears = 1990 | nationalteam = [[England National Game XI]] | nationalcaps(goals) = {{0}}{{0}}1 {{0}}(0)| manageryears = 2000&ndash;2005<br />2007&ndash; | managerclubs = [[Gillingham F.C.|Gillingham]]<br />[[Dover Athletic F.C.|Dover Athletic]] | pcupdate = 12:11, 28 April 2008 (UTC) }} '''Andrew "Andy" Hessenthaler''' (born [[17 August]] [[1965]] in [[Dartford]], [[Kent]]) is an [[England|English]] [[association football|footballer]]. He is currently [[player-manager]] of [[Dover Athletic F.C.|Dover Athletic]] of the [[Isthmian League]]. Hessenthaler began his career in [[non-league football]] and did not turn professional until he joined [[Watford F.C.|Watford]] at the age of 26. In 1996, he joined [[Gillingham F.C.|Gillingham]] and spent the next ten years at the club as player and later player-manager, managing the club to its highest ever finish in the [[English football league system]] and becoming regarded as a legend of the [[Kent]] club. After leaving Gillingham, he had a short spell at [[Barnet F.C.|Barnet]] before joining Dover Athletic in 2007. In his first season in charge, he led the team to the championship of [[Isthmian League Division One South]]. ==Career== ===Non-league career=== As a teenager, Hessenthaler played for the youth team of his local club [[Dartford F.C.|Dartford]].<ref name="triggs" /> He later joined [[Fawkham]]-based amateur team [[Corinthian F.C. (Kent)|Corinthian]], but [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]] took him on in 1983 on a non-contract trial basis.<ref name="He">{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2007/jan/28/newsstory.barnet|title=Last lap for Barnet's running man|publisher=The Observer|accessdate=2008-04-29|date=2007-01-28|author=Jamie Jackson}}</ref><ref name="He2">{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2001/01/22/sfngil23.xml|title=FA Cup: Hessenthaler building big future with Gillingham|publisher=The Daily Telegraph|accessdate=2008-04-29|date=2001-01-22|author=John Ley}}</ref> He failed to secure a contract with the club, however, and returned to playing on a part-time basis while working as a [[builder]].<ref name="Chel">{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20010121/ai_n9667432|title=Football: Chelsea warned: Welcome to the discomfort zone|author=Nick Townsend|publisher=The Independent|accessdate=2008-04-29|date=2001-01-21}}</ref> In 1986, he was spotted by [[Dartford F.C.|Dartford]] manager [[Peter Taylor (footballer born 1953)|Peter Taylor]] while playing in a [[Kent Senior Cup]] match. Hessenthaler signed for his hometown club on a wage of £40 per week, the first regular income he had ever received for playing.<ref name="He" /> Hessenthaler spent four years at the club, during which time Dartford reached the semi-finals of the [[FA Trophy]] on two occasions and finished twice as runners-up in the [[Southern Football League|Southern League]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fchd.info/DARTFORD.HTM|title=Dartford|publisher=The Football Club History Database|accessdate=2008-04-30}}</ref> In 1990, he was called up to the [[England C national football team|England National Game XI]], the national team for semi-professional players. Although he gained only one [[Cap (sport)|cap]],<ref>{{cite book|title=Non-League Club Directory 2007|first=Mike|last=Williams|coauthors=Tony Williams|date=2007|publisher=Tony Williams Publications Ltd|id=1-8698-3355-4|page=p858}}</ref> he was included by [[the Football Association]] on a list of the best ever semi-professional players to represent England in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/England/NationalGameXI/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2002/05/11630.htm|title=England's finest semi-professionals|publisher=The Football Association|accessdate=2008-04-30|date=2002-05-16}}</ref> Later that year, he moved on to [[Redbridge Forest F.C.|Redbridge Forest]], where he spent one season and helped the team win the [[Isthmian League]] championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fchd.info/REDBRIDF.HTM|title=Redbridge Forest|publisher=The Football Club History Database|accessdate=2008-04-30}}</ref> ===Watford and Gillingham=== On the recommendation of Peter Taylor, who was by now assistant manager of [[Watford F.C.|Watford]], Hessenthaler was signed by the [[Hertfordshire]] club for a [[transfer fee]] of £65,000 at the beginning of the [[1991-92 in English football|1991&ndash;92]] season.<ref name="triggs" /> He opted to make the move even though becoming a full-time professional player would mean taking a drop in earnings compared to what he was making combining semi-professional football with building work.<ref name="He" /> His professional debut was against [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] in the [[Football League Cup]] on [[24 September]] [[1991]],<ref name="He" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/results2.sd?competitionid=6&seasonid=121&teamid=2741|title=Watford 1991/1992 results and fixtures|publisher=Soccerbase|accessdate=2008-05-01}}</ref> and, despite having made a move of four divisions up the [[English football league system]], he immediately established himself as a regular at [[Vicarage Road]], making 35 [[The Football League|Football League]] appearances in his first season.<ref>{{cite book | first=Bill|last=Bateson |coauthors=Albert Sewell | title=News of the World Football Annual 1992&ndash;93| publisher=Harper Collins | year=1992| id=ISBN 0-85543-188-1|pages=p339}}</ref> In five seasons with the Hornets, he made 217 appearances in total, scoring 14 goals,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=3455|title=Andy Hessenthaler|publisher=Soccerbase|accessdate=2008-04-30}}</ref> and also served as the team's [[Captain (football)|captain]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10416~15806,00.html|title=Watford vs Gillingham|publisher=Gillingham F.C.|author=Adam Scally|accessdate=2008-04-30|date=2002-04-21}}</ref> He is fondly remembered by Watford fans for his workrate and all-round ability,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bsad.org/gone/hessy.html|title=Gone But Not Forgotten: Andy Hessenthaler|publisher=BSAD|accessdate=2008-05-01}}</ref> and he was one of the club veterans selected to represent Watford in the 2006 London [[Masters football]] event, where he was named "Player of the Tournament".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mastersfootball.com/masterscup2006_london.htm|publisher=Masters Football|title=London Masters 2006|accessdate=2008-05-01}}</ref> At the end of the [[1995-96 in English football|1995&ndash;96]] season, shortly after Watford's [[Promotion and relegation|relegation]] from the [[Football League First Division|First Division]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fchd.info/WATFORD.HTM|title=Watford|publisher=The Football Club History Database|accessdate=2008-05-01}}</ref> Hessenthaler signed for [[Gillingham F.C.|Gillingham]] for £235,000, a record fee for the [[Kent]] club.<ref name="He2" /> He quickly became a key player at [[Priestfield Stadium]] and won the club's Player of the Year award in his first season at the club,<ref name="triggs">{{cite book | author=Roger Triggs | title=The Men Who Made Gillingham Football Club| publisher=Tempus Publishing Ltd | year=2001| id=ISBN 0-7524-2243-X|page=p156}}</ref> but his form dropped the following season, which was attributed to the fact that he was building a new house at [[Northfleet]].<ref name="DA">{{cite web|url=http://www.doverathletic.com/index.php?p=news&id=777|title=Andy's Colourful Career|publisher=Dover Athletic F.C.|accessdate=2008-05-01|date=2007-05-28}}</ref> In the [[1998-99 in English football|1998&ndash;99]] season, he returned to his best form,<ref name="DA" /> and he played in the Gills' first ever match at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]]. This match was the final of the [[Football League One play-offs|play-offs]] against [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]], which Gillingham lost after a [[Penalty shoot-out (football)|penalty shoot-out]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=306791|title=League One Play-Off Final|publisher=Soccerbase|accessdate=2008-05-01}}</ref> Shortly afterwards, Gillingham manager [[Tony Pulis]], who had signed Hessenthaler, was dismissed from his post.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/football/eng_div_1/1304932.stm|title=End of ills for Gills|publisher=BBC|Author=Haydn Parry|accessdate=2008-05-01|date=2001-04-30}}</ref> He was replaced by Peter Taylor, who appointed Hessenthaler as [[player-coach]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/4035041.stm|title=Hessenthaler steps down at Gills|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2008-05-01|date=2004-11-23}}</ref> In his first season in this new role, he was once again a regular in the Gillingham team,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=3455&seasonid=129|title=Games played by Andy Hessenthaler in 1999/2000|publisher=Soccerbase|accessdate=2008-05-02}}</ref> making a total of 47 appearances as the club recorded its highest position to date in the [[English football league system]] and best ever run in the [[FA Cup]].<ref name="FCHDG">{{cite web|url=http://www.fchd.info/GILLINGH.HTM|title=Gillingham|publisher=The Football Club History Database|accessdate=2008-05-02}}</ref> Although the cup run came to an end with a 5&ndash;0 defeat at the hands of [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] of the [[Premier League]], Hessenthaler's high-energy performance prompted Chelsea chairman [[Ken Bates]] to joke that he had been keen to sign the player until he discovered to his surprise that he was 35 years old (although Hessenthaler was in fact only 34 at the time).<ref>{{cite book | first = Haydn|last= Parry | title = Never Look Back - The Official Account of The Gills 1999/2000 Promotion Season | publisher = Gillingham Football Club plc | year = 2000|page=p81 }}</ref> Gillingham once again qualified for the play-off final, with Hessenthaler making his second appearance at Wembley as the Gills beat [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]] 3&ndash;2 after extra time to secure [[Promotion and relegation|promotion]] to the [[Football League First Division]] for the first time in the club's history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/767702.stm|title=Second time lucky for Gills|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2008-05-02|date=2000-05-28}}</ref> ===Player-management=== Immediately after guiding Gillingham to promotion, Peter Taylor left to manage [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/787483.stm|title=The Peter principle|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2008-05-02|date=2000-06-12}}</ref> and Hessenthaler was appointed [[player-manager]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/791094.stm|title=Gills clinch promotion at last |publisher=BBC|accessdate=2008-05-02|date=2000-06-29}}</ref> In his first season in charge, he guided the club to a thirteenth place finish while continuing to play regularly.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=3455&seasonid=130|title=Games played by Andy Hessenthaler in 2000/2001|publisher=Soccerbase|accessdate=2008-05-02}}</ref> A serious leg injury sustained in an [[FA Cup]] match against [[AFC Bournemouth]] in January 2001 kept him out for the remainder of the season but did not prevent him being selected for the Football League's Team of the Season.<ref name="triggs" /> Despite many of the club's rivals having greater budgets available with which to sign and pay players,<ref name="DA" /> the team finished the [[2001-02 in English football|2001&ndash;02]] season in twelfth place and the following season in eleventh place in the First Division, Gillingham's best ever finish in over seventy seasons in [[the Football League]].<ref name="FCHDG" /> During the [[2003-04 in English football|2003&ndash;04]] season, however, the Gills' fortunes declined, and the team only avoided relegation on [[goal difference]] after holding [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]] to a draw in the last match of the season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/3676119.stm|title=Stoke 0&ndash;0 Gillingham|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2008-05-02|date=2004-05-09}}</ref> As the team continued to struggle at the start of the following season, club owner [[Paul Scally]] reiterated his confidence in Hessenthaler but brought in former [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]] and [[Wycombe Wanderers F.C.|Wycombe Wanderers]] manager [[John Gorman (footballer)|John Gorman]] to assist him.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/3716672.stm|title=Gorman to join Gillingham|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2008-05-02|date=2004-10-05}}</ref> The following month, with no significant improvement in the team's fortunes, Hessenthaler tendered his resignation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/4035041.stm|title=Hessenthaler steps down at Gills|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2008-05-02|date=2004-11-23}}</ref> He remained at the club as a player but was rarely selected for the team,<ref name="Oh Four">{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=3455&seasonid=134|title=Games played by Andy Hessenthaler in 2004/2005|publisher=Soccerbase|accessdate=2008-05-02}}</ref> and in January 2005, he went on loan to [[Hull City A.F.C.|Hull City]], where he was reunited once again with Peter Taylor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hull_city/4212649.stm|title=Hessenthaler joins Hull on loan |publisher=BBC|accessdate=2008-05-02|date=2005-01-27}}</ref> He made ten appearances for Hull, who gained promotion to the [[Football League Championship]] (the new name for what had been previously been called the First Division), while Gillingham were relegated from the same division.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?seasonid=134&competitionid=3|title=Final 2004/2005 Football League One Table|accessdate=2008-05-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?seasonid=134&competitionid=2|title=Final 2004/2005 Football League Championship Table|accessdate=2008-05-02}}</ref> He returned to the Gillingham team at the start of the [[2005-06 in English football|2005&ndash;06]] season and made a further 17 appearances, the final one in a 3&ndash;0 home win against [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]] on [[10 December]] [[2005]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=3455&seasonid=135|title=Games played by Andy Hessenthaler in 2005/2006|publisher=Soccerbase|accessdate=2008-05-02}}</ref> At forty years and four months of age, he was the oldest player ever to represent the club.<ref name="DA" /> He rounded out his Gillingham career by returning to [[Priestfield Stadium]] for a testimonial match in July 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kentonline.co.uk/gillingham/article.asp?article_id=27727&startrecord=56|title=Gills legend's rapturous send off|publisher=Kent Online|accessdate=2008-05-02|date=2006-07-31|author=Luke Cawdell}}</ref> He is widely regarded as a club legend by Gillingham fans, who in 2005 voted him the team's best ever player in a local radio poll,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/low/football/teams/g/gillingham/4181529.stm|publisher=BBC|title=Hessenthaler shock at BBC honour |accessdate=2008-05-02|date=2005-01-17}}</ref> and he was also named Gillingham's greatest ever player by the [[Professional Footballers' Association]] in November 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kentonline.co.uk/gillingham/article.asp?article_id=36508&startrecord=2|publisher=Kent Online|title=Hess named greatest Gills player|author=Luke Cawdell|accessdate=2008-05-02|date=2007-11-29}}</ref> ===Subsequent career=== On [[19 January]] [[2006]], it was announced that Hessenthaler had signed for [[Football League Two|League Two]] strugglers [[Barnet F.C.|Barnet]] on a short-term contract until the end of the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/barnet/4627628.stm|title=Barnet sign veteran Hessenthaler|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2008-05-01|date=2006-01-19}}</ref> Although he considered retiring at the end of the season, he was persuaded by manager [[Paul Fairclough]] to sign a new contract for a further year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/barnet/4989192.stm|title=Hessenthaler pens new Barnet deal|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2008-05-01|date=2006-05-17}}</ref> In October 2006, he was named in the League Two team of the week,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk/staticFiles/b0/ac/0,,10794~44208,00.pdf|publisher=The Football League|accessdate=2008-05-02|title=Coca-Cola League 2 Team of the Week (30/10/2006) ''(PDF document)''}}</ref> but at the end of the [[2006-07 in English football|2006&ndash;07]] season, Barnet announced that his contract would not be renewed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/barnet/6616767.stm|title=Veteran pair released by Barnet|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2008-05-02|date=2007-05-02}}</ref> Shortly after his departure from Barnet, Hessenthaler was appointed manager of [[Dover Athletic F.C.|Dover Athletic]] of the [[Isthmian League First Division South]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/barnet/6699855.stm|title=Hessenthaler named Dover manager|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2008-05-02|date=2007-05-29}}</ref> In his first season in charge, he played regularly, making over 30 appearances as he led the team to the championship of the division and promotion to the [[Isthmian League Premier Division|Premier Division]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/7334583.stm|title=Parmenter reveals Dover ambition|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2008-05-02|date=2008-04-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.doverathletic.com/index.php?p=playerstatslist|title=Player Statistics for Season 2007-2008|publisher=Dover Athletic F.C.|accessdate=2008-05-02}}</ref> ==Personal life== Hessenthaler is married with two children,<ref name="Chel" /> including a son who is a youth player with [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yourdover.co.uk/kent-news/Athletic-edge-nearer-to-title-newsinkent10687.aspx?news=sport|title=Athletic edge nearer to title |accessdate=2008-04-29|date=2008-03-10|publisher=YourDover.co.uk}}</ref> He is the brother-in-law of his assistant at Dover, Darren Hare.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.margatefchistory.co.uk/darrenhare.htm|title=Darren Hare|publisher=margatefchistory.co.uk|accessdate=2008-04-29}}</ref> In 2008 he opened a new sports and social club in [[Gillingham]] in partnership with former team-mate [[Nicky Southall]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.44two.net/index.html|title=Welcome|publisher=44Two Sports and Social Club|accessdate=2008-07-11}}</ref> ==References== {{reflist|2}} ==External links== *{{soccerbase|id=3455|name=Andy Hessenthaler}} {{Dover Athletic F.C Squad}} {{Dover Athletic F.C. managers}} {{Gillingham F.C. managers}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Hessenthaler, Andy}} [[Category:1965 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from Dartford]] [[Category:English footballers]] [[Category:England semi-pro international footballers]] [[Category:Football (soccer) midfielders]] [[Category:The Football League players]] [[Category:Watford F.C. players]] [[Category:Hull City A.F.C. players]] [[Category:Barnet F.C. players]] [[Category:Gillingham F.C. players]] [[Category:Dover Athletic F.C. players]] [[Category:Gillingham F.C. managers]] [[Category:Dover Athletic F.C. managers]]