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Andy Hinchcliffe is pictured during the 1-1 draw against Tottenham.
107 League apps (+5 as sub), 8 goals
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| Manchester City: |
1986-1987 |
Played |
0 |
Scored |
0 |
goals |
(Division 1) |
| |
1987-1988 |
Played |
42 |
Scored |
0 |
goals |
(Division 2) |
| |
1988-1989 |
Played |
39 |
Scored |
5 |
goals |
(Division 2) |
| |
1989-1990 |
Played |
31 |
Scored |
2 |
goals |
(Division 1) |
| |
| Transferred to Everton on 17/7/1990 for £800,000 |
| |
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The photograph of Andy Hinchcliffe playing for Manchester City was taken on 13th. March 1988.
Taken by G. Herringshaw ©.
A product of the club's youth policy, Andy Hinchcliffe went on to
make a total of 139 appearances for Manchester City between 1986 and
1990, scoring 11 goals. He was part of the team that beat Manchester
United 3-1 on aggregate to lift the FA Youth Cup in 1986 and quickly
progressed to the first team along with a number of local lads,
including David White, Paul Lake and Steve Redmond. At the age of
eighteen he was given his debut by manager Mel Machin in the opening
game of the 1987-88 season against Plymouth Argyle (a 2-1 win at Maine
Road) and went on to establish himself in the side for the next three
years, becoming a firm favourite with the supporters for his marauding
style of play up and down the line.
Although known primarily for his
powerful free kicks and accuracy with a dead ball, he earned a
reputation as an attacking left back and was probably one of the first
defenders to graduate into the modern-day wing back. Andy's first season
saw City finish in 9th place in Division Two whilst progress was made
in both the League and FA Cups before defeats at the 5th and 6th rounds
respectively. Hinchcliffe was on the scoresheet in both competitions,
his first City goal coming in an impressive 2-0 away win at Wolves in
the League Cup 2nd round, whilst in the FA Cup he netted in a 3-0
victory at Huddersfield Town as City won through to the 4th round at the
third time of asking.
The following season was a productive one for
both club and player, with Andy grabbing five league goals as City
returned to the top flight, despite a late season wobble which produced
just one win from their last six games, with a second place finish
behind runaway champions Chelsea. A season of consolidation followed as
City finished in 14th spot in Division 1 whilst there were disappointing
early exits in both cup competitions. The undoubted highlight of the
season came as local rivals United were swept aside 5-1 in September
1989, Hinchcliffe giving a five fingered salute to the crowd and
endearing himself to the Maine Road faithful forever after he had scored
the 5th goal.
His last game for the club was in the final game of the
1989-90 season against Crystal Palace, when he came on as a substitute.
He subsequently left to join Everton in July 1990 for a fee of £800, 000
and went on to win an FA Cup winners medal in 1995 whilst with the
Merseyside club. After playing at the highest level of the English game
for sixteen years he was forced to retire from professional football in
March 2002 when he suffered a serious knee injury whilst playing for
Sheffield Wednesday. Andy also gained seven international caps for
England, making his debut in September 1996 alongside another debutant, a
young David Beckham, in a World Cup Qualifier against Moldova. As a
measure of his enduring popularity at City Andy went on to work full
time as a football commentator on local radio in Manchester, providing
expert analysis on all of City's games. (David Redshaw)
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