Andy Rhodes

Born: Doncaster, 23rd August 1965
Signed: 11th July 1990
Debut: 7th August 1990 v Distillery
Previous Clubs: Barnsley, Doncaster Rovers, Oldham Athletic
Later Clubs: St Johnstone, Airdrieonians

On the day of his signing at Dunfermline he treated Board members and the waiting media to his own Elvis Presley impersonation, and went on to entertain Pars fans with his combination of outrageous humour and superb goalkeeping.

Andy left school at 15 to sign at Barnsley as an apprentice. Having been at a rugby only school, his only chance to show his abilities were on a Sunday. That however, was enough for the then manager Allan Clarke and he signed Andy for two years.

Andy’s progress to the first was sudden, Barnsley’s regular keeper was injured and when an on loan keeper was ruled out, Andy was brought in to face Walsall away from home. Although Barnsley lost 1-0, Andy impressed enough to retain his place for the return leg of the League Cup tie. When he again played well the on-loan keeper was sent packing and Andy took over between the sticks for the rest of the season keeping our regular keeper Gary Pearce.

Doncaster Rovers paid Barnsley £25,000 in November 1985 and after Hibs took Andy Goram from Oldham Athletic, the Lancashire club signed Andy Rhodes in March 1987 as his replacement.

Andy was highly acclaimed for his performance in the Oldham side defeated 1-0 by Nottingham Forest at Wembley in the 1990 Littlewoods Cup Final.

On 11th July 1990 Andy signed for Dunfermline for a fee of £80,000. He made 79 league appearances and famously in the 1991 Skol Cup final at Hampden v Hibernian.

On 11th July 1990 Andy signed for Dunfermline by Iain Munro with a fee of £80,000 being paid to Oldham Athletic. After 79 league games and several important cup appearances that culminated in the 1991 Skol Cup final, Andy left in June 1992 to join St Johnstone in a deal, totalling £300,000, that saw Lindsay Hamilton and Roddy Grant move to the Pars.

Andy went on to become an accomplished goalkeeping coach serving at Oldham for two years, Ipswich Town for four years, Preston North End for two and Sheffield Wednesday for eight years.

He is the father of Scotland international striker Jordan Rhodes.