# Andy Brownrigg

Andrew David Brownrigg (born 2 August 1976) is an English former professional footballer.

## Football career

Brownrigg began his career as a trainee with Hereford United, making his début during the 1994–95 season. In March 1995, after just eight league games for the Bulls, he was transferred to Norwich City for a fee of £100,000. He spent part of the following season on loan to Kettering Town and in August 1997 moved to Rotherham United having failed to make a first team appearance for Norwich, despite being an unused sub in the Premier League game against Arsenal at Highbury on 1 April 1995.
After being on the bench against Cambridge Utd during Rotherham United's opening game of the 1997–98 season, his career took a tragic turn when he suffered severe facial injuries after being attacked by a man with a hammer. Due to his injuries, he missed a significant portion of the season and subsequently joined Stalybridge Celtic on loan in March 1998 before being released by Rotherham at the end of the season.
Brownrigg then had stints with various clubs, including Yeovil Town, Stocksbridge Park Steels.
In July 1999, Brownrigg joined Kidderminster Harriers, helping them secure the Football Conference title and subsequent promotion to the Football League. However, his transfer to Greenock Morton in July 2000 for £26,500 led to financial disputes with Morton and Kidderminster. As a result, he made only three appearances for Morton before leaving in March 2001. Brownrigg later joined Hartlepool United but was released in May 2001 after struggling to secure a regular spot in the starting lineup. He was linked with a return to Kidderminster, but in June 2001 joined Northwich Victoria. He subsequently moved to Hednesford Town later that year and moved to Gainsborough Trinity in June 2002. He was released in September 2002 and joined Wakefield & Emley. He had a trial with Worksop Town in the 2003 close season and also had a trial with Oxford United in November the same year. He joined Maltby Main, but left to join Ossett Albion. He then rejoined Maltby Main in January 2004 and signed for Conference side Scarborough in March 2004, but decided to leave the club the following month and rejoined Maltby Main for the final promotion push at the end of the season.
He subsequently joined Hallam in 2005, but left to join Buxton in the same year. He was virtually ever-present the following season when the Bucks won the NCEL Premier League title, and was extremely popular with the supporters at the Silverlands who adapted the 'Arthur Brownlow' song of Stockport County in his honour. He left Buxton in July 2006 because of travelling difficulties and the fact that he was about to embark on a Sports degree at University. He joined Sheffield FC in the close season of 2006. During that season, Brownrigg played a starring role in Sheffield's promotion from the NCEL Premier League, making it back to back promotions from the NCEL Premier League. At the end the season he left Sheffield, and rejoined Hallam in November 2007.
In December 2008, he moved from Hallam to Staveley MW. In September 2009, he left Staveley Miners Welfare to rejoin Hallam.
In March 2010, Brownrigg re-signed for Ossett Albion in the Northern Premier League for the purpose of fitness for a proposed move to Worksop Town FC. Andy signed for Worksop Town in the NPL Premier Division, after playing three games for Ossett.
At the beginning of the 2010–11 season Brownrigg signed for AFC Emley in the Northern Counties East League Division 1.

## Personal life

On 16 June 2008, Brownrigg sought help at the Sporting Chance Clinic, a recovery facility established by former England International Tony Adams MBE for athletes facing addiction issues. During his stay, he received treatment for addictive-related problems. After a successful period of rehabilitation, Brownrigg returned to Sheffield on 11 June 2008, where he has since remained in recovery.

## Education and research

On 16 July 2009, Brownrigg achieved a First Class Honours Degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology from The University of Huddersfield. Recognising his accomplishments and research focus, the University awarded him a PhD Scholarship in 2009.
His research primarily revolves around the field of transition, specifically examining the experiences of professional footballers during their exit from the sport and career transition.
In October 2012, Brownrigg's research received recognition from The British Psychological Society when his work was published in the Qualitative Methods in Psychology, 'Sports and Performance' Bulletin, which highlights his contribution to the field.