I interviewed ex-cobbler Andy Hot, Andy played for the Cobblers between 2004 – 2012 making over 190 appearances scoring over 15 goals. Andy was also apart of the Cobblers squad that beat Liverpool in the Carling Cup 4-2 on penalties at Anfield.
You started your career at Oldham Athletic and you were there for over six years, what do you remember the most from you time there and why do you remember it well?
Yes, I started off at Oldham, I actually signed there when I was 14 years old and we had a really good set of lads our age that went through to do an apprenticeship and from that group, 12 of us actually got given a professional contract at 18 years old, which even back then was unheard of and I think most of us went on to play for the first team.
It was my first club and I always remember the senior pros helping us so much! When I made my debut, I only came on for 15 minutes I think, I remember Andy Ritchie coming to me after the game and asking me how I thought I did and what he thought! For him to take that time, especially after losing the game, as I said, will always stick with me and to this day, I’m still good friends with Andy, who went on to be my manager at Oldham too.
There was also a few other senior pros that again, kind of took a group of us my age under their wing which again, at the time you don’t realise but when you look back, meant so much and we’ve got a Whatsapp group now, 20 odd years later which is great!
I’ve got so many fond memories from my time at Oldham, we stayed up on the last day of the season, beating Reading 2-0 and just the buzz around the place afterwards was incredible, we had Man City in our league and beat them at Maine Road 2-1 (despite me giving a penalty away, dodgy reffing decision!!) which being a Man U fan, also seeing a lot of my school friends in the crowd who were Man City fans, just a great day!
We also played Chelsea one year in the FA Cup and I was marking Zola and Vialli. People often say who was the best player you’ve played against and although there’s been some belters, Zola has to be the one for me!
Before you joined Hull City on a permanent deal for £150,000 their 4th highest fee at the time you made 12 appearances on loan. Do you think this benefited you and influenced your decision to join?
When I went on loan to Hull, I remember my agent ringing me saying Aberdeen wanted to sign me on loan and so did Hull. I wasn’t getting enough game time at Oldham so wanted to just play, although Aberdeen would’ve no doubt been great, I wanted to stay in English football and signed for Hull who were a league below Oldham. I didn’t realise how big a place Hull was but soon found out! Oldham in league 1 at the time would get 4/5000 at home matches, my debut for Hull was at home at Boothferry park against Exeter so I didn’t expect many but there was 15,000 there!
Brian Little was the manager and I just warmed to him immediately, such a great manager with an incredible calming influence! We had a dressing room full of big outspoken characters like Jon Whitney and Gary Brabham (who you certainly wouldn’t mess with!!) but no matter if they were screaming at you, at each other, as soon as the Gaffer walked in, everyone would go quiet and he said what he needed to.
I saw great potential in the club and with Brian as the manager, it was a straightforward decision to sign permanently.
Whilst at Hull City you did go out on loan to Barnsley and Shrewsbury. Did these spells benefit you and how did you find playing for teams in lower divisions at that time?
After a season there Jan Molby came in, followed by Peter Taylor who didn’t fancy me at the start so went on loan to Barnsley and Shrewsbury. Loved my time at Barnsley, but Shrewsbury was tough, lost most of the games there and they ended up getting relegated to the conference. The only good thing was something I wouldn’t realise till the day I signed for The Cobblers!
On the 11th July 2006 you joined the Cobblers, as John Gorman’s first signing and you became the long throw expert. What’s your best memory of being a Cobbler?
Signing for the Cobblers was kind of weird in a way. I remember Colin Calderwood calling me on a Friday whilst I was watching my son play football for school, saying he wanted to sign me at Northampton and also John calling me, then as the Wycombe manager saying he wanted to sign me. I thought I’d take a bit of time to think the offers through and before I knew it, Colin had gone to Nottingham Forest and John had come to the Cobblers!!
John rang me and said he still wanted me, I drove down to Northampton and the rest is history as they say! John was and is such an incredible gentleman! You just couldn’t fall out with him and very similar to Brian Little. It was a shame what had happened the year before and wish he could’ve stayed longer.
I was saying about the the only highlight from Shrewsbury having a connection to The Cobblers, the first day at the club, pulled into the car park and there was Sam Aiston, who was at Shrewsbury and we’ve remained really good friends since, top top bloke and lovely family too.
In your footballing career you played away at many stadiums. What do you think was the best one and why?
My best away ground and favourite Cobblers memory are obviously the same answer! We got to play Liverpool at Anfield where I was the captain and we managed to win on penalties at The Kop end! Such a magical night and a memory I’ll cherish for ever!!
Had plenty of great away cup ties for The Cobblers, Bolton away when they were in the Premiership, the same with Sunderland and Middlesborough but Liverpool will be my best Cobblers memory!
Once you’re playing career ended, did you have a plan on what you wanted to do next? And what are you doing now?
When my footballing career ended, I presumed I’d go into coaching or management as I’d done my badges but maybe just didn’t get the break so there wasn’t really a plan. I felt I could have played longer but 6 knee ops got the better of my I think, so I went into schools with Jon Brady’s Back of the Net soccer school and absolutely loved it!!! I got to mentor some of the kids as well as going into special needs schools, all in all thoroughly enjoyable, rewarding, purposeful.
I moved back up to Manchester and didn’t know what I was going to do. An old school friend rang me and invited me into his work place for a cup of tea and a catch up. He owned a digital marketing agency, that night he rang me and offered me a job! I told him I could hardly switch on a computer to which he said, “we’ll teach you. You’re good with people, you’re confident, go out and find business and we’ll teach you on the way.
I’ve always loved meeting new people so business development where the focus is to develop relationships, it was I feel I’m best at.
I stayed at my friends business for 4 years and then got offered a new challenge. At 38 years old, I’d never had a CV or an interview so my friend help me and for the last 4 years I’ve been working for an accountancy firm where again, my role is relationship building and when i can playing golf!!!
Are there any results you look for at 5 o’clock on a Saturday?
When I signed for The Cobblers in 2006, my eldest son was 6 so he is a full blown Cobblers fan so we always look out for the result and we’re both Man U fans too. I always check Oldham, Hull and Wrexham too because along with The Cobblers, I’ve got some truly unbelievable memories from all of them and I’m a fortunate chap to have been a footballer for so long and when I do look back, obviously some very low points but also some amazing highs that will stay with me forever!