25 Facts About Andy Townsend

Andrew David Townsend was born on 23 July 1963 and is a former professional footballer and sports co-commentator for Premier League Productions and CBS Sports.

Andy Townsend played in the Football League for Southampton, Norwich City and West Bromwich Albion.

Andy Townsend has commentated for BT Sport, Talksport and BBC Radio 5 Live.

Andy Townsend was born in Maidstone, Kent, but grew up in Bexley, where he attended Upton Primary School in Bexleyheath, followed by Bexleyheath School.

Andy Townsend began his playing career in August 1980 with Welling United in the Athenian League, while working as a computer operator for Greenwich Borough Council in south-east London.

Andy Townsend was a hard-tackling, hard-working midfielder with an eye for goal.

Andy Townsend retained his place in the Norwich midfield and ended the season with 36 league appearances with five goals.

Andy Townsend made six FA Cup appearances with two goals against Port Vale in the Third Round on 7 January 1989.

At the season's end, Andy Townsend was shortlisted for the PFA Players' Player of the Year award, which was won by Mark Hughes.

Andy Townsend made 37 appearances in his first season on Teesside, scoring twice as Boro' won promotion to the Premier League.

On 21 April 2016, Andy Townsend joined Bolton Wanderers as a consultant.

Andy Townsend played in the next year's World Cup, in Italy, where he played in all five of Ireland's matches.

Andy Townsend was captain of the Ireland squad for the 1994 World Cup.

On 22 March 2015, Andy Townsend was inducted into the FAI Hall of Fame.

Andy Townsend took over from Ron Atkinson as the channel's lead co-commentator, forming a long-running partnership with main commentator Clive Tyldesley, as well as appearing as a studio pundit.

Andy Townsend co-hosted Talksport's Weekend Sports Breakfast on Sundays with Mike Parry, and hosted the station's drive-time show on Fridays.

Andy Townsend hosted the mid morning discussion on talkSPORT from 10am to 1pm from Monday to Friday, having replaced Jon Gaunt, who was sacked for calling a guest a Nazi.

Andy Townsend left the station because he no longer wanted to commute from his Midlands home to the London studio.

Andy Townsend was part of ITV's coverage of the Premier League after they won the rights from the BBC to show top flight football on Saturday evening.

Andy Townsend made his co-commentating debut on 15 February 2015, co-commentating on Arsenal vs Middlesbrough in the FA Cup fifth round alongside Ian Darke.

Andy Townsend has presented BBC Radio 5 Live and written columns for the Daily Mail.

Andy Townsend is the son of former Charlton Athletic and Crystal Palace defender Don Townsend.

Andy Townsend was a consultant for Harlequin Property, where he helps set up football schools at their Caribbean resorts.

Andy Townsend is patron of the George Coller Memorial Fund.

Andy Townsend ran in the Great North Run in 2007, finishing in a time of 2 hours and 20 minutes.