Andy Hinchcliffe

Andrew George Hinchcliffe (born 5 February 1969) is an English former professional footballer. As a player, he was a defender from 1986 until 2002 for Manchester City, Everton and Sheffield Wednesday.

Playing career
Having started his career with Manchester City he established himself as the club's first choice left back. Whilst at City, Hinchcliffe was one of the scorers in the Manchester derby on 23 September 1989 in a 5–1 victory over Manchester United. Hinchcliffe won the 1995 FA Cup while with Everton and enjoyed the best form of his career at the club, winning seven full England caps. His England debut came in a 3–0 away victory over Moldova on 1 September 1996, in what was manager Glenn Hoddle's first game in charge.

Hinchcliffe's specialty was set pieces, he aimed the ball very accurately and so often subsequent goals resulted from an Andy Hinchcliffe corner or free kick, often by Duncan Ferguson during his time at Everton.

After injuring his cruciate ligament whilst in the form of his career in December 1996, Hinchcliffe didn't return until September 1997, with Everton then under new management after Howard Kendall had replaced Joe Royle. Kendall was not known to be a big Hinchliffe fan, having sold him previously whilst Manchester City manager. He was subsequently sold by the Toffees to Sheffield Wednesday only 5 months into Kendall's reign for £2.65m where he played for a further four years. Hinchcliffe retired from playing football in March 2002 following a surgery on his left knee. He only made two appearances in his final season at the club (2001–02), one of which was in the League Cup semifinal first leg against Blackburn Rovers, the other in the league against Crewe Alexandra.

Media career
Hinchcliffe now works as a co-commentator on Sky Sports. He mainly does co-commentary for Championship games with some Premier League games as well. He also sometimes appears on Sky Sports News HQ in a morning with other football guests to talk about transfers and games that have gone on recently.

Personal life
Hinchcliffe has stated that he was encouraged to take up a football career by his father who was a season ticket holder at Crewe Alexandra F.C. Hinchcliffe was educated at Manchester's William Hulme's Grammar School for Boys, a Rugby (and non-Football) playing school.
Like his Everton teammate, Duncan Ferguson, Hinchcliffe has inspired a composition by the Finnish composer Osmo Tapio Räihälä, who wrote an orchestral work titled Hinchcliffe Thumper - Tha' Bloody Intermezzo in 1993. The work was premiered in Malmö, Sweden in 1994.

Honours
Everton
 FA Cup: 1995
 FA Charity Shield: 1995

References

External links

Category:English footballers
Category:England international footballers
Category:England under-21 international footballers
Category:Association football defenders
Category:Manchester City F.C. players
Category:Everton F.C. players
Category:Sheffield Wednesday F.C. players
Category:Premier League players
Category:Sportspeople from Manchester
Category:1969 births
Category:Living people
Category:People educated at William Hulme's Grammar School
Category:English association football commentators