COLE, Andrew Alexander
Role: Centre-forward 1993-1995
5' 11"
b. Nottingham, 15th October 1971
CAREER:
Parkhead Academicals (Nottingham)/Emkals (Nottingham)/Arsenal sch Oct 1985, app July 1988, pro Oct 1989 (Fulham loan 1991-92)/Bristol City loan Mar 1992, pmt July 1992 �500,000/UNITED Mar 1993 �1.75m/Manchester United Jan 1995 cash-exch deal with K.Gillespie �7m.
Debut v Swindon Town (a) 13/3/93 (sub)
Andy Cole was purchased by Kevin Keegan as a virtual unknown centre-forward who had lots of potential, being an FA graduate from the Lilleshall Academy and a player who had appeared for the England Under-21 side. Yet the 21 year-old Cole had not then completed a full season in regular first-team action and many in the game gasped at the club record fee Newcastle paid for the player. Keegan though had made a master stroke signing. Immediately the lithe and agile leader started to dominate the headlines throughout a short but quite amazing spell at St James Park. From his first showing at Gallowgate the goals started to flow in abundance and Cole became dubbed the most lethal hot-shot in the country as Newcastle regained their top-flight status. With devastating pace, positional sense and expert placement of his shot, Andy was simply lethal in the box and United's scintillating approach play, especially when paired with Peter Beardsley, made sure Cole had plenty of chances to find the net. In season 1993-94 his goals ratio for much of the campaign reached a tremendous 100% - a goal a game - and he finished the year by clocking up 41 goals in only 45 outings, thereby smashing the long-standing club record held by Gallacher and Robledo. Not particularly well built for the centre-forward's role, the whippet-like Cole became a cult figure in the tradition of the club's famous Number 9 heroes, yet the Nottingham-born star shunned publicity and didn't take to the limelight. Just as Cole was further developing his raw talent into a certainty for an international cap, earning a place on the England substitutes' bench, his manager decided to sell to rivals Manchester United in a national record transfer valued at �7 million, although the fee was later noted as �6.25m. It was a transaction which shocked the nation and Cole went on to initially become another hit at Old Trafford scoring five goals in the Premiership against Ipswich in March 1995. Andy was developed by George Graham at Arsenal, and although he shone in reserve football could never claim a place at Highbury. Next to the legendary Hughie Gallacher, Cole is the club's most deadly goalscorer with a career 81% goals per games ratio.
Appearances:
FL/PL: 69(1) 55 gls.
FAC: 4 apps. 1 gl.
FLC: 7 apps. 8 gls.
Eur: 3 apps. 4 gls.
Total: 83(1) apps. 68 gls.
Honours: