How well do we know Andy?

Andy
By Nell
July 17 2005

Andrew James Goode was born in Coventry in 1980 and started playing Rugby when he was five. His interest in sport was not just confined to Rugby however...

...He also swan breastwork at national level and was captain and opening batsman of the Warwickshire junior team, being offered a professional contract at 16. He is also a 10 handicap golfer - a real all round sportsman.

During his early years his clubs were Barkers Butts, Nuneaton and Coventry. He started off playing scrum half until he decided that he preferred fly half.

In 1966 he joined the Tigers academy together with James Grindal and Adam Balding (both now of Gloucester) who all went to school together at King Henry VIII school Coventry. The three of them had played together for years.

Andy played for England under 18 and under 21.

In September 1999 aged 19 he had his first first team start (he had made brief sub appearances the season before). Tigers lost 46-24 in a scrappy game characterised by Tigers handling errors. However the match report picked Andy out for praise "On the plus side Andy Goode had a great game in his first Premiership start with an accomplished handling display.

During the coming months Tigers were to lose 11 international to the World Cup. It looked like they might have a barren time. But Andy, James and the other youngsters really stepped up during this period winning 3 games, drawing one and losing one. Andy and James were often singled out for praise. 2000 saw Tigers crowned league champions and the youngsters had played a big part in it.

The 200/2001 season saw Andy growing in confidence. He was not first choice kicker at this time as Tim Stimpson was there but when asked to step up for kicking duties he usually came up with the goods. This was arguably Tigers greatest ever season. Andy ended the season with medals for winning the league, the Zurich Championship final at Twickenham and last but not least that momentous European Cup final against Stade Francais at Parc des Princes. At the end of that season he had just turned 21 and the future must have felt very rosy.

However Pat Howard who had been such a help to the young Andy left to try to resurrect his international career in Australia. He was replaced by Rod Kafer. For whatever reason Andy fell out of favour. He was doing very little wrong but Austin Healey was preferred at fly half. He was getting less and less game time. He sat out the 2002 Cardiff final on the bench.

Andy decided to leave his beloved Tigers for pastures new at Saracens. He played well for them the first half of the 2002/2003 season but then seemed to become unsettled when then coach decided to alternate Andy with Nicky Little in the second half of the Season.

At the beginning of the 2003/2004 season Rod Kafer moved to coach Saracens. He made Andy vice captain and the season started well for him. He was the premiership's leading scorer and seemingly much leaner and meaner about the park. He was winning praise for the way he was running the Saracens backs. Then in December 2003 Andy and Saracens parted company. He was 23 years old with a pregnant wife and was unemployed.

No one will ever know the full details of Andy leaving and returning to Tigers but this quote from him gives a hint

"Originally, I didn't want to leave Leicester, but the only reason I left was because of Rod Kafer and it's the same reason that I came back. But I'm happy to be back and I'm happy that Rod opened up the door for me to return. It was an interesting 18 months at Saracens, but that's all in the past now "

Dean Richard's last signing was to bring Andy back to Tigers amid much gnashing of teeth from the fans. During Andy's absence Tigers had descended from being European and domestic champions to a fairly lack lustre team near the bottom of the table. The world cup obviously played a part in this, but the last world cup Tigers had been able to ride it.

Andy was not registered for Europe and so did not play in one of the most dismal display in Tigers history away to Munster. Nor did he play in the home game against Stade Francais when no fewer than four kickers managed to make a pig's breakfast of kicking kickable penalties. His boot would have really helped in that game.

Andy started playing at 10 with Jaco van de Weisthzen at 15 but they then swapped. Although Andy had no experience of playing full back he made a good job of it and with the help of his boot and a renewed energy in the team, Tigers were able to claw their way up from the depths of the league to win a place in the wild card final. Tigers were in Europe by the skin of their teeth.

He finished the season and the Zurich premiership's leading scocer and was amazingly leading scorer for both Saracens and Tigers.

Tigers came into the 2004/2005 season with all guns blazing. With Jaco gone Andy reverted to fly half, he played with assurance and confidence, marshalling the backs and defending strongly. His magic boot kept on kicking the points. Although Tigers did not win any trophies they finished top of the league and got to the European Cup Semi final.

Andy had a cracking game for England A against France and was called into the full England Squad for the first time. He came off the bench against Scotland and Italy earning his first England caps.

He is in the Churchill Cup team touring USA and Argentina and had his first start against Canada.

He was voted Tigers players' player of the season and tigers fans player of the season he was also nominated along with four others for the national player of the season.

He is leading Zurich points scorer once more with 259. He is also the leading European cup points scorer.

He is married with a young daughter Ella-Grace.

Things are looking rosy for him once again. I hope they stay that way