#BringAndyBack – My Story

With the #BringAndyBack campaign now entering it’s 4th day I suppose I should mention why this means so much to me. Let me tell you about the time I actually met Andy back in the early 1990’s

I’ll set the scene it’s Croydon in the early 90’s, I can’t remember the exact date but it would have to be 1992/1993 as the Premier League had been in early operation and Andy was starting to become even more of a household name than he was in the illustrious playing career. My family and I had taken a trip to Croydon’s Whitgift Shopping Centre and to my amazement I spotted Andy promoting the Table Top sports game “Pro Action Football”, being a highly exciteable 8/9 year old I badgered my parents if we could join the queue to meet him.

After continuous appeals my parents finally gave in and we joined the queue, the minutes passed quickly as the anticipation grew and finally I got to the front of the queue and the chance to meet Andy. Andy was trying to pedal some Pro Action Football wares onto me but I was a Subbuteo boy through and through I had no time for that but what I did have was time for Andy. So Andy did what any idol would do and asked my name “Dan” I said (because that’s my name) but then the Scottish Lothario had other intentions he then asked “what’s your mum’s name?” oh my name is “Ronny” said my Mum, “that’s a nice name said” Andy.

My mum who’s not even a Football fan (she bloody hates it) was won over by his charm and then out of nowhere Andy said “Can I give your Mum a kiss?” and proceeded to give my mum a peck on the cheek. All this happened while my Dad was standing right next to his wife, to say my Dad was a bit perturbed was nothing short of a understatement but what can you do, this is Andy Gray we’re talking about. Once he gave my Mum a gift, he was then kind enough to sign a Pro Action Football poster (which I genuinely still have to this day at my parents house and I promise I will dig it out for you) and he quite frankly made my day (I don’t think he made my Dad’s, weirdly he’s never been a fan of Andy Gray since)

So that’s why this campaign means so much to me, it would wrong of me to think of Andy as a father figure but he’s certainly that cool uncle that you love to see and there’s the problem not just I but we miss “Uncle Andy” as I like to call him, but with your help we can get him back on Sky where he belongs and where he can sign posters and kiss mums for the next generation of fans.

Come on I think it’s time to #BringAndyBack