Andrew John James Todd (born 21 September 1974) is an English football coach and former player.
As a player he was a centre-back who notably played in the Premier League for Bolton Wanderers, Charlton Athletic and Blackburn Rovers, as well as in the Football League for Middlesbrough, Swindon Town, Grimsby Town, Burnley, Derby County, Northampton Town, Oldham Athletic and Hereford United. He also had several spells in Australia with Perth Glory and Armadale SC.
Playing career Middlesbrough Born in Derby, Derbyshire, Todd attended Hermitage Comprehensive School (Chester le Street) playing in the same school football team as Michael Barron, with both players being taken on as youth players at Middlesbrough. He was initially a trainee at Middlesbrough and made his debut in 1992. Todd was loaned to Swindon Town shortly before leaving Boro in August 1995 to join Bolton Wanderers for a transfer fee of £250,000, where he joined his father, who was managing the Trotters.
Bolton Wanderers Todd scored on his league debut for the club, losing 5–2 against Liverpool on 23 September 1995. However, he had a slow start to his Bolton Wanderers' career, due to competitions and was demoted to the club's reserve team. But Todd soon had a first team run-ins, playing in the midfield position. However, he suffered ankle injury that affected most of his 1995–96 season. By the time Todd returned from his injuries, Bolton Wanderers was already relegated to Division One and scored on his return in the last game of the season, losing 2–1 against Arsenal. At the end of the 1995–96 season, he made thirteen appearances and scoring two goals in all competitions.
The start of the 1996–97 season saw Todd out with a minor injury. On 7 September 1996, he made his first appearance of the season, coming on as a 73rd-minute substitute, in a 5–2 loss to Southend United. Since returning from injury, Todd found his playing time, coming from the substitute bench. By November, he started five times for Bolton Wanderers, playing in the right–back position. However, injuries and suspension continued to plague Todd's season once again. Despite this, his contributions at the club saw them win the 1996–97 Division One championship in the process and promoted back to the Premiership. At the end of the 1996–97 season, he made eighteen appearances in all competitions.
At the start of the 1997–98 season, Todd found himself out of the first team, due to competitions and his own injury concerns. He then made his first appearance of the season, coming on as a 47th-minute substitute, in a 4–1 loss to Arsenal on 13 September 1997. In a follow–up match against Leyton Orient in the League Cup, Todd scored his first goal of the season, in a 3–1 win. During a 1–0 loss against Aston Villa on 3 October 1997, Todd was involved with Stan Collymore in a physical altercation on the pitch, resulting in both players being sent off and given a three-match ban. After serving a three match ban, he returned to the first team, coming on as a 34th-minute substitute, in a 5–0 loss against Sheffield Wednesday on 8 November 1997. Todd was able to help Bolton Wanderers bounce back by helping the club keep three consecutive clean sheets in the next three matches. Following his return from suspension, Todd became a first team regular at Bolton Wanderers, forming a centre–back partnership with Guðni Bergsson, while also facing competition from Mark Fish. Throughout the second–half of the season, he found himself sustained with injury and suspension but this did not affect his first team place. Following the club's relegation, his performance earned him accolades and recognition throughout the season, including the Supporters Association Player of the Season award. At the end of the 1997–98 season, Todd made thirty appearances and scoring once in all competitions. On 2 June 1998, he signed a contract with Bolton Wanderers, keeping him until 2002.
The start of the 1998–99 season saw Todd appeared five times as a starter in the first five league games. However, he suffered a "bout of pleurisy" that saw him out for four matches. On 3 October 1998, Todd made his return to the starting line–up, in a 2–2 draw against Barnsley. Following his return, he started five matches in the centre–back position between 11 November 1998 and 7 November 1998. However, Todd's return was short–lived when he suffered "a lingering shin-splints condition" that saw him out for months. On 27 February 1999, Todd returned to the starting line–up against Crewe Alexandra, only for him to be substituted at half–time, in a 3–1 loss, and missed three matches. On 13 March 1999, he made his return to first team, coming on as a late substitute, in a 2–1 win against Queens Park Rangers. Since returning to the first team, Todd remains in the first team spotlight for the remainder of the season despite being suspended twice on two separate occasions. He helped Bolton Wanderers reach the Football League First Division play-off final, as the club went on to lose 2–0 against Watford. At the end of the 1998–99 season, Todd went on to make twenty–six appearances in all competitions.
Ahead of the 1999–00 season, Todd was subjected a move away from Bolton Wanderers. Amid the transfer speculation, he appeared six times as a starter in the first six league games. In a match against Charlton Athletic on 11 September 1999, Todd received a straight red card alongside Graham Stuart for after they were involved in "a punch up in first half overtime", as the club went on to lose 2–1. After a serving three match suspension, he returned to the first team, coming on as a 68th-minute substitute, in a 1–0 win against Huddersfield Town on 16 October 1999. Following this, Todd received a first team run ins for the next five matches for Bolton Wanderers. However in November 1999, he was suspended from Bolton Wanderers after allegedly breaking assistant manager Phil Brown's jaw in an incident at a team bonding session. Up until his departure from Bolton Wanderers, Todd had a recurring injuries, including a groin injury but he managed to quickly recover in time for matchday.
By the time Todd left the club, he made sixteen appearances in all competitions. During his time at the club, Todd scored two goals in total for Bolton Wanderers over a four-year period.
Charlton Athletic Just two days after being suspended by Bolton Wanderers, Todd then moved to Charlton Athletic, another Division One club, in "a £750,000 transfer, with 'add-ons' taking the deal to £1 million". He was previously linked with a move to Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
However, Todd played mostly in central midfield position in the club's winning squad that saw them club won Division One for a second time, as he only made twelve appearances at the end of the 1999–00. In Charlton Athletic's first season back in the Premiership, Todd continued to remain in the first team despite being plagued with injuries. He scored his first and what turned out to be only goal for the club against Leicester City on 1 April 2001. Having helped Charlton Athletic stay in the Premiership in their first season, Todd went on to make 28 appearances and scoring once in all competitions.
In the 2001–02 season, Todd made five appearances for Charlton Athletic. However, a training fracas with a then unnamed player (who was later revealed to be Dean Kiely), meant that he was on a knife-edge at the club. As a result, Todd was placed on a transfer-list by the club and dropped him from the squad. He was also ordered to apologise to Kiely. However, Kiely revealed that he yet to receive an apology from Todd. Following this, he was initially welcomed back to the squad, playing for Charlton Athletic's reserve team before suffering an injury that kept him out for months.
Grimsby Town (loan) On 21 February 2002, Todd was loaned to Grimsby Town, who at the time were struggling in Division One.
He made his debut for the club, starting the whole game, in a 0–0 draw against Nottingham Forest the next day. This was followed up by scoring the next two matches against Stockport County and Crystal Palace. On 15 March 2002, Todd scored his third goal for Grimsby Town, which was the winning goal against Wolverhampton Wanderers. He went on to score three goals in twelve league games for the Mariners, helping the club keep their place in the division. After leaving Grimsby Town, Todd earned a cult hero status from the Mariners supporters.
Blackburn Rovers In May 2002, Todd left for Blackburn Rovers for £750,000, with 'add-ons' taking the deal to £1 million", based on appearances. It came after manager Graeme Souness was impressed with his performance at the trial. The club managed to beat newly promoted Premiership side Portsmouth, who was also interested in signing him.
He made his debut for Blackburn Rovers, starting the whole game in the right–back position, in for the 1–1 draw with CSKA Sofia in the UEFA Cup. However, Todd found his first team opportunities hard to come by, due to competitions in the defence, as well as, his own injury concern. He had to wait until 9 November 2002 to make his league debut for the club, in a 1–1 draw against Southampton. However in a match against his former club, Charlton Athletic, on 24 November 2022, Todd was at fault when he allowed the first two goals for the opposition team, as Blackburn Rovers went on to lose 3–1. This led Portsmouth to renew their interest in signing him, but Todd was stay put at the club. Soon after breaking into the team in January 2003, he was sent off against Birmingham City for kicking Christophe Dugarry in an off the ball incident on 18 January 2003. After the match, Todd served a four match suspension. After not playing for a month, he scored his first goal for Blackburn Rovers, in a 3–2 victory over Leeds United towards the end of that season. At the end of the 2002–03 season, Todd made nineteen appearances and scoring once in all competitions.
Ahead of 2003–04 season, Todd was put on the transfer list by manager Souness, due to lack of first-team opportunities under him. After being recalled by Souness due to Blackburn Rovers' defensive crisis, he made his first appearance of the season, starting the match, in a 1–0 loss against Charlton Athletic on 20 October 2003. Following his return, Todd was thrust straight back into Blackburn Rovers' first eleven with the team struggling near the bottom of the league. His performances was praised by manager Souness, describing it as "outstanding". However, he continued to be plague with injuries and suspension on two separate occasions throughout the 2003–04 season. By April, Todd was dropped from the starting line–up after his relationship with Souness deteriorated and never played for the club's first team for the rest of the 2003–04 season It came after when he scored an own goal, in a 4–0 loss against Liverpool on 5 April 2004. Despite this, Todd was awarded Blackburn Rovers' supporters' player of the year. At the end of the 2003–04 season, he made twenty–nine appearances in all competitions.