McAndrew Is The Man

Last updated : 18 April 2010 By Tom Vickers

What a weekend for Tony McAndrew.

The Villa academy coach must have an immovable smile on his wizened face right now after observing two super moments for his club

First, McAndrew took his youth side to St James' Park where they claimed a gritty 1-0 win against the best youngsters that Newcastle United has to offer, thanks to a goal from Connor Taylor.

Then he will have watched on gleefully as Nathan Delfouneso, one of the fledgling aces he has mentored for a number of years, stepped off the bench and into the limelight at Fratton Park.

England under-21 star Delfouneso netted his first ever Premier League goal and how important it was for Villa.

The striker instinctively guided an Emile Heskey flick-on into the Portsmouth net to seal a 2-1 victory for the Claret and Blue on the south coast.

It meant that Martin O'Neill's men walked away with their heads held high after a dominant display kept them in the hunt for Champions League qualification.

And it was a feat that won't have escaped the notice of McAndrew, who has been educating some of the best English prospects at Villa for a number of years.

He has overseen the development of the likes of Gareth Barry and Gabby Agbonlahor, two of the best players to come out of the club during the modern era.

Both have earned England senior squad recognition and you wouldn't be surprised to see Delfouneso, Marc Albrighton and Ciaran Clark follow suit in the next few years.

McAndrew is, quite simply, an unsung hero.

But the former Middlesbrough stalwart may now get the recognition he deserves after leading his youngsters into an FA Youth Cup showpiece against glamour boys Chelsea.

The national media might now start to consider writing a feature or two on the man behind Villa's continual development, especially if they see off the lavishly funded proteges from west London.

And chairman Randy Lerner may just consider adding to McAndrew's pay packet just as he would with the most promising talents in the academy.

There are a few maybes there but what is for sure is that McAndrew deserves a moment, or two, in the sun.