ANDY CLUES, one of the most colourful characters of West Australian football, has died. He passed away on June 28 at the age of 87.
Andy was a well-respected coach both in the Sydney area and around Perth, an author of a book lauded by no less than Sir Matt Busby, and a radio commentator with Radio Fremantle in the 1990s.
He was born in Brighton and, despite having no coaching in his formative years, went on to play for the London Schoolboys at the age of 15.
He then succeeded in joining the British Army at an early age, being taken on as an apprentice electrician. He continued to play football in the forces, but also showed a considerable aptitude for boxing.
He went on to represent the Army in the ABA Bantamweight Championships and boxed in many European countries as an international bantam.
After leaving the Army, Andy joined the famous London amateur football club, Dulwich Hamlet (many times winners of the FA Amateur Cup and the Amateur League), but then decided to emigrate to Australia with his parents.
He was originally based in Canberra - and played representative games for the ACT against touring teams from Puerto Rico and Hong Kong - but later branched out to play in Adelaide and Sydney.
He then returned to the UK, teaming up with Plymouth Argyle for five seasons before a serious injury ended his playing days. He decided to return to Australia and pursue a coaching career with various clubs in the Sydney area and with the NSW governing body.
Andy then headed west and linked up with several clubs, including Fremantle Benfica, while also establishing an electrical business.
He also hosted a Saturday morning football show on Radio Fremantle and wrote on the WA game in the Western Soccer newspaper.
It was when he was based in Sydney in the 1970s that he wrote a coaching book called "Soccer for coaches and players" in collaboration with respected journalist David Jack, the son of the former England and Arsenal player also called David Jack.
David Jack junior had been chairman of the English Football Writers Association before emigrating to Australia in 1967.
He had also written the autobiography of Sir Matt Busby, who wrote the Foreword to "Soccer for coachings and players", calling it an excellent book.
"This book will make a significant contribution to the knowledgte of not only the youngsters, but of coaches and players at all levels. I wish Andy and David every success with the book," wrote Sir Matt.