Andy Gregory

Andrew Gregory (born 10 August 1961) is an English former professional rugby league footballer.

A Great Britain international representative, he is an inductee of the Wigan Hall of Fame.

Gregory played for Widnes from 1979 until 1984, towards the end of the famous "Cup Kings" era.

In his first full season for Widnes, he forced his way into the first team and became a regular fixture from then on.

Despite having a tooth removed the night before the game, the end of his début season was capped with a trip to Wembley for his first Challenge Cup Final.

Andy Gregory played, and scored a try in Widnes' 18-9 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1981 Challenge Cup Final during the 1980–81 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 2 May 1981, in front of a crowd of 92,496, and almost won the Lance Todd Trophy, played , and scored a conversion in the 14-14 draw with Hull F.C. in the 1982 Challenge Cup Final during the 1981–82 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 1 May 1982, in front of a crowd of 92,147, and played in the 9-18 defeat by Hull F.C. in the 1982 Challenge Cup Final replay during the 1981–82 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Wednesday 19 May 1982, in front of a crowd of 41,171,.

In total, he played 141 games for Widnes scoring 43 tries, and earning GB caps while at the club.

Gregory played in Widnes' 3–8 defeat by Leigh in the 1981 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1981–82 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 26 September 1981, played in the 8–12 defeat by Barrow in the 1983 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1983–84 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 1 October 1983,

He was the first player to win five Challenge Cup Final winners medals, first player to play in eight Challenge Cup finals and one of only two players to have played in six Ashes series against Australia (1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990 and 1992), the other being Garry Schofield.

Gregory was born in Ince-in-Makerfield, Lancashire, England.

He played junior rugby league in the town for the local Wigan St Patricks ARLFC side.

He also had a trial for Salford (where his father had played) at the age of 17, but was signed by Widnes.

Gregory made his début as a substitute in Great Britain's 7–8 loss to France in the friendly at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo in Venice, Italy on Saturday 31 July 1982.

Gregory went on to win 26 Great Britain caps.

Gregory played in Widnes' 10-18 defeat by Leeds in the 1983–84 John Player Special Trophy Final during the 1983–84 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 14 January 1984.

Gregory played in Widnes' 19-6 victory over Wigan in the 1984 Challenge Cup Final during the 1983–84 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 5 May 1984, in front of a crowd of 80,116.

At the start of the 1984–85 season, Gregory refused to play for Widnes, and held out for a chance to play for his home town team.

But Widnes refused the deal, and sold him in a deal between Widnes and Warrington for £75,000 and John Fieldhouse moving the opposite way to Widnes.

Andy Gregory played, and was sent-off for stamping on Nick du Toit in Warrington's 8–34 defeat by Wigan in the 1985 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1985–86 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens, on Sunday 13 October 1985.

Before leaving Warrington in 1986, he played 60 games as they won the 1986 Premiership Trophy Final against Halifax.

Gregory finally signed for Wigan in 1986 for a reported then world record fee of £130,000.

He made an immediate impact as he won the 1987 Player of the Year award, no small achievement as Wigan went on a run of 29 consecutive wins.

Also in 1987, he played a big part in the inaugural World Club Challenge win over Australian champions Manly-Warringah, and although he was only small in height he dominated games on the field from.

Gregory played in Wigan's 28–16 victory over Warrington in the 1987 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1987–88 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens, on Sunday 11 October 1987, and played in the 22–17 victory over Salford in the 1988 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1988–89 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Sunday 23 October 1988.

In 1988, Gregory also kicked a goal in Wigan's 32–12 Challenge Cup final win over Halifax, winning the Lance Todd Trophy for the first time, a feat he repeated in 1990 as Wigan thumped Warrington 36–14.

He was then selected to go on the 1988 Great Britain Lions tour.

Gregory had a successful career at Wigan, playing 182 times for the club and winning awards including the World Club Challenge, five Challenge Cups (the first player to do so), four Championships, two Regal Trophies, two Lancashire Cups, the John Player Trophy and a Premiership.

He also became the first player to appear in eight Challenge Cup finals.

Gregory appeared as a substitute (replacing Joe Lydon on 51 minutes) in Wigan's 12-6 victory over Widnes in the 1988–89 John Player Special Trophy Final during the 1988–89 season at Burnden Park, Bolton on Saturday 7 January 1989, and played in the 24-12 victory over Halifax in the 1989–90 League Cup (rugby league) Final during the 1988–89 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 13 January 1990.

In 1989, Gregory, and Wigan teammate, Steve Hampson, played several months of the 1989 NSWRL season in the Winfield Cup with the battling Illawarra Steelers.

Gregory playing a big role in their thrilling 20–22 loss to Brisbane Broncos in the mid-week Panasonic Cup Final played at the Parramatta Stadium in Sydney, winning the man-of-the-match award.

During the 1991–92 season, Gregory played for defending champions Wigan as a in their 1991 World Club Challenge victory against the visiting Penrith Panthers at the famous Anfield stadium in Liverpool.

It was the first time Illawarra had qualified for a cup final, the second coming in a 4-2 win over the Broncos in the 1992 Tooheys Challenge Cup Final.

Gregory also played nine league games for Illawarra, scoring tries against Penrith, Gold Coast Seagulls and South Sydney.

His first league game was in Round 9 against Manly, and his last was in Round 20 against Eastern Suburbs.

Gregory was transferred to Leeds in 1992, after feeling he had no option but to leave Wigan when they gave him the terms of his contract extension following his return from the Great Britain Lions tour of Australasia.

Gregory had no intention of leaving and wanted to retire as a Wigan player, but the club has been informed by medical staff that he was becoming too injury prone.

He was sold for just £15,000.

Gregory failed to achieve the same heights at Leeds as he did at Wigan, something not helped by the journey from home and successive injuries, and was then transferred to Salford after two seasons.

Gregory joined Salford for the 1994 season for a fee of £10,000, and in 1995 took on a player-coach role, finishing his playing career.