LOYAL ANDY TO RETIRE – AFTER 45 YEARS!
THE Football League are set to bid farewell to ‘wise sage’ Andy Williamson at the end of the season – after 45 years’ sterling service!
The League’s chief operating officer, 61, confirmed his impending retirement at a meeting of all League clubs at Hillsborough.
He said: “It has been a real privilege to spend virtually the whole of my working life in professional football and serve the game that is held dear by so many of us.
“My commitment to the Football League and its member clubs will continue long after I step down.”
Football League chairman Greg Clarke was one of the first to pay tribute to the Football League stalwart.
He said: “Andy has been the wise sage of English professional football for many seasons and is rightly regarded as one of the finest administrators the sport has ever produced.
“The diligence Andy has shown week-in, week-out over the years has ensured that millions of supporters have been able to watch matches that have been fair, competitive and meaningful.
“His contribution to our clubs and their communities, especially in the development of young footballers, both on and off the pitch, will serve as a lasting legacy to an outstanding career.”
Williamson has been personally involved in many of league football’s defining moments, including the introduction of three points for a win (1981), the League’s first title sponsorship (1983) and the introduction of the playoffs (1986) – the finals of which moved to Wembley in 1990 at his personal instigation.
He has also provided leadership to the League and its clubs in challenging circumstances, such as the Bradford fire (1985), the Hillsborough disaster (1989), the formation of the Premier League (1992) and the collapse of ITV Digital (2002).
In 2012, he was awarded the OBE in recognition of his outstanding contribution to football.