Andrew Barron

Andrew Barron (born 24 December 1980) is a New Zealand former footballer who played as a central midfielder.

Barron, who combined full-time employment as a investment counselor and banker with semi-professional football, was also a New Zealand international who played at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, making him the first non-professional to participate in the tournament.

Club career Barron signed for Canterbury United, a New Zealand Football Championship (NZFC) franchise at the start of the 2005–06 season. After impressing making 15 appearances and scoring one goal, he was scouted by other NZFC club Team Wellington for the following season and scored four goals in 12 appearances in a playmaker role.

In 2008, Barron went in search of a professional career overseas and signed with the Minnesota Thunder of the USL First Division, however after struggling to make an impact, he returned to New Zealand to play for Team Wellington midway through the 2008–09 NZFC season. Barron made 34 appearances (all starts) and scored 12 goals in both stints with the Wellington club.

International career Barron made his debut for the New Zealand national team in the first match of a two-game friendly series against Malaysia on 19 February 2006. Barron scored his first international goal in the second match of the Malaysian series with an 88th-minute strike to seal a 2–1 win for the All Whites.

Barron was included in the New Zealand squad for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa, along with fellow non-professionals James Bannatyne and Aaron Scott and was also part of the All Whites team which beat Bahrain in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification play-off match. During the 2010 FIFA World Cup, he made headlines when he featured as a late substitute against defending champions Italy and became the first non-professional to participate in the tournament.

+ International goals#DateOpponentFinal ScoreResultCompetition 1 23 February 2006 2–1 Win FriendlyLast updated 7 April 2010

Career statistics