Andy Gregory

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

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.

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

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.

Wigan Gregory finally signed for Wigan in 1986 for a reported then world record fee of £130,000. He also became the first player to appear in eight Challenge Cup finals.

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.

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 Regal Trophy Final during the 1989–90 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. 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.

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.

Later career 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,

Gregory considers the dead rubber third test of the 1988 Ashes series against Australia to be the highlight of his test career. After Australia had dominated the first two games to wrap up the series, he was named Man of the Match as the British Lions overcame the Wally Lewis led Aussies 26–12 at the Sydney Football Stadium. Gregory set up flying Martin Offiah for the first try of the game, and Phil Ford for the second. In the second half, it was Gregory again who chipped the ball for Henderson Gill to outpace Australian Garry Jack score. Gregory also contributed to the final try as he ran from dummy half escaped his markers and found Mike Gregory for a final 70-metre try under the posts. It was Great Britain's first victory over Australia since the 18–14 victory during the second Ashes test of Australia's 1978 Kangaroo tour, played at the Odsal Stadium in Bradford

His peers also recognised Andy Gregory's talent. When Australian former captain Wally Lewis was asked which English player caused him and his team most problems, he replied "A certain little halfback! That little bastard! I admired Andy Gregory as much, if not more, than any other player because of the creativity that he boasted and the determination to cause defeat for Australia. He was also one of the toughest players that I ever played against."

Despite previously announcing his retirement from international rugby league, he received a call to go on the 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australasia, where he earned his 26th, and final, test cap in the 22–6 loss to the Mal Meninga led Aussies in the first test of the series in Sydney.

In 2007 Gregory took over struggling National League Two side Blackpool, his first head coach role in eight years. Blackpool had not won for 25 games when he took over, however he was unable to turn things around, and the club finished the season without a win, and Gregory left the club at the end of the season.

In 1996, Gregory also coached the Great Britain Nines side for the twelve nation World Cup in Australia, leading them to the semi-finals before an eventual loss to Western Samoa.

In May 2026 he was appointed as Head Coach of the Hull All Blacks, a beach rugby team, and in his debut tournament, Majorca Beach Rugby, he led the team to become the Roger Mews Memorial trophy winners as well as the Wooden Spoon Champions 2026.

Outside professional rugby league Since leaving professional rugby league, Gregory has taken an active role in charity work, including charity evenings to support the Royal British Legion, and fund raising games for the GB All Stars to support the charity Life for a Kid, among others.

In 2000 Gregory's book, Pint Size was published. The book was warmly received by fans, despite some stories that were easily contested, including his description of a Wigan versus Halifax match that actually took place after he had joined Leeds.