Sinton joins illustrious group
Ron Flowers, Gordon Banks, Geoff Hurst . . . and now Andy Sinton. They are all former England internationals who have gone on to manage Telford United in any of its guises, and Sinton today becomes the latest star to join that exclusive club.
Ron Flowers, Gordon Banks, Geoff Hurst . . . and now Andy Sinton. They are all former England internationals who have gone on to manage Telford United in any of its guises, and Sinton today becomes the latest star to join that exclusive club.
The 44-year-old had a stellar playing career at the highest levels of the game, enjoying success at, among others, Queens Park Rangers, Tottenham Hotspur and Wolves.
He began his career at Cambridge United and still boasts the record for being their youngest ever player.
Via Brentford, he finally arrived in the Premier League with QPR and went on to become Sheffield Wednesday's most expensive player when he joined for £2.75m.
His form won him 12 England caps at this stage, playing in the side that flopped at the 1992 European Championships.
But, where Sinton's international aspirations wilted from there, so his club prospects bloomed.
He signed for Spurs in a £1.5m deal, and silverware was picked up as he helped the club win the League Cup in 1999.
Promising
Three years at Wolves followed before he finished his career in non-League, first with Burton – where he first came to Telford – then at Fleet Town.
All that, of course, counts for very little as he sets out to prove he can cut it in management too – though even here the early signs are promising.
Sinton took charge in the dugout for the first time at Fleet, and his five years there have shown his potential.
Operating with one of the lowest budgets in the Ryman League, he has three times guided them to the play-offs – only to falter at the final hurdle each time.
The season just gone saw Fleet miss out on a fourth straight play-off campaign on the final day, though they did go on to win three cups in a week.
For Sinton, enough was enough.
A desire to work closer to his Midlands base – he lives in Solihull – and an ambition to move up the ranks led to his resignation from the Hampshire minnows.
An outsider in many eyes for the Telford job, he won round the Bucks Board with his enthusiasm and self-belief during two tough interviews.
Now he will look to deliver that elusive promotion Telford so want to the top flight of non-League football.
Success on that front might just rank up alongside anything he achieved as a player.
