The Ex-Files: Andy Marshall Tuesday, 2nd Jul 2013 13:17 In the eighth part of our regular series, The Ex-Files, Blair Ferguson catches up with former Blues and Norwich City keeper Andy Marshall. It takes a brave man to make a move to his current club’s deadliest rivals but having been linked with a host of other sides, Andy Marshall made such a switch 12 years ago today. When his contract with Norwich City, then in what’s now the Championship and where he had played since he was a schoolboy, was up he became the first man since John Deehan 15 years previously to make the controversial trip down the A140 to then-Premier League Town. The 38-year-old recalls how the move from came about: “I know there were a lot of rumours saying that I was speaking to different clubs and this, that and the other. “It came about at the end of June I think it was because it was at the start of June that I got married. It was just before pre-season that it all came up and then the deal was done.” Given his Norfolk background, Marshall was well aware that it might take some time for some sections of Town fans to warm up to him. “There was always going to be some sections of them who were going to be against me and I knew that was going to be the case. “But in fairness to them they were responsive to me and they gave me the opportunity at the start and I think it was partly the predicament the team was in, we were bottom of the table I think it was and we were really struggling.
“I came in and coincidentally there was a lift in the team’s fortunes. We managed to get some results that pulled us up to mid-table and the fans initially were very good towards me.” Many Town supporters’ most vivid memories of Marshall’s time with the Canaries was one of those afternoons that players would much rather forget — the Alex Mathie-hat-trick-inspired 5-0 at Portman Road in February 1998. Clearly it’s a day which still gives him nightmares: “It's horrible, the scary thing is that I actually look back on it and I knew before the game that we were going to struggle and personally that I wasn't going to have a good game. “I remember standing in the tunnel with Richard Wright saying ‘I don't feel right’. I know it sounds like a negative thought to have but that's just what I felt at that moment in time. “It’s one of the worst things in football to concede any goals. To concede more than two is horrendous, but to concede them against your local rivals is very devastating. “It's very humiliating because it’s something you have to live with with your own fans and where you live and everything like that for quite a period of time, and people like you bring up as well!” Having mentioned not feeling right before that game, Marshall adds: “[You know] when you’re in the zone in football, mentally in the zone but if something isn't quite right, you know.
“It could be something very minor and when you go into a game like that there's a lot of mind games you play with yourself to get yourself through it. I couldn't get myself right for that game and I had a feeling that we were going to be in for a tough afternoon.” At the time Malcolm Webster, now back at Portman Road working under Mick McCarthy, was George Burley’s goalkeeping coach and listening to the way Marshall speaks you sense he has a lot of respect for him, having worked with him since his days at Norwich. “Malcolm's had an immense impact of my career,” he said. “I was at a point where my career was pretty much going nowhere. “I didn't fully understand what goalkeeping was all about and that’s the benefit that young goalkeepers have now with full-time goalkeeping coaches at clubs because they get taught these things. But when I was coming through at that particular stage we didn't have goalkeeping coaches," he explains. “Malcolm came in and basically taught me what goalkeeping is all about and that was in my early twenties. As it is now, and rightly so, kids are being taught it at eight, nine, ten years old. Without the influence Malcolm had on my career I wouldn't have played at the top as long.” Before the beginning of his first season with the Blues Marshall had a back injury that looked likely to keep him out long-term. That being the case, Matteo Sereni came in from Sampdoria for £4.5 million, an unfortunate move for Marshall considering the events that followed. “I had injections throughout the end of the previous season and the summer, it was something that came up,” he recalls. “The problem was that they couldn't diagnose what the actual problem was and it was only when I eventually saw a back specialist called Mark Bender down in London that the guy diagnosed me and I think within about a week and a half to two weeks I was fully fit and training again.
“But until the problem was diagnosed there was no chance that I was going to become fit and that's why there was the initial talk that it was going to be a long-term injury. “You’re always going to be disappointed because I'd gone there with the expectation that I was going to be playing. I was injured and the club had to do something, rightfully so from the club’s point of view. “But obviously it didn't help my situation with Matteo coming in and coming in for a large sum of money and on big wages. The club was under pressure to play him as well. It was a waiting game for me.” Marshall’s chance finally came in January in an FA Cup tie away to Dagenham and Redbridge, where Town ran out 4-1 winners with two goals from Sixto Peralta and one each from Jim Magilton and Marcus Stewart. “It was great, the pleasing thing from my point of view was the work I'd been doing building up to that,” he remembers.
“It was great that I'd got into the team and had that game. The team were struggling at the time, Matteo's form was maybe a bit up and down, and it was the work I'd done previously with Malcolm and the now unfortunately departed Dale Roberts, the reserve team manager, who had a massive influence on the way I was playing as well.” When he came into the team Town were languishing in the lower reaches of the Premier League table. With confidence such a big part of a goalkeeper’s game Marshall explains how he prepared himself for when that chance finally came around. “For me it's all about, and a lot of goalkeepers will tell you the same sort of thing, it's all about your mindset. “It's all about making sure that you've got your mind in the right place. I knew Matteo had come in and the club were going to go with him for an initial period of time, so I set about in my own mind getting myself 100% on form so that if or when my opportunity came I'd be ready for it.
“And that's what I did and, I know I keep saying it, but I'm going to hark back to Malcolm because it was his influence and how he made me work.” Having previously mentioned the upturn in fortunes when he came into the team, the question of why the Blues ended being relegated arises, to which Marshall gives a considered reply. “It was a tough year. You were always going to struggle to emulate the first year with how well the club had done. We were favourites to go down in year one and got a European place and all the trappings that go along with it. “I think there was half an eye on the European run that distracted us from the league and without a doubt a lot of games we went and played in Europe, the subsequent weekend we would then struggle to get a result. I think that was a big factor in it. “The start of the season really put us on a rocky road. Going up to Christmas rock bottom you’re always going to struggle because even though we had a really good run of form in the second half of the season, you’re always going to have another dip. "And our dip came at the wrong time towards the end of the season and we just didn't have enough points.” During his time at the club Marshall worked under two managers, George Burley and Joe Royle, both of whom you can tell he respects, despite one calling an end on his Town career. “I got on very well with George. George was a very good man and a fantastic manager and a good man-manager. “I just wasn't Joe's cup of tea from day one. It wasn't so much of a personal issue, it just didn't happen, Joe didn't fancy me playing-wise so there was really nowhere for me to go with it.
“So my time started to come to end, there was no animosity between us, it was just that I didn't fit his criteria and that happens in football and you move on.” With his position made clear, Marshall embarked on a loan spell at Wolves before a move to Millwall, initially on loan again before signing permanently. Speaking about being on loan, Marshall outlines how hard it can be going to a new team as a goalkeeper, given the responsibility they have on the pitch. “It is difficult because it is a commanding position and you are expected to influence what's going on with people you potentially might not know, and that was a little bit daunting. "I had a great time at Wolves, it was only a short period but I had a good time there. “Millwall was brilliant, I went down there and got to play under Dennis Wise and Ray Wilkins and built up a great relationship with them. “It was a good period where the club was really going places and I thoroughly enjoyed playing my football there initially for the first 18 months.” Whilst at Millwall Marshall reached the 2004 FA Cup final, where he faced Manchester United in what was always going to be a difficult game. Despite losing 3-0, he recalls the pride he had in getting there.
“It is the pinnacle of everybody’s career, growing up in an era where you would sit and watch the FA Cup, watch the players on the coach going to the game, it was a real big thing for me. “It was fantastic to play in but now with the influence of money and the Premier League that isn't quite the case. But for me it was something that I wanted to achieve in my career and I did achieve, and it's something that I can look back on when I do eventually finish and be proud that I was part of.” With his time at Millwall over Marshall moved to Coventry in 2006. Talking about the Sky Blues, he explains how from a player’s perspective the writing was on the wall even then as far as the financial situation was concerned. “I had a great time at Coventry. I got Player of the Season in the first year, I really enjoyed it, working under Micky Adams and Chris Coleman, brilliant, absolutely fantastic.
“Unfortunately at the end of the three years they weren't able to extend the contract even though Chris wanted to because of other issues in the club financially,” Marshall continues. “You could see at the time when I was there where the club was going unfortunately and I’ve spoken to a lot of people associated with it and unfortunately I don't think they could see it because of their love for the football club. “But for a football player standing back and looking at it you could see exactly what was going to happen and nobody takes any pride in where that club is at this moment in time.” Marshall was disappointed not to be offered a new contract but now sees how it may have been a positive step in the long-term. “I had a good time at Coventry and subsequently I left them and joined Aston Villa and spent four fantastic seasons there, so indirectly it was probably a blessing in disguise. “But I was disappointed at the time because I'd done so well for the club but that's football. My time at Aston Villa, I’ve spent four years there and it's been amazing, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it.” On the face of it a move to Aston Villa may have appeared an excellent one, but the reality of the situation was initially difficult for Marshall as he found himself in a place he hadn’t been before in his career. “The first year was very difficult because I didn't play. I played reserve team games but I wasn't involved in the first team at all and that's never happened to me in my career. So, when that happened it was a very frustrating moment in my career. “It’s something that I had to get into my head and try and deal with and that's how I learnt the mental side of it and how you've got to switch on and switch off in football. < “So, it did affect me because I was used to preparing myself week in, week out for games when suddenly I was just going in and training and it was really tough.” Having been released by Villa at the end of the season, Marshall is now a free agent but still believes he has something to offer and hopes to pen a deal with a new club in the coming weeks. “I'm in the later stages of my career now, 38 years-old, but I personally feel I’ve still got another two or three years in me. "I don't feel any different to how I did four or five years ago, so my next step is looking to get another contract and see where I go in another year’s time. “I’ve had discussions with four clubs so far. I know how it all works, nothing will happen for another few weeks but I’ve had quite a few discussions with clubs and I hope to get something sorted out sooner rather than later. But in my position, at my age, the way football works it's probably going to be a few weeks yet.” When he does finally decide to retire Marshall will have a host of Sells Goalkeeping Academies running all over the world, as he explains. “I'm the owner of Sells Goalkeeping Academies. Sells is a goalkeeping brand and I run the academy side of it, we have academies all over the world, in Essex, Norfolk, we are hopefully getting one in Suffolk, all around London, the Midlands, Canada, Australia, Bermuda and we will shortly be starting up in some other new countries as well. “I'm creating something so that I can hopefully leave a little bit of a legacy in football.” You can read all the previous Ex-Files here.
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