Bristol Rovers

Bristol Rovers are saddened to hear of the passing of former player Andy Spring.

Tall, well-built right-back Spring played under manager Bobby Gould at both Coventry and Rovers, making his debut in the Sky Blues’ 5-0 defeat against Liverpool at Anfield in May 1984.

Rovers did not score in the first four home League games of 1985-86 and, after a 6-0 hammering at Walsall, his final game for the club was the 1-1 draw at home to Wolves in March 1986.

His solitary League appearance for Cardiff City came in the 2-0 defeat at Gillingham in October 1985.

Andy was the son of Walter Spring and Shirley Forster, his father being the third of five children to Cecil Spring (1909-71) and Hilda Knopp. Blond-haired and mustachioed, he was released by Rovers and soon moved to Ireland, where he played for a succession of clubs, featuring in Sligo Rovers’ April 1987 Irish Cup semi-final against Shamrock Rovers.

In 1992, Spring was reported to have won £250,000 on the Irish Lottery from a 25p ticket. Andy later worked for many years for the Prison Service, receiving a number of commendations for his stalwart work with young offenders, and worked latterly as a lorry driver, based in Redditch.

His son, Aaron, born in September 1991, was a talented rugby player with Sligo and the Connaught Under-18 side, representing Ireland Under-20s against Italy in November 2010.