Andrew Barron (footballer)

For the Canadian ice speed skater, see Andrew Barron (speed skater).

Andrew Barron (born 24 December 1980 in Invercargill) is a retired New Zealand association football player. Barron, naturally a central midfielder, combines full-time employment as an investment counselor and banker with semi-professional football.

Andrew Barron

Personal information
Full name	Andrew Barron
Date of birth	(1980-12-24) 24 December 1980 (age 44)
Place of birth	Invercargill, New Zealand
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Central midfielder
Youth career
1988–1997	Petone
2000–2003	WCU Crusaders
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1997–2000	Miramar Rangers
2003–2004	New Orleans Shell Shockers	29	(8)
2004–2005	Lisburn Distillery	16	(1)
2005–2006	Canterbury United	15	(1)
2006–2007	Team Wellington	12	(4)
2008	Minnesota Thunder	11	(0)
2008–2010	Team Wellington	22	(8)
2013	Kiwi FC
International career‡
2006–2010	New Zealand	12	(1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 10 April 2010 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 20 June 2010

He last played for Kiwi FC in Samoa and was also an All White who played at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, making him one of the very few amateur All Whites in recent years.

Club career

Barron signed for Canterbury United, a New Zealand Football Championship 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 team 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 NZFC 2008–09 season. Barron has 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 football team in the first match of a two-game friendly series against Malaysia on 19 February 2006.^[1] 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.^[2]

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^[3] 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 footballer to participate in the tournament.^[4]

International goals

#	Date	Opponent	Final Score	Result	Competition
1	23 February 2006	Malaysia	2–1	Win	Friendly
Last updated 7 April 2010

Career statistics

All-Time Club Performances

Club	Season	Premiership		Irish Cup		League Cup		Europe		Total
		App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals
Lisburn Distillery F.C. (IFA Premiership)	2004–05	16	1							16	1
Club Total	16	1							16	1
Club	Season	NZFC		Chatham Cup		Club World Cup		Oceania		Total
		App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals
Canterbury United (New Zealand Football Championship)	2005–06	15	1							15	1
Club Total	15	1							15	1
Club	Season	NZFC		Chatham Cup		Club World Cup		Oceania		Total
		App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals
Team Wellington (New Zealand Football Championship)	2006–07	12	4							12	4
Club Total	12	4							12	4
Club	Season	USL-1								Total
		App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals
Minnesota Thunder (USL First Division)	2008	11	0							11	0
Club Total	11	0							11	0
Club	Season	NZFC		Chatham Cup		Club World Cup		Oceania		Total
		App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals
Team Wellington (New Zealand Football Championship)	2008–09	7	4							7	4
	2009–10	15	4							15	4
Club Total	22	8							20	6
Career totals		76	14							76	14
Last updated 30 April 2010

See also

• New Zealand national football team
• New Zealand at the FIFA World Cup
• New Zealand national football team results
• List of New Zealand international footballers