Andy Griffin Bio Send To Friend  

After becoming a fringe player at Portsmouth Griffin spent the whole of the 2006/07 season on loan at Championship side Stoke City - where he began his career - and made the move permanent with a £300,000 deal in January 2008 after a few months at Derby County.

Griffin signed a four-year deal and was named captain after only three weeks as at the club when John Eustace to Watford. In his fourth stint at the Potters the versatile Griffin has been utilised as a full-back on both the left and the right.

He originally left Stoke bound for Newcastle United for a fee of £1.5million in January 1998. He is an excellent wing-back who enjoys exploiting the attacking opportunities provided by the role and has the defensive solidity to keep a watchful eye on his opponent.

Very quick both coming forward and tracking back, he can operate comfortably on either flank.

The former England Under-21 international made his Newcastle debut in a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of West Ham United in February 1998. But he suffered a series of injuries from 2000 onwards which hampered his progress and involvement with the first team.

Griffin enjoyed something of resurgence under Sir Bobby Robson and played Champions League football in 2002/03, when his winning goal against Juventus rekindled his side's challenge.

He left the club in May 2004, bound for Portsmouth on a Bosman, signing a four-year contract. The player's professional debut had come against the Fratton Park outfit.

Griffin played 103 games for Newcastle, scoring three goals.

He made his Pompey debut in a 1-1 home draw with Birmingham City and while he was a regular in his first season it was more difficult to get a game in 2005/06.

The player was then freed to rejoin Stoke City on loan for 2006/07, where he played 34 games and scored two goals - including an absolute belter in the fog against Coventry City.

He made 15 appearances for the club as they won promotion from the Championship to the Premier League in 2008.