John McAndrew

Seán Victor "John" McAndrew (8 July 1927 – 3 January 2013) is a former Gaelic footballer.^[1] Born in the County Mayo town of Bangor Erris, he was one of the longest surviving Mayo Gaelic footballers to hold All-Ireland Senior Football Championship winners' medals. He was part of the 1950 and 1951 team, captained by Seán Flanagan, that won titles back-to-back those years at Croke Park, Dublin.

Biography

In the mid-1950s, McAndrew studied and graduated from the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin.

After emigrating to England in 1961, McAndrew led John Mitchel's Gaelic football team in Birmingham to numerous Warwickshire Senior Championships.

McAndrew's first medical practice in England was in the rural Shropshire town of Madeley,(close to Ironbridge) where he joined the practice of Dr. McGabhann. McAndrew quickly became involved in the local community and was a regular attender at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Madeley, Shropshire. After a short period there, he saw an opportunity to take over a practice in the Sandwell town of Old Hill, near Cradley Heath. It was here, and for over 40 years, that McAndrew ran a single-handed practice deep in the Black Country, serving the local community.

Always interested in sport of any kind, McAndrew successfully took up the hobby of greyhound racing, both at NGRC and independent tracks - although not both at the same time. Dr McAndrew gained a reputation for his astuteness in selecting young dogs from Ireland, and developing them through intensive training and superior nutrition. Amongst accolades collected were the Birmingham Cup, ran at the old Perry Barr Greyhound Stadium, and the Welsh and Bolton St Legers.

McAndrew married Bridget Catherine Corr on 11 April 1971 and had a son, also named Sean, in December 1973. 'Bridie' died on 23 May 2006.

Gaelic Football Achievements

Ireland
Winner of two Senior All Ireland Gaelic Football medals with Mayo in 1950 and 1951
Winner of one Junior All Ireland Gaelic Football medal with Mayo in 1957
Captain of Mayo Senior team beaten by Dublin in the All Ireland Gaelic Football semi final in 1955
Winner of four County Championship medals with Crossmolina, Castlebar, and Ballina in County Mayo
Winner of one County Championship medal with The Westerners, Dublin
Winner of five Senior Connaught Championships medals with Mayo
Winner of two National Football League medals with Mayo
England
Winner of seven Warwickshire Football Championships with John Mitchels GAA club in Birmingham
Winner of four Birmingham City Council Park Trophy competitions with John Mitchels GAA club
Winner of seven Fr Forde cups, and eight Senior Football League competitions with John Mitchels GAA club
Dr John McAndrew was chosen as full-back on the Warwickshire team of the 20th Century
Ex Chairman of the Warwickshire County Board
Ex Chairman of John Mitchels GAA club
Ex Captain of John Mitchels GAA club
Life President of John Mitchels GAA club
Honorary Vice-President of the Gaelic Athletic Association Provincial Council for Britain

References