Andy Wagstaff started playing soccer at a very young age in England. As a teen, Andy gained playing experience in the first division for Huddersfield Town and Bury FC. Andy was then recruited by Gary Parsons, former Oakland University head coach, to leave the UK and start a career in the USA as a scholarship player at Oakland University. Post college, Andy played professionally for the Detroit Neon and Detroit Rockers, and was the assistant coach of the Oakland University Women’s soccer program in 2003-2004. Andy has been coaching for 19 years.
His experience as a player and as a coach along with his passion and commitment was the foundation for the Force Football Club of which Andy is entering his 14th year as the President and Coaching Director. In 2007 and 2008 Andy led the ’89 Force Girls to two consecutive National Championships in 2007 and 2008, the only Michigan soccer team to ever do so. Andy has developed the skills and nurtured the soccer careers of many of the best young players in Michigan and has placed over 30 of his players into NCAA Collegiate Programs.
Andy holds a USSF ’A’ License and UEFA ’B’ License. Andy was recently named as the 2006 Michigan Girls Competitive Coach of the Year, 2006 Michigan Youth Competitive Coach of the Year and the 2007 NSCAA Midwest Regional Girls Coach of the Year. For a number of years Andy travelled between the UK and USA to work on his post-graduate certificate at John Moores University in Liverpool, England. During that time Andy worked with two English Premier League Clubs, Liverpool FC and Bolton Wanderers FC in their respective youth academy programs.
