Biography
Experienced midfielder Hessenthaler joined City in January 2005, adding experience to Peter Taylor’s League One promotion push. Hessenthaler played a supporting role in what ended up a successful campaign.
Born in Dartford, Hessenthaler had an unconventional career in football, only joining the professional ranks in his mid-20s. He played in the non-leagues while working as a builder for many years, playing for Dartford in the late 80s when he first encountered Peter Taylor as a manager. In 1991 Hessenthaler was lured into the professional game by Watford, whose assistant manager was… Peter Taylor. He was a near-ever present for the Hornets over a five year spell, then in 1996 he signed for Tony Pulis’s Gillingham for a £235,000 fee. Pulis was soon canned and Peter Taylor took the helm at Priestfield Stadium, promoting Hessenthaler to player-coach. By 2000 Taylor had left and Hessenthaler was again elevated to player manager for four years. His years at Gillingham led to Hessenthaler achieving cult status amongst Gills fans, though his stock had fallen slightly by 2005 when he came to Hull City.
Hessenthaler played well into his 40s at Barnet and Dover. Having already managed Gillingham in the early 2000s, Andy resumed his management career after his playing days ended. He was player-manager at Dover for three years, returned to manage Gillingham in 2010 then rose to a football development role at Gillingham in 2013. He was again caretaker manager at Gillingham in 2014, then led Leyton Orient for an ill-fated five month spell. In October 2018 Hessenthaler was again appointed manager at Dover Athletic and guided them through struggles and relegation during the COVID19 pandemic. In January 2023 Gillingham, bottom of League 2 but under rejuvenated ownership, appointed Hessenthaler as Head of Recruitment, vacating the manager’s hot seat at Dover.
Hessenthaler represented England in a single non-league representative squad in 1990.
Details
Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 17 August 1965, Dartford
Hull City First Game: 1 February 2005, Chesterfield A (League One), 39 years, 168 days old
Hull City Final Game: 30 April 2005, Sheffield Wednesday H (League One), 39 years, 256 days old
Clubs
Corinthian (1981-1986), Dartford (1986-1990), Redbridge Forest (1990-1991), Watford (1991-1996), Gillingham (1996-2006), Hull City (2005, loan), Barnet (2006-2007), Dover (2007-2010)
Hull City Record
Career: 10 apps, 0 goals
Andy Hessenthaler| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004/05 | 6 (4) | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |