Andrew Whing

Andrew John Whing (born 20 September 1984) is an English former professional footballer who is now on the coaching staff of Oxford United.

Coventry City

Born in Birmingham, Whing grew up supporting Aston Villa and had trials at Birmingham City and Derby County before joining Coventry City at age thirteen. While progressing at the club's academy, Whing was released by the club, only to be re-signed for them., Whing eventually came through the ranks at Coventry City and was appointed captain at the club's academy.

Whing soon made his debut at Highfield Road in Coventry's Division One game against Burnley in February 2003. Following a string of first team appearance, Whing signed his first professional contract, keeping him until 2005.

Ahead of the 2003–04 season, Whing changed shirt from 40 to 2. Whing's first goal for Coventry came in a 3–1 home defeat against Nottingham Forest in August 2003. During the season, Whing string of first team appearance increased further, resulting him signing a four-year contract and his impressive display at the club was praised by Manager Eric Black. The 2003–04 season saw Whing establish himself in the first-team squad at Coventry, making a total of 31 appearances for the club in all competitions.

However he struggled to really assert himself as a starter from then on and became a bit-part player for the Sky Blues after losing his right-back position to newly signing, Louis Carey and his own injury concern. Whing though managed to provide a moment that will never be forgotten by Coventry fans as he scored the last ever goal for Coventry City at Highfield Road in the 6–2 win over Derby County in the 2004–05 season. Following this, Whing was awarded goal of the season and a special award for the player to score the last goal at Highfield Road. His running high-five celebration became the moment that almost all Coventry fans remember him for. This helped re-assert the full-back into the Coventry first team during the first season at the Ricoh Arena where he played 36 times in all competitions.

The 2005–06 season proved to be the high-water mark of Whing's Coventry career. Some poor performances the following season saw him loaned and then sold to Brighton & Hove Albion who were managed by his former manager Micky Adams. After being recalled by the club in late-December, Whing made his first appearance since returning, in a 1-1 draw against Southend United. Even after his return, Whing struggled to make his first team return and played in the reserves throughout the season.

At the end of the 2006-07 season came to an end, Whing was among four players to be released by the club. Upon announcement to his release, Whing was given a farewell lap after the final home match of the season and made over one hundred appearance for the club.

Brighton & Hove Albion

Whing initially joined Brighton & Hove Albion on loan on 8 October 2006, initially for one month. On the same day, Whing made his Brighton & Hove Albion, making his first start as a right-back, in a 3–0 loss against Blackpool. Since making his Brighton debut, the club and fans alike were impressed by what they saw of Whing and the club extended his spell at the Withdean twice more. Despite his wishes to extend his loan deal at Brighton, Whing was recalled by Coventry on 27 December, as the team looked to reinvigorate themselves following a run of three straight defeats. Brighton then tried unsuccessfully to sign Whing on a permanent basis during the January transfer window. In the January transfer window, Brighton & Hove Albion then attempted to sign Whing, only to be rejected by the club.

Whing eventually rejoined Brighton permanently during the summer of 2007 after his contract ended at Coventry. Upon joining the club, Whing said joining the club was an easy decision and previously made hints of joining Brighton. Whing's first game after signing for the club on a permanent basis came in the opening game of the season, in a 2–1 loss against Crewe. Unfortunately, Whing was then sent-off two weeks later after a second bookable offence, in a 2-0 loss against Tranmere Rovers. Despite this, Whing remained in the first team throughout the 2007–08 season, as he made forty-two appearance.

At the start of the 2008–09 season, Whing remained in the right-back position until he dropped from the first team for one game in late November following his blunder that resulted a winning goal, in a 1–0 loss against Huddersfield Town. After making his return against Oldham Athletic, Whing hoped his good performance would keep him in the first team. Whing went on to make forty appearances for the club and after helping them avoid relegation, Whing was overwhelmingly voted Brighton's player of the year for the 2008–09 season, receiving 77% of the vote. With his contract expiring at the end of the 2008–09 season, Whing attracted interests from Walsall and Leeds United, around the same time he was offered a new contract. After his move to Leeds United was stalled, Whing signed a two-year contract with the club.

In the first half of the 2009-10 season, Whing continued to remain in the right-back position for the first seven matches until he suffered a dead leg, resulting being substituted, in a 1-0 loss against Wycombe Wanderers. After being sidelined for two months, Whing made his return from injury for the club's reserve on 11 November 2009 against Millwall's reserve, followed up by his return to the first team four days later, in a 3-1 win over Southampton.

However, under new manager Gus Poyet, Whing found first-team opportunities at Brighton very limited; therefore, on 5 March 2010, he was allowed to join League Two side Chesterfield on loan until the end of the season. Whing made his Chesterfield debut four days later, coming on as a substitute for Dan Gray in the 67th minutes, in a 1-0 loss against Notts County. Whing went on to make eleven appearance for the club.

Leyton Orient

On 28 October 2010, Whing signed for Leyton Orient on a two-month loan deal. Whing made his Leyton Orient debut five days later, on 2 November 2010, in a 3-2 loss against Colchester United. After impressing Os boss Russell Slade with five appearance, Whing signed for Orient until the end of the season, and his Brighton contract was cancelled by mutual consent. On 12 February 2011, he scored his first goal in several years in Orient's 4–1 victory over Bristol Rovers. Three weeks later on 5 March 2011, Whing scored his second goal, in a 2-0 win over Notts County. After making nineteen appearance and scoring twice, Whing was offered a one-year contract extension.

Oxford United

Instead, Whing signed a two-year deal with Oxford United when his contract with Leyton Orient expired in the summer of 2011. He said of OUFC: "This is a fantastic club with a lovely stadium and it gets great attendances that are worthy of a Championship side and it shows the potential here."

Whing made his Oxford United debut, in the opening game of the season, in a 1-0 loss against Rotherham United. Whing then suffered a minor setback and was substituted in the 24th minutes during a 2-2 match against Burton Albion on 10 September 2011. Following a minor setback, Whing remained in the first team throughout the season. After initial criticism, he won the Supporters Player of the Year Award at the end of the 2011–12 season.

In the 2012-13 season saw Whing retained his number sixteen shirt. However, Whing suffered a groin injury that kept him out of the first part of the season. By early-October, Whing made his return to training Whing then made his return to the first team on 15 October 2012, coming on as a substitute for 82nd minutes for Tom Craddock, in a 3-0 loss against Port Vale. He scored his first goal for Oxford in a 2–2 draw at Barnet on 20 November 2012. Once again, Whing suffered an injury both on his knee and ankle during a FA Cup match against Accrington Stanley on 1 December 2012. After making a recovery in early-February, Whing made his first team return, coming on as a substitute for Adam Chapman in the final minutes, in a 3-0 loss against Plymouth Argyle on 16 February 2013. His second was an uncharacteristic scissor-kick against Rochdale that left keeper Josh Lillis stunned. Despite being restricted to 22 appearance, due to injuries, Whing, nevertheless, signed a contract with the club, keeping him until 2016. At the end of the season, Whing was awarded Goal of the Season for his goal against Rochdale.

At the start of the 2013-14 season, Whing regained his right-back position. In absence of captain, Jake Wright, Whing was given an armband for the match against Cheltenham Town on 14 September 2013, which ended 2-2. After the match, Whing describe wearing a captain armband as "privilege". Unfortunately, in the next against Chesterfield, Whing was sent-off in the 67th minutes for professional foul on Eoin Doyle, which Oxford United lost 1-0. After serving a suspension and making his return, Whing then suffered ankle injury during a match against Mansfield Town, resulting him sidelined until January. However, Whing was out until February following an operation. Whing remained on the sideline until 21 March 2014, where he made his return in the starting eleven, in a 1-0 win over Hartlepool United. Whing went on to make eighteen appearance for the club.

Just shortly after the end of the 2013-14 season, Whing had an operation on hip, resulting him miss out at the start of the 2014-15 season. After playing his first match of the season in the reserve side Whing made his first appearance of the 2014-15 season, coming on as a substitute for Brian Howard in the 57th minutes, in a 5-1 loss against Cambridge United on 11 October 2014. After making his return to the first team, Whing expressed "delight" to make his return. Whing continued to remain in the first team, which he played in midfield position. However, Whing suffered a hip injury, which he suffered a knock during a reserve match against Southend United. Though making three more appearance towards the end of the season, Whing went on to make twenty-one appearance for the club.

At the end of the season, Whing said he would not be signing a new contract with Oxford, although he was in talks over a new role at the club. Whing previously made hints of considering his retirement from professional football, citing his injury, and already started taking a UEFA B Licence course. In late-November, Whing was joint appointed with Leon Blackmore-Such as the club's U18 coach.

During his time at Oxford United, Whing remains the fan's favourite and something of a cult hero on the Oxford terraces.

From August 2008 to April 2009, Whing was a columnists for The Worthing Herald newspaper.