Andros Townsend

Townsend joined the Tottenham Hotspur academy at the age of eight.{{cite news |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/andros-townsend-what-went-wrong-10792553 |title=Andros Townsend: What went wrong at Tottenham for Newcastle's new signing? |first=Spencer |last=Brown |newspaper=The Chronicle |location=Newcastle |date=26 January 2016 |access-date=22 April 2021}} In March 2009, he went on loan to Yeovil Town,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/y/yeovil/7952653.stm |title=Yeovil sign teenage Tottenham duo |date=19 March 2009 |access-date=21 March 2009 |website=BBC Sport| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090322135753/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/y/yeovil/7952653.stm| archive-date= 22 March 2009 | url-status= live}} making his football league debut against Milton Keynes Dons alongside fellow Spurs academy player Jonathan Obika.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/7937330.stm |title=Yeovil 0–0 MK Dons |date=21 March 2009 |access-date=21 March 2009 |website=BBC Sport | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090323074638/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/7937330.stm| archive-date= 23 March 2009 | url-status= live}} He made ten appearances and scored one goal for Yeovil as they avoided relegation.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110106142845/http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/players/reserves/androstownsend.html |title=Professional Player Profiles: Andros Townsend |archive-date=6 January 2011 |publisher=Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|url=http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/players/reserves/androstownsend.html}}

Townsend entered the senior Tottenham team under manager Harry Redknapp.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}} In August 2009, he went on a month's loan to League One club Leyton Orient, extended at the end of the month to the end of December, after which he returned to Tottenham.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090808145732/http://www.leytonorient.com/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10439~1745442%2C00.html |url=http://www.leytonorient.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10439~1745442,00.html |title=O's take Spurs youngster on loan |date=6 August 2009 |archive-date= 8 August 2009 |publisher=Leyton Orient F.C.}}{{cite web |url=http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/andros-extends-loan-310809/ |publisher=Tottenham Hotspur F.C. |title=Andros extends loan |access-date=12 October 2013 |date=31 August 2009}} In 26 appearances for Orient, Townsend scored twice, including a "great goal" in a 3–3 draw against Yeovil, passing three opposing players with a run that began in his own half, leading the opposition manager to lament that his players had not been more ruthless and taken him down with a professional foul.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/8207704.stm |title=Yeovil 3–3 Leyton Orient |date=22 March 2009 |access-date=24 March 2009 |website=BBC Sport}}

Having not yet made his Tottenham debut, on 14 January 2010, Townsend was again taken on loan by a League One club, Milton Keynes Dons, until the end of the season, although he was recalled after just two months due to injuries.{{cite web |url=http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/andros-recalled-050310/ |publisher=Tottenham Hotspur F.C. |title=Andros recalled |access-date=12 October 2013 |date=5 March 2010}} In nine matches for the Dons he had scored twice. The season ended without Townsend having made his debut for Tottenham.

On 12 August 2010, Townsend signed another season-long loan, moving up to the Championship level with Ipswich Town,{{cite web |url=http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/andros-loan-to-ipswich-120810/ |publisher=Tottenham Hotspur F.C. |title=Andros loan to Ipswich |date=12 August 2010 |access-date=12 October 2013}} but this was terminated on 20 December, as Redknapp believed he had not been playing regularly enough.{{cite news |url=http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Tottenham-pull-Andros-Townsend-out-of-his-Ipswich-loan-because-of-a-lack-of-game-time-article654939.html |newspaper=Daily Mirror |location=London |title=Redknapp pulls youngster out of Ipswich loan |date=20 December 2010 |access-date=20 December 2010 }} He had played 16 times, scoring once.

File:Andros Townsend - July 2010 USA tour.jpg in 2010]]

File:Andros Townsend.jpg in 2011]]

On 9 January 2011, Townsend made his senior Tottenham debut in a third round FA Cup tie at White Hart Lane against Charlton Athletic; he scored the first goal{{cite news |url=http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/8786154.Watford_still_hope_to_sign_Spurs__Townsend/ |newspaper=Watford Observer |first=Frank |last=Smith |title=Watford still hopeful of signing Tottenham winger Andros Townsend |date=12 January 2011 |access-date=1 April 2012}} and was voted Man of the Match.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}} This proved to be his only appearance for Tottenham for the rest of the season, with two further loan spells occurring. He joined Championship club Watford on 20 January 2011 on loan until the end of the season, but this was terminated early, on 23 February, with Townsend having made three appearances.{{cite web |url=http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/andros-in-watford-loan-200111/ |publisher=Tottenham Hotspur F.C. |title=Andros in Watford loan |access-date=12 October 2013 |date=20 January 2011}}{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wycombe_wanderers/9405798.stm |title=Watford's Kiernan joins Wycombe, Townsend leaves |website=BBC Sport |date=23 February 2011 |access-date=24 February 2011}} On 7 March, Townsend again went on loan to a Championship club until the end of the season, this time Millwall.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/millwall/9417132.stm |title=Millwall sign Tottenham Hotspur winger Andros Townsend |website=BBC Sport |date=7 March 2011 |access-date=1 April 2012}} By April he said he would be happy to stay at the club beyond his loan spell.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/millwall/8441390/Tottenham-Hotspur-winger-Andros-Townsend-keen-to-stay-at-Millwall-after-fine-display-in-victory-over-Leeds.html |title=Tottenham Hotspur winger Andros Townsend keen to stay at Millwall after fine display in victory over Leeds |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=10 April 2011 |access-date=1 April 2012}} In 11 appearances he scored twice.

For the first half of Tottenham's 2011–12 season, Townsend was a regular in their Europa League campaign, making six appearances in the competition. He scored his second goal for the club in their final match in the competition, against Shamrock Rovers on 15 December 2011, with a curled shot from outside the box.{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/dec/15/tottenham-hotspur-shamrock-rovers-europa-league| title=Tottenham thrash Shamrock Rovers but exit Europa League| first=Paul |last=Doyle|newspaper=The Guardian

|location=London |date=15 December 2011 |access-date=22 April 2021}} On 23 December, he signed a contract extension, making him a Tottenham player until the end of the 2016 season.{{cite news| url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11675/7391922/Townsend-signs-Spurs-extension| title=Townsend signs Spurs extension| website=Sky Sports| date=22 December 2011 |access-date=1 April 2012}}

With only one other appearance for Tottenham, in the League Cup, on 1 January 2012, Townsend joined Championship club Leeds United on loan until the end of the season,{{cite web |url=https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/6259/tottenham-star-joins-united |title=Tottenham star joins United |publisher=Leeds United F.C. |date=1 January 2012 |access-date=22 April 2021}} but with his agent claiming he was unhappy at the club, he switched the loan to their Championship rivals Birmingham City in February.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17157791 |title=Andros Townsend joins Birmingham on loan after leaving Leeds |website=BBC Sport |date=24 February 2012 |access-date=16 October 2013}} For Leeds, he made seven appearances, including what he described as "a dream debut",{{cite web |url=https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/6246/leeds-decision-was-no-brainer-for-andros |title=Leeds decision was 'no brainer' for Andros |publisher=Leeds United F.C. |date=4 January 2012 |access-date=22 April 2021}} and scored once.{{cite web |url=https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/6084/luc-s-late-late-winner-for-leeds |title=Luc's late, late winner for Leeds! |publisher=Leeds United F.C. |date=18 February 2012 |access-date=22 April 2021}} For Birmingham, he made fifteen league appearances and one in the second leg of their unsuccessful promotion play-off semi-final against Blackpool.

Townsend remained with Tottenham for the first half of their 2012–13 season, with the club now under a new manager, André Villas-Boas, who replaced Redknapp in the summer. He made his Premier League debut with a late substitution appearance on 16 September.{{cite web |url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamPlyrsBios/PlayersT/BioTownsendAD.html |title=Andros Townsend |website=England Football Online |date=10 April 2021 |access-date=22 April 2021}} Although appearing a further four times in the Premier League, these were all still late substitute appearances. Outside the league he made a further five appearances, once in the League Cup and FA Cup respectively, and three times in the Europa League. He scored his third Tottenham goal with a "superb low left-foot shot into the bottom corner from just outside the area" in a 3–0 victory against Carlisle United in the League Cup third round.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/sep/26/tottenham-hotspur-carlisle |title=Tottenham's understudies excel in audition and outclass bold Carlisle |first=Louise |last=Taylor |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=26 September 2012 |access-date=27 September 2012}}

On 31 January 2013, Townsend followed Redknapp to Premier League club Queens Park Rangers on loan until the end of the season.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21285005 |title=Jermaine Jenas completes move from Tottenham to QPR |website=BBC Sport |date=31 January 2013 |access-date=1 February 2013}} He made twelve appearances for the club, including a Man of the Match performance on his debut, scoring two goals in March, a dipping volley from outside the penalty area in a 3–1 win at home to Sunderland, and an equalising deflection in a 3–2 away loss to Aston Villa.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/9842206/QPR-v-Norwich-City-live.html |title=QPR v Norwich City: live |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=2 February 2013|access-date=2 February 2013}}{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21639329 |title=QPR 3–1 Sunderland |author=Sanghera, Mandeep |website=BBC Sport |date=9 March 2013 |access-date=9 March 2013}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21724358 |title=Aston Villa 3–2 QPR | last = Monaghan | first = Matt |website=BBC Sport |date=16 March 2013 |access-date=16 March 2013}} QPR were ultimately relegated, and Townsend returned to his parent club.

Now back at Tottenham, Townsend started the second Premier League match of their 2013–14 season, and went on to make a total of 33 appearances, including 25 in the league. He scored twice, in a 5–0 away victory over Dinamo Tbilisi in the Europa League (his first match of the season), and his first in the Premier League in a 2–0 victory away to Aston Villa on 20 October 2013.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23707596 |title=Dinamo Tbilisi 0–5 Tottenham | last = Magowan | first = Alistair |website=BBC Sport |date=22 August 2013 |access-date=16 October 2013}}{{cite web | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24510366 | title = Aston Villa 0–2 Tottenham | website = BBC Sport | date = 20 October 2013 | access-date = 9 November 2013 | first = Phil | last = McNulty}} In the middle of the season, Townsend came under the management of his third Tottenham boss, after Villas-Boas was replaced by Tim Sherwood.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

Sherwood's contract was terminated at the end of the season, and Townsend started the 2014–15 season under new manager Mauricio Pochettino. He made a total of 35 appearances, scoring five goals, but was reduced to just 17 appearances in the league, having been unable to hold down a starting place until the second half of the season.{{cite news |title=Merson tells Andros Townsend to 'win some medals' as Twitter fallout rolls on|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/football/tottenham-hotspur/story/2376873/paul-merson-tells-andros-townsend-to-win-some-medals-as-twitter-fallout-continues |publisher=ESPN |date=2 April 2015 |access-date=16 December 2017}} He started as Tottenham lost 2–0 to Chelsea in the 2015 League Cup Final at Wembley Stadium on 1 March.{{cite news |first=Phil |last=McNulty |title=Chelsea 2–0 Tottenham Hotspur |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/31572594 |website=BBC Sport |date=1 March 2015 |access-date=16 December 2017}}

Having had nine loan spells, Townsend's career path to regular first team football for Tottenham is often discussed in the context of a wider debate in English football about the best way to develop young talent, contrasting the loan route with Premier League players being developed in Under-21 leagues, or being brought to the Premier League level via transfers from lower league clubs. According to his father, the loan spells were the making of his son's career, while Tottenham's former Director of Football Damien Comolli, who was dismissed in October 2008, believes Townsend succeeded in spite of the way Tottenham handled him.{{cite news |first=Alistair |last=Magowan |title=Premier League: Is the loan system being abused by clubs? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34125476 |website=BBC Sport |date=8 September 2015 |access-date=8 July 2017}}{{Cite news |title = Harry Kane: Rise of Tottenham striker shows loaning out is increasingly the way to develop young players |first=Glenn |last=Moore|url = https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/glenn-moore-rise-of-kane-shows-loaning-out-is-increasingly-the-way-to-develop-young-players-10124360.html|newspaper=The Independent |location=London |date=20 March 2015 |access-date = 26 January 2016}}

On 4 November 2015, having not started a league match of the 2015–16 season, Townsend was dropped from the squad following a touchline argument with the club's fitness coach.{{cite web | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34725197 | title = Spurs drop Andros Townsend after row with coach Nathan Gardiner | website = BBC Sport | date = 4 November 2015 | access-date = 26 January 2016}} He apologised, and Pochettino allowed him to return to the squad by 17 November, stating that the matter was over and he was available for selection again.{{Cite web|title='We feel sorry for him' Pochettino's injury set-back ahead of West Ham |url=http://www.london24.com/sport/football/clubs/tottenham/we_feel_sorry_for_him_pochettino_s_injury_set_back_ahead_of_west_ham_1_4319706 |work=London 24 |access-date=26 January 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202180057/http://www.london24.com/sport/football/clubs/tottenham/we_feel_sorry_for_him_pochettino_s_injury_set_back_ahead_of_west_ham_1_4319706 |archive-date=2 February 2016 }} He was an unused substitute three times following the incident, the last of which was on 10 December, but made no more first-team appearances for Tottenham.{{Cite news|title = Andros Townsend completes £12m Newcastle move from Tottenham|url = http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11678/10145700/andros-townsend-completes-newcastle-medical-ahead-of-16312m-move-from-tottenham|website=Sky Sports|access-date = 27 January 2016}}

File:Townsend 2016.jpg in 2016]]

On 26 January 2016, having still not started a league match, Tottenham agreed a transfer fee with Newcastle United for Townsend, reportedly £12 million.{{cite web | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/35409021 | title = Andros Townsend: Newcastle agree fee with Tottenham | website = BBC Sport | date = 26 January 2016 | access-date = 26 January 2016}} Before the fee had been announced, Townsend had already tweeted a goodbye message, and stated "As soon as I knew of Newcastle's interest they were the only club I wanted to join...Two of the best positions you can play in football are centre-forward and left wing at Newcastle. I've got the chance. I could never turn that down. I can't wait to play my first game at St James' Park".{{Cite news|title = Townsend to Newcastle: 'They were the only club I wanted to join'|url = https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/andros-townsend-to-newcastle-they-were-the-only-club-i-wanted-to-join-says-departing-tottenham-a3165371.html|newspaper=London Evening Standard|access-date = 26 January 2016}} The transfer was confirmed the following day, a five-and-a-half-year contract but with the club declining to disclose the fee. On signing, his new manager, Newcastle head coach Steve McClaren, said of Townsend that he is a "winger with an old-fashioned style. He can play on the right or the left, is two-footed, quick, very direct and loves taking on defenders and crossing the ball."{{Cite web|title =Newcastle sign Andros Townsend| date=27 January 2016 |url = http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20160127/newcastle-sign-andros-townsend_2281670_5304402|publisher=Newcastle United F.C. |access-date = 27 January 2016}} According to Sky Sports, the transfer had been under negotiation for a week and Newcastle had initially wanted Townsend on loan, and then had a transfer offer of £10.5m rejected.

Despite his debut for Newcastle being in a disappointing team performance in an away defeat, at the next match, his home debut, he was given a standing ovation after a Man of the Match performance which saw Newcastle climb out of the relegation places.{{Cite news|title = Everton 3–0 Newcastle United|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35416325|website=BBC Sport|access-date = 6 February 2016|first = Patrick |last=Jennings}}{{Cite news|title = Newcastle United 1–0 West Bromwich Albion|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35447662|website=BBC Sport|access-date = 6 February 2016|first = Saj |last=Chowdhury}} His first goal for the club came in his third match, a shot from just outside the area, but it was just a 90th minute consolation goal in a 5–1 away defeat to Chelsea{{Cite news|title = Chelsea 5–1 Newcastle United|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35510139|website=BBC Sport|access-date = 13 February 2016|first = Chris|last = Bevan}} and the club was relegated to the Championship at the end of the season.

File:Andros Townsend 16-07-2016 2.jpg in 2016]]

On 1 July 2016, Townsend joined Premier League club Crystal Palace on a five-year contract from Newcastle following their relegation to the Championship.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36680273 |title=Crystal Palace sign Andros Townsend and Steve Mandanda |website=BBC Sport |date=1 July 2016 |access-date=1 July 2016}} Palace triggered his £13 million release clause just six months after he joined from Tottenham.{{cite news |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/12691/10329590/andros-townsend-set-for-crystal-palace-medical-after-16313m-newcastle-release-clause-triggered |title=Andros Townsend set for Crystal Palace medical after £13m Newcastle release clause triggered |website=Sky Sports |date=30 June 2016 |access-date=1 July 2016}} He was originally assigned the number 17 shirt for his first season with Palace. However, after Yannick Bolasie left for Everton, Townsend was reassigned the vacant number 10 shirt previously worn by Bolasie.{{cite web | url=https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/2016/august/townsend-changes-shirt-number/ | title=Townsend changes shirt number | publisher=Crystal Palace F.C. | date=19 August 2016 | access-date=20 August 2016}} On 13 August 2016, Townsend made his debut in a 1–0 defeat against West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League.{{Cite news|title=Crystal Palace 0–1 West Bromwich Albion |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36994898 |first=Chris |last=Osborne |date=13 August 2016 |access-date=22 April 2021}} He scored his first goal for the club in a 4–1 victory over Stoke City in the league on 18 September.{{Cite news|title=Crystal Palace 4–1 Stoke City |work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37331493|first=Ian |last=Woodcock |date=18 September 2018 |access-date=22 April 2021}}

On 22 December 2018, Townsend scored a 30-yard volley in a 3–2 league win against Manchester City.{{Cite news|title=Palace comeback stuns champions Man City |work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46576166 |first=Chris |last=Bevan |date=22 December 2018 |access-date=22 April 2021}} His strike was later voted as Premier League Goal of the Month for December and Premier League Goal of the Season,{{Cite web |title=Andros Townsend wins Premier League Goal of the Season for Manchester City screamer |url=https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/2019/may/andros-townsend-wins-carling-goal-of-the-season-for-manchester-city-screamer/ |publisher=Crystal Palace F.C. |date=21 May 2019 |access-date=22 April 2021}} as well as making the shortlist for the 2019 FIFA Puskás Award.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/aug/20/fifa-puskas-award-2019-shortlist-billie-simpson-lionel-messi-andros-townsend |title=Fifa Puskás Award 2019: breakdown of the 10-strong shortlist |first=Nosa |last=Omoigui |website=The Guardian |date=20 August 2019 |access-date=22 April 2021}}

Townsend signed for Everton on 20 July 2021 on a two-year contract upon the expiry of his contract with Crystal Palace.{{cite news|url=https://www.evertonfc.com/news/2193729/townsend-joins-everton|title=Townsend Joins Everton |publisher=Everton F.C. |date=20 July 2021|accessdate=20 July 2021}}

Townsend made his debut on 14 August 2021, assisting Richarlison's goal as Everton came from behind to beat Southampton 3–1 on the opening day of the season. On 24 August 2021, Townsend scored the winning goal in an EFL Cup round two fixture against Huddersfield Town.{{Cite news|title=Andros Townsend's first Everton goal handed the 10-man Toffees victory over Huddersfield in the Carabao Cup.|work=The BBC|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58239477}} On 13 September 2021, Townsend scored his first Premier League goal for Everton, smashing in a long-range effort from 30 yards to put Everton ahead as they went on to beat Burnley 3–1; this goal won him the Premier League Goal of the Month award.{{Cite web|url=https://www.evertonfc.com/news/2285251/townsend-wins-pl-goal-of-the-month-prize|title = Townsend Wins PL Goal of the Month Prize}}

On 20 March 2022, Townsend was forced off the pitch in the 16th minute of an eventual 4–0 loss against former club Crystal Palace in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, and was later revealed to have suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury.{{cite web|url=https://www.evertonfc.com/news/2547315/injury-update-on-townsend|title=Injury update on Townsend|website=Everton F.C.|date=23 March 2022}} As a result, he went on to miss the remainder of the 2021–22 season as well as the entirety of the 2022–23 season, after which he departed from Everton, having not played in over 18 months.

Having left Everton in June 2023, Townsend spent preseason on trial at newly promoted Burnley as a free agent ahead of the 2023–24 season. It was reported that contractual agreements had initially been made with Burnley, but these were later withdrawn prior to the start of the season, leaving Townsend without a club. He later described the collapsed move as "the toughest conversation I've had in my career" and that he was "in tears" when he was informed.{{Cite news |title=Townsend 'in tears' after Burnley move collapsed |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66918026 |access-date=2023-09-26}}

Following the failed move to Burnley, Townsend began trials with Luton Town, also newly promoted to the Premier League.{{cite web|url=https://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/2023/october/team-news-spurs-home/|title=Bell out, Barkley back and Townsend on trial|date=6 October 2023|website=Luton Town}} On 11 October 2023, he was officially signed by the club on a short-term contract until January 2024, making his debut 10 days later as a substitute in an away league match at Nottingham Forest.{{cite web|url=https://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/2023/october/luton-town-sign-andros-townsend/|title=Andros Townsend signs for the Hatters|website=Luton Town|date=11 October 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67109087|title=Nottingham Forest 2-2 Luton Town: Elijah Adebayo strikes late as Hatters claim point|last=Mather|first=Steve|work=BBC Sport|date=21 October 2023|access-date=6 November 2023}}

On 23 December 2023, Townsend scored his first goal for Luton in a 1–0 win over his former club Newcastle United at Kenilworth Road.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/dec/23/luton-newcastle-premier-league-match-report|title=Andros Townsend gives revitalised Luton emotional win over Newcastle|date=24 December 2023|website=The Guardian}}

In January 2024, Townsend signed a new long-term contract with Luton Town.{{Cite web |date=3 January 2024 |title=Andros Townsend signs new long-term contract |url=https://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/2024/january/andros-townsend-contract-extension/ |access-date=4 January 2024 |publisher=Luton Town F.C.}}

On 12 September 2024, Townsend was sold to Turkish club Antalyaspor and signed a two-year deal with them.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cjdkdr058m8o |title=Luton's Townsend joins Antalyaspor after transfer limbo |website=BBC Sport |date=12 September 2024 |access-date=30 September 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.antalyaspor.com.tr/tr/futbol-haberleri/andros-townsend-resmi-imzayi-atti.html |title=Andros Townsend Resmi İmzayı Attı |language=tr |trans-title=Andros Townsend signs officially |publisher=Antalyaspor |date=12 September 2024 |access-date=30 September 2024}}

Townsend represented England at under-16, under-17 and under-19 level. He played three times for the under-16s between 2006 and 2007, making his debut in a 1–1 draw away with Wales on 20 October 2006 and his last appearance in a 2–0 away loss to Germany in April 2007.{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/england/All-Teams/Players/T/Andros-Townsend |title=Andros Townsend |publisher=The Football Association |access-date=20 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010032553/http://www.thefa.com/england/all-teams/players/t/andros-townsend |archive-date=10 October 2014}} He scored twice on his under-17 debut, in a 6–1 win over Northern Ireland in August 2007,{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/England/U17s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2007/08/England17_vNIReport.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080312021738/http://www.thefa.com/England/U17s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2007/08/England17_vNIReport.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 March 2008 |title=Noel's boys hit six |author=Hunt, Ben |publisher=The Football Association |date=29 August 2007 }} and went on to make six appearances, the last in a 0–0 draw with Portugal on 5 February 2008. Townsend's first two appearances at under-19 level came in the group stage of the 2009 European Championship; he was an unused substitute in the final, which England lost to Ukraine.{{cite web |url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/MatchRsl/MatchRslTmU19pg1.html |title=Match results under 19: 1985–2010 |website=England Football Online |publisher=Chris Goodwin & Glen Isherwood |date=4 June 2021 |access-date=5 October 2021}}{{cite web |url=http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/under19/fixturesresults/round=15215/match=2001285/report=lu.html |title=UEFA European Under-19 Championship: Final: Lineups |publisher=UEFA |date=2 August 2009 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714221042/http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/under19/fixturesresults/round=15215/match=2001285/report=lu.html |archive-date=14 July 2012}} He played four times in 2010, once as a starter in a friendly, and three times as a substitute in qualifiers for the 2010 competition.

Townsend received his first call up to the England under-21 team in October 2012 for the Euro 2013 play-off matches against Serbia.{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/England/mens-under-21s/News/2012/under-21s-squad-v-serbia.aspx |title=Sterling selected for U21s |publisher=The Football Association |date=3 October 2012 |access-date=16 October 2013}} He made his debut in the first leg as a 65th-minute substitute for Liverpool's Raheem Sterling.{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/england/mens-under-21s/News/match-centre/2012/england-v-serbia |title=Craig gives England the edge |author=Bradbury, Jamie |publisher=The Football Association |date=12 October 2012 |access-date=16 October 2013}} He also played in two U21 friendlies, in 2012 and 2013.{{cite web |url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/MatchRsl/MatchRslTmU21pg4.html |title=Match results Under 21: 2010–20 |website=England Football Online |publisher=Chris Goodwin & Glen Isherwood |date=9 September 2021 |access-date=5 October 2021}}

In May 2013, Townsend was charged by The Football Association over alleged breaches of its rules on betting. He subsequently voluntarily withdrew from England's squad for the upcoming European Under-21 Championship finals.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22658711 |title=Andros Townsend: Spurs midfielder fined over betting |website=BBC Sport |date=4 June 2013 |access-date=21 May 2014}} He later admitted to charges under the FA's rules for breaching football betting regulations. After a personal hearing, he was fined £18,000 and suspended for four months backdated to 23 May, with three months suspended until 1 July 2016.

Townsend's first call-up to the senior England squad came in September 2013, for the World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine.{{cite news|title=Andros Townsend and Ross Barkley in England squad|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23853555|access-date=27 August 2013|website=BBC Sport |date=16 October 2013}} He made his senior debut against Montenegro in a World Cup qualifier on 11 October, during which he scored the third goal of a 4–1 win with a "low swerving finish" from outside the penalty area after 78 minutes, two minutes before being substituted, and was named man of the match.{{cite news |first=Phil |last=McNulty |title=England 4–1 Montenegro |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/24393746 |website=BBC Sport |date=11 October 2013 |access-date=4 March 2016}} He earned a second cap four days later against Poland, playing almost all of the 2–0 home win.{{Cite web |url=http://englandstats.com/matches.php?mid=925 |title=Match no. 925: England 2–0 Poland |website=Englandstats.com |access-date=5 October 2021}} A second England goal came in the Euro 2016 qualification campaign in a 5–0 win over San Marino on 9 October 2014, as he came on for the final third of the match.{{cite news |first=Phil |last=McNulty |title=England 5–0 San Marino |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/29454223 |website=BBC Sport |date=9 October 2014 |access-date=4 March 2016}} His next appearance marked his third England goal; on 31 March 2015 he scored the equaliser in the 79th minute against Italy, having come on seven minutes earlier in a friendly match which ended 1–1.{{cite news |first=Phil |last=McNulty |title=Italy 1–1 England |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32028730 |website=BBC Sport |date=31 March 2015 |access-date=4 March 2016}} The 20-yard strike was described as a "sweet right-foot drive into the bottom corner"; Townsend took to Twitter immediately after the match to respond to Paul Merson after he had said Townsend's club form did not justify him being in the England team.

Townsend was born in Leytonstone, Greater London. He is the son of Troy Townsend,{{Cite news |last=Rushden |first=Max |last2=Glendenning |first2=Barry |last3=Townsend |first3=Troy |last4=Grove |first4=Joel |last5=Stephens |first5=Danielle |date=2023-06-27 |title=The life and times of Troy Townsend – Football Weekly |language=en-GB |work=the Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/audio/2023/jun/27/the-life-and-times-of-troy-townsend-football-weekly-podcast |access-date=2023-06-28 |issn=0261-3077}} Head of Development for Kick It Out.{{Cite web|date=2021-04-28|title=Kick It Out's Townsend: 'We are fed up with hashtags' in fight against racist abuse|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/english-premier-league/story/4371183/kick-it-outs-townsend-we-are-fed-up-with-hashtags-and-fed-up-of-slogans-in-fight-against-racist-abuse|access-date=2021-10-04|website=ESPN.com|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2017-11-30|title=Father of Crystal Palace Winger Andros Townsend Slams West Brom's Appointment of Alan Pardew|url=https://www.90min.com/posts/5863017-father-of-crystal-palace-winger-andros-townsend-slams-west-brom-s-appointment-of-alan-pardew|access-date=2021-10-04|website=90min.com|language=en}} He is of paternal Jamaican and maternal Greek Cypriot descent.{{cite web|title=First Greek Cypriot selected for the full England squad for world cup qualifiers|url=http://www.parikiaki.com/2013/08/first-greek-cypriot-selected-for-the-full-england-squad-for-world-cup-qualifiers|website=Parikiaki|date=August 2013|access-date=1 July 2016}} He was brought up in Chingford, and is a lifelong Tottenham fan. He attended Rush Croft Sports College. When Townsend was 10, his half-brother Kurtis died in a car accident, aged 18. One of his cousins is Colin Kazim-Richards, also a professional footballer.{{cite news |last1=Brewin |first1=Joe |title=Interview: "I'm not the Coca-Cola Kid – I'm Colin Kazim-Richards" From Bury to Brazil with football's misunderstood globetrotter |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/features/colin-kazim-richards-brazil-what |access-date=2 February 2021 |work=FourFourTwo |date=9 January 2017}}

Townsend was filmed singing the song "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King with the rest of the Tottenham youth players in the dressing room, which became a popular internet video.{{cite news| url=http://www.talksport.co.uk/magazine/virals/2011-12-22/video-most-embarrassing-spurs-video-ever-players-sing-stand-me-changing-room| title=Video: Most embarrassing Spurs video ever? Players sing 'Stand By Me' in the changing room!| publisher=Talksport| date=22 December 2011| access-date=1 April 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108025708/http://www.talksport.co.uk/magazine/virals/2011-12-22/video-most-embarrassing-spurs-video-ever-players-sing-stand-me-changing-room| archive-date=8 January 2012| url-status=dead}}

Townsend said in a December 2019 interview that he had been a problem gambler, compulsively betting online on football.{{cite news |title=Andros Townsend opens up about his gambling addiction: "I lost €54,000 in one night" |url=https://en.as.com/en/2019/12/05/football/1575571658_561057.html |access-date=3 August 2020 |work=Diario AS |date=5 December 2019 |archive-date=19 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419230943/https://en.as.com/en/2019/12/05/football/1575571658_561057.html |url-status=dead }} He lost £46,000 on a single bet in 2012 on the night before a play-off game for Birmingham. After being caught for breaking the FA's anti-betting rules, he went to counselling.{{cite news |title=Andros Townsend reveals he lost £46,000 gambling in bed on one night |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/dec/05/andros-townsend-lost-46000-gambling-bed-night-addiction |access-date=3 August 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=5 December 2019}}

In November 2023, while on a short-term contract with Luton Town, Townsend said he was trying to improve his fitness and prolong his career. He highlighted his consumption of chicken feet, which are high in collagen as a boost to his overall fitness.{{cite web | title=Townsend eats chicken feet in bid to extend career | website=BBC Sport | date=14 November 2023 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67412751 | access-date=14 November 2023}}

Townsend worked as a pundit and co-commentator for ITV during the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024.{{cite web | last=SmartLive | first=Ryan | title=Fans are calling Andros Townsend the 'best commentator at Euro 2024' after Croatia vs Albania | website=SPORTbible | date=19 June 2024 | url=https://www.sportbible.com/football/football-news/andros-townsend-euro-2024-croatia-albania-commentary-itv-827589-20240619 | access-date=21 June 2024}}

{{updated|match played 8 March 2025}}

{{notelist}}

{{updated|match played 15 November 2016}}{{NFT player |id=53797 |name=Townsend, Andros |accessdate=14 July 2019}}

:As of match played 15 November 2016. England score listed first, score column indicates score after each Townsend goal.

Tottenham Hotspur

• Football League Cup runner-up: 2014–15

England U19

• UEFA European Under-19 Championship runner-up: 2009{{cite web |url=http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/under19/fixturesresults/round=15215/match=2001285/report=lu.html |title=England 0–2 Ukraine: Lineups |publisher=UEFA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151219192059/http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/under19/fixturesresults/round=15215/match=2001285/report=lu.html |archive-date=19 December 2015}}

Individual

• Premier League Goal of the Month: March 2017,{{cite news|title=Townsend strike voted Carling Goal of the Month|url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/356465|publisher=Premier League|access-date=31 March 2017}} December 2018,{{cite news |title=Townsend volley wins Carling Goal of the Month |publisher=Premier League |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/970780 |date=11 January 2019 |access-date=11 January 2019}} September 2021{{cite news|url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/2282127|title=Townsend claims Budweiser Goal of the Month |publisher=Premier League |date=8 October 2021 |access-date=8 October 2021}}
• Premier League Goal of the Season: 2018–19{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/3724/Andros-Townsend/overview |title=Andros Townsend: Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=6 August 2019}}
• London Football Awards Goal of the Season: 2019{{Cite web|url=https://londonfootballawards.org/|title=The London Football Awards 2019 – Celebrating the very best of London Football|website=londonfootballawards.org|access-date=1 March 2019}}

{{reflist}}

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• {{UEFA player}}

{{Antalyaspor squad}}

{{Premier League Goal of the Season}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Townsend, Andros}}

Category:1991 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Leytonstone

Category:Footballers from the London Borough of Waltham Forest

Category:People from Chingford

Category:English men's footballers

Category:England men's youth international footballers

Category:England men's under-21 international footballers

Category:England men's international footballers

Category:Men's association football wingers

Category:Tottenham Hotspur F.C. players

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Category:English people of Greek Cypriot descent

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Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Turkey

Category:21st-century English sportsmen