Andy Dibble

Welsh footballer and coach

Andrew Gerald Dibble (born 8 May 1965) is a Welsh football coach and former professional player. As a player, he was as a goalkeeper from 1982 to 2006. During his career he played in the Premier League for Manchester City and in the Scottish Premier Division for Aberdeen and Rangers. He also played in the Football League for Cardiff City, Luton Town, Huddersfield Town, Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Bolton Wanderers, West Bromwich Albion, Sheffield United, Hartlepool United, Carlisle United, Stockport County and Wrexham. He also played in the Welsh Premier League for Barry Town, and in non league football with Altrincham and Accrington Stanley. A journeyman, Dibble won three caps for the Wales national football team. After retiring, Dibble moved into coaching and has previously worked on the coaching staff at Accrington Stanley, Coventry City, Peterborough United, Rotherham United and Cardiff City

Dibble began his career at Cardiff City, joining as an apprentice in June 1981 and turning professional in August 1982.

Dibble moved to Rangers F. C. on a free transfer in March 1997. He had a baptism of fire in a tempestuous and crucial Old Firm derby, standing in for the injured Andy Goram. He kept a clean sheet in the 1–0 victory which helped seal Rangers' ninth consecutive title. After a trial at Middlesbrough in July 1997 he moved back to former club Luton Town on a free transfer, before re joining Middlesbrough in January 1998, again for no fee, however it was a disastrous move for Dibble as he let in nine goals in just two games, four in a 4–0 defeat to Nottingham Forest and another five in a 5–0 loss to QPR. In July 1998 Dibble signed for Altrincham, before a brief spell at League of Wales side Barry Town. In December 1998, whilst playing for Barry against Carmarthen Town, he was hospitalised after suffering chemical burns as a result of diving on the Richmond Park pitch markings. Scarred for life, he received £20,000 in damages. In March 1999 he signed for Hartlepool United, who loaned him to Carlisle United in October of the same year. He joined Stockport County in August 2000, enjoying a successful spell there and being named man of the match in many of the games he played. Dibble signed for Wrexham in May 2002, and despite suffering injury problems in his time in North Wales, he was a major part in Wrexham gaining promotion back to Division Two at the first time of asking in 2002–03. In March 2004 he broke his arm in a 6–1 defeat at Peterborough and missed the remainder of the season, while in September of the following season he was out for three months after severing tendons in his finger. He suffered a further injury later in the season when a torn thigh muscle ruled him out for the rest of the campaign. Dibble was released by Wrexham in May 2005.

He finished his career at Accrington Stanley (whom he joined in 2005) and became their goalkeeping coach. In November 2006 he moved to Coventry City to take up the same role. However, he lasted only three months in this position at Coventry, he left the club, along with Adrian Heath, prior to the announcement that Iain Dowie would be the club's new manager following the dismissal of Micky Adams. On 9 March 2007 he was appointed as goalkeeping coach at League One side Peterborough United. In October 2009 he left Peterborough by mutual consent to take up the goalkeeping coach position at Rotherham United. After a two year stint at Peterborough, Dibble joined Ronnie Moore's coaching staff at Rotherham United. In October 2016, Dibble was appointed joint caretaker manager at Rotherham. Dibble left Cardiff in May 2022. Dibble was appointed Accrington Stanley goalkeeper coach in August 2022.

Dibble is the father of professional footballer Christian Dibble, also a goalkeeper who played for Wrexham. but is currently playing for Kidderminster Harriers.