George Andrews, a popular and prominent sports reporter and commentator, sadly passed away on October 6th 2023. George was well known for his unique style of commentary and flamboyant extravagant dress sense. He often wore his designer sunglasses when it was cloudy and raining. Known for dressing up as a banana, a chimney sweep, a traditional Mexican and many more...
I first met him back in the mid 1980's. George was Station Manager at Hospital Radio Stafford when I was a young fresh faced Staff Nurse at Stafford Hospital and had aspirations to get into radio. He must have seen something in me as he quickly gave me my first radio show. A year later I was invited to join Signal Radio in Stoke-on-Trent and there was George again and our friendship blossomed. He was always on hand and gave me great encouragement.
His commentaries on local radio during the John Rudge glory days were so popular that they spawned a VHS video “The Roof’s Fallen In '' and some of his commentaries have passed into Port Vale legend. It is safe to say he had many memorable moments behind the microphone. It was a pleasure to work with him many times, especially as co-commentator when we covered Wolverhampton Wanderers games back in 2004 - 2007. We would often share the driving for the away games and I remember we nearly ended up in Bournemouth when we should have been at Southampton. George said " trust me, I know the way". But there wasn't a football ground anywhere around the country where they didn't know George.
George was also there when we originally launched Stafford FM from our Gaol Mews studios in 2001. He was instrumental in setting up our Stafford Rangers coverage and also presented a Sunday night show as Andy Best 'playing the best of the rest' and helped us with local news bulletins.
He was always there during my time at Signal Radio, often walking into the studio by saying "what's happening then Razza".
After returning to Stafford FM after 3 years away due to illness in January. George was my first guest on the mid-morning show to talk about his new book 'Follow The Bear 5000, A Good Sports Lifetime'. I usually allocate 15-20 minutes to chat to my guests, but George was still going an hour and 10 minutes later! His first football report for radio was covering Stafford Rangers at Marston Road and he returned there to do his 5000th game. What an amazing achievement! I'm just so pleased he managed to get his book out before we lost him.
Times like this many memories come flooding back of our time together.
The service today at Stafford Crematorium was so well attended by the good and the great from the media and the sporting world, it was standing room only in the chapel. It was an amazing send off and I'm sure George looking down would have loved it.
George Andrews was a 'one off', a maverick and a true legend, he will be greatly missed.
My thoughts are with his wife Christine, his family and his friends at this sad time.
