Andrew Tod II

“My dad had a massive career in football, it might take me a long time but hopefully I can build a reputation as Tod Junior.

Sixteen year old Andrew Tod is hoping to play when Kilmarnock are visitors to East End Park on Tuesday night and complete the journey from watching from the stand to playing on the pitch. He has sat in the main stand with his grandad, John Meiklem, supporting the Pars for many years but now he is hoping that he can become part of the action.

“My main aim is just to get on East End Park. I have watched legends play here and if I was to play out there it would be a proud moment for me and my family.”

Andrew was one of five youngsters who stepped up from the Dunfermline Athletic Football Academy last month and he revealed that the emotion of that was hard for his family to control:-

“As soon as I was told I was just over the moon, it is a dream come true to be honest. From a young age I have come and watched the games, every home game and some away games. When I got the contract they were all crying, so I don’t know what will happen if I start playing out there!”

Andrew was born in Perth and attended Kinross Primary School. From there he was lucky enough to progress through three trials to be offered a place at Broughton High School, one of seven SFA Performance Schools in Scotland under the Head of Performance there Keith Wright. Following four years at Broughton from the age of 12 through to 16 he has joined Dunfermline on a two year modern apprenticeship.

Andy Tod in his final Dunfermline appearance in December 2006

Andrew is the eldest son of Andy Tod who made 335 starts and 48 appearances as sub in first team matches for the Pars between 1993 and 2006. His father scored 50 goals for the Pars over two spells with the club and naturally he passed on his skills to his son who continued:-

“My dad had a massive career in football, it might take me a long time but hopefully I can build a reputation as Tod Junior. I’d like to get up to the standard of football he was.”

Father Tod made most of his senior appearances as a centre back at Dunfermline but also played for Stockport County, Bradford City, Hearts, Dundee United, Raith Rovers and Forfar Athletic. Understandably he was a major influence on his eldest son:-

“It’s been football, football, football and ever since I was born I have had a football at my feet. It is just what I love doing.”

Andrew started playing with Kinross Colts, a team run by his dad before moving to Fife Elite, the pre runner of the Dunfermline Academy interrupted by a year at Hibs.

Head of the Junior academy at Fife Elite, Dougie Coulson, refined the technical side of young Andrew’s game and he was also greatly influenced by coaches Barry Malcolm and Hamish French.

Pars fans got the first glimpses of Andrew when he came on for the last twenty minutes of the friendly at Cove on 25th June this year. He enjoyed his appearance as a sub:-

“Great to play in front of fans and get the minutes into the legs. This season I hope to make my league debut and kick on to make a few more appearances.”

His prospects improved after an effective assist against Forfar Athletic on Tuesday night:-

“I came on for the last twenty minutes and Paul Allan sent a great ball to me and I just headed it back across for big Todorov to head in. It was a great feeling, hopefully there are many more to come.“