Background
Needham was born in Oldham, Lancashire.
Needham was born in Oldham, Lancashire.
He played as a forward. When he left school in 1971, he joined Birmingham City as an apprentice, and turned professional two years later. He made his debut in the First Division on 20 March 1976, deputising for Peter Withe in a 1–1 draw at home to Coventry City, came on as substitute to score in the next game, and started the next.
Those were the only first-team appearances he made for Birmingham.
He signed for Second Division club Blackburn Rovers in the 1976 close season, but after only five league appearances he moved on again in March 1977, this time to Aldershot of the Fourth Division. Dungworth was a prolific goalscorer – 58 league goals from 105 games, compared with Needham"s 29 from 95 – but Needham"s contribution was described by teammate Alex McGregor thus:
Andy never got the cr he deserved because he was a wonderful player and a wonderful lad as well.
Needham retired from the game in 1980 and became a taxi driver.