Career
He played in the Football League in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s. North End
Signing as an apprentice in July 1977, McAteer turned professional a year later. Quickly establishing himself as a tough-tackling attacking full back, McAteer didn"t miss a game for the rest of the season, becoming a firm favourite with the Deepdale fans.
The following season he struggled with injury but still made 26 appearances as the club were relegated to Division Three.
These were hard times for, as they constantly struggled against relegation and financial ruin. McAteer, however, was a mainstay in the team making 277 appearances scoring nine goals during his first spell there.
McAteer played for the Seasiders for eighteen months. In June 1988 he was given a free transfer, mainly due to injuries.
He made 47 appearances without scoring at Bloomfield Road.
John McGrath offered McAteer a return to, in the form of a two-year deal. Injury, however, restricted him initially. On returning to fitness, a game in the reserves resulted in an over-zelous YTS opposition player coming in too hard and breaking Andy"s tibia and fibula.
As with a lot of football players, a tib and fib break normally signals the education
He retired from the professional game at the age of 28. He played 343 games, scoring 10 goals.
Upon leaving the full-time game, McAteer first signed, along with Oshor Williams, for Northern Premier League team Lancaster City, but new work commitments meant that he played only one game for the Giant Axe club He had to give up non-league football too.