 A tough-tackling centre half, McAndrew began his career at Middlesbrough in 1973, where he established himself at the heart of defence.Later becoming captain – and the club's youngest scorer of a hat-trick when playing as an emergency striker – he was at Ayresome Park for almost ten years, before leaving for Chelsea when Middlesbrough were relegated from the First Division in 1982.He also spent a summer in the North American Soccer League playing for the Vancouver Whitecaps.