Dream Team provides Ansah to Andys prayers, writes Dave Smith
Andy Ansah has appeared at Wembley, performed at the Maracana, worked with the great Pele and trained with the 'England squad at Bisham Abbey – and all this since he FINISHED his playing career which reached its zenith with Southend United!
That's because Andy, who began his league career with Charlton and finished it with Brighton when injuries took their toll, is the footballing brains behind Sky Ones hit series 'Dream Team and he was also a major contributor to the film Mike Bassett: England Manager.
Andys life took the first of many amazing twists just over three years ago when, by a stroke of luck, he was invited to appear as an extra on 'Dream Team before acquiring a role behind the cameras as what you might call a 'director of virtual football'.
Calling on all the experience of his 14-year professional career – and being in a position where he could add a string of ex-pros to the show – Andy was able to add realism to the football action scenes, which stands 'Dream Team' apart from other shows of its kind.
Having initially dreamed of following the likes of Ian Wright into the world of TV, or Vinnie Jones on the big screen, Andy has found his niche on the other side of the camera and, even without any former acting or producer training, his progress has been such that he is now producer-associate on the show.
He was also proud to be asked to direct football operations on the set of 'Mike Bassett' and has other films in the pipeline.
Even now, Andy has trouble coming to terms with the speed his second career has taken off. He says: "Playing professional football was a dream job, but how many people have the opportunity to enjoy two dream careers? It's amazing how quickly things have developed and I am so grateful to Hewland (makers of Dream Team) for the opportunity.
"It all came about by chance, really,' added Andy who recently finished work on an advert for adidas featuring David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane and Alessandro Del Piero. "Three years ago I was at Brighton and I had to decide whether to stay in the Football League or move on. I'd always fancied getting into acting and a friend of mine was in the Dream Team and he managed to get me a role as an extra.
"I had the option of going to college to learn about the industry but was fortunate enough to get my education on the job. I started to make a few changes in the ways they shot the football scenes, trying to make it look better, make it look real and things developed from there. I still get to do a bit of acting in front of the camera and I really enjoy the little cameos I get to perform".
"The only problem with the success I've had is that people forget that I used to be a professional footballer. I was a pro for 14 years but no-one – not even my family and friends – talk about that; only Dream Team.'
The word 'dream keeps cropping up all the time in our conversation, and not just when it comes around to talking about the popular TV programme which gave him his big break. Helping to produce the football scenes for 'Mike Bassett' was another 'dream come true' for Andy who is getting a real taste for silver screen soccer.
He recalls: "We filmed at Wembley and the Maracana, and also did some shots at Botafogos training ground, meeting people like Romario. But the highlight was spending the day with Pele. That was unreal for me. Hopefully that will be the first of a number of projects I've been discussing with various people I would call film legends.'
One of the most rewarding aspects of his ever-expanding work on 'Dream Team' has been the opportunity, with the help of the PFA, to put acting work the way of ex-professionals who have been released by their clubs. Andy is hoping to provide more and more work for ex-pros in the future as his own career prospects escalate.
He says: "It is easier to make an actor out of a footballer than a footballer out of an actor. The people we take on for the show have to be able to play football to a certain level. We have the licence to dramatise but the important thing is to make the football shots as real as possible and people who have watched the show from the outset have said how much that aspect has improved.
"There are about six cast members who make up the Dream Team but the rest are ex-professionals who have come my way with the help of the PFA. Most of them play part-time football and also work with me on Dream Team.
"I believe that I have got the best footballing actors in the country working on this show – and I have seen most of them. People like: Peter Smith (ex Brighton), Micky Bennett who played for Wimbledon and Charlton, Mark Hall (ex Spurs), Juniro McDougall (ex Spurs, now playing for Dagenham). It's great that we can give them the sort of opportunity that I was given when my playing career was coming to an end.'
In addition to the regulars, some of the games top names – John Barnes, Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke, John Gregory etc) - have also appeared on the show. Andys influence and contacts coming into play again. One man he's keen to make a cameo appearance is the larger-than-life figure of Barry Fry, one of his former managers at Southend.
"I bumped into Barry a while back and spoke to him about getting him on the show. That would be great. Imagine how much tape we would take up when we do get him on the show – and how much we'll probably have to leave on the cutting room floor aswell!!'
A final complimentary word for his Hewland employers and an insight into what the future holds for Andy Ansah: producer. "They have opened so many doors for me and given the chance to excel. It has been an unbelievable time for me.
"Initially, I was a bit reluctant to go down the producing route because I didnt think I was up to it, but Rob Brown – producer on Dream Team – has guided my career and he, more than anyone, is responsible for my career being where it is today.
"He had a vision before I did and could see which direction he felt my career should go in and I owe him a lot. It has worked out fantastically, and probably better than if I'd have pursued an acting career. I did have a dream of doing a Vinnie Jones, if you like, but I am more than happy with what Im doing and there are all sorts of possibilities for the future. I've been approached by various directors to do other films in the future and I'm very excited about that.
"We're talking about Hollywood people here and the next year or so could be very exciting. Unlike Vinnie, however, I'll be on the other side of the camera.'
