WITTON Albion’s fan-base hasn’t always been united in recent seasons.

Their club’s handling of scenarios involving Shaun Tuck and Anthony Gardner, and the ‘Will he, won’t he?’ saga of Brian Pritchard’s aborted return as manager are the best examples.

But those same supporters do all agree on one thing; they love Danny Andrews.

The attacker, a summer signing from Cammell Laird back in 2011, made his 250th appearance for the Northwich outfit in a 4-1 win at Bamber Bridge on Saturday.

When the 29-year-old walked into the bar afterwards, those who had followed Albion to Lancashire burst into song to show their affection, belting out a version of ‘Danny Boy’.

“I’ll be honest – I was a bit stunned,” he replies when asked how that made him feel.

“I was close to tears.

“I was one of the last out of the dressing room, and I could hear them when I was walking to the clubhouse.”

Andrews has never been one for a fuss.

Nor does he need to be – his football does the talking.

The winger has scored 20 goals this term, already his best return with more than two months of the campaign left.

He was a disillusioned spectator, serving a suspension, at Stamford on the final day of last season when Witton were relegated.

Were he available, Albion may not have been.

Instead he is determined to help the current team return to the Premier Division, a mission he accomplished in his first year at Wincham Park.

“I can see similarities,” he remarks.

“We’ve a couple of lads, myself included, who know what it takes to be promoted from this league.

“I remember how important that was when Anthony Sheehan signed for us in my first season.

“That know-how, it makes a big difference.

“We starting to show signs of the same spirit that group had too.”

Albion’s next two fixtures, at home to Farsley Celtic and away to Spennymoor Town, are against rivals ahead of them in a race to finish in the top five.

They kick off this weekend’s meeting with the former a distance of eight points from the play-offs places.

Andrews says: “They’re both big games, we know that.

“But we fancy our chances because our confidence is high.

“I don’t look at the table – it’s been too depressing to do that this season – but I might do again if we pick up points from these two matches.”

Andrews’ has that know-how he refers to.

After helping Witton to promotion through the play-offs in 2012, he was instrumental in them finishing inside the top five on their return to the Northern Premier League’s top flight.

A campaign of struggle ended on a high when they finished clear of the drop zone in his third term, only for a similar slog to end in demotion last April.

“I’ve seen a bit of everything here haven’t I?” he laughs.

“In a way, it’s flown by.

“I think that can happen when you’re playing regularly – you can only reach a landmark like 250 if you’re starting matches every Saturday.

“Mind you, it also makes me feel old!

“I made it to 200 at some point last season, and that doesn’t feel that long ago.

“Any player will tell you they want to be out on the field, not sitting on the bench.

“I’ve been lucky enough to do that at Witton, which is part of the reason I’ve stayed this long.”

There is another, more personal, factor – those supporters.

Andrews adds: “They’re the number one answer to the question of why I’ve stuck around.

“They’ve stood by me, encouraged me, when I’ve not been playing well or if I’ve been injured.

“I’ve had offers to play for other clubs, but the fans have stayed close to me. I really appreciate that.”

Under contract until the end of next season, that is unlikely to change any time soon.

Another thing all Albion fans will be happy about.