Andy Kennedy (footballer)

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Andrew Lynd "Andy" Kennedy (September 1, 1897 – December 1963) was a Northern Ireland football player.

Born in Belfast, Kennedy played as a youth for Belfast Celtic F.C. before joining Glentoran in 1915. He moved to England in 1920, joining London side Crystal Palace in 1920; he played a solitary Division Three South game for them before moving across the city to join Arsenal as a reserve full back in August 1922.

Soon after joining Arsenal, Kennedy stepped up to the first team after Arthur Hutchins was dropped, and made his debut against Birmingham City on December 2, 1922. He impressed enough that he played all but one of the Gunners' remaining games that season, and gained international recognition, winning two caps for Northern Ireland in their 1923 British Home Championship campaign.

After injury wrecked his 1923-24 season – Kennedy missed the start of the season, and after returning was dropped from the side after Arsenal lost 6-1 to Huddersfield Town – he played all but one of Arsenal's League matches the following season (as Arsenal narrowly avoided relegation). However, he did not find favour under Herbert Chapman, who first switched Bob John back into defence, and then signed Horace Cope during 1925-26 as a replacement for Kennedy. However, Cope was injured before Arsenal's first FA Cup final, meaning Kennedy started the match, against Cardiff City; however, a mistake by Dan Lewis meant Arsenal lost 1-0, and Kennedy only walked away with a runners-up medal.

Kennedy only played two more matches for Arsenal, both of them heavy defeats (5-1 and 4-0). Displeased with his team's defence, Chapman had a clearout at Arsenal, and Kennedy was sold to Everton in January 1928. In all, Kennedy had played 129 matches for Arsenal. Everton won the First Division championship that season but Kennedy was only a reserve player that season. After a solitary League appearance for Everton, he moved on to Tranmere Rovers that summer, playing there for two seasons until his retirement in 1930. He died in 1963, aged 66.