| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Benjamin Kennedy | ||
| Date of birth | 14 February 1987 | ||
| Place of birth | Newcastle, Australia | ||
| Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Newcastle Jets | ||
| Number | 1 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Thornton | |||
| South Wallsend | |||
| Newcastle Jets | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2004 | Adamstown Rosebuds | 0 | (0) |
| 2005–2006 | Broadmeadow Magic | 25 | (0) |
| 2006– | Newcastle Jets | 70 | (0) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2006 | Australia U-20 | 1 | (0) |
| 2007 | Australia U-23 | 1 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:00, 25 November 2011 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). |
|||
Ben Kennedy (born 14 February 1987 in Newcastle, Australia) is a football (soccer) goalkeeper who plays for the Newcastle United Jets in the A-League.
Contents |
Kennedy was a train-on player for the Jets, but with obvious potential he was brought into the full squad for the 2006/07 Hyundai A-League season. Until half-way through the 2006-2007 A-League season, Newcastle only had the inexperienced Ben Kennedy as a registered goalkeeper in their squad, until former Socceroo Ante Covic joined the squad.
Kennedy had to wait a long time for his chance to be Newcastle's first choice keeper, but grabbed the opportunity with both hands. Kennedy became the Jets first-choice goalkeeper for the 2009-10 A-League season thanks to some strong performances in the 2009 AFC Champions League, after the departure of Ante Covic to Sweden. However, he was criticised by his coach Branko Čulina for poor performances during the season and making mistakes that cost the Jets vital points.[1][2]
He was replaced as Newcastle's first choice keeper by Neil Young, due to impressive performances by the 30-year-old. Young was injured when he broke his nose and Kennedy came back into the team. Kennedy was the hero in the match against Gold Coast United, making crucial saves throughout the game and saving two penalties, in a game that Newcastle won 6-5.[3][4]
With Newcastle Jets:
|
|||||