Paul McKenna (footballer)

Paul McKenna
Personal information
Full name Paul Stephen McKenna
Date of birth 20 October 1977 (1977-10-20) (age 34)
Place of birth Chorley, England
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current club Hull City
Number 4
Youth career
1992–1997 Preston North End
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–2009 Preston North End 425 (30)
2009–2011 Nottingham Forest 66 (3)
2011– Hull City 20 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:58, 26 December 2011 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

Paul Stephen McKenna (born 20 October 1977) is an English footballer who plays for Hull City as a midfielder.

Contents

Career

Preston North End

Born in Eccleston, Lancashire, after making his debut in 1997 he soon became a fixture in the Preston North End first team. His appearance tally was 427 at the end of the 2007–08 season. This puts him at number nine in the all-time record appearances for the club. He has worn the number 16 shirt since squad numbers were adopted by the Football League.

The 2006–07 season ended in disappointment for the Chorley-born player, not only at missing out on the Play-Offs but at missing the last two months of the season with a groin problem. However, he recovered from the injury in time to make a first-team return in October 2007, and was named club captain in one of Paul Simpson's last acts as manager. McKenna has missed just one game since being handed the captain's armband.

McKenna scored the winning penalty in the penalty shoot-out of the 2000–01 Division One play-off semi-final second leg between Preston and Birmingham City at Deepdale, which saw the Lilywhites head to the Millennium Stadium for the final.

McKenna was voted PFA Player of the Season at the end of the 2004–05 season after 35 appearances and 3 goals.[1]

He signed a new three-and-a-half-year contract with Preston in November 2005.[2]

Nottingham Forest

McKenna signed for Nottingham Forest on a three-year contract for a fee of £750,000 on 20 July 2009.[3]

On 19 December 2009, McKenna scored his first goal for Forest against former club Preston with a 25 yard shot into the bottom left hand corner. However he refused to celebrate the goal, showing restraint as a mark of respect to the Preston fans. Forest went on to win the game 3–0.[4]

Hull City

On 1 July 2011, following speculation that he may rejoin his former employers Preston North End, McKenna joined Hull City on a two-year contract on a free transfer.[5] He made his debut in the first game of the season on 5 August 2011 at the KC Stadium in the 0–1 defeat to Blackpool.[6]

References

  1. ^ The Football Network accessed 31 July 2007
  2. ^ Football.co.uk accessed 31 July 2007
  3. ^ "Gunter & McKenna sign for Forest". BBC Sport. 20 July 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/nottm_forest/8156299.stm. Retrieved 20 July 2009. 
  4. ^ "Nottingham Forest 3–0 Preston". BBC Sport. 19 December 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8414967.stm. Retrieved 1 July 2011. 
  5. ^ "City Bring In McKenna". Hull City Official Website (Hull City A.F.C.). 1 July 2011. http://www.hullcityafc.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10338~2384710,00.html. Retrieved 1 July 2011. 
  6. ^ "Hull 0-1 Blackpool". BBC Sport (BBC). 5 August 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/14337494.stm. Retrieved 5 August 2011. 

External links