Tom Kennedy (footballer)

Tom Kennedy
Personal information
Full name Thomas Gordon Kennedy
Date of birth (1985-06-24) 24 June 1985
Place of birth Bury, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Playing position Defender
Club information
Current team
 Rochdale
Number 33
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2002–2007 Bury 143 (5)
2007–2010 Rochdale 137 (9)
2010–2012 Leicester City 6 (0)
2010–2011 → Rochdale (loan) 6 (0)
2011 → Peterborough United (loan) 14 (0)
2011 → Peterborough United (loan) 10 (0)
2012–2014 Barnsley 68 (1)
2014– Rochdale 32 (0)
2014 → Bury (loan) 2 (0)
2014–2015 → Blackpool (loan) 5 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 12:16, 27 September 2015 (UTC).

† Appearances (goals)

Thomas Gordon "Tom" Kennedy (born 24 June 1985) is an English professional footballer who currently plays for Rochdale. Kennedy has had previous spells at Bury, Rochdale, Leicester City and (on loan) Blackpool. He mostly plays at left-back.

Club career

Kennedy was born in Bury, England and grew up supporting his local team Bury. His father, Keith Kennedy, played for Bury while his uncle, Alan Kennedy was a defender for Newcastle United and Liverpool.

Bury

Kennedy began his career at Bury, making his debut as a 54th-minute substitute in Bury's 5–3 defeat away at Mansfield Town on 16 September 2003. His first start for Bury came in their 2–1 win over Oldham Athletic in the Football League Trophy on 3 November 2003. Kennedy made his first league start for Bury came in their 3–1 defeat to Carlisle United on Boxing day 2003. With 21 appearance in the first team, Kennedy signed a two-year contract with Bury.[1] Kennedy then became Bury's first choice Left back starting all but one of Bury's remanding fixtures in the 2003–04 season, finish the season with 27 league appearances in his first full season at the club.

Kennedy made his first start of the 2004–05 season on the opening day in Bury's 3–1 home win over Yeovil Town. His first goal for the club came on 12 February 2005 in Bury's 2–2 draw away at Boston United. Kennedy started all Bury's 46 games of the 2004–05 season scoring once, He made a total of 50 appearances for Bury in all competitions throughout the season.

Kennedy made his first start of the 2005–06 season for Bury in their opening day 2–1 loss away at Cheltenham Town. Kennedy's first goal of the 2005/06 season came in their 2–1 away defeat at Oxford United where he scored Bury's only goal after coming on as a 59th-minute substitute.

His second goal of the season came in their 3–2 loss at home to Notts County, he then scored a week later in their 2–2 home draw with Scunthorpe United in the first round of the FA Cup. Kennedy scored his third league goal of the season in Bury's 1–1 draw at home with Oxford United, his fourth came in their 3–1 loss at home to Peterborough United on 8 April 2006. Kennedy finished the season having played 35 times for Bury and scoring five goals in all competitions for 2005/06. At the end of 2005/06 season, Kennedy signed a one-year contract extension.[2]

Kennedy made his first appearances of the 2006–07 season came as a 90th-minute substitute on the opening day of the season in Bury's 2–1 home defeat to Milton Keynes Dons, his first start of the season came on 12 August 2006 in a 2–1 home defeat to Shrewsbury Town.

Kennedy made his last appearances for The Shakers in their 1–0 home loss to Notts County on 24 March 2007.

Kennedy left Bury in 2007 to join local rivals Rochdale after making 158 appearances for his home town club scoring six times between 2003 when he made his debut for the club until 2007.

Rochdale

Kennedy playing for Rochdale in March 2015

Kennedy signed for Rochdale in 2007 after four seasons at Bury.[3] Kennedy made his debut, on the opening game of the season on 11 August 2007, in a 3–0 loss against Peterborough United; his first goal soon came, six months making his debut, in a 1–0 win over Wycombe Wanderers on 11 January 2008.[4] In his first season, Kennedy then became Rochdale's first choice Left back starting all but one of Rochdale's remanding fixtures in the 2007–08 season, finish the season with 46 league appearances in his first full season at the club. In the play-offs against Darlington, Kennedy scored the second penalty in a penalty shoot-out and Rochdale would win the game to go to the final to face Stockport County, after Jason Kennedy miss the final spot kick. After the match, Kennedy say the club have had a 'amazing' season and described this an unbelievable feeling.[5] However, Rochdale would succumb 3–2 to Stockport County, remaining in League Two for the following season.

Kennedy was voted into the PFA League Two Team of The Year, voted for by his fellow professionals in League Two, for the 2008–09 season at the PFA awards dinner on Sunday 26 April 2009.[6] He was also voted Defender of the Year for the 2008–09 season following Rochdale's unsuccessful promotion push. During the 2008–09 season, Kennedy signed a new contract, keeping him until the of 2009–10 season.[7]

In March 2010, Keith Hill says Kennedy is considered as the best left-back in League Two.[8] At the end of the season, Kennedy announced his intention to leave Rochdale,[9] as his contract expires in July, with clubs in Championship like Doncaster Rovers,[10] Leeds United, Scunthorpe United all tracking to sign Kennedy.

Leicester City

On 10 June 2010, the Championship side Leicester City agreed a pre-contract with Kennedy and the left back officially joined Leicester on 1 July,[11] having rejected a chance to move Doncaster Rovers.[12] After moving, Kennedy say he made an easy decision to join Leicester City.[13] Kennedy made his league debut for the club on 28 September away against Norwich City. However, his time at Leicester City was unhappy over lack of first team opportunities at Leicester City as he spent time on the bench more often.

At the start of January 2012, Kennedy returned to Leicester and was put straight into the starting line-up against Crystal Palace to finally make his senior debut for the club under Nigel Pearson, 19 months after signing him. Kennedy and the club came to a mutual agreement to terminate his contract on 29 August 2012.[14]

Loan moves

On 1 November 2010, Kennedy rejoined his old club Rochdale on loan until January due to lack of first team opportunities at Leicester City.[15] Kennedy played his first match for the club since leaving in a 1–1 draw against Oldham Athletic on 27 November 2010. After six appearance at Rochdale, Kennedy loan spell at Rochdale had ended.[16]

On 20 January 2011, Kennedy joined League One club Peterborough United on loan until the end of the season, which could be made permanent.[17] The next day, Kennedy made his debut, playing 90 minutes, in a 4–0 win over Hartlepool United. Kennedy have since established himself in the starting eleven, playing in the left back position in defence. Having made 14 starts since joining the club, Kennedy said he expressed desire to stay at Peterborough United permanent at the end of the season.[18] But, nothing came for it as in April, Kennedy suffered an knee ligament damage during a 2–0 win over Dagenham & Redbridge, resulted his last appearance for Peterborough and would return to Leicester City for treatment.[19] At the end of the season with Peterborough promoted to the Championship, director of football Barry Fry expressed desire to sign Kennedy but feared his injury prevent his move back to the club[20]

On 30 September 2011, Kennedy rejoined Peterborough for a second loan spell on a 3-month loan from Leicester.[21] Kennedy's second loan at Peterborough ended in January 2012 and in his second spell, Kennedy made 15 appearance for Peterborough.[22]

Barnsley

He agreed non-contract terms with Barnsley until January 2013 on 21 September 2012 after a period training with the South Yorkshire club.[23] He made his debut on 22 September, in a 5–0 win against Birmingham City.[24] In January, Kennedy signed a six-month contract as his non-contract agreement was about to expire.[25] He then signed a two-year extension in the summer of 2013.[26]

Kennedy terminated his contract at Barnsley on 31 July 2014.

Rochdale Return

On 14 August 2014, Kennedy resigned for Rochdale on a short term deal until January 2015 [27] and reuniting with former manager Keith Hill.

On 29 June 2015, Kennedy signed a new two-year deal.[28]

Bury Return

On 13 October 2014, Kennedy rejoined Bury on loan from Rochdale with a view to a permanent deal.[29]

Blackpool

On 22 November 2014, Kennedy joined Championship side Blackpool on loan until 14 January 2015.[30]

References

  1. ↑ "Kennedy signs new Bury deal". BBC Sport. 29 March 2004. Retrieved January 2013.
  2. ↑ "Kennedy signs on". Sky Sports. 2 February 2007. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  3. ↑ "Rochdale sign Muirhead & Kennedy". BBC Sport. 4 June 2007. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  4. ↑ "Wycombe 0–1 Rochdale". BBC Sport. 11 January 2008. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  5. ↑ "Amazing season for Dale – Kennedy". BBC Sport. 19 May 2008. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  6. ↑ Hilly in praise of TK Rochdale AFC official website, 1 May 2009
  7. ↑ "Dale duo extend deals". Sky Sports. 2 February 2009. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  8. ↑ "Rochdale boss Keith Hill praises Tom Kennedy". BBC Sport. 16 March 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  9. ↑ "Kennedy set for Dale exit". Sky Sports. 28 May 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  10. ↑ "Rovers eye Rochdale raid". Sky Sports. 13 May 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  11. ↑ "Foxes Grab Kennedy". www.skysports.com. British Sky Broadcasting. 10 June 2010. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
  12. ↑ "Kennedy set for Rovers". Sky Sports. 4 June 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  13. ↑ "Tom Kennedy says Leicester City switch was easy". BBC Sport. 11 June 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  14. ↑ Kennedy set to move on skysports.COM, 29 August 2012
  15. ↑ "Kennedy makes Rochdale return". Sky Sports. 1 November 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  16. ↑ "Kennedy returns from loan spell". Sky Sports. 11 January 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  17. ↑ Kennedy Joins Peterborough On Loan LCFC.COM, 20 January 2011
  18. ↑ "Kennedy keen on Posh stay". Sky Sports. 30 March 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  19. ↑ "Peterborough United hit by Tom Kennedy knee injury". BBC Sport. 11 April 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  20. ↑ "Posh keen on duo's return". Sky Sports. 2 June 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  21. ↑ "Leicester City's Tom Kennedy returns to Peterborough United". BBC Sport. 30 September 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  22. ↑ "POSH MAKING FERGIE PROUD". Peterborough Today. 2 January 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  23. ↑ "Kennedy completes Tykes switch". Football League. 21 September 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  24. ↑ "Birmingham 0–5 Barnsley" BBC Sport. 22 September 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  25. ↑ "Barnsley: Defender gets six months Reds’ deal". The Star. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  26. ↑ "Kennedy signs two year deal".
  27. ↑ "Tom Kennedy Returns To Rochdale". Rochdale A.F.C. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  28. ↑ "Tom Kennedy Signs New Contract". Rochdale A.F.C. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  29. ↑ "TK returns to the JD Stadium". Bury F.C. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  30. ↑ "Kennedy Arrives On Loan". Blackpool F.C. Retrieved 22 November 2014.

External links

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