Paddy Kenny

For the hurler, see Paddy Kenny (hurler).
Paddy Kenny
Personal information
Full name Patrick Joseph Kenny
Date of birth (1978-05-17) 17 May 1978
Place of birth Halifax, England
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[1]
Playing position Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 Northampton Town (player/goalkeeping coach)
Number 13
Youth career
Ovenden West Riding
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–1998 Bradford Park Avenue 42 (0[2])
1998–2002 Bury 133 (0)
1999 → Whitby Town (loan) 8 (0)
2002 → Sheffield United (loan) 12 (0)
2002–2010 Sheffield United 266 (0)
2010–2012 Queens Park Rangers 77 (0)
2012–2014 Leeds United 76 (0)
2014–2015 Bolton Wanderers 0 (0)
2014 → Oldham Athletic (loan) 3 (0)
2015 Ipswich Town 0 (0)
2015 Bury 0 (0)
2016 Rotherham United 0 (0)
2016– Northampton Town 0 (0)
National team
2004–2006 Republic of Ireland 7 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15:45, 10 June 2016 (UTC).


Patrick Joseph "Paddy" Kenny (born 17 May 1978) is a professional football goalkeeper who plays for League One club Northampton Town, where he is player-goalkeeping coach.[3]

Born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, Kenny began his career with Bradford Park Avenue before turning professional in the summer of 1998 upon signing for Neil Warnock's Bury. He was reunited with Warnock in 2002 after he joined Sheffield United where he spent much of his career and enjoyed notable success; performing in League Cup and FA Cup semi-finals, two play-off finals, and then promotion to the Premier League in 2005–06.

Kenny would later sign for Warnock once again in 2010, joining Queens Park Rangers after his time at Sheffield United ended on a sour note when he spent much of his final season on the sidelines having failing a drugs test the previous summer. During his first season at QPR he would achieve his second promotion to the Premier League and his first Championship winners medal. He remained as first choice goalkeeper the next season as QPR beat relegation on the final day of the season, before he was reunited with Warnock for the fourth time when he signed for Leeds United in 2012. He stayed at Leeds for two years, before brief spells with Bolton Wanderers, Oldham Athletic (on loan), Ipswich Town, Bury, and Rotherham United.

Club career

Early career

Kenny started his career at Ovenden West Riding in the West Riding County Amateur League.[2] He joined Bradford Park Avenue in August 1997, playing semi-professionally whilst working as an engineer in the week.[4] He was an ever-present in the Northern Premier League during the 1997–98 season, playing 55 games in league and cup.[2]

He had trials at Birmingham City and Bradford City, before he was signed by Neil Warnock at Bury in September 1998 for a £10,000 fee following a recommendation from Avenue's manager Trevor Storton.[4] With Dean Kiely in goal for the "Shakers", Kenny was loaned out to Whitby Town in the Northern Premier League to gain some first team experience in March 1999.[4] He played a total of eight games for the "Seasiders".[2] Two months later Kiely was sold to Charlton Athletic, giving Kenny the chance to become Bury's regular goalkeeper.[2][4]

He made his Division Two debut for Bury on 7 August 1999 in a 2–1 win over Gillingham at Gigg Lane.[2] He went on to become an ever-present in both the 1999–2000 and 2000–01 campaigns.[2] Andy Preece's Bury were relegated into Division Three at the end of the 2001–02 season.

Sheffield United

Kenny initially joined Neil Warnock's Sheffield United on loan as cover for injured keeper Simon Tracey.[5] He made his debut for the "Blades" in a 2–1 defeat to Coventry City at Highfield Road on 10 August 2002,[6] and subsequently went on to become first choice goalkeeper. After three months the loan deal was made permanent for a £45,000 fee.[2] On 26 May 2003, he played at the Millennium Stadium in the Division One play-off final, as United lost 3–0 to Wolverhampton Wanderers.[7] He was voted United's Player of the Season in 2002–03 after keeping goal as United reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup and League Cup, where they were beaten by Arsenal and Liverpool respectively.

"Paddy is one of the best signings I've ever made. I think he's one of the best goalkeepers in the game. I wouldn't swap him for David James, Chris Kirkland, Paul Robinson or David Seaman. The first thing I did was put him on a diet. He was eating burgers, pizzas and chips - and that was in the same day. Look at the shape of him. He's the sort of player people don't pay much attention to, but he's one of the first names on the team sheet because he's so reliable."
— Despite struggling with his weight throughout his career, Kenny's reliability made him a particular favourite of Neil Warnock.[8]

He was injured for three months of the 2003–04 season, but upon his recovery he regained his first team place from loanee Paul Gerrard.[9] Kenny featured 48 times in the 2004–05 season as United finished six points outside the play-off places. He played every minute of United's promotion campaign to the Premier League in 2005–06. In February 2006 Sheffield United faced promotion rivals Reading. With the scores level at 1-1 Reading were awarded a last minute penalty, however Kenny saved Dave Kitson's effort.[10] In November 2006, despite being told by club manager Neil Warnock to keep a low profile, Kenny went for a night out in Halifax. He became involved in a drunken brawl outside a curry house with a former friend, who admitted to having an affair with Kenny's wife. The fight ended with Kenny having his eyebrow bitten off and requiring 12 stitches.[11][12] The affair brought an end to his marriage.[13] He continued to be a key member of the United team in their season in the top flight but was unable to help prevent the club from being relegated on the final day of the 2006–07 season. In a match against Blackburn Rovers in September 2006 Kenny saved a Lucas Neill penalty in a 0-0 draw. His opposite number Brad Friedel also saved two penalties in the same match.[14]

Back in the Championship he maintained his position of being the club's number one keeper for the 2007–08 campaign. With the team struggling Kenny maintained fine form with the only low point coming in February; despite making several excellent saves, he mistakenly knocked the ball into his own net in extra time in an FA Cup fifth round replay against Middlesbrough, a goal which knocked Sheffield United out of the cup.[15]

Kenny began to voice disquiet over his contract situation at the end of 2008,[16] despite manager Kevin Blackwell insisting that the club were set to open talks on a new deal.[17] Despite this Kenny was dropped for the Boxing Day game against Wolverhampton Wanderers after being late for training[18] and he was placed on the transfer list a few days later.[19] He returned to the first team after sitting out two league games and was again ever present until the end of the 2008–09 season, including an appearance at Wembley Stadium in the Championship play-off final. Although United missed out on promotion Kenny agreed a contract extension a few days later, effectively signalling his removal from the transfer list.[20]

Only a few weeks after signing a contract extension it was reported that Kenny had failed a drug test after the previous season's play-off semi-final. Kenny tested positive for ephedrine, a banned substance, believed to have been contained in a cough medicine he bought over the counter.[21] Following an FA hearing in September 2009, Kenny was banned from all professional football for nine months.[22] He was not allowed to go to Bramall Lane, so had to train on his own away from his teammates and coaches.[4] Despite an unsuccessful appeal against his ban, Sheffield United still opted to agree a new contract extension with Kenny during his enforced absence from first team football.[23]

"The barrister was adamant I would get three months backdated and I would be able to come back at the start of the season. So when at the hearing they said 'we agree you've not taken it to enhance performance, but we are hitting you with a nine-month ban for negligence', it was a massive shock."
— Kenny had taken over-the-counter ChestEze medicine, which contained ephedrine hydrochloride, but still received a lengthy ban.[4]

Queens Park Rangers

Despite having only recently signed an extended deal with Sheffield United, Kenny signed a three-year contract for former boss Neil Warnock's side Queens Park Rangers in June 2010. Although Sheffield United did not wish to part with him, Kenny activated a clause that had been inserted into his contract allowing him to leave should another club table a £750,000 bid for his services.[24] The move meant his wages were doubled to £20,000.[25] He was voted the club's Player of the Season for the 2010–11 season as the "R's" won promotion as champions of the Championship.[26]

Kenny continued to remain Rangers number one keeper in their first season back in the Premier League, making 33 starts and keeping seven clean sheets. QPR retained their Premier League place on the final day of the 2011–12 season, despite Kenny conceding an injury time goal to Sergio Agüero to lose the title deciding game against Manchester City.[27][28]

Despite Kenny's good form during the 2011–12 season, new manager Mark Hughes decided to sign England keeper Robert Green from West Ham United before the 2012–13 campaign began, effectively ensuring that Kenny would lose his place in the first team, and as such Kenny was subsequently made available for a transfer.[29] Soon after Kenny's departure from the club, QPR wrote a formal letter of complaint to Leeds United over abusive texts allegedly sent by Kenny to their technical director Mike Rigg and chairman Tony Fernandes. The texts were reported to have mocked the club's poor first result of the season and, in particular, the performance of Green; Kenny subsequently had his Twitter account deleted.[30]

Leeds United

Kenny signed for Leeds United on a three-year contract for £500,000 in July 2012, linking up with manager Neil Warnock for a fourth time in his career.[31] Having been allocated the number one shirt for the 2012–13 season,[32] Kenny made his competitive début for Leeds in the first game of the season against Shrewsbury Town in the League Cup.[33] Playing regularly for his new side, Kenny made his 500th senior career appearance on 23 October against Charlton Athletic.[34] The 2012–13 season ended with Kenny being United's only ever present in the Championship, playing every minute of each 46 league games.

On 22 February 2014, Kenny missed his first league game since signing for Leeds, due to an ongoing injury he picked up against Nottingham Forest earlier in the 2013–14 season. Leeds signed Jack Butland on loan who went straight into the first team and made his debut in a 0–0 draw with Middlesbrough, where he received the man of the match award.[35] Kenny wasn't named in a matchday squad after the signing of Jack Butland, with goalkeeper Alex Cairns favoured ahead of Kenny as the club's second choice goalkeeper. On 25 April, Kenny's agents brought out a statement confirming that Kenny was fit and available for selection despite his absence from the matchday squads.[36] On 30 June 2014, Kenny was left out of Leeds' two week pre-season training camp to Santa Cristina in Italy.[37] On 3 July, the Professional Footballers' Association investigated alleged media reports that Kenny had been dropped due to his birthdate falling on the 17th of a month,[38] with owner Massimo Cellino having a deep superstition of the number 17.[39] However, Kenny's agent Paul Masterton, laughed off the claims that Kenny had been dropped due to his birthdate falling on the 17th of a month.[40] On the same day, Leeds signed goalkeeper Stuart Taylor increasing speculation about Kenny's long-term future at the club.[41]

On 1 August 2014, Kenny wasn't assigned a Leeds squad number for the 2014–15 season, with new signing Marco Silvestri taking over Kenny's previous 1 squad number.[42] On 18 August, Kenny left Leeds by mutual consent.[43]

Later career

Kenny signed for Bolton Wanderers on a short-term deal on 19 September 2014 to provide competition for Andy Lonergan after Ádám Bogdán was ruled out with injury.[44] After just two months at the Macron Stadium operating solely as an unused substitute, Kenny was loaned out to Oldham Athletic after manager Lee Johnson lost faith in Paul Rachubka.[45] He played three League One games for Oldham. On 19 January 2015, Bolton confirmed that Kenny had left the club at the expiration of his contract.[46]

On 20 January 2015, Kenny joined Ipswich Town on a short-term deal.[47] He did not feature in the 2014–15 season as Bartosz Białkowski held on to his first team place.

In August 2015 he began training with Port Vale, managed by former teammate Rob Page; though nominally only at Vale Park to maintain his fitness he was also considered for a short-term contract as first choice goalkeeper Chris Neal was out injured.[48] On 6 November 2015, Kenny joined Bury on a short-term contract.[49] He cancelled his contract after 13 days due to a calf injury, saying he did not wish to take money off the club if he was unable to play.[50]

In February 2016, Kenny was signed by Neil Warnock at Rotherham United on a deal until the end of the 2015–16 season; it was the fifth time that Warnock has signed the goalkeeper.[51]

After leaving Rotherham, Kenny reunited with former teammate Rob Page in the summer of 2016 as player-goalkeeping coach at Northampton Town.[3]

International career

Although born in England, Kenny qualified to play for the Republic of Ireland as both his parents are Irish.[52] He was called up by manager Brian Kerr and made his debut in 2004 in a 1–0 friendly victory over Jamaica.[53] Kenny won seven caps before deciding to retire from international football in 2007, asking then manager Steve Staunton not to consider him for selection to allow him to sort out personal issues.[54] Despite declaring himself ready to play for Ireland again multiple times from 2008 onwards he was never called up again.[55][55]

Career statistics

Season Club Division League FA Cup League Cup FL Trophy Play-offs Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1997–98Bradford Park AvenueNorthern Premier League
1998–99
Bradford Park Avenue Total
1998–99[56]BuryDivision One000010————10
1999–2000[57]Division Two460402010——530
2000–01[58]460202030——530
2001–02[59]410101010——440
Bury Total 1330706050——1510
2002–03[60]Sheffield United (loan)Division One120——20————140
2002–03[60]Sheffield United3304050——30450
2003–04[61]2704010————320
2004–05[62]Championship4005030————480
2005–06[63]4600000————460
2006–07[64]Premier League3400000————340
2007–08[65]Championship4004030————470
2008–09[66]4402010——30500
2009–10[67]200000————20
Sheffield United Total 2780190150——603180
2010–11[68]Queens Park RangersChampionship4401010————460
2011–12[69]Premier League3302000————350
Queens Park Rangers Total 7703010————810
2012–13[70]Leeds UnitedChampionship4600010————470
2013–14[71]3001030————340
Leeds United Total 7601040————810
2014–15[72]Bolton WanderersChampionship000000————00
2014–15[72]Oldham Athletic (loan)League One30100000——40
2014–15[72]Ipswich TownChampionship000000————00
2015–16[73]BuryLeague One000000000000
2015–16[73]Rotherham UnitedChampionship000000000000
2016–17[74]Northampton TownLeague One000000000000
Career total 588029026050606540
  
Republic of Ireland national team
YearAppsGoals
200440
200510
200620
Total7[75]0

Honours

Sheffield United
Queens Park Rangers

References

  1. ↑ "Premier League Player Profile". Premier League. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Kenny: Patrick Joseph (Paddy)". ozwhitelufc.net.au. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  3. 1 2 http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36499801
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Paddy Kenny: 'Drugs ban made me see how lucky I am to be a footballer'". The Independent. 4 April 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  5. ↑ "Blades bring in Kenny". BBC Sport. 16 July 2002. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  6. ↑ "Coventry 2–1 Sheff Utd". BBC Sport. 10 August 2002. Retrieved 28 November 2007.
  7. ↑ "Wolves back in big time". BBC Sport. 26 May 2003. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  8. ↑ Mullock, Simon (13 April 2003). "Michelin Man Wants the Shirt Off Seaman's Back.". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  9. ↑ "Gerrard joins Blades". BBC Sport. 29 August 2003. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  10. ↑ "Sheff Utd 1-1 Reading". BBC. 14 February 2006. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  11. ↑ Lawler, Danielle (16 November 2006). "Star's pal bites off eyebrow". The Sun. Retrieved 30 December 2008.
  12. ↑ "Warnock furious after Kenny brawl". BBC Sport. 16 November 2006. Retrieved 30 December 2008.
  13. ↑ "Paddy's wife speaks out...". Halifax Courier. 19 November 2006. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  14. ↑ "Sheff Utd 0-0 Blackburn". BBC. 9 September 2006. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  15. ↑ "Middlesbrough 1–0 Sheff Utd (aet)". BBC Sport. 27 February 2008. Retrieved 27 February 2008.
  16. ↑ "Kenny may quit United". The Sheffield Star. 18 December 2008. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
  17. ↑ "'No problem with Kenny talks'". The Sheffield Star. 19 December 2008. Retrieved 19 December 2008.
  18. ↑ "Blades drop 'late' Paddy". The Sheffield Star. 27 December 2008. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
  19. ↑ "Blades put Kenny on transfer list". BBC Sport. 29 December 2008. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
  20. ↑ "Double player boost". BBC Sport. 28 May 2009. Retrieved 8 July 2009.
  21. ↑ "Goalkeeper Kenny fails drugs test". BBC Sport. 7 July 2009. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
  22. ↑ "Keeper suspended for nine months". Sheffield United F.C. 7 September 2009. Retrieved 7 September 2009.
  23. ↑ "Paddy boost". Sheffield United F.C. 7 November 2009. Retrieved 17 November 2009.
  24. ↑ "Kenny joins QPR in £750,000 deal". Sheffield United F.C. 7 June 2010. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  25. ↑ McDonnell, Daniel (26 February 2011). "Kenny's Indian summer". Independent. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  26. ↑ "Kenny and Mackie delighted with promotion". BBC Sport. 7 May 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  27. ↑ "Man City 3–2 QPR". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
  28. ↑ "Manchester City v QPR – as it happened". The Guardian. 13 May 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
  29. ↑ "Rangers open to Kenny offers". Sky Sports. 6 July 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  30. ↑ "Paddy Kenny: QPR will take no action over text messages". BBC Sport. 24 August 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  31. ↑ "Warnock reunited with Kenny for fourth time as Leeds sign QPR keeper". The Daily Mail. 11 July 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  32. ↑ "New squad numbers announced". Leeds United A.F.C. 3 August 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  33. ↑ "Shrewsbury Live". Leeds United A.F.C. 11 August 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  34. ↑ "United v Charlton". Leeds United A.F.C. 23 October 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  35. ↑ "Middlesbrough 0-0 Leeds United". BBC. 22 February 2014.
  36. ↑ "Kenny 'fit for selection'". Teamtalk. 25 April 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  37. ↑ "PRE-SEASON: PLAYERS ARRIVE IN ITALY". Leeds United. 30 June 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  38. ↑ "Paddy Kenny dropped by Massimo Cellino because of birth date". BBC Sport. 3 July 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  39. ↑ "Leeds United confirm sale of 75 per cent to Massimo Cellino". Sky Sports. 7 February 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  40. ↑ "Paddy Kenny's agent denies birth date is reason for the goalkeeper being excluded at Leeds". Sky Sports. 3 July 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  41. ↑ "Leeds United sign Stuart Taylor". ITV. 3 July 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  42. ↑ "SQUAD NUMBERS RELEASED". Leeds United. 1 August 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  43. ↑ "Paddy Kenny leaves Leeds United by mutual consent". BBC Sport. 18 August 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  44. ↑ "Paddy Kenny: Bolton Wanderers sign former Leeds goalkeeper". BBC Sport. 19 September 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  45. ↑ "Paddy Kenny completes loan move to Oldham". Bolton Wanderers Football Club. 27 November 2014. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  46. ↑ "Paddy Kenny leaves Bolton Wanderers". Bolton Wanderers Football Club. 19 January 2015. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  47. ↑ "Paddy Kenny: Ipswich Town sign veteran goalkeeper". BBC Sport. 20 January 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  48. ↑ Baggaley, Mike (4 August 2015). "Rob Page not ruling out deal for Paddy Kenny". The Sentinel. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  49. ↑ "Bury sign Kenny as Hussey stays". BBC Sport. 6 November 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  50. ↑ "Paddy Kenny: Bury goalkeeper cancels contract because of injury". BBC Sport. 19 November 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  51. ↑ Woodcock, Ian (19 February 2016). "Paddy Kenny and Neil Warnock: The players managers love to sign". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  52. ↑ Doyle, Garry (14 January 2004). "I might not sound like it but I'm Irish.. and it's always been my No 1 ambition to line out for my country". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  53. ↑ "Barrett shores up makeshift Ireland". The Independent. 3 June 2004. Retrieved 30 December 2008.
  54. ↑ "Kenny to take a break". Football Association of Ireland. 27 January 2007. Retrieved 30 December 2008.
  55. 1 2 "Paddy on hunger". Sheffield United F.C. 16 October 2008. Retrieved 30 December 2008.
  56. ↑ "Games played by Paddy Kenny in 1998/1999". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  57. ↑ "Games played by Paddy Kenny in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  58. ↑ "Games played by Paddy Kenny in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  59. ↑ "Games played by Paddy Kenny in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  60. 1 2 "Games played by Paddy Kenny in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  61. ↑ "Games played by Paddy Kenny in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  62. ↑ "Games played by Paddy Kenny in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  63. ↑ "Games played by Paddy Kenny in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  64. ↑ "Games played by Paddy Kenny in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  65. ↑ "Games played by Paddy Kenny in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  66. ↑ "Games played by Paddy Kenny in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  67. ↑ "Games played by Paddy Kenny in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  68. ↑ "Games played by Paddy Kenny in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  69. ↑ "Games played by Paddy Kenny in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  70. ↑ "Games played by Paddy Kenny in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  71. ↑ "Games played by Paddy Kenny in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  72. 1 2 3 "Games played by Paddy Kenny in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  73. 1 2 "Games played by Paddy Kenny in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  74. ↑ "Games played by Paddy Kenny in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  75. ↑ Paddy Kenny profile at Soccerway
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