Andy Kirk (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Andrew "Andy" Kirk is a footballer, currently playing for Scottish Premier League
side Dunfermline Athletic
and Northern Ireland
. He is a striker
. He is the son of former footballer and former Lisburn Distillery
manager Paul Kirk
.
. In February 1999 Jim Jefferies
signed Kirk for Hearts
for £50,000.
Initially viewed as an investment for the future, Kirk played in the club's U-21 side for most of his first two seasons at Tynecastle Stadium
. However, in 2000–01
he firmly established himself in the first eleven, making 40 appearances and scoring 13 times. After a season decimated by injuries, he made further double-figure scoring contributions in 2002–03
and 2003–04
. However, financial restraints at the Edinburgh
club resulted in Kirk being released when his contract expired in the summer of 2004.
side Boston United
. Kirk excelled at York Street
, scoring 20 goals in little over 8 months.
for a £125,000 fee, signing a three and half year contract.
Despite Kirk scoring on his debut, Northampton lost to Rushden & Diamonds and a stuttering finish to the season witnessed them fall in the play-off semi-finals. The following season, Kirk's 10 goals ensured there was no repeat and Northampton gained promotion to League One
.
During the 2006–07
season Kirk was transfer listed alongside fellow strikers James Quinn and Scott McGleish
. However, Kirk was taken off the transfer list at the beginning of the 2007–08
season and rewarded manager Stuart Gray
with 3 goals in the first 3 games.
on 17 January 2008 for an undisclosed fee. He signed a two and a half year contract. He scored twice in the first three games for his new club. In summer 2008 Yeovil rejected a bid from Morecambe
for Kirk, though they went on to sell him to Scottish First Division
team Dunfermline Athletic
.
and scored his first two goals a week later against Queen of the South
in a 2-1 win. Kirk has gone on to enjoy the most prolific goal-scoring period of his career with the Pars.
in April 2000. After a four-year absence he earned his most recent cap against the Czech Republic
in October 2009. He has yet to score for his country.
Scottish Football League First Division
The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Championship is the highest division of the Scottish Football League and the second highest in the Scottish football league system....
side Dunfermline Athletic
Dunfermline Athletic F.C.
Dunfermline Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football team based in Dunfermline, Fife, commonly known as just Dunfermline. They currently compete in the Scottish Premier League....
and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
. He is a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
. He is the son of former footballer and former Lisburn Distillery
Lisburn Distillery F.C.
Lisburn Distillery is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1880, originated in west Belfast, where it was based at Grosvenor Park at Distillery Street off the Grosvenor Road until 1971...
manager Paul Kirk
Paul Kirk (footballer)
Paul Kirk is a retired footballer and manager.-Biography:Paul Kirk played football during his career for Glentoran, Crusaders, and Linfield, winning the league title with all 3 clubs. He was most notable in his managerial career for managing Lisburn Distillery for 13 years...
.
Hearts
Having had several unsuccessful trials in EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. In February 1999 Jim Jefferies
Jim Jefferies
James "Jim" Jefferies is a Scottish football former player and manager. Jefferies played for Heart of Midlothian for almost his whole playing career and enjoyed a successful first managerial spell with the club, winning the 1998 Scottish Cup...
signed Kirk for Hearts
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
for £50,000.
Initially viewed as an investment for the future, Kirk played in the club's U-21 side for most of his first two seasons at Tynecastle Stadium
Tynecastle Stadium
Tynecastle Stadium is a football stadium situated in the Gorgie area of Edinburgh, Scotland, which is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Hearts. Tynecastle has a seating capacity of 17,420, which makes it the seventh largest football stadium in Scotland...
. However, in 2000–01
2000-01 in Scottish football
The 2000–01 season was the 104th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish Premier League:The 2000–01 Scottish Premier League was won by Celtic, 15 points clear of Rangers who finished second. Both teams earned a place in the UEFA Champions League. Hibernian and Kilmarnock...
he firmly established himself in the first eleven, making 40 appearances and scoring 13 times. After a season decimated by injuries, he made further double-figure scoring contributions in 2002–03
2002-03 in Scottish football
The 2002–03 season was the 106th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish Premier League:The 2002–03 Scottish Premier League was won on goal difference by Rangers by a single goal over Celtic. Both Rangers and Celtic qualified for the 2003–04 UEFA Champions League and...
and 2003–04
2003-04 in Scottish football
The 2003–04 season was the 107th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish Premier League:The 2003–04 Scottish Premier League season was won by Celtic with 98 points, 17 points ahead of closest challengers Rangers. Both Rangers and Celtic therefore gained the two UEFA...
. However, financial restraints at the Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
club resulted in Kirk being released when his contract expired in the summer of 2004.
Boston United
Steve Evans signed Kirk for English League TwoFootball League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side Boston United
Boston United F.C.
Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...
. Kirk excelled at York Street
York Street
York Street, currently styled as The Jakemans Stadium for sponsorship purposes, is a football stadium in Boston, England, and is the home ground of Boston United. Originally called Shodfriars Lane, football has been played on the site since the late 19th century by a variety of Boston teams, but...
, scoring 20 goals in little over 8 months.
Northampton Town
In March 2005 Kirk signed for Northampton TownNorthampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
for a £125,000 fee, signing a three and half year contract.
Despite Kirk scoring on his debut, Northampton lost to Rushden & Diamonds and a stuttering finish to the season witnessed them fall in the play-off semi-finals. The following season, Kirk's 10 goals ensured there was no repeat and Northampton gained promotion to League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
.
During the 2006–07
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
season Kirk was transfer listed alongside fellow strikers James Quinn and Scott McGleish
Scott McGleish
Scott McGleish is an English footballer, who currently plays for Npower League Two side Bristol Rovers.-Career:...
. However, Kirk was taken off the transfer list at the beginning of the 2007–08
2007-08 in English football
The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...
season and rewarded manager Stuart Gray
Stuart Gray
Stuart Allan Gray is an American/Panamanian former professional basketball player. At 7'0" tall, he played at the center position....
with 3 goals in the first 3 games.
Yeovil Town
Kirk moved to Yeovil TownYeovil Town F.C.
Yeovil Town F.C. are an English association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset. The club play in League One after having won the League Two championship in 2004–05...
on 17 January 2008 for an undisclosed fee. He signed a two and a half year contract. He scored twice in the first three games for his new club. In summer 2008 Yeovil rejected a bid from Morecambe
Morecambe F.C.
Morecambe Football Club is an English football club based in Morecambe, Lancashire. It plays its football in League Two, the fourth division of English football, having been promoted in 2007 for the first time in their history to the Football League. They played their home matches at Christie Park...
for Kirk, though they went on to sell him to Scottish First Division
Scottish Football League First Division
The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Championship is the highest division of the Scottish Football League and the second highest in the Scottish football league system....
team Dunfermline Athletic
Dunfermline Athletic F.C.
Dunfermline Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football team based in Dunfermline, Fife, commonly known as just Dunfermline. They currently compete in the Scottish Premier League....
.
Dunfermline Athletic
In August 2008 Kirk signed a three year contract. He made his debut coming on as a sub against First Division rivals Partick ThistlePartick Thistle F.C.
Partick Thistle Football Club are a professional association football club from Glasgow. Despite their name, the club are based in the Maryhill area of the city, and have not played in Partick since 1908...
and scored his first two goals a week later against Queen of the South
Queen of the South F.C.
Queen of the South Football Club is a Scottish professional football club founded in 1919 and located in Dumfries. The club currently plays in the Scottish First Division, the second tier of Scottish football. They are officially nicknamed The Doonhamers, but usually referred to as Queens or QoS...
in a 2-1 win. Kirk has gone on to enjoy the most prolific goal-scoring period of his career with the Pars.
International career
Kirk has been capped 10 times by Northern Ireland. His debut came against HungaryHungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
in April 2000. After a four-year absence he earned his most recent cap against the Czech Republic
Czech Republic national football team
The Czech Republic national football team represents the Czech Republic in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of the Czech Republic, the governing body for football in the Czech Republic. Their current head coach is Michal Bílek...
in October 2009. He has yet to score for his country.
See also
- Dunfermline Athletic F.C. season 2008–09 | 2009–10