Bobby Kennedy (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Robert 'Bobby' Kennedy is a Scottish
former soccer player who could play in midfield
or at right back.
and after trials with Queen of the South
and Clyde
he joined Kilmarnock
in 1957. While at Kilmarnock he overcame serious illness to continue his career, which included one cap for Scotland Under 23s. He returned to the Kilmarnock team which were Scottish League Division One and Scottish Cup
runners-up in 1959–60
and Division One and Scottish League Cup
runners-up in 1960–61
.
In July 1961 Manchester City F.C.
paid £45,000 for Kennedy after 85 games with Kilmarnock. He played for Manchester City for eight seasons, including the Division One
championship-winning side in 1967–68
although he had not played enough games to qualify for a medal. He played 254 league and cup games, including European competitions, before he moved to Grimsby Town
as player-manager for £9,000, where he played 88 first-team games.
in 1969. Grimsby had to apply for re-election in Kennedy's first season as they came 23rd in Division Four
. In the following two seasons, Grimsby came 16th and 19th, before Kennedy resigned in May 1971.
He became Bradford City
's coach and youth team manager, before he had a brief spell with Dundalk
. He returned to Bradford, first at City then as honorary manager at Bradford Park Avenue
. He returned to Bradford City for a third time in January 1975 when he succeeded Bryan Edwards
as manager. He led City to 10th in Division Four in his first season before becoming the club's first manager of the month in January 1976. The club also reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup in the same year. Further awards followed as he helped the club to promotion to Division Three
in 1976–77
. He was sacked in January 1978 in the middle of a seven-game losing streak.
He became coach at Blackburn Rovers
before leaving football altogether.
, while playing for and managing Bradford City Women's FC.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
former soccer player who could play in midfield
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
or at right back.
Playing career
Bobby Kennedy started his career at Coltness UnitedNewmains United Community F.C.
Newmains United Community Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the village of Newmains, near Wishaw and Motherwell.They were formed in 2006 and play at Victoria Park...
and after trials with 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...
and Clyde
Clyde F.C.
Clyde Football Club are a Scottish professional football team currently playing in the Third Division of the Scottish Football League. Although based for the last fifteen years in the new town of Cumbernauld, they are traditionally associated with an area that covers Rutherglen in South...
he joined Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
in 1957. While at Kilmarnock he overcame serious illness to continue his career, which included one cap for Scotland Under 23s. He returned to the Kilmarnock team which were Scottish League Division One and Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
runners-up in 1959–60
1959-60 in Scottish football
The 1959–60 season was the 63rd season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: HeartsRelegated: Stirling Albion, Arbroath-Scottish League Division Two:Promoted: St...
and Division One and Scottish League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
runners-up in 1960–61
1960-61 in Scottish football
The 1960–61 season was the 64th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: RangersRelegated: Clyde, Ayr United-Scottish League Division Two:Promoted: Stirling Albion, Falkirk...
.
In July 1961 Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
paid £45,000 for Kennedy after 85 games with Kilmarnock. He played for Manchester City for eight seasons, including the Division One
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
championship-winning side in 1967–68
1967-68 in English football
The 1967–68 season was the 88th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour. * indicates new record for competition-FA Cup:...
although he had not played enough games to qualify for a medal. He played 254 league and cup games, including European competitions, before he moved to Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
as player-manager for £9,000, where he played 88 first-team games.
Managerial career
Kennedy became player-manager at Grimsby TownGrimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
in 1969. Grimsby had to apply for re-election in Kennedy's first season as they came 23rd in Division Four
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
. In the following two seasons, Grimsby came 16th and 19th, before Kennedy resigned in May 1971.
He became Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
's coach and youth team manager, before he had a brief spell with Dundalk
Dundalk F.C.
Dundalk Football Club is a professional Irish football club based in Dundalk, County Louth. The club currently play in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. Founded in 1903, they are the second most successful team, in terms of trophies won, in the history of the League of Ireland. The...
. He returned to Bradford, first at City then as honorary manager at Bradford Park Avenue
Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.
Bradford Association Football Club, previously also known as Bradford and since its reformation in the 1970s now referred to as Bradford Park Avenue, is a football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England...
. He returned to Bradford City for a third time in January 1975 when he succeeded Bryan Edwards
Bryan Edwards (footballer)
Bryan Edwards is a former football player and manager. He played 483 games as wing half for Bolton Wanderers picking up an FA Cup Winners medal in 1958 and later managed Bradford City and was a coach and physiotherapist at several clubs.-Playing career:Edwards excelled at both football and cricket...
as manager. He led City to 10th in Division Four in his first season before becoming the club's first manager of the month in January 1976. The club also reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup in the same year. Further awards followed as he helped the club to promotion to Division Three
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
in 1976–77
1976-77 in English football
The 1976–77 season was the 97th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The Football League revamped the tie-breaking criteria for teams level of points, replacing the traditional goal average tie-breaker with one based on goal difference to try to encourage more scoring...
. He was sacked in January 1978 in the middle of a seven-game losing streak.
He became coach at Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
before leaving football altogether.
After football
Kennedy and his family remained in Bradford while owning a children's clothing shop in Manchester. His daughter Lorraine also played football for ScotlandScotland women's national football team
The Scotland women's national football team represents Scotland in international women's football. They have yet to qualify for the final stages of the World Cup or European Championships and are currently ranked 23rd in the world and 14th in Europe....
, while playing for and managing Bradford City Women's FC.