Kevin Horlock
Encyclopedia
Kevin Horlock is an English
born Northern Irish
football player, currently player/assistant manager of Needham Market
. Horlock is a former Northern Ireland international
and is most associated with Manchester City
, for whom he played in three different divisions including the Premier League. He also played for Swindon Town
, West Ham United
, Ipswich Town
, Doncaster Rovers
and Mansfield Town
. Horlock was well known for his accurate set pieces and is particularly skilled at taking free kicks.
in 1989 but did not graduate to the first team and moved to Swindon Town
in August 1992 where he spent a single season in the Premiership in 1993–94. Over the next few seasons he made his name as a versatile midfielder capable of playing on the left or in the centre, or at left-back. He also scored goals regularly, with 16 in the 1995–96 season. He made 200 appearances in all competitions, scoring 26 goals, in five seasons at Swindon before joining Manchester City
in January 1997.
for a transfer fee reported as being between £1.25 million and £1.5 million. He made his debut in a 4–1 Division One
win against Oxford United
and scored his first goal for Manchester City three weeks later against his former club Swindon. The following season he was a regular in the first team until suffering an injury which sidelined him for four months. During Horlock's absence, Clark was sacked and chairman Francis Lee
later observed that Horlock was one of only two good purchases Clark made. City were struggling at the foot of the table, and were relegated on the final day of the season despite a 5–2 win at Stoke City
, in which Horlock scored the fifth goal. Horlock became Manchester City's primary penalty
taker in the 1998–99 season, a role in which he continued for the next three seasons. Later that season Horlock was sent off in a match against Bournemouth
in unusual circumstances, receiving a second yellow card for "walking towards the referee in an aggressive manner while asking a question". Horlock's best season was probably the 2001–2002 season where he was deployed in the holding midfield role and helped Manchester City
earn promotion in stylish manner, the team scoring 108 goals. One of the most notable moments of his career was the 1999 season play-off final against Gillingham
when he scored the first goal of the comeback when Manchester City won on penalties after being 2–0 down until the last five minutes of the game. Horlock wore the number 6 shirt Horlock made 232 league and cup appearances, scoring 44 goals, in seven years at Manchester City.
for West Ham United
for a fee of £300,000 in August 2003. He made 27 league appearances for West Ham in the 2003–04 season and scored once against Wigan but fell out of favour with manager Alan Pardew
and missed the play-offs games at the end of the season. He was given a free transfer to Ipswich Town
in July 2004, where he made 58 league appearances before joining Doncaster Rovers
on loan in February 2006 and being allowed to leave Ipswich at the end of the 2005–06 season. He joined Doncaster on a permanent two-year contract in May 2006 but missed the majority of the 2006–07 season due to a serious knee injury sustained in Doncaster's 3–1 victory over Crewe Alexandra
in August 2006, a game in which he also scored his first goal for the club. A dislocated shoulder further restricted his opportunities, and in January 2008 his contract was cancelled by mutual consent. The next day, Horlock was signed by Scunthorpe United
on a contract until the end of the season. However, he did not feature in the first team and joined Mansfield Town
in March 2008 on loan until the end of the 2007–08 season.
Horlock signed for Eastern Counties League
Premier Division side Needham Market
as player/assistant manager on a twelve-month contract on 8 August 2008.
and went on to make 32 appearances for Northern Ireland
, before retiring from international football in 2003 for personal reasons.
England
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...
born Northern Irish
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
football player, currently player/assistant manager of Needham Market
Needham Market F.C.
Needham Market F.C. is an English football club based in Needham Market, Suffolk. The club are currently members of Isthmian League Division One North and play at Bloomfields.The club is affiliated to the Suffolk County FA.-History:...
. Horlock is a former Northern Ireland international
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...
and is most associated with Manchester City
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...
, for whom he played in three different divisions including the Premier League. He also played for Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
, West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
, Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
, Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
and Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
. Horlock was well known for his accurate set pieces and is particularly skilled at taking free kicks.
Swindon Town
Horlock started his career as a trainee with West Ham UnitedWest Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
in 1989 but did not graduate to the first team and moved to Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
in August 1992 where he spent a single season in the Premiership in 1993–94. Over the next few seasons he made his name as a versatile midfielder capable of playing on the left or in the centre, or at left-back. He also scored goals regularly, with 16 in the 1995–96 season. He made 200 appearances in all competitions, scoring 26 goals, in five seasons at Swindon before joining Manchester City
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...
in January 1997.
Manchester City
Horlock was Frank Clark's first signing for Manchester CityManchester 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...
for a transfer fee reported as being between £1.25 million and £1.5 million. He made his debut in a 4–1 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....
win against Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
and scored his first goal for Manchester City three weeks later against his former club Swindon. The following season he was a regular in the first team until suffering an injury which sidelined him for four months. During Horlock's absence, Clark was sacked and chairman Francis Lee
Francis Lee
Francis Henry Lee is a former professional footballer, who played in the 1960s and 1970s, including 27 appearances for the England national team. Lee played for Bolton Wanderers, Manchester City, and Derby County...
later observed that Horlock was one of only two good purchases Clark made. City were struggling at the foot of the table, and were relegated on the final day of the season despite a 5–2 win at Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
, in which Horlock scored the fifth goal. Horlock became Manchester City's primary penalty
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
taker in the 1998–99 season, a role in which he continued for the next three seasons. Later that season Horlock was sent off in a match against Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
in unusual circumstances, receiving a second yellow card for "walking towards the referee in an aggressive manner while asking a question". Horlock's best season was probably the 2001–2002 season where he was deployed in the holding midfield role and helped Manchester City
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...
earn promotion in stylish manner, the team scoring 108 goals. One of the most notable moments of his career was the 1999 season play-off final against Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
when he scored the first goal of the comeback when Manchester City won on penalties after being 2–0 down until the last five minutes of the game. Horlock wore the number 6 shirt Horlock made 232 league and cup appearances, scoring 44 goals, in seven years at Manchester City.
Other clubs
Horlock was signed by Glenn RoederGlenn Roeder
Glenn Victor Roeder is an English football manager and former player, most recently in charge at Norwich City. As a player, Roeder represented England B on 7 occasions...
for West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
for a fee of £300,000 in August 2003. He made 27 league appearances for West Ham in the 2003–04 season and scored once against Wigan but fell out of favour with manager Alan Pardew
Alan Pardew
Alan Scott Pardew is an English football manager and former player, currently the manager of Newcastle United....
and missed the play-offs games at the end of the season. He was given a free transfer to Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
in July 2004, where he made 58 league appearances before joining Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
on loan in February 2006 and being allowed to leave Ipswich at the end of the 2005–06 season. He joined Doncaster on a permanent two-year contract in May 2006 but missed the majority of the 2006–07 season due to a serious knee injury sustained in Doncaster's 3–1 victory over Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
in August 2006, a game in which he also scored his first goal for the club. A dislocated shoulder further restricted his opportunities, and in January 2008 his contract was cancelled by mutual consent. The next day, Horlock was signed by Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
on a contract until the end of the season. However, he did not feature in the first team and joined Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
in March 2008 on loan until the end of the 2007–08 season.
Horlock signed for Eastern Counties League
Eastern Counties Football League
The Eastern Counties Football League is an English football league at levels 9 and 10 of the English football league system. It currently contains clubs from Norfolk, Suffolk, northern Essex and eastern Cambridgeshire, and is a feeder to the regional divisions of the Isthmian League and Southern...
Premier Division side Needham Market
Needham Market F.C.
Needham Market F.C. is an English football club based in Needham Market, Suffolk. The club are currently members of Isthmian League Division One North and play at Bloomfields.The club is affiliated to the Suffolk County FA.-History:...
as player/assistant manager on a twelve-month contract on 8 August 2008.
Representative honours
Horlock was first capped in April 1995 versus LatviaLatvia national football team
The Latvian national football team is controlled by the Latvian Football Federation, the governing body for football in Latvia and represents the country in international football competitions, such as the World Cup and the European Championships. So far, they have never qualified for a FIFA World...
and went on to make 32 appearances for 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...
, before retiring from international football in 2003 for personal reasons.