Roy Kay
Encyclopedia
Robert "Roy" Kay is a Scottish
former footballer who played as a defender
.
Kay started his professional career with Heart of Midlothian
and featured in a Scottish Cup
Final and the European Cup Winners' Cup
, making over 140 league appearances before being released. He joined Scottish champions Celtic
and made five league appearances before signing for York City
, where he made over 180 appearances.
, Scotland
and was educated
at Gracemount Secondary School. He played for Crossroads United in Scottish junior football before starting his professional
footballing career after joining Heart of Midlothian
in January 1968. He made his debut during the 1970–71 season and featured for Hearts in the 1976 Scottish Cup
Final, where they were defeated 3–1 by Rangers
, as well as playing in the European Cup Winners' Cup
. He was released by Hearts following their relegation
from the Scottish Premier Division
at the end of the 1976–77 season, after making 193 appearances, and was signed by champions Celtic
in July 1977 as cover for Danny McGrain
. He played for Celtic during the 1977–78 season and made five league appearances, while also appearing in the European Cup
. He was signed by Fourth Division
side York City
in July 1978 and was appointed as captain by manager
Charlie Wright
. He went on to make 183 appearances for York in all competitions and was released in May 1982 and went on to play for non-League
side Northallerton Town
.
.
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 footballer who played as a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
.
Kay started his professional career with Heart of Midlothian
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...
and featured in a 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...
Final and the European Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
, making over 140 league appearances before being released. He joined Scottish champions Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
and made five league appearances before signing for York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
, where he made over 180 appearances.
Career
Kay was born on 24 October 1949 in EdinburghEdinburgh
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...
, Scotland
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...
and was educated
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
at Gracemount Secondary School. He played for Crossroads United in Scottish junior football before starting his professional
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
footballing career after joining Heart of Midlothian
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...
in January 1968. He made his debut during the 1970–71 season and featured for Hearts in the 1976 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...
Final, where they were defeated 3–1 by Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
, as well as playing in the European Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
. He was released by Hearts following their relegation
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
from the Scottish Premier Division
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
at the end of the 1976–77 season, after making 193 appearances, and was signed by champions Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
in July 1977 as cover for Danny McGrain
Danny McGrain
For the former Clyde F.C. footballer, see Danny McGrain Daniel Fergus "Danny" McGrain is a Scottish former professional footballer who played for Celtic F.C. in defence. He made 657 appearances scoring 8 goals...
. He played for Celtic during the 1977–78 season and made five league appearances, while also appearing in the European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
. He was signed by Fourth Division
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...
side York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
in July 1978 and was appointed as captain by manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
Charlie Wright
Charlie Wright
Charles George "Charlie" Wright is a Scottish-born Hong Kong former footballer and manager.Wright was caretaker manager and then manager of Bolton Wanderers in the 1984/1985 season. His first game as full time manager was a 2-0 win against Plymouth Argyle...
. He went on to make 183 appearances for York in all competitions and was released in May 1982 and went on to play for non-League
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
side Northallerton Town
Northallerton Town F.C.
Northallerton Town F.C. is an English football club based in Northallerton, North Yorkshire. They were established in 1895 and continue on to this day...
.
Style of play
He was able to show composure while under pressure and impressed with his positional play. He was a versatile player, being able to play as a full back on either flank and also being able to fill in at central defence and in midfieldMidfielder
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...
.