Tony Kane
Encyclopedia
Anthony Michael 'Tony' Kane (born 29 August 1987) is a Northern Irish
footballer
who plays for Ballymena United. As an international, Kane has played for both for the Republic of Ireland
and Northern Ireland
at under-21 level.
as a youth in November 2004 and was subsequently a member of the squad that won the Premier Academy League
in 2004-05. He then became a regular member of the Rovers reserve team
before signing a two year contract in 2006. In November 2006 he had a brief loan spell at Stockport County
before joining Cercle Brugge
on another loan deal in January 2007. In his first appearance for Cercle, Kane was voted man of the match by fans after a strong debut in a 2-0 win a debut against Zulte Waregem. On February 10, 2009, Kane signed a loan deal which took him to Carlisle United
until the end of the season. On 22 May 2009, it was announced by Carlisle United manager Greg Abbott
that a deal had been verbally agreed between Carlisle United
and Premier League side Blackburn Rovers
to make the loan move a permanent one. Kane will be signing a two-year-deal with the Cumbria
based team. On 17 September 2009 Carlisle United agreed to send Kane to Darlington F.C.
on a month long loan deal. In February 2011, having been released by Carlisle United
, he signed for Belfast club Cliftonville
, for whom he scored 11 minutes into his debut - a 2-0 away win over Newry City
.
Following an impressive pre-season, he joined Ballymena United in July 2011 and made his debut against Lisburn Distillery in August 2011 but was sent-off late in the game. He scored his first goal for the Sky Blues against his former club, [Cliftonvile F.C.|Cliftonville], in September at Solitude.
, Kane is one of several footballers born in Northern Ireland, who were involved in a dispute between the (Northern) Irish Football Association and the Football Association (of the Republic) of Ireland over international eligibility. A test case was taken by the IFA to the Court of Arbitration for Sport
, which found that FIFA was correctly applying its player eligibility regulations in allowing sich players to represent the Football Association of Ireland
.
during the 2006-07 season. He subsequently switched allegiances back to Northern Ireland and in November 2007 was called up for the senior team
. He has also played for Northern Ireland U21s
, becoming a regular member of the squad during the qualifying rounds for the 2009 European Under-21 Championship
. To date he has played twice against Israel
and in games against Luxembourg
and Moldova
. On March 26, 2008 he also played in a 3-1 friendly defeat against Romania
.
, making his debut on October 18, 2006 in a 2-0 win against Luxembourg
. Then in February 2007 he was selected for the Republic U-21 squad to play in the Madeira Cup, subsequently playing in two of the three games - a 1-0 win against Slovakia
, and a 2-2 draw with Madeira. On March 27 he played in a 1-0 defeat against the Netherlands
before making his final appearance for the Republic U-21s on August 21, 2007 in 2-2 draw with Germany
.
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...
footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who plays for Ballymena United. As an international, Kane has played for both for the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team
The Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team, is the national under-21 football team of the Republic of Ireland and is controlled by the Football Association of Ireland and competes in the biennial European Under-21 Football Championship and has competed since 1978.-Competition...
and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national under-21 football team
The Northern Ireland national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Northern Ireland.-Former coaches:* To 20 August 2008.-2008/09 Matches:-Current squad:Squad to play San Marino.-Other Recent Call-Ups:...
at under-21 level.
Club career
Kane joined Blackburn RoversBlackburn 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....
as a youth in November 2004 and was subsequently a member of the squad that won the Premier Academy League
Premier Academy League
The Premier Academy League is the top level of youth football in England. It is contested between the Academy sides of The Premier League and some Football League clubs, including Welsh side Cardiff City...
in 2004-05. He then became a regular member of the Rovers reserve team
Reserve team
Large professional sports clubs often have far more players under contract than could possibly play in a match. As a result, many of these clubs create second teams composed of players who need playing time, but have little hope of playing on the first team. The players on this second team are...
before signing a two year contract in 2006. In November 2006 he had a brief loan spell at Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
before joining Cercle Brugge
Cercle Brugge K.S.V.
Cercle Brugge Koninklijke Sportvereniging is a Belgian football team from Bruges. Cercle have played in the Belgian Pro League since the 2003-04 season, having previously spent several years in the Belgian Second Division following relegation in 1997. Their matricule is the n°12. The club play...
on another loan deal in January 2007. In his first appearance for Cercle, Kane was voted man of the match by fans after a strong debut in a 2-0 win a debut against Zulte Waregem. On February 10, 2009, Kane signed a loan deal which took him to Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
until the end of the season. On 22 May 2009, it was announced by Carlisle United manager Greg Abbott
Greg Abbott
Gregory Wayne "Greg" Abbott is the Texas Attorney General, and is the second Republican since Reconstruction to serve in that role. Abbott was sworn in on December 2, 2002, following John Cornyn's election to the U.S. Senate...
that a deal had been verbally agreed between Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
and Premier League side 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....
to make the loan move a permanent one. Kane will be signing a two-year-deal with the Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
based team. On 17 September 2009 Carlisle United agreed to send Kane to Darlington F.C.
Darlington
Darlington is a market town in the Borough of Darlington, part of the ceremonial county of County Durham, England. It lies on the small River Skerne, a tributary of the River Tees, not far from the main river. It is the main population centre in the borough, with a population of 97,838 as of 2001...
on a month long loan deal. In February 2011, having been released by Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
, he signed for Belfast club Cliftonville
Cliftonville F.C.
Cliftonville Football & Athletic Club is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. Founded on 20 September 1879 by John McCredy McAlery in the suburb of Cliftonville in north Belfast, it is the oldest football club in Ireland and celebrated its 130th...
, for whom he scored 11 minutes into his debut - a 2-0 away win over Newry City
Newry City F.C.
Newry City is an intermediate, Northern Irish football club playing in IFA Championship 1. The club, founded in 1923, is based in Newry, County Down and plays its home matches at The Showgrounds. Club colours are blue and white...
.
Following an impressive pre-season, he joined Ballymena United in July 2011 and made his debut against Lisburn Distillery in August 2011 but was sent-off late in the game. He scored his first goal for the Sky Blues against his former club, [Cliftonvile F.C.|Cliftonville], in September at Solitude.
International career
Together with Michael O'Connor, Marc Wilson and Darron GibsonDarron Gibson
Darron Thomas Daniel Gibson is an Irish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the Republic of Ireland national team...
, Kane is one of several footballers born in Northern Ireland, who were involved in a dispute between the (Northern) Irish Football Association and the Football Association (of the Republic) of Ireland over international eligibility. A test case was taken by the IFA to the Court of Arbitration for Sport
Court of Arbitration for Sport
The Court of Arbitration for Sport is an international arbitration body set up to settle disputes related to sport. Its headquarters are in Lausanne and its courts are located in New York, Sydney and Lausanne, Switzerland...
, which found that FIFA was correctly applying its player eligibility regulations in allowing sich players to represent the Football Association of Ireland
Football Association of Ireland
The Football Association of Ireland is the governing body for the sport of association football in the Republic of Ireland. It should not to be confused with the Irish Football Association , which is the organising body for the sport in Northern Ireland.For the full history, statistics and records...
.
Northern Ireland
Kane initially represented Northern Ireland at both under-18 and under-19 levels, before playing for the Republic of Ireland U21sRepublic of Ireland national under-21 football team
The Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team, is the national under-21 football team of the Republic of Ireland and is controlled by the Football Association of Ireland and competes in the biennial European Under-21 Football Championship and has competed since 1978.-Competition...
during the 2006-07 season. He subsequently switched allegiances back to Northern Ireland and in November 2007 was called up for the senior team
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 has also played for Northern Ireland U21s
Northern Ireland national under-21 football team
The Northern Ireland national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Northern Ireland.-Former coaches:* To 20 August 2008.-2008/09 Matches:-Current squad:Squad to play San Marino.-Other Recent Call-Ups:...
, becoming a regular member of the squad during the qualifying rounds for the 2009 European Under-21 Championship
2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Qualification Group 9
The teams competing in Group 9 of the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championships qualifying competition are Germany, Israel, Luxembourg, Moldova and Northern Ireland.-Standings:...
. To date he has played twice against Israel
Israel national under-21 football team
Israel's national Under-21 team , also known as Israel Under-21s or Israel U-21s, is considered to be the feeder team for the Israel national football team...
and in games against Luxembourg
Luxembourg national under-21 football team
The Luxembourg national under-21 football team is the national representative under-21 football team of Luxembourg. Controlled by the Luxembourg Football Federation , the team feeds into Luxembourg's full national team....
and Moldova
Moldova national football team
The Moldova national football team represents Moldova in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Moldova, the governing body for football in Moldova. Moldova's home ground is Zimbru Stadium in Chişinău and their head coach is Gavril Balint...
. On March 26, 2008 he also played in a 3-1 friendly defeat against Romania
Romania national under-21 football team
The Romania national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Romania and is controlled by the Romanian Football Federation. The team competes in the European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years....
.
Republic of Ireland
During the 2006-07 season Kane also made five friendly appearances for the Republic of Ireland U21sRepublic of Ireland national under-21 football team
The Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team, is the national under-21 football team of the Republic of Ireland and is controlled by the Football Association of Ireland and competes in the biennial European Under-21 Football Championship and has competed since 1978.-Competition...
, making his debut on October 18, 2006 in a 2-0 win against Luxembourg
Luxembourg national under-21 football team
The Luxembourg national under-21 football team is the national representative under-21 football team of Luxembourg. Controlled by the Luxembourg Football Federation , the team feeds into Luxembourg's full national team....
. Then in February 2007 he was selected for the Republic U-21 squad to play in the Madeira Cup, subsequently playing in two of the three games - a 1-0 win against Slovakia
Slovakia national under-21 football team
The Slovakia national under-21 football team, controlled by the Slovak Football Association, is Slovakia's national under 21 football team and is considered to be a feeder team for the Slovakia national football team.-European Under-21 Championship record:...
, and a 2-2 draw with Madeira. On March 27 he played in a 1-0 defeat against the Netherlands
Netherlands national under-21 football team
The Netherlands national under-21 football team is the national under-21 team of the Netherlands and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association. The team competes in the European Under-21 Championship, held every two years....
before making his final appearance for the Republic U-21s on August 21, 2007 in 2-2 draw with Germany
Germany national under-21 football team
The Germany national under-21 football team represents the under-21s of Germany in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship and is controlled by the German Football Association , the governing body of football in Germany....
.