Ben Kennedy (footballer, born 1997)

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Ben Kennedy
Personal information
Full name Ben James Kennedy[1]
Date of birth (1997-01-12) 12 January 1997 (age 25)[2]
Place of birth Lisburn, Northern Ireland
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[3]
Position(s) Midfielder / Forward[4]
Club information
Current team
 Crusaders
Number 8
Youth career
2013–2015 Stevenage
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2020 Stevenage 151 (27)
2019 → Newport County (loan) 10 (1)
2020– Crusaders 23 (5)
National team
2013 Northern Ireland U17 2 (0)
2015–2016 Northern Ireland U19 5 (2)
2016–2018 Northern Ireland U21 7 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 12:41, 31 May 2021 (UTC)

Ben James Kennedy (born 12 January 1997) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder or forward for NIFL Premiership club Crusaders.

Kennedy joined Stevenage on a two-year youth scholarship in the summer of 2013 and broke into the first team during the 2014–15 season. He signed for Newport County on loan in January 2019 before returning to Stevenage at the end of the 2018–19 season. He was released by Stevenage in June 2020 and joined Crusaders of the NIFL Premiership two months later. He has also represented Northern Ireland at under-17, under-19 and under-21 level.

Early life[]

Kennedy was born in Lisburn, Northern Ireland.[5] He is the nephew of former Northern Ireland international Peter Kennedy.[6]

Club career[]

Stevenage[]

Kennedy attracted the attention of Stevenage in the summer of 2013, having been scouted by Stevenage academy manager Darren Sarll whilst playing for Northern Ireland at youth level.[7] Sarll spoke to Kennedy's parents and offered Kennedy the opportunity to train with the club's youth academy.[7] He accepted the offer, played one match for the Stevenage under-18 team and subsequently signed a two-year scholarship with the club ahead of the 2013–14 season.[7][8]

The following season, Kennedy impressed Stevenage manager Graham Westley whilst competing in the 2014–15 FA Youth Cup, particularly in the club's 2–1 extra-time defeat to Everton in the Third Round of the competition in December 2014.[7][9] Two days after the match against Everton, he was offered the chance to train with the first team,[7] and he made his first-team debut a month later, on 31 January 2015, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 2–0 League Two defeat against Oxford United at Broadhall Way.[10] A week later, he made his first starting appearance, playing the whole game in a 1–0 defeat away to Mansfield Town.[11] Kennedy scored his first professional goals the following week, on 14 February 2015, scoring twice in a 3–1 victory away at Hartlepool United.[12] Four days after scoring his first two goals for the club, he signed his first professional contract.[13] Kennedy scored four goals in 17 games during his first season in professional football,[14] helping Stevenage reach the League Two play-offs, where they lost at the semi-final stage to Southend United.[15][16]

Kennedy had to wait until late September to make his first appearance of the 2015–16 season as a result of undergoing hip surgery in the summer of 2015.[17] He was a regular feature under new Stevenage manager Teddy Sheringham upon his return from injury, helped by scoring two goals within the space of four days shortly after his return.[18][19][20] Four days after his goal against Exeter, on 15 October 2015, he signed an improved three-year contract with the club.[17] Kennedy was given personal leave "for a few weeks" in December 2015,[21] before sustaining a knee injury in training a month later that was reported to keep him out of action for the remainder of the season.[22] However, six weeks after knee surgery, Kennedy came on as a 71st-minute substitute in a 2–0 home loss to Exeter City.[23] Sheringham was replaced as manager by Darren Sarll, who bought Kennedy to the club three years earlier.[7] He made 25 appearances in a season that marked Kennedy's first full season as a professional; scoring three goals, as Stevenage lost just once in their remaining nine league fixtures to secure their League Two status for a further season.[24]

Following an injury-free pre-season, Kennedy began the 2016–17 season as a regular starter.[25] He scored his first goal of the season in Stevenage's 1–0 victory over Ipswich Town at Portman Road in the EFL Cup.[26] Kennedy scored from 30-yards in the club's first away win of the season in October 2016, with his left-footed curling effort dipping under the crossbar and into the back of the net, as Stevenage secured a 2–0 win at Morecambe.[27] He scored his final goal of the campaign in a 2–0 away win over rivals Luton Town.[28] The goal was voted as Stevenage's goal of the season as Kennedy chested the ball down just inside Luton's half, dribbled to the edge of the area and unleashed a right-footed shot into the top corner of the net.[28] In April 2017, Kennedy signed a new two-year contract with Stevenage, running until the summer of 2019.[29] Kennedy scored nine times in 39 appearances during the season as the club finished in tenth place in League Two.[25]

Newport County loan[]

Kennedy joined fellow League Two club Newport County on loan on 31 January 2019, for the remainder of the 2018–19 season.[30] Stevenage chairman Phil Wallace stated the club had "little choice" in the loan move with Kennedy having "made it clear" that he did not want to remain at the club, feeling that "a different environment would allow him to play his best football".[31] Kennedy made his Newport debut in the club's 3–0 away defeat at Grimsby Town on 2 February 2019.[32] He made 10 appearances during the loan spell, scoring once; his goal for the club came in a 3–1 victory at Yeovil Town on 30 March 2019.[33][34]

Return to Stevenage[]

Kennedy was released by Stevenage at the end of the 2019/2020 season.[35]

Crusaders[]

Kennedy signed for NIFL Premiership club Crusaders in August 2020 with a 3-year contract and will wear the No. 8 Shirt.

International career[]

Having earned two caps for Northern Ireland's under-17 team in 2013,[36] Kennedy made the step up to under-19 level following his breakthrough into the Stevenage first team in 2015.[8] He captained the under-19 team and scored two goals in five appearances.[36][37] Kennedy was called up to the under-21 team in October 2016,[38] and played seven times at that level.[37]

Personal life[]

Kennedy was given a five-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and was fined £100 after a hearing at Lisburn Magistrates Court was told he was going through a mental health crisis at the time of spitting in a Police officer’s face.

Career statistics[]

As of match played 25 May 2021
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup EFL Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Stevenage 2014–15[14] League Two 15 4 0 0 0 0 2[a] 0 17 4
2015–16[24] League Two 22 2 2 0 0 0 1[b] 1 25 3
2016–17[25] League Two 36 8 1 0 1 1 1[b] 0 39 9
2017–18[39] League Two 35 7 2 0 0 0 0 0 37 7
2018–19[33] League Two 25 6 1 0 0 0 2[b] 2 28 8
2019–20[40] League Two 18 0 0 0 0 0 3[b] 0 21 0
Total 151 27 6 0 1 1 9 3 167 31
Newport County (loan) 2018–19[33] League Two 10 1 — — — 10 1
Crusaders 2020–21[37] NIFL Premiership 23 5 4 1 — — 27 6
Career total 184 33 10 1 1 1 9 3 204 38
  1. ^ Appearances in League Two play-offs
  2. ^ a b c d Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

References[]

  1. ^ "Notification of shirt numbers: Stevenage" (PDF). English Football League. p. 81. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  2. ^ "Ben Kennedy". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  3. ^ "Ben Kennedy". Stevenage F.C. Archived from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  4. ^ "Ben Kennedy". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  5. ^ "Ben Kennedy: Profile". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  6. ^ Scott, Alan (9 October 2015). "Can Stevenage's Northern Ireland prodigy 'do a Theo Walcott' and gatecrash European Champs?". Hertfordshire Mercury. Hertford. Archived from the original on 12 October 2015.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Branowsky, Dan (18 February 2015). "Ben Kennedy says pro deal is "a dream come true"". Stevenage F.C. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  8. ^ a b Scott, Alan (11 February 2015). "Stevenage's Northern Ireland youth international targets senior breakthrough". Hertfordshire Mercury. Hertford. Archived from the original on 8 August 2015.
  9. ^ "Everton knock Stevenage out of FA Youth Cup". The Comet. Stevenage. 10 December 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  10. ^ "Stevenage 0–2 Oxford United". BBC Sport. 31 January 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  11. ^ "Mansfield Town 1–0 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 7 February 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  12. ^ "Hartlepool United 1–3 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 14 February 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  13. ^ Toyn, Dave (18 February 2015). "Ben Kennedy signs professional contract with Stevenage FC". Stevenage F.C. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  14. ^ a b "Games played by Ben Kennedy in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  15. ^ Garry, Tom (10 May 2015). "Stevenage 1–1 Southend United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  16. ^ Garry, Tom (14 May 2015). "Southend United 3–1 Stevenage". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  17. ^ a b "Ben Kennedy: Stevenage striker signs improved deal". BBC Sport. 15 October 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  18. ^ "Stevenage 1–2 Dagenham & Redbridge". BBC Sport. 7 October 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  19. ^ "Exeter City 3–3 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 11 October 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  20. ^ "Exeter 3–3 Stevenage: Visitors hit back in six-goal thriller". Sky Sports. 11 October 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  21. ^ Roberts, Damion (12 December 2015). "Stevenage's teenage star Ben Kennedy given 'a few weeks' off". The Comet. Stevenage. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  22. ^ "Knee surgery to rule out Ben Kennedy for rest of the season". Sky Sports. 12 January 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  23. ^ "Stevenage 0–2 Exeter City". BBC Sport. 27 February 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  24. ^ a b "Games played by Ben Kennedy in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  25. ^ a b c "Games played by Ben Kennedy in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  26. ^ "Ipswich Town 0–1 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 9 August 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  27. ^ "Morecambe 0–2 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 15 October 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  28. ^ a b "Luton Town 0–2 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 11 March 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  29. ^ "Ben Kennedy: Stevenage midfielder signs new contract". BBC Sport. 7 April 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  30. ^ "Newport County sign Adebayo Azeez and Ben Kennedy on deadline day". BBC Sport. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  31. ^ "Phil Wallace on Deadline Day business". Stevenage F.C. 1 February 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  32. ^ "Grimsby Town 3–0 Newport County". BBC Sport. 2 February 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  33. ^ a b c "Games played by Ben Kennedy in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  34. ^ "Yeovil Town 1–3 Newport County". BBC Sport. 30 March 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  35. ^ "Stevenage 2020/21 Retained & Released List".
  36. ^ a b "Ben Kennedy: Profile". UEFA. Archived from the original on 23 October 2017.
  37. ^ a b c "B. Kennedy: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  38. ^ Toyn, Dave (4 October 2016). "Ben Kennedy called up by Northern Ireland under-21s". Stevenage F.C. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  39. ^ "Games played by Ben Kennedy in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  40. ^ "Games played by Ben Kennedy in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 April 2020.

External links[]

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