Kevin Donovan

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Kevin Donovan
Personal information
Full name Kevin Donovan
Date of birth (1971-12-17) 17 December 1971 (age 52)
Place of birth Halifax, England
Position(s) Right Winger
Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Brighouse Town
(Youth team coach)
Youth career
1980–1988 Elland Athletic
1987–1988 Huddersfield Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1988–1992 Huddersfield Town 20 (1)
1992 → Halifax Town (loan) 6 (0)
1992–1997 West Bromwich Albion 168 (19)
1997–2001 Grimsby Town 154 (23)
2001–2003 Barnsley 54 (1)
2003–2004 Rochdale 7 (0)
2004–2006 York City 31 (2)
2006–2007 Alfreton Town ?
Total 440 (46 )
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Kevin Donovan (born 17 December 1971) is an English former professional footballer and youth team coach of Brighouse Town.

As a player he was a midfielder from 1988 to 2007, starting his career with Huddersfield Town who had plucked him from junior side Elland Athletic. Donovan struggled to make an impact at Town and as well as a loan with Halifax Town he would only play a cameo role in the first team until the time of his departure in 1992 to West Bromwich Albion. During a five-year stay with Albion he helped the club to promotion via the Football League Division Two play-offs, something he would repeat with Grimsby Town during the 1997–98 season. In that same season the club also triumphed in the Football League Trophy with Donovan finishing club top scorer and thus collecting the "Player of the Season" award. He remained with Grimsby until the end of the 2001–02 season where he joined rivals Barnsley once his contract had expired. After two years with The Tykes he moved on to Rochdale and then York City in 2004. He finished his career with Conference North side Alfreton Town in 2006–07 season.

Since retiring Donovan has coached youngsters holding soccer classes at Brighouse Town, where he also coaches the youth side. He has also appeared as a guest pundit for BBC Radio Humberside whilst commentating on Grimsby Town games, a club who he is still closeley affiliated.

Playing career

Donovan started playing for Elland Athletic in the Halifax league as an 8-year old[1] before he joined Huddersfield Town, training at the centre of excellence, at 16 he became an apprentice and turned professional in October 1989.[1][2] He joined Halifax Town on loan during February and March 1992, before moving to West Bromwich Albion[1] for £70,000 in October of that year.[2] He made his Albion debut against Port Vale in the same month.[2] Donovan scored in Albion's 3–0 win over Vale in the Division Two play-off final the following May at Wembley as the club clinched promotion.

In July 1997 he signed for Grimsby Town[1] for a £300,000 fee, joining up with his former manager at Albion, Alan Buckley. His time at Grimsby was arguably the best of his career. In his first season he scored 21 goals to help the club win twice at Wembley Stadium[1] in the Associate Members Cup,[3] and in the play-off final, in which Donovan netted the only goal of the game.[4] However, Donovan failed to score a single goal in the following season for the club.

Two more rather impressive seasons were spent at Blundell Park before Donovan confirmed the Grimsby supporters' worst fears and left to join rivals Barnsley.[1] His time at Oakwell was mainly blighted by injury problems,and he experienced relegation with the club,[2] and at the end of the 2002/2003 season he was released by The Tykes. During his spell at Barnsley he scored once against Walsall in December 2001.[5]

Donovan was snapped up by Alan Buckley,[6] who had managed him at West Brom and Grimsby, and gave him a one-year deal for Rochdale[1][2] However, after another fruitless campaign, playing only seven times for 'Dale, Donovan was released by the club.[7]

His next port of call was at Conference club York City[1] on a one-year contract, following a loan spell.[8] At York he linked up with former Grimsby team mate Paul Groves, but neither really flourished. At the end of the season Donovan moved into the Conference North, joining Alfreton Town for a season before retiring from the game.

Personal life

Kevin now coaches youngsters in his native Yorkshire.[9] He runs a soccer school and coaches the junior side at Brighouse Town.[1]

Honours

Grimsby Town

West Bromwich Albion

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ http://www.where-are-they-now.co.uk/footballer/DONOVAN+Kevin/3878

External links

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