Bobby Kennedy (footballer)

Robert Kennedy (born 23 June 1937) is a Scottish former footballer, who played as a wing half or full back.

Bobby Kennedy
Personal information
Full name Robert Kennedy[1]
Date of birth (1937-06-23) 23 June 1937
Place of birth Motherwell, Scotland
Position(s) Wing half/Full back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Coltness United ? (?)
1957–1961 Kilmarnock 85 (1)
1961–1969 Manchester City 219 (9)
1969 Grimsby Town 84 (1)
1972–1973 Drogheda 3 (0)
National team
1969 Scotland U-23 1 (0)
Teams managed
1969–1971 Grimsby Town
1975–1978 Bradford City
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Bobby Kennedy started his career at Coltness United and after trials with Queen of the South and Clyde he joined Kilmarnock in 1957. While at Kilmarnock he overcame serious illness to continue his career, which included one cap for Scotland Under 23s.[2] He returned to the Kilmarnock team which were Scottish League Division One and Scottish Cup runners-up in 1959–60 and Division One and Scottish League Cup runners-up in 1960–61.

In July 1961 Manchester City F.C. paid £45,000 for Kennedy after 85 games with Kilmarnock.[2] He played for Manchester City for eight seasons, including the Division One championship-winning side in 1967–68 although he had not played enough games to qualify for a medal.[2] He played 254 league and cup games, including European competitions, before he moved to Grimsby Town as player-manager for £9,000,[2] where he played 88 first-team games.

Kennedy signed for Drogheda United in January 1973 and made his League of Ireland debut on 4 February at Lourdes Stadium .

Managerial career

Kennedy became player-manager at Grimsby Town in 1969. Grimsby had to apply for re-election in Kennedy's first season as they came 23rd in Division Four. In the following two seasons, Grimsby came 16th and 19th, before Kennedy resigned in May 1971.

He became Bradford City's coach and youth team manager, before he had a brief spell with Dundalk. He returned to Bradford, first at City then as honorary manager at Bradford Park Avenue. He returned to Bradford City for a third time in January 1975 when he succeeded Bryan Edwards as manager. He led City to 10th in Division Four in his first season before becoming the club's first manager of the month in January 1976.[2] The club also reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup in the same year. Further awards followed as he helped the club to promotion to Division Three in 1976–77. He was sacked in January 1978 in the middle of a seven-game losing streak.

He became coach at Blackburn Rovers before leaving football altogether.

Managerial statistics
Team Nat Year Record
GWDLWin %
Grimsby Town England 1969–1971 110 34 28 48 030.91
Bradford City England 1975–1978 157 54 49 54 034.39
Career total 267 88 77 102 032.96

After football

Kennedy and his family remained in Bradford while owning a clothing shop in Manchester. His daughter Lorraine also played international football for Scotland, while playing for and managing Bradford City Women's FC.[3][4]

References
  1. "Bobby Kennedy". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  2. Frost, Terry (1988). Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988. Breedon Books Sport. p. 78. ISBN 0-907969-38-0.
  3. "Introduction". Bradford City Women's FC. Archived from the original on 12 July 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2011.
  4. Former Bradford City boss Bobby Kennedy admits his true love will always lie in Manchester, Telegraph & Argus, 11 May 2012
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