Kirk Hudson

A right winger, Hudson began his career as a schoolboy with Ipswich Town.[2] He entered the academy at Celtic in 2004 and was a part of the team which finished as runners-up in the 2004 Jersey International Tournament.[3][4] Hudson won the 2004–05 SPL U19 League and Scottish Youth Cup double with the U19 team,[5] but was released in May 2005.[6]

During the 2005–06 pre-season, Hudson joined League One club Bournemouth on trial and impressed enough to sign a three-month contract on 5 August 2005.[7][8] He was a regular inclusion on the substitutes' bench early in the regular season and made his professional debut as a late substitute for James Keene in a 2–1 win over Swindon Town on 17 September.[9] Hudson again appeared as a late substitute in the following League Cup match,[9] but was not called into the squad again and was released at the end of his contract.[10]

After a non-playing spell with Conference South club Thurrock and failing a trial with League One high-flyers Southend United,[6][11] Hudson joined Conference Premier club Aldershot Town on trial in January 2006.[12] He made his debut with a start in a Hampshire Senior Cup quarter-final match versus Basingstoke Town on 14 January and scored both the Shots' goals in the 3–2 defeat.[13] After the match, he joined the club on non-contract terms and made his league debut with a late substitute cameo in a 3–1 victory over Halifax Town on 21 January.[14][15] After recovering from a bout of mumps,[16] Hudson was a regular in the team through to the end of the season and finished 2005–06 with 13 appearances and four goals.[9] He signed a permanent contract in July 2006.[17]

After three substitute appearances early in the 2006–07 season, Hudson was sent out on loan to get regular game time.[18][19] Upon his return to the team in November 2006, he was utilised as an impact substitute and scored four goals in six appearances during Aldershot's Hampshire Senior Cup-winning campaign.[20][21] Hudson signed a new one-year contract in April 2007 and had an excellent 2007–08 season,[22] making 48 appearances and scoring 12 goals to help the Shots to the Conference Premier title and promotion to the Football League.[23][24] He also contributed to Aldershot's Conference League Cup Final victory over Rushden & Diamonds (scoring a goal in the 3–3 draw and then converting a penalty in the deciding shootout),[25] in addition to winning the February 2008 Conference Premier Player of the Month award and being voted the Conference Young Player of the Year.[26][27] Hudson signed a new two-year contract in March 2008.[28]

Now playing League Two football, Hudson began the 2008–09 season as a regular starter, but despite scoring five goals by mid-November 2008,[29] manager Garry Waddock felt the need to challenge him to play with more consistency.[30] Hudson responded by scoring three goals in four matches in December,[31] which earned him a nomination for the League Two Player of the Month award.[32] A season of consolidation in the Football League ended with Hudson having made 48 appearances and scored 13 goals,[31] an improvement on his figures of the previous season in the Conference Premier.[23]

Despite again beginning the season as a starter, Hudson found the going harder in 2009–10, in an Shots team pushing for a playoff place.[33] He lost his starting place in January 2010 and only regained it for four matches in March.[34] Just two defeats from the final 11 matches of the season saw Aldershot finish sixth, which qualified the club for a playoff place.[33] The Shots were defeated 3–0 on aggregate to Rotherham United in the semi-finals and Hudson made what would be his final appearance for the club as a second-half substitute in the second leg on 19 May.[33][35] Hudson was released by manager Kevin Dillon after the defeat and he finished his career at the Recreation Ground with 172 appearances and 42 goals.[36][37]

On 9 August 2006, Hudson joined Southern League Western Division club Ashford Town (Middlesex) on a one-month loan,[18] which was later extended for a second month.[38] He made four league appearances.[39]

On 28 June 2010, Hudson joined League One club Brentford on a two-year contract for a fee that was later decided by an "amicable agreement".[40][41] Manager Andy Scott stated in early July that he hoped to convert Hudson into a centre forward.[2] Hudson picked up a groin injury a week before the beginning of the 2010–11 season,[42] but returned to fitness in September and made his debut as a substitute for Nicky Adams after 66 minutes of a 1–0 defeat to Leyton Orient late in the month.[43] Hudson made just three further substitute appearances over the following six weeks and requested a loan move in November 2010.[43][44] On 31 December, he departed on loan until the end of the 2010–11 season.[45]

Hudson was ruled out of the early months of the 2011–12 season with a hip injury suffered in July 2011.[46] After returning to fitness in October, potential loan moves to Southend United and Hayes & Yeading United fell through and he departed Griffin Park by mutual consent on 12 March 2012,[47][48][49] having failed to win a call into the first team squad since November 2010.[50]

On 31 December 2010, Hudson reunited with his former Aldershot Town manager Terry Brown on loan at Conference Premier club AFC Wimbledon.[45] Despite missing three weeks with a recurrence of the groin injury suffered in July 2010,[51] Hudson made 14 appearances and scored one goal during the second half of the 2010–11 season.[43]

On 21 August 2012, Hudson joined Isthmian League Premier Division club Canvey Island.[5] He made just three substitute appearances before departing the club on 20 September.[52] Hudson later played for Essex Olympian League clubs White Ensign and Shoebury Town.[53]