Tony Kane

(theGAWA)

Name: Anthony Michael Kane

Born: 29 August 1987, Belfast

Height: 6.00 ft

Weight: 12.00 st

Position: Left-Back

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: Under-21 Caps, Under-18, Under-19; Republic of Ireland: 5 Under-21 Caps (2006-2007).
Club Honours: (with Ballymena) Irish Cup Runner-Up 2013/14; NIFL Cup Winner 2016/17; Runner-Up 2014/15; Co. Antrim Shield Winner 2012/13, 2015/16.

Club Career:

Clubs........ --Seasons-- Signed -Fee- -League- FA Cup FL Cup Other

Blackburn R. .04/05-08/09 Nov-04 Youth .0(0)/ 0

Stockport Co. 06/07...... Nov-06 .Loan .4(0)/ 0

Cercle Brugge 06/07...... Jan-07 .Loan 11(0)/ 0 (Belgium)

Stockport Co. 08/09 ..... Oct-08 .Loan .3(0)/ 0

Carlisle Utd. 08/09 ..... Feb-08 .Loan .6(3)/ 0

Carlisle Utd. 09/10-10/11 Aug-09 .Free .1(4)/ 0 ............ 1(0)/0

Darlington... 09/10 ..... Sep-09 .Loan .4(0)/ 0

Cliftonville..10/11 ..... Feb-11 .Free .8(0)/ 1

Ballymena Utd 11/12- date Jul-11 .Free

..

Biography:

Tony Kane was involved in a tug-of-war between the IFA and FAI. After representing Northern Ireland as a Youth before gaining caps at Under-21 level for the Republic of Ireland. He was called into the Northern Ireland squad by Nigel Worthington for a match against Sweden in October 2007, and although he never claimed full international honours, he did earn five Northern Ireland Under-21 caps.

During five years on the books at Blackburn Rovers, Kane remained on the fringes of the first team without making an appearance. He did spend loan spells at a number of clubs, including Cercle Brugge in Belgium and at Carlisle United before being released in 2009. He then joined Carlisle on a permanent deal, but made only a handful of appearances for the Cumbrian club.

Kane was released by Carlisle United in January 2011. Cliftonville signed him the following month ahead of interest from Glentoran and Portadown. He marked his Reds debut with a goal in a 2-0 win over Newry City. He moved on to Ballymena the following season, and in November 2012 was part of their Co Antrim Shield winning side.

Sky Sports Bio

Northern Ireland Under-21 Cap Details:

17-10-2007 Israel.... H L 1-3 ECQ
16-11-2007 Luxembourg H W 5-0 ECQ
20-11-2007 Moldova... H W 3-0 ECQ
06-02-2008 Israel.... A L 1-2 ECQ
26-03-2008 Romania... H L 1-3 FR

Summary: 5/0. Won 2, Drew 0, Lost 3.

Hugh Kirkwood

Name: Hugh James Kirkwood
Born:
Died:
Height:
Weight:
Position: Inside-Left

Representative Honours: Ireland: 1 Full Cap (1904).
Club Honours: (with Cliftonville) Irish Cup Winner 1900/01.

Club Career:

Teams	Seasons	Signed	Fee	League	FA Cup	Other
Cliftonville	-	-	Amateur	-	-	-
TOTALS	-	£-		-	-	-

Biography:
A member of the forward-line that led Cliftonville to their 1901 Irish Cup success with a 1-0 Final win over Freebooters. Capped once by Ireland as a Bill McCracken penalty saw off Wales 1-0 in 1904.

If you can add to this article, or any others on NIFG, please get in touch.

Ireland Cap Details:
21-03-1904 Wales... A W 1-0 BC

Summary: 1/0. Won 1, Drew 0, Lost 0.

Andy Kennedy

Name: Andrew Lynd Kennedy
Born: 1 September 1895, Belfast
Died: 21 December 1963
Position: Left-Back

Representative Honours: Ireland: 2 Full Caps (1923-1924).
Club Honours: (with Glentoran) Gold Cup Runner-Up 1919/20; (with Arsenal) FA Cup Runner-Up 1926/27.

Club Career:

Teams	Seasons	Signed	Fee	League	FA.Cup	Other
Belfast Celtic	-	-	Youth	0/0	-	-
Glentoran	18/19-19/20	1915	-	*36/0	-	-
Crystal Palace	20/21-21/22	Sep-20	-	4/0	1/0	-
Arsenal	22/23-28/29	Aug-22	-	122/0	7/0	-
Everton	28/29-29/30	Jan-28	£2,000	1/0	-	-
Tranmere.Rovers	30/31	Jun-30	-	36/0	-	-
TOTALS	-	£-		199/0	-	-

* all games.

Biography:
After starting out with Belfast Celtic’s youth set-up, Andy Kennedy signed with Glentoran in 1915. He played two seasons in the Glens’ first eleven after making his debut during the 1918/19 campaign, before signing for Crystal Palace in September 1920. 1920/21 saw the Football League debuts of both Palace and Kennedy, Palace claiming the Division Three (South) title with Kennedy making just a single appearance. Three more games followed the following season, before he transferred to Arsenal in August 1922.

He was primarily viewed as a reserve player at Highbury, though after stepping into the first eleven for his debut against Birmingham City on 2nd December 1922 he stayed in the team for the all but one game through the remainder of the season. By the end of that campaign Kennedy had also been honoured by his country, standing in for Jack Curran at left-back, in a 3-0 win over Wales. The following season was fairly disastrous for Kennedy, he missed the start of the campaign through injury, and on his return he struggled with form and was dropped.

Kennedy was back in the Arsenal team for the 1924/25 season, also returning to the Irish side before falling behind Rangers’ Billy McCandless in the left-back reckoning. Although he missed just one League game all season, Arsenal finished just above the relegation places, and Herbert Chapman replaced Leslie Knighton as manager. The club were about to embark on their first great period, but Chapman didn't see Kennedy as playing a major part. It was only thanks to an injury to his replacement, Horace Cope, that Kennedy made the 1927 FA Cup Final team – famously the match ended in a 1-0 defeat to Cardiff City.

After two and a half years as a bit-part player at Highbury, Kennedy was transferred to Everton in January 1928. If he had hoped for regular matches at Goodison he was to be sadly disappointed. He had to wait until mid-way through the 1929/30 season to make his only first-team appearance as a Toffee, against Burnley. In June 1930 he dropped down to Division Three (North) with Tranmere Rovers. A regular in his first campaign at Prenton Park as the club finished just short of promotion, he dropped out of the first-team picture the following season, leaving the club in August 1932.

Kennedy remained in Merseyside after his playing days were over, working for South Liverpool Schools up to the Second World War. He also acted as Arsenal's scout in the north-west of England.

Palace Fans
Arsenal.com

Ireland Cap Details:
14-04-1923 Wales... A W 3-0 BC
22-10-1924 England. A L 1-3 BC

Summary: 2/0. Won 1, Drew 0, Lost 1.

Dick Keith

Name: Richard Matthewson Keith
Born: 15 May 1933, Belfast
Died: 28 February 1967, Bournemouth
Height: 6.00 ft
Weight: 11.09 st
Position: Right-Back

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 23 Full Caps (1957-1962), 1 ‘B’ Cap (1957), 1 Junior Cap (1950); Irish FA Representative; Irish league: 5 Caps (1955-1956); Co. Antrim FA Representative.
Club Honours: (with Linfield) Irish League Champion 1953/54, 1954/55, 1955/56; Irish Cup Winner 1952/53; Gold Cup Winner; Ulster Cup Winner; Co. Antrim Shield Winner.
Awards: Ulster Football of the Year 1956.

Club Career:

Teams	Seasons	Signed	Fee	League	FA Cup	FL Cup	Other
33rd Old Boys	-	-	Youth	-	-	-	-
Linfield	50/51-56/57	-	-	-	-	-	-
Newcastle United	56/57-63/64	Sep-56	£9,000	208/2	11/0	4/0	-
Bournemouth.&.Boscombe.Ath.	63/64-65/66	Feb-64	£3,300	47/0	3/0	2/0	-
Weymouth	66/67	-	-	(Southern League)
TOTALS	-	£12,300		255/2	14/0	6/0	-

Biography:
The individual to most ‘benefit’ from the injuries sustained by Jackie Blanchflower at Munich, Dick Keith cemented his place in the Irish World Cup defence after the Manchester United star’s career was prematurely ended.

Keith began his senior career with Linfield in 1950, signing professionally after just seventeen games for Linfield Swifts (reserves team). He stepped into the first eleven while still just seventeen, rising to become the club vice-captain and Ulster Footballer of the Year in 1956. He began to appear regularly in representative teams, most notably for the Irish FA in a 4-3 defeat by the British Army and for the Irish League in a famous 5-2 win over the Football League.

In September 1956, after months of speculation, Keith made the move to English football. Newcastle United were seeking a replacement for regular right-back Bobby Cowell, who had been injured in a pre-season European tour. Newcastle left-back Alf McMichael, who had played alongside Keith for the IFA, had no hesitation in recommending him to the club’s management. Keith left his Shankill Road home, his engineering job and Linfield behind in an £8,000 deal, plus a later £1,000 following a set number of games.

Dick Keith and Alf McMichael were to become inseparable, they were full-back partners on the field of play for both Northern Ireland and Newcastle, and they also roomed together on trips with both club and country. Immensely popular at St James’ Park, Keith made his debut in a 1-1 home draw against Manchester United. Newcastle however were a struggling team; they escaped relegation from the First Division on goal average in 1958 before finally dropping to the Second Division in 1961. Coolness personified, Keith was appointed club captain in 1962, but was unable to lead Newcastle back to the top-flight. In February 1964 he was a victim of a player clear-out at St James' Park. Signed by Bournemouth in a £3,300 deal, that season the Cherries just missed out on promotion from the Third Division.

Previously capped at Junior level, as well as representing the Irish FA and Irish League, Keith made his next step towards full international honours when he played in Northern Ireland’s first ever ‘B’ international. In October 1957 the ‘B’ team crushed Romania 6-0 at Windsor Park, and Keith, along with several of his colleagues in that team, planted his name firmly in Peter Doherty’s mind. He deputised at right-back for Willie Cunningham through late 1957 and in April 1958, the first match without Jackie Blanchflower, stood in at centre-half. Come the World Cup Finals in Sweden, Peter Doherty had decided that Keith was best used at right-back, with Cunningham in the centre of defence - and of course Alf McMichael was at left-back.

The Northern Ireland team of 1958 performed heroics to reach the World Cup quarter-finals, before losing 4-0 to France with an injury ravaged side. The highlights thereafter were few and far between, the only win in Keith’s final fifteen internationals came against Wales in April 1959, with a 3-3 draw against England and ‘plucky’ 4-3 and 3-2 defeats by West Germany and Italy respectively being the only other results of note. With Bertie Peacock replacing Doherty as Irish manager in 1962, Keith was one of several “old-guard” players to make way for younger talent.

By 1966/67 Keith had left League football behind, and was playing for Southern League Weymouth while working for a builders’ merchant. On a cold day in February 1967, whilst dismantling an automatic garage door, he was struck on the head by a spring loaded cantilever. The blow fractured his skull and claimed his life. He was just 33 years-old.

Northern Ireland Cap Details:

06-11-1957 England....... A W 3-2 BC

04-12-1957 Italy......... H D 2-2 FR
16-04-1958 Wales......... A D 1-1 BC
08-06-1958 Czechoslovakia N W 1-0 WCF
11-06-1958 Argentina..... N L 1-3 WCF
15-06-1958 West Germany.. N D 2-2 WCF
17-06-1958 Czechoslovakia N W 2-1 WCF
19-06-1958 France........ N L 0-4 WCF
04-10-1958 England....... H D 3-3 BC
15-10-1958 Spain......... A L 2-6 FR
05-11-1958 Scotland...... A D 2-2 BC
22-04-1959 Wales......... H W 4-1 BC
03-10-1959 Scotland...... H L 0-4 BC
18-11-1959 England....... A L 1-2 BC
08-10-1960 England....... H L 2-5 BC
26-10-1960 West Germany.. H L 3-4 WCQ
09-11-1960 Scotland...... A L 2-5 BC
12-04-1961 Wales......... H L 1-5 BC
25-04-1961 Italy......... A L 2-3 FR
03-05-1961 Greece........ A L 1-2 WCQ
10-05-1961 West Germany.. A L 1-2 WCQ
11-04-1962 Wales......... A L 0-4 BC
09-05-1962 Netherlands... A L 0-4 FR

Summary: 23/0. Won 4, Drew 5, Lost 14.

Northern Ireland B Cap Details:
23-10-1957 Romania....... H W 6-0 FR

Summary: 1/0. Won 1, Drew 0, Lost 0.

Other Representative Match Details:

14-10-1953 Co Antrim FA - South Africa H W 1-0 FR

21-03-1956 Ireland..... - British Army A L 3-4 FR

24-10-1956 Ireland..... - British Army H L 1-2 FR

Norman Kernaghan

Name: Norman Kernaghan (some sources mis-spell his name Kernoghan)

Born: 29 July 1917*, Belfast
Died: 7 September 1997, Belfast

Position: Outside-Right

Representative Honours: Ireland: 3 Full Caps / 2 Goals (1936-1937), 2 Amateur Caps / 1 Goal (1935), 3 Schoolboy Caps (1932-1933); Irish League: 10 Caps / 1 Goal (1935-1940); Northern Regional League: 2 Caps / 2 Goals (1942).
Club Honours: (with Belfast Celtic) Irish League Champion 1935/36, 1936/37, 1937/38, 1938/39, 1939/40; Northern Regional League Champion 1940/41, 1941/42, 1943/44, 1942/43, 1944/45; Irish Cup Winner 1936/37, 1937/38, 1940/41, 1942/43; Gold Cup Winner 1939/40, 1943/44, Runner-Up 1937/38, 1938/39; City Cup Winner 1939/40; Co. Antrim Shield Winner 1935/36, 1936/37, 1938/39; Charity Cup Winner 1938/39, Runner-Up 1935/36, 1940/41; (with Distillery) Irish Cup Runner-Up 1945/46; Co. Antrim Shield Winner 1945/46; (with Ballymena United) Co. Antrim Shield Winner 1947/48.

Club Career:

Clubs	Seasons	Signed	Fee	League	FA Cup	Other
Cliftonville	33/34-34/35	Jun-33	Amateur	-	-	-
Belfast Celtic	35/36-44/45	May-35	-	-	-	-
Distillery	45/46	-	-	*/12	-	-
Ballymena United	46/47-48/49	-	-	*96/50	-	-
TOTALS		£-		-	-	-

* all games.

..

Managerial Career:

Hazeldene 52/53

Glenavon. 53/54

Northern Ireland Youth

Biography:

Norman Kernaghan was born to John and Elizabeth (nee Cinnamon) at 32 Daisyfield Street, off the Crumlin Road. As a youngster he was a centre-half, and it was in that role that he played as a schoolboy, but it was as an outside-right that he starred in the Irish League and at international level.

..

Initially an amateur with Cliftonville, he played twice in Amateur internationals, scoring in a 2-4 defeat by England on his debut. He jumped at the chance to turn professional with Belfast Celtic at the behest of Austin Donnelly, though he continued to combine his football with his day-job as a compositor at the Newsletter. He quickly became a fans' favourite at Celtic Park, scoring his first goal in a 4-0 win over ex-club Cliftonville and earning the nickname "Twinkle Toes". Another moniker attributed to him was Shirley Temple due to his curly red hair.

..

Possessor of "blinding speed, perfect ball control and a powerful shot" he had all the attributes for the complete forward. At seventeen he was selected for the Irish League for an inter-league clash with the Football League, facing the likes of Raich Carter and Frank Swift in an historic 2-1 win. A year later he collected his first full cap, again marking the occasion with a goal in a 3-2 win over Wales.

..

Although often linked with moves to English football, Kernaghan had no desire to leave his native Belfast: "I didn't want to go away. I wanted to be here with my family and friends. I did a bit of swimming and diving. I played cricket and tennis in the summer and I was happy."

..

Although a noted goalscorer from the wing, it took Kernaghan to his eighth appearance in a major final to score a goal. He broke his duck with the only goal against Linfield in the 1939 Charity Cup decider. A year later he again scored the only goal as Linfield were seen off in the Gold Cup Final and he also scored in that season's Charity Cup Final, a 3-0 win over Glentoran. That was three finals in a row!

..

An integral part of the Celtic seven-in-a-row title winning team and a winner of four Irish Cups, Kernaghan left Celtic Park behind in 1945. He went on to Co. Antrim Shield successes with both Distillery and Ballymena United before retiring from playing in 1949. In the 1960s he was manager of the Northern Ireland Youth team that produced George Best.

From "Paradise Lost & Found" by Padraig Coyle (1999). Note inconsistencies regarding age*. (click to enlarge)

From "Belfast Celtic" by John Kennedy (1989).

Ireland Cap Details:

11-03-1936 Wales... H W 3-2 BC 1 Goal (age 18 years, 238 days)
31-10-1936 Scotland H L 1-3 BC 1 Goal
23-10-1937 England. H L 1-5 BC

Summary: 3/2. Won 1, Drew 0, Lost 2.

Ireland Amateur Cap Details:
16-02-1935 England. H L 2-4 1 Goal (age 17 years, 214 days)
17-04-1935 Scotland A W 3-2

Summary: 2/1. Won 1, Drew 0, Lost 1.

Irish League/Regional League Representative Appearance Details:
25-09-1935 A Football League.. W 2-1 (age 18 years, 20 days)
23-10-1935 H Scottish League.. L 2-3
02-09-1936 A Scottish League.. L 2-5
23-09-1936 H Football League.. W 3-2
01-09-1937 H Scottish League.. L 2-3 1 Goal
06-10-1937 A Football League.. L 0-3
17-03-1938 A League of Ireland W 3-1
11-03-1939 H League of Ireland D 2-2
30-08-1939 H Scottish League.. L 2-3
18-03-1940 A League of Ireland L 0-2
17-03-1942 A League of Ireland D 2-2 1 Goal
06-04-1942 H League of Ireland W 5-2 1 Goal

Summary: 12/3. Won 4, Drew 2, Lost 6.

Additional details by George Glass.

* Kernaghan's date of birth is noted in the Belfast Celtic players' register as 22 December 1918. This is at odds with other sources.

Jack Kirwan

Name: John Henry Kirwan
Born: 9 February 1878, Co. Wicklow
Died: 7 January 1959, Hendon, London
Position: Outside-Left

Representative Honours: Ireland: 17 Full Caps/2 Goals (1900-1909).
Club Honours: (with Spurs) FA Cup Winner 1900/01; Southern League Champion 1899/1900; (with Chelsea) Football League Division Two Runner-Up 1906/07 (promoted).

Club Career:

Teams	Seasons	Signed	Fee	League	FA Cup	Other
Kirkdale	-	-	-	-	-	-
Southport Central	-	-	-	-	(Lancashire League)
Everton	98/99	July-1898	-	24/ 5	2/0	-
Tottenham Hotspur	99/00-04/05	c/s-1899	-	154/37	(Southern League)
Chelsea	05/06-07/08	May-1905	-	73/17	3/1	-
Clyde	08/09	-	-	31/ 8	-	-
Leyton	09/10	-	-	37/ 6	(Southern League)
TOTALS	-	£-		319/73	5/1	-

Biography:
Full bio to follow.

With his playing days over, Kirwan moved to the Netherlands where he became Ajax’s first ever “manager” in September 1910. He led them to the Dutch top-flight for the first time in 1911, returning to the UK in 1915 after the outbreak of the First World War. Kirwan later had a spell as coach of Livorno in Italy (1923-1924), before settling in the London area. Amongst his many caps and medals, one of Kirwan’s most prized possessions was the ball used in the 1901 FA Cup Final, and he kept it until he died in 1959.

Ireland Cap Details: 
24-02-1900 Wales... A L 0-2 BC
22-02-1902 Wales... A W 3-0 BC
22-03-1902 England. H L 0-1 BC
14-02-1903 England. A L 0-4 BC
21-03-1903 Scotland A W 2-0 BC 1 Goal
28-03-1903 Wales... H W 2-0 BC
12-03-1904 England. H L 1-3 BC 1 Goal
21-03-1904 Wales... A W 1-0 BC
26-03-1904 Scotland H D 1-1 BC
25-02-1905 England. A D 1-1 BC
18-03-1905 Scotland A L 0-4 BC
08-04-1905 Wales... H D 2-2 BC
17-02-1906 England. H L 0-5 BC
17-03-1906 Scotland H L 0-1 BC
02-04-1906 Wales... A D 4-4 BC
23-02-1907 Wales... H L 2-3 BC
15-03-1909 Scotland A L 0-5 BC

Summary: 17/2. Won 4, Drew 4, Lost 9.