Ben Kennedy (footballer, born 1997)
{{Short description|Northern Irish footballer}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Ben Kennedy
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| fullname = Ben James Kennedy{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/efl-documents/201920/squad-numbering-report-season-2019-20-07.02.20.pdf |title=Notification of shirt numbers: Stevenage |publisher=English Football League |page=81 |accessdate=10 April 2020}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|1|12|df=y}}{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/players/ben-kennedy-248842/ |title=Ben Kennedy |website=11v11.com |publisher=AFS Enterprises |accessdate=2 October 2018}}
| birth_place = Lisburn, Northern Ireland
| height = {{convert|1.78|m|order=flip}}{{cite web |url=https://www.stevenagefc.com/news/first-team/forward/ben-kennedy/ |title=Ben Kennedy |publisher=Stevenage F.C. |accessdate=2 October 2018 |archive-date=3 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003013831/https://www.stevenagefc.com/news/first-team/forward/ben-kennedy/ |url-status=dead }}
| position = Midfielder, forward{{Hugman|26708|accessdate=2 October 2018}}
| currentclub = Ballymena United
| clubnumber = 9
| youthyears1 = 2013–2015
| youthclubs1 = Stevenage
| years1 = 2015–2020
| clubs1 = Stevenage
| caps1 = 151
| goals1 = 27
| years2 = 2019
| clubs2 = → Newport County (loan)
| caps2 = 10
| goals2 = 1
| years3 = 2020–2024
| clubs3 = Crusaders
| caps3 = 85
| goals3 = 32
| years4 = 2024–
| clubs4 = Ballymena United
| caps4 = 12
| goals4 = 11
| nationalyears1 = 2013
| nationalteam1 = Northern Ireland U17
| nationalcaps1 = 2
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2015–2016
| nationalteam2 = Northern Ireland U19
| nationalcaps2 = 5
| nationalgoals2 = 2
| nationalyears3 = 2016–2018
| nationalteam3 = Northern Ireland U21
| nationalcaps3 = 7
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| club-update =11:59, 14 October 2024 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update =
}}
Ben James Kennedy (born 12 January 1997) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder or forward for NIFL Premiership club Ballymena United.
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 won two Irish Cups with Crusaders before moving to Ballymena United in 2024.
He has also represented Northern Ireland at under-17, under-19 and under-21 level.
Early life
Kennedy was born in Lisburn, Northern Ireland.{{cite web |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/ben-kennedy_2/ |title=Ben Kennedy: Profile |website=worldfootball.net |publisher=HEIM:SPIEL |accessdate=10 April 2020}} He is the nephew of former Northern Ireland international Peter Kennedy.{{cite news |url=http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/stevenage-s-northern-ireland-prodigy-theo-walcott/story-27952840-detail/story.html |title=Can Stevenage's Northern Ireland prodigy 'do a Theo Walcott' and gatecrash European Champs? |first=Alan |last=Scott |newspaper=Hertfordshire Mercury |location=Hertford |date=9 October 2015 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151012042632/http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/stevenage-s-northern-ireland-prodigy-theo-walcott/story-27952840-detail/story.html |archivedate=12 October 2015}}
Club career
=Stevenage=
Kennedy was scouted by Stevenage academy manager Darren Sarll whilst playing for Northern Ireland at youth level in the summer of 2013.{{cite news |url=https://www.stevenagefc.com/news/2015/february/ben-kennedy-says-pro-deal-is-a-dream-come-true/ |title=Ben Kennedy says pro deal is "a dream come true" |first=Dan |last=Branowsky |publisher=Stevenage F.C. |date=18 February 2015 |accessdate=2 October 2018}} Sarll spoke to Kennedy's parents and offered Kennedy the opportunity to train with the club's youth academy. 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.{{cite news |url=http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/stevenage-s-northern-ireland-youth-international/story-26002318-detail/story.html |title=Stevenage's Northern Ireland youth international targets senior breakthrough |first=Alan |last=Scott |newspaper=Hertfordshire Mercury |location=Hertford |date=11 February 2015 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150808022500/http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/stevenage-s-northern-ireland-youth-international/story-26002318-detail/story.html |archivedate=8 August 2015}} 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 under-18s in the third round of the competition in December 2014.{{cite news |url=http://www.thecomet.net/stevenage-fc/everton-knock-stevenage-out-of-fa-youth-cup-1-3881426 |title=Everton knock Stevenage out of FA Youth Cup |newspaper=The Comet |location=Stevenage |date=10 December 2014 |accessdate=4 September 2017}} Two days after the match against Everton, he trained with the first team, 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.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/30963275 |title=Stevenage 0–2 Oxford United |website=BBC Sport |date=31 January 2015 |accessdate=4 September 2017}} Kennedy scored his first professional goals on 14 February 2015, scoring twice in a 3–1 victory away at Hartlepool United.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/31423604 |title=Hartlepool United 1–3 Stevenage |website=BBC Sport |date=14 February 2015 |accessdate=2 October 2018}} Four days after scoring his first two goals for the club, he signed his first professional contract.{{cite web |url=https://www.stevenagefc.com/news/2015/february/ben-kennedy-signs-professional-contract-with-stevenage-fc/ |title=Ben Kennedy signs professional contract with Stevenage FC |first=Dave |last=Toyn |publisher=Stevenage F.C. |date=18 February 2015 |accessdate=2 October 2018}} Kennedy scored four goals in 17 games during his first season in professional football, helping Stevenage reach the League Two play-offs, where they lost at the semi-final stage to Southend United.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32571629 |title=Stevenage 1–1 Southend United |first=Tom |last=Garry |website=BBC Sport |date=10 May 2015 |accessdate=2 October 2018}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32620041 |title=Southend United 3–1 Stevenage |first=Tom |last=Garry |website=BBC Sport |date=14 May 2015 |accessdate=2 October 2018}}
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.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34543829 |title=Ben Kennedy: Stevenage striker signs improved deal |website=BBC Sport |date=15 October 2015 |accessdate=4 September 2017}} He was a regular in the first team under new Stevenage manager Teddy Sheringham upon his return from injury.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34398209 |title=Stevenage 1–2 Dagenham & Redbridge |website=BBC Sport |date=7 October 2015 |accessdate=2 October 2018}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34436902 |title=Exeter City 3–3 Stevenage |website=BBC Sport |date=11 October 2015 |accessdate=2 October 2018}}{{cite news |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/exeter-vs-stevenage/340772 |title=Exeter 3–3 Stevenage: Visitors hit back in six-goal thriller |website=Sky Sports |date=11 October 2015 |accessdate=2 October 2018}} He signed an improved three-year contract with the club on 15 October 2015. Kennedy was given personal leave "for a few weeks" in December 2015,{{cite news |url=http://www.thecomet.net/stevenage-fc/stevenage-s-teenage-star-ben-kennedy-given-a-few-weeks-off-1-4346541 |title=Stevenage's teenage star Ben Kennedy given 'a few weeks' off |first=Damion |last=Roberts |newspaper=The Comet |location=Stevenage |date=12 December 2015 |accessdate=2 October 2018}} before sustaining a knee injury in training a month later that was expected to keep him out of action for the remainder of the season.{{cite news |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/18940/10127483/knee-surgery-to-rule-out-ben-kennedy-for-rest-of-the-season |title=Knee surgery to rule out Ben Kennedy for rest of the season |website=Sky Sports |date=12 January 2016 |accessdate=2 October 2018}} However, six weeks after knee surgery, Kennedy came on as a 71st-minute substitute in a 2–0 home defeat to Exeter City.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35619254 |title=Stevenage 0–2 Exeter City |website=BBC Sport |date=27 February 2016 |accessdate=2 October 2018}} Sheringham was replaced as manager by Darren Sarll, who bought Kennedy to the club three years earlier. He made 25 appearances in a season that marked Kennedy's first full season as a professional; scoring three goals, as Stevenage lost once in their remaining nine league fixtures to secure their League Two status for a further season.
Following an injury-free pre-season, Kennedy began the 2016–17 season as a regular in the starting line-up. He scored his first goal of the season in Stevenage's 1–0 victory against Ipswich Town at Portman Road in the EFL Cup.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36948791 |title=Ipswich Town 0–1 Stevenage |website=BBC Sport |date=9 August 2016 |accessdate=4 September 2017}} He scored his final goal of the season in a 2–0 away victory against Luton Town on 11 March 2017.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39163352 |title=Luton Town 0–2 Stevenage |website=BBC Sport |date=11 March 2017 |accessdate=4 September 2017}} 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". In April 2017, Kennedy signed a new two-year contract with Stevenage, running until the summer of 2019.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39526476 |title=Ben Kennedy: Stevenage midfielder signs new contract |website=BBC Sport |date=7 April 2017 |accessdate=4 September 2017}} Kennedy scored nine times in 39 appearances during the season as the club finished in 10th place in League Two.
==Loan to Newport County==
Kennedy joined fellow League Two club Newport County on loan on 31 January 2019, for the remainder of the 2018–19 season.{{cite news |title=Newport County sign Adebayo Azeez and Ben Kennedy on deadline day |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47075988 |website=BBC Sport |date=31 January 2019 |accessdate=31 January 2019}} 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".{{cite news |title=Phil Wallace on Deadline Day business |url=https://www.stevenagefc.com/news/2019/february/phil-wallace-deadline-day-news-roundup-sky-bet-league-two-efl-january-2019/ |publisher=Stevenage F.C. |date=1 February 2019 |accessdate=1 February 2019}} Kennedy made his Newport debut in the club's 3–0 away defeat at Grimsby Town on 2 February 2019.{{cite news |title=Grimsby Town 3–0 Newport County |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47011309 |website=BBC Sport |date=2 February 2019 |accessdate=3 February 2019}} 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.{{cite news |title=Yeovil Town 1–3 Newport County |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47676395 |website=BBC Sport |date=30 March 2019 |accessdate=6 April 2019}}
==Return to Stevenage==
Kennedy returned to Stevenage upon the expiry of his loan agreement at Newport and made 21 appearances during the 2019–20 season, which was curtailed in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{soccerbase season|81148|2019|accessdate=10 April 2020}} He was included in the club's released list in June 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stevenagefc.com/news/2020/june/stevenage-football-club-retained-released-list-202021-sky-bet-league-two-efl-english-football-league-thursday-18th-june-2020/|title = Stevenage 2020/21 Retained & Released List|date=18 June 2020|accessdate=31 August 2022}}
=Crusaders=
Kennedy signed for NIFL Premiership club Crusaders on 24 August 2020, agreeing a three-year contract.{{cite web|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/irish-league/crusaders/crusaders-sign-northern-ireland-u21-international-ben-kennedy-after-stevenage-release-39473495.html|title=Crusaders sign Northern Ireland U21 international Ben Kennedy after Stevenage release|work=Belfast Telegraph|date=24 August 2020}} He debuted for Crusaders in the opening match of the 2020–21 season against Dundela on 10 October 2020, scoring two penalties in a 2–0 victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/irish-league/county-antrim-shield-talking-points-ben-kennedy-makes-instant-impact-at-crusaders-as-quarter-final-draw-made-39608301.html|title=County Antrim Shield talking points: Ben Kennedy makes instant impact at Crusaders as quarter-final draw made|newspaper=Belfast Telegraph|date=10 October 2020|accessdate=10 October 2020}} He won his first trophy with the club on 7 May 2022 as Crusaders won the 2021–22 Irish Cup with a 2–1 extra-time victory against Ballymena United.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishfa.com/news/2022/may/crusaders-net-dramatic-winner-in-samuel-gelston-s-whiskey-irish-cup-final|title=Crusaders net dramatic winner in Samuel Gelston's Whiskey Irish Cup Final|publisher=Irish Football Association|date=8 May 2022|accessdate=8 May 2022}}
=Ballymena United=
International career
Having earned two caps for Northern Ireland's under-17 team in 2013,{{cite news |url=http://www.uefa.com/under17/season=2014/teams/player=250067306/profile/index.html |title=Ben Kennedy: Profile |publisher=UEFA |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023091410/http://www.uefa.com/under17/season=2014/teams/player=250067306/profile/index.html |archivedate=23 October 2017}} Kennedy made the step up to under-19 level following his breakthrough into the Stevenage first team in 2015. He captained the under-19 team and scored two goals in five appearances.{{cite web |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/ben-kennedy/322556/ |title=B. Kennedy: Summary |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |accessdate=2 October 2018}} Kennedy was called up to the under-21 team in October 2016,{{cite web |url=https://www.stevenagefc.com/news/2016/october/ben-kennedy-called-up-by-northern-ireland-under-21s/ |title=Ben Kennedy called up by Northern Ireland under-21s |first=Dave |last=Toyn |publisher=Stevenage F.C. |date=4 October 2016 |accessdate=2 October 2018}} and played seven times at that level.
Personal life
In 2020 Kennedy was given a five-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and was fined £100 after a hearing at Lisburn Magistrates Court for breaching coronavirus regulations.{{cite web|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunday-life/news/football-star-who-spat-in-cops-face-spared-jail-39470151.html|title=Football star who spat in cop's face spared jail|newspaper=Belfast Telegraph|date=23 August 2020}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 19 September 2024}}
| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|National Cup !colspan=2|League Cup !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan=7|Stevenage
|2014–15{{soccerbase season|81148|2014|accessdate=2 October 2018}} |15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2{{efn|Appearances in League Two play-offs}} | 0 | 17 | 4 | |
| 2015–16{{soccerbase season|81148|2015|accessdate=2 October 2018}}
|League Two |22 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=EFLT|Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy}} | 1 | 25 | 3 | |
| 2016–17{{soccerbase season|81148|2016|accessdate=2 October 2018}}
|League Two |36 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 39 | 9 | |
| 2017–18{{soccerbase season|81148|2017|accessdate=2 October 2018}}
|League Two |35 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 7 | |
| 2018–19
|League Two |25 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 2 | 28 | 8 | |
| 2019–20
|League Two |18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 21 | 0 | |
| colspan=2|Total
!151||27||6||0||1||1||9||3||167||31 | ||||||||||
| Newport County (loan)
|2018–19{{soccerbase season|81148|2018|accessdate=12 July 2019}} |League Two |10 | 1 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 10 | 1 | ||||
| rowspan=6|Crusaders
|24 | 5 | 4 | 1 | colspan=2|— | 2 | 2 | 30 | 8 | ||
| 2021–22
|NIFL Premiership |31 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 15 | |
| 2022–23
|NIFL Premiership |2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4{{efn|One appearance in NIFL Charity Shield and three appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League}} | 0 | 8 | 2 | |
| 2023–24
|NIFL Premiership |28 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7{{efn|One appearance in NIFL Charity Shield, four appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League, two appearances and one goal in Conference League play-offs}} | 1 | 37 | 17 | |
| 2024–25
|NIFL Premiership |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2{{efn|name=UECL|Appearances in UEFA Conference League}} | 1 | 2 | 1 | |
| colspan=2|Total
!85||32||11||3||4||4||15||4||115||43 | ||||||||||
| Ballymena United
|NIFL Premiership |8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8 | |
| colspan=3|Career total
!254||69||17||3||5||5||24||7||300||83 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Crusaders
- Irish Cup: 2021–22,{{cite web|url=https://www.irishfa.com/news/2022/may/crusaders-net-dramatic-winner-in-samuel-gelston-s-whiskey-irish-cup-final|title=Crusaders net dramatic winner in Samuel Gelston's Whiskey Irish Cup Final|publisher=Irish Football Association|accessdate=8 May 2022}} 2022–23{{cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/irish-league/crusaders-destroy-ballymena-united-in-irish-cup-final-romp/1897901145.html|title=Crusaders destroy Ballymena United in Irish Cup Final romp|newspaper=Belfasttelegraph.co.uk |date=7 May 2023 |publisher=Belfast Telegraph|accessdate=7 May 2023}}
- NIFL Charity Shield: 2022,{{cite web|url=https://www.nifootballleague.com/news/2022/august/charity-shield-success-for-the-crues/|title=Charity Shield Success For The Crues|publisher=Northern Ireland Football League|accessdate=6 August 2022}} 2023{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66075361|title=NIFL Charity Shield: Jarlath O'Rourke and James Teelan goals see Crusaders defeat Larne 2-0|publisher=BBC Sport|date=1 July 2023|accessdate=1 July 2023}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kennedy, Ben}}
Category:Association footballers from Lisburn
Category:Men's association footballers from Northern Ireland
Category:21st-century sportsmen from Northern Ireland
Category:Northern Ireland men's youth international footballers
Category:Northern Ireland men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Stevenage F.C. players
Category:Newport County A.F.C. players
Category:Crusaders F.C. players
Category:English Football League players