Garry Kenneth

{{Infobox football biography

| name= Garry Kenneth

| image = Garry Kenneth 1.jpg

| caption = Kenneth training with Bristol Rovers in 2013

| fullname = Garry James Alexander Kenneth{{cite web |url=https://lff.lv/speles/skonto-fc-fk-liepaja-837432/ |title=Skonto FC 1–2 FK Liepāja |publisher=Latvian Football Federation |access-date=1 March 2021 |language=lv}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|6|21|df=y}}{{Cite book

| title = The Bell's Scottish Football Review 2005.06

| year = 2005

| publisher = Cre8 Publishing

| isbn = 978-0-9548556-1-1

| page = 20 }}

| birth_place = Dundee, Scotland

| height = 6 ft 4 in

| position = Centre Back

| currentclub = Lochee United

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 =

| youthyears2 = 2003–2004

| youthclubs1 = Fairmuir Boys Club

| youthclubs2 = Dundee United

| years1 = 2004–2012

| years2 = 2007

| years3 = 2012–2013

| years4 = 2014

| years5 = 2014

| years6 = 2015

| years7 = 2015

| years8 = 2015–2016

| years9 = 2016

| years10 = 2016–

| clubs1 = Dundee United

| clubs2 = → Cowdenbeath (loan)

| clubs3 = Bristol Rovers

| clubs4 = Brechin City

| clubs5 = Carnoustie Panmure

| clubs6 = Adamstown Rosebud

| clubs7 = Skonto Riga

| clubs8 = Forfar Albion

| clubs9 = Selkirk

| clubs10 = Douglas Amateurs

| caps1 = 163

| goals1 = 6

| caps2 = 7

| goals2 = 0

| caps3 = 18

| goals3 = 1

| caps4 = 5

| goals4 = 0

| caps5 =

| goals5 =

| caps6 =

| goals6 =

| caps7 = 7

| goals7 = 0

| caps8 =

| goals8 =

| nationalyears1 = 2005–2007

| nationalyears2 = 2007

| nationalyears3 = 2007–2008

| nationalyears4 = 2010

| nationalteam1 = Scotland U19

| nationalteam2 = Scotland U20

| nationalteam3 = Scotland U21

| nationalteam4 = Scotland

| nationalcaps1 = 12

| nationalgoals1 = 1

| nationalcaps2 = 3

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalcaps3 = 8

| nationalgoals3 = 0

| nationalcaps4 = 2

| nationalgoals4 = 0

| club-update = 10:58, 7 December 2015 (UTC)

| nationalteam-update = 10:58, 7 December 2015 (UTC)

}}

Garry James Alexander Kenneth (born 21 June 1987) is a Scottish former footballer, who played as a centre back for Dundee United, Cowdenbeath, Bristol Rovers, Brechin City, Carnoustie Panmure, Adamstown Rosebud and Skonto Riga. He also represented Scotland twice at full international level.

Club career

Kenneth, who was brought up in Dundee, played for Dundee United Social Club and St.Josephs, before he returned with a second spell at Dundee United Social Club.{{cite web|url=http://www.youthfootballscotland.co.uk/news-a-media/my-youth-career/1665-gary-kenneth|title=Garreth Kenneth|accessdate=21 February 2011|publisher=Youth Football Scotland}}

Kenneth, who is a keen Dundee United supporter and came through the Jim McLean School of Excellence,{{cite web|url=http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?tm=89|publisher=Dundee United FC|title=Dundee United Development Association|access-date=25 September 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511072655/http://dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?tm=89|archive-date=11 May 2012|url-status=dead}} made his debut for United in February 2005, playing in the 3–0 Scottish Cup win at Queen of the South. Playing in the remaining thirteen games of the season, Kenneth's introduction to league football saw eleven goals conceded in just four games. However, following the Cup semi-final win over Hibernian, his contribution helped United concede just four goals in the final six league games. Kenneth was part of the United team who lost the 2005 Scottish Cup Final against Celtic. Kenneth signed a new contract in October 2006, taking him to 2010.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dundee_utd/6040480.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|date=11 October 2006|title=Teenagers extend Tannadice stay}} In March 2007, Kenneth moved to Cowdenbeath on loan for the remainder of the season, after losing his place in the United first team.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cowdenbeath/6460361.stm|title=Kenneth heading for Central Park|publisher=BBC Sport website|date=16 March 2007}} Kenneth regained his place in the team in early 2008, playing in the League Cup final defeat to Rangers.

In mid-January 2010, Dundee United rejected a £75,000 bid from Blackpool for Kenneth, stating that the offer was "ridiculously small".{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/dundee-united/2010/01/18/dundee-united-reject-75k-bid-for-garry-kenneth-86908-21976071/|title=Dundee United reject £75K bid for Garry Kenneth|last=McArthur|first=Euan|date=18 January 2010|work=Daily Record |accessdate=18 January 2010}} On 29 January, and with the transfer window coming to a close, Blackpool manager Ian Holloway confirmed that the club had made a vastly improved offer for Kenneth. The offer believed to be in the region of £500,000, was rejected by Dundee United, who after a fantastic 2009–10 season, valued the player at around £2m.{{cite news|url=http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sports-news/Pool-make-500000-defender-bid.6026548.jp |title=Pool make £500,000 defender bid|last=Canavan|first=Steve|date=29 January 2010|work=Blackpool Gazette |accessdate=29 January 2010}} Kenneth helped Dundee United get to the 2010 Scottish Cup Final and started in The Terrors 3–0 win over Ross County.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/dundee-united/7728764/Ross-County-0-Dundee-United-3-match-report.html |title=Ross County 0 Dundee United 3: match report |work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London |date=15 May 2010 |accessdate=6 August 2011}} Kenneth stated in November 2011 that he would be leaving United at the end of the 2011–12 season, in the hope of earning a move to the Football League Championship.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/15920739 |title=Garry Kenneth keen to leave Dundee United in May|publisher=BBC Sport|date=28 November 2011|accessdate=20 July 2012}}

Kenneth played as a trialist for Airdrie United in a closed doors friendly against Rangers in July 2012.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}

=Bristol Rovers=

At the end of July 2012, he signed a three-year deal with League Two side Bristol Rovers.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19046770|title=Bristol Rovers sign central defender Garry Kenneth |publisher=BBC Sport |date=30 July 2012|accessdate=30 July 2012}} He made his Bristol Rovers début in a 1–1 draw at Plymouth Argyle on 18 September 2012, playing the full 90 minutes of the match. He made his home debut on 22 September 2012 in a 1–1 draw to Fleetwood Town. He scored his first goal for Bristol Rovers on 6 October 2012, against Northampton Town, in a 3–1 win.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19776282|title=Bristol Rovers 3–1 Northampton |publisher=BBC Sport |date=6 October 2012|accessdate=8 October 2012}} After an injury-plagued 16 months, in December 2013 Bristol Rovers announced Kenneth had left the club by mutual consent.{{cite news|url=http://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/news/article/kenneth-leaves-1241286.aspx|title=Defender leaves the club by mutual consent |publisher=Bristol Rovers FC |date=17 December 2013|accessdate=17 December 2013}}

=Later career=

On 12 February 2014, Kenneth signed for Scottish League One club Brechin City until the end of the season.{{cite web|title=Garry Kenneth joins Brechin City following Bristol Rovers exit|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26164498|publisher=BBC Sport|date=12 February 2014|accessdate=17 February 2014}} On 21 August 2014, he signed for Junior club Carnoustie Panmure on a two-year deal.{{cite web|title=Carnoustie Panmure are delighted to announce the signing of former Dundee Utd, Bristol Rovers and Scotland International player Garry Kenneth on a 2 year deal|url=http://www.facebook.com/TheGowfers|via=Facebook|date=21 August 2014|accessdate=21 August 2014}}

On 11 January 2015, it was announced that Kenneth had signed for Australian club Adamstown Rosebud playing in the Northern NSW NPL for the 2015 season.{{cite web|title=Adamstown sign star Scot Garry Kenneth|url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/2809895/adamstown-sign-star-scot-garry-kenneth/?cs=306 |date=11 January 2015|access-date=11 January 2015}} He then joined Latvian club Skonto Riga in July 2015 before returning to junior football in Scotland, signing for Forfar Albion in November 2015.

On 15 February 2016, Kenneth signed a long-term contract with Lowland Football League side Selkirk.{{Cite news |title=Former Dundee United star Garry Kenneth signs for Selkirk |url=http://www.thecourier.co.uk/sport/football/dundee-united/former-dundee-united-star-garry-kenneth-signs-for-selkirk-1.924347? |publisher=The Courier |date=15 February 2016 |accessdate=15 February 2016}} As of 2017, he was pursuing a career outside of football.{{citation needed|date=February 2018}}

On 5 August 2018, Kenneth signed for Lochee United.{{Cite web|url=http://www.locheeunited.co.uk/news|title = News}}

International career

Kenneth was part of the Scotland under-19 team who lost in the final of the 2006 European Under-19 Football Championship. Kenneth also played two warm-up games for the Scotland under-20s as preparation for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup, featuring again in May and July 2007. Kenneth made his début at under-21 level in the 3–2 defeat to Finland in September 2007, going on to win eight caps over the next twelve months.

He was selected in the full national team for the first time along with teammate Paul Dixon for the friendly with the Czech Republic. He made his debut for Scotland in August 2010, playing 90 mins against Sweden.

Personal life

In 2018, Kenneth was working as an industrial machinery salesman whilst trying to return to football.{{cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/garry-kenneth-recalls-painful-journey-12874701|title=Garry Kenneth recalls painful journey from Scottish Cup glory to taking knocks in the Juniors as he bids to save career|publisher=Daily Record|last1=McDermott|first1=Scott|date=8 July 2018|accessdate=5 April 2023}}