Jake Kirby
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Jake Kirby
| image =
| caption =
| fullname = Jake Antony Kirby
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|5|9|df=y}}
| birth_place = Liverpool, England{{cite web|title=Tranmere Rovers FC manager Ronnie Moore considers first team role for youngster Jake Kirby|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/tranmere-rovers-fc/tranmere-rovers-news/2012/04/19/tranmere-rovers-fc-manager-ronnie-moore-considers-first-team-role-for-youngster-jake-kirby-100252-30791709/|publisher=Liverpool Echo|date=19 April 2012|accessdate=6 May 2012}}
| death_date =
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=11}}{{cite book|editor1-first=Glenda|editor1-last=Rollin|editor2-first=Jack|editor2-last=Rollin|title=Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013|year=2012|publisher=Headline|location=London|isbn=978-0-7553-6356-8|page=545|edition=43rd}}
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = Nantwich Town
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Tranmere Rovers
| years1 = 2012–2018
| clubs1 = Tranmere Rovers
| caps1 = 98
| goals1 = 8
| years2 = 2015
| clubs2 = → Stockport County (loan)
| caps2 = 11
| goals2 = 4
| years3 = 2018–2019
| clubs3 = Stockport County
| caps3 = 42
| goals3 = 8
| years4 = 2023–
| clubs4 = Nantwich Town
| caps4 = 0
| goals4 = 0
| club-update = 10:26, 21 October 2023 (UTC)
}}
Jake Antony Kirby (born 9 May 1994) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for {{English football updater|NantwicT}} club Nantwich Town.
Career
Kirby came through Tranmere Rovers's youth system and was awarded his first professional one-year contract by the club in April 2012.{{cite web|title=Three Professional Contracts Offered At Tranmere|url=http://www.lfe.org.uk/news/three-professional-contracts-offered-at-tranmere|publisher=League Football Education|accessdate=6 May 2012|date=26 April 2012}}
He made his Football League debut against Scunthorpe United on 5 May 2012 as a substitute for Jake Cassidy, playing the last 15 minutes of the match.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17878316 |title=Tranmere 1 - 1 Rochdale |date=5 May 2012 |work=BBC Sport |accessdate=6 May 2012}} He made six more appearances in the first half of the next season before being offered a new two-and-a-half-year contract.{{cite news |url=http://www.tranmererovers.co.uk/news/article/kirby-310113-629697.aspx |title=New Contract For Kirby |date=31 January 2013 |work=Tranmere Rovers F.C. |accessdate=4 December 2015}}
The next season Kirby became regular first-team player, making 35 appearances and scoring two first senior goals against Coventry City, one away and one at home as Tranmere finished 21st in the division and relegated to the League Two.{{cite news |url=http://www.tranmererovers.co.uk/news/article/report-coventry-231113-1191041.aspx |title=Report: Coventry 1 Tranmere 5 |date=23 November 2013 |work=Tranmere Rovers F.C. |accessdate=4 December 2015}}{{cite news |url=http://www.tranmererovers.co.uk/news/article/report-coventry-231113-1191041.aspx |title=Report: Tranmere 3 Coventry 1 |date=22 February 2014 |work=Tranmere Rovers F.C. |accessdate=4 December 2015}}
One year until contract expire, Kirby extended it till summer 2017 on 26 May 2014.{{cite news |title=Young Star Extends Tranmere Deal |url=http://www.tranmererovers.co.uk/news/article/kirby-contract-260514-1573546.aspx |publisher=Tranmere Rovers F.C. |date=26 May 2014 |accessdate=30 October 2015}} The 2014/15 campaign saw Rovers relegated from Football League, while Kirby made 20 appearances and scored a goal - winning one against Northampton Town.
On 28 August 2015 Kirby was loaned to the National League North side Stockport County, where he reunited with former teammates Kayode Odejayi, Andy Robinson and Abdulai Bell-Baggie.{{cite news |title=Stockport County Loan Jake Kirby |url=http://www.tranmererovers.co.uk/news/article/stockport-county-loan-jake-kirby-2652854.aspx |publisher=Tranmere Rovers F.C. |date=28 August 2015 |accessdate=4 December 2015}} Following day he made his County debut as a substitute. On 31 September, Stockport beat AFC Fylde 3-2 after Kirby scored the winning goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time.{{cite news |title=Loan Watch |url=http://www.tranmererovers.co.uk/news/article/loan-watch-2665992.aspx |publisher=Tranmere Rovers F.C. |date=2 September 2015 |accessdate=4 December 2015}} Initial one-month loan was later extended to three months. On 26 November he was recalled to the parent club.{{cite news |title=Ins And Outs At Prenton Park |url=http://www.tranmererovers.co.uk/news/article/ins-and-outs-at-prenton-park-2821709.aspx |publisher=Tranmere Rovers F.C. |date=26 November 2015 |accessdate=7 December 2015}} He was released by Tranmere at the end of the 2017–18 season and went to Stockport County for a second spell in that summer.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44156491|title=Andy Mangan: Tranmere Rovers striker among seven released|date=16 May 2018|accessdate=16 May 2018|publisher=BBC Sport}}
He retired in September 2019.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49676588|title=Jake Kirby: Stockport winger to step away from football|work=BBC Sport|date=12 September 2019}}
In October 2023, Kirby made his return to football when he joined Northern Premier League Division One West club Nantwich Town.{{cite web|url=https://www.nantwichtownfc.co.uk/sean-lawton-and-jake-kirby-join-the-dabbers/|title=Sean Lawton and Jake Kirby join the Dabbers|website=www.nantwichtownfc.co.uk|date=20 October 2023|accessdate=21 October 2023}}
It was revealed on Tranmere fan site The Paddock that Kirby was working as a Deliveroo driver to fund his studies to be a solicitor.
Playing style
He can play in five positions: central midfield, right midfield, left midfield, behind the striker and as a striker.{{cite web|last=Hilton|first=Nick|title=Lowdown on Tranmere Rovers' young ones|url=http://www.wirralnews.co.uk/tranmere-rovers-fc/tranmere-rovers-fc-news/2012/05/05/lowdown-on-tranmere-rovers-young-ones-80491-30904534/|publisher=Wirral News|accessdate=6 May 2012|date=5 May 2012}}
Statistics
{{updated|match played 30 April 2016.}}
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase}}
- {{Soccerway|jake-kirby/242918}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kirby, Jake}}
Category:Footballers from Liverpool
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Tranmere Rovers F.C. players
Category:Stockport County F.C. players
Category:Nantwich Town F.C. players
Category:English Football League players