Kevin Fallon
{{short description|New Zealand football coach}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Kevin Fallon
| image =
| caption =
| fullname = Kevin Barry Fallon
| position = Centre half
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1948|12|3|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Maltby, Yorkshire, England
| death_date =
| death_place =
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| years1 = 1965–1967
| clubs1 = Rotherham United
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 1967–1970
| clubs2 = Sligo Rovers
| caps2 = 67
| goals2 = 5
| years3 = 1970–1971
| clubs3 = Southend United
| caps3 = 4
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 1972–1974
| clubs4 = Ilkeston Town
| caps4 =
| goals4 =
| years5 = 1972–1974
| clubs5 = Gisborne City
| caps5 = 9
| goals5 = 2
| years6 = 1975 - 1977
| clubs6 = Nelson United
| caps6 = 30
| goals6 =
| clubs7 = Hamilton AFC
| caps7 =
| goals7 =
| years7 = 1978
| clubs8 = Gisborne City
| caps8 = 72
| goals8 = 8
| years8 = 1979 - 1983
| years9 =
| clubs9 =
| caps9 =
| goals9 =
| totalcaps =
| totalgoals =
| nationalyears1 =
| nationalteam1 =
| nationalcaps1 =
| nationalgoals1 =
| manageryears1 = 1974 -1976
| managerclubs1 = Gisborne City
| managerclubs2 = Nelson United
| manageryears2 = 1975 - 1977
| managerclubs3 = Hamilton AFC
| manageryears3 = 1978
| manageryears4 = 1979 -1986
| managerclubs4 = Gisborne City
| manageryears5 = 1985–1989
| managerclubs5 = New Zealand
| manageryears6 = 1987 - 1988
| managerclubs6 = North Shore United
| manageryears7 =
| managerclubs7 = Waikato United
| manageryears8 = 2016–2017
| managerclubs8 = Manukau City
| club-update =
| nationalteam-update =
| manageryears9 = 2018–2019
| managerclubs9 = Manukau United
| manageryears10 = 2018–2020
| managerclubs10 = Cook Islands
}}
Kevin Barry Fallon {{post-nominals|country=NZL|MNZM|size=85%}} (born 3 December 1948) is an English-born football coach residing in New Zealand. He is the father of New Zealand international footballer Rory Fallon and former coach of the Cook Islands national football team but did not manage any official games for them.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cambridgefootball.co.nz/2018/03/10/reds-go-down-1-0-to-kevin-fallons-manukau-united/|title=Reds go down 1-0 to Kevin Fallon’s Manukau United|website=www.cambridgefootball.co.nz|language=en-NZ|access-date=2018-09-10}}
Career
Fallon spent most of his playing career outside of New Zealand at Sligo Rovers of Ireland. Fallon ended his career in NZ in 1979 with the now defunct Gisborne City.
Fallon was assistant coach to the John Adshead-led New Zealand national team, which qualified for the 1982 FIFA World Cup.{{cite news|title=New Zealand 1982 World Cup squad |url=http://www.nzsoccer.com/page/1982_world_cup_team.html |publisher=New Zealand Football |accessdate=1 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090605162859/http://www.nzsoccer.com/page/1982_world_cup_team.html |archivedate=5 June 2009 }} Fallon took sole charge of the New Zealand side in May 1985 but failed to qualify for the 1986 FIFA World Cup. New Zealand won 19, drew 11 and lost 22 of his 52 games in charge.{{cite web|url=http://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZRepSoccer/id162.htm|title=Coaching Records|publisher=Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website}}
In 1999 he managed hosts New Zealand at the FIFA U-17 World Championship of 1999 to third in Group A.
In 2001 he managed the professional team the Football Kingz FC. In 18 games managing the Football Kingz FC he won twice.
Also in 2001 he allegedly racially abused an opposing team when he admitted that he said “I told them to go back to the jungle and eat their bananas", for which he later apologised, and admitted to saying to a teenage opponent that "You’re [expletive] diving all over the place like a big tart. Like your Mum." {{cite web | url=https://www.metromag.co.nz/city-life/city-life-sport/kevin-fallon-may-well-be-new-zealands-best-football-coach-so-why-does-he-keep-getting-fired |title=Kevin Fallon may well be New Zealand's best football coach. So why does he keep getting fired? |publisher=Metro |author=Duncan Greive |date=30 September 2014 |access-date=6 March 2022}}
In September 2008 Auckland Grammar pulled out of the final with Mount Albert Grammar School after allegations Kevin Fallon "man-handled" a player during a brawl.{{cite web | url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/fallon-under-mags-investigation-over-comment-to-student/UMTHQ66EKYEVLFTSWQOLQKDIYU/ |title=Fallon under MAGS investigation over comment to student |publisher=New Zealand Herald |date=21 September 2012 |access-date=16 February 2022}}
In the 2008 New Year Honours, Fallon was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to soccer.{{cite web | url=https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/publications/new-year-honours-list-2008 | title=New Year honours list 2008 |date=31 December 2007 | publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet | accessdate=1 November 2017}}
In August 2009 he was banned for a season because of complaints he accused ref Alan Marriott of being biased.
In September 2012 a complaint was made by a parent that he made offensive comments to a rival player when coaching Mount Albert Grammar School.
In May 2013 Fallon was banned from making on-field decisions after complaints about his behaviour.{{cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/star-coach-kevin-fallon-promises-a-fight-over-sacking/ILIRITS2KAHI2UBVYY757ZTC4I/ |title=Star coach Kevin Fallon promises a fight over sacking |publisher=New Zealand Herald |date=28 July 2014 |access-date=6 March 2022}}
In July 2014, Fallon was dismissed from Mount Albert Grammar School for breaking the school's sporting code of conduct.{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11300503 |title=Star Coach sacked |publisher=NZ Herald 29 July 2014 | date=29 July 2014}}
In September 2018 Fallon was announced as head coach for the Cook Islands national football team. He signed a contract for two years but did not coach any competitive games for them.
References
{{reflist}}
- Hilton, T. (1991) An association with soccer. Auckland: The New Zealand Football Association. {{ISBN|0-473-01291-X}}. pp. 88, 91
{{New Zealand national football team managers}}
{{Cook Islands national football team managers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fallon, Kevin}}
Category:League of Ireland players
Category:Sligo Rovers F.C. players
Category:New Zealand men's association footballers
Category:New Zealand people of English descent
Category:New Zealand national football team managers
Category:Gisborne City AFC players
Category:English people of Irish descent
Category:New Zealand people of Irish descent
Category:Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit
Category:Men's association football central defenders
Category:New Zealand association football managers