Kevin Nancekivell
{{short description|English footballer (born 1971)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2014}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Kevin Nancekivell
| full_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|10|22|df=y}}
| birth_place = Barnstaple, England
| height =
| position = Attacking midfielder
| currentclub = Plymouth Argyle (First Team Coach)
| years1 = 1987–1996
| clubs1 = Bideford
| caps1 = 339
| goals1 = 88
| years2 = 1996–2000
| clubs2 = Tiverton Town
| caps2 = 166
| goals2 = 107
| years3 = 2000–2001
| clubs3 = Plymouth Argyle
| caps3 = 6
| goals3 = 1
| years4 = 2001
| clubs4 = → Tiverton Town (loan)
| caps4 = 31
| goals4 = 11
| years5 = 2001–2004
| clubs5 = Tiverton Town
| caps5 = 140
| goals5 = 44
| manageryears1 = 2013
| managerclubs1 = Plymouth Argyle (joint caretaker)
| manageryears2 = 2019
| managerclubs2 = Plymouth Argyle (caretaker)
| manageryears3 = 2023–2024
| managerclubs3 = Plymouth Argyle (joint caretaker)
| manageryears4 = 2024
| managerclubs4 = Plymouth Argyle (joint caretaker)
| manageryears5 = 2024–2025
| managerclubs5 = Plymouth Argyle (joint caretaker)
}}
Kevin Nancekivell (born 22 October 1971) is an English football manager and former player, who is the First Team Coach of EFL Championship club Plymouth Argyle.
As a player, Nancekivell was an attacking midfielder. He mainly competed at a semi-professional level, spending most of his career at Tiverton Town, although he did have a short stint as a professional at Argyle.
Playing career
Originally from a farming background[http://www.greensonscreen.co.uk/gosdb-players2.asp?pid=599&scp=1,2,3,4,5,6,7 "Kevin Nancekivell"]. Greens on Screen. Retrieved 2 July 2010.{{cite news|last=Metcalf|first=Rupert|title=Football: Vase goes west with Varley|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-vase-goes-west-with-varley-1160266.html|access-date=27 March 2013|newspaper=The Independent|date=10 May 1998|location=London}}{{cite news|title=Farmer is tending a new crop of players|url=http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/Farmer-tending-new-crop-players/story-11708610-detail/story.html|access-date=27 March 2013|newspaper=Western Morning News|date=23 September 2010|location=Plymouth}} Nancekivell played for Bideford before joining Tiverton Town in 1996.[http://www.tivvyarchive.co.uk/player.php?player=12 "Kevin Nancekivell"]. Tivvy Archive. Retrieved 2 July 2010. He was a regular scorer from midfield, finishing as the club's top goalscorer twice, before being given a chance in the professional game at the age of 28 by Plymouth Argyle manager Kevin Hodges.[https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=13176&season_id=130 "Kevin Nancekivell"]. Soccerbase. Retrieved 2 July 2010. He made six league appearances as a substitute, scoring his first goal against Hartlepool United on 21 October 2000,[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/981551.stm "Hartlepool 1–1 Plymouth"]. BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 July 2010. but fell out of first team contention after the arrival of Paul Sturrock.[http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11705_2195953,00.html "Dream over for Nance"]. Sky Sports. Retrieved 2 July 2010. Nancekivell re-joined Tiverton Town on loan in January 2001 and returned to Ladysmead permanently that summer. He scored Tiverton's consolation goal in the FA Cup first round defeat against Cardiff City in November 2001.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/1658814.stm "Tiverton 1–3 Cardiff"]. BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 July 2010.
Coaching career
After retiring, Nancekivell took a job at Plymouth Argyle's youth coaching centre of excellence in 2005. He was promoted to coaching the first team in 2010.{{cite web|title=Plymouth Argyle add new coach, former midfielder Kevin Nancekivell|url=http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/Plymouth-Argyle-add-new-coach-midfielder-Kevin/story-13752675-detail/story.html|publisher=Plymouth Herald|access-date=5 January 2013}} In January 2013 he was appointed as joint caretaker manager with Romain Larrieu following the sacking of Carl Fletcher. The duo lost their only game in charge, 4–0 to Port Vale.{{cite web|title=Kevin Blackwell could return as Plymouth Argyle's new manager|url=http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/Kevin-Blackwell-return-Plymouth-Argyle-s-new/story-17756349-detail/story.html|publisher=Plymouth Herald|access-date=5 January 2013}}{{cite web|title=Port Vale v Plymouth Argyle, 05 January 2013|url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-plymouth-argyle-05-january-2013-300142/}} Nancekivell was released from his contract as First team coach following a backroom reshuffle by new manager John Sheridan{{cite web|title=Thanks|url=http://www.pafc.co.uk/news/article/thanks-802669.aspx|publisher=PAFC.co.uk|access-date=1 May 2013}} however, he was offered an alternative role at the club and on 4 July 2013 he accepted a youth coaching role designed to help with youth team players' progression from the Academy to first-team football while also helping with the progress of some of the newer academy coaches.{{cite web|title=Under 16s Role For Nance|url=http://www.pafc.co.uk/news/article/under-16s-role-for-nance-897150.aspx|publisher=PAFC.co.uk|access-date=4 July 2013}}
In January 2014, Nancekivell was appointed as Professional Development Phase Coach for 17 to 21 year-olds at Torquay United, however following the closure of Torquay's Youth Department in May 2015, he made a return to Plymouth Argyle as Head of Academy Coaching. In June 2017, Nancekivell was awarded his UEFA Pro Licence and in May 2018 he was appointed as a first-team coach at Argyle, following the departure of Craig Brewster.{{cite web |title=Nance's Argyle Romance |url=https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/2018/may/nances-argyle-romance/}} After Derek Adams was sacked in April 2019, Nancekivell was appointed caretaker manager of Plymouth Argyle for their final match of the 2018–19 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48080385 |title=Plymouth Argyle sack manager Derek Adams |publisher=BBC Sport |date=28 April 2019 |access-date=29 April 2019}} Following the appointment of Ryan Lowe as Plymouth Argyle manager in June 2019, Nancekivell retained his role as first team coach. In July 2021, he graduated from the University of Liverpool with the LMA Diploma in Football Management.{{cn|date=April 2024}}
Following the departure of Steven Schumacher as Manager of Plymouth Argyle on 19 December 2023, Nancekivell and Director of Football Neil Dewsnip took joint charge of first-team duties{{Cite web |title=Club Statement: Steven Schumacher {{!}} Plymouth Argyle - PAFC |url=https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/club-statement-steven-schumacher |access-date=5 April 2024 |website=www.pafc.co.uk |language=en}} until the appointment of Ian Foster on 5 January 2024.{{Cite web |title=Foster appointed new Argyle Head Coach {{!}} Plymouth Argyle - PAFC |url=https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/foster-appointed-new-argyle-head-coach |access-date=5 April 2024 |website=www.pafc.co.uk |language=en}} In this period, they managed five fixtures, winning one, losing one, and drawing the rest. Following Foster's dismissal on 1 April 2024,{{Cite web |title=Foster departs {{!}} Plymouth Argyle - PAFC |url=https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/foster-departs |access-date=5 April 2024 |website=www.pafc.co.uk |language=en}} the pair took charge once more until the end of the 2023–24 season, immediately ending a seven-game winless streak and relegating Rotherham United.{{Cite web |title=REPORT {{!}} ROTHERHAM 0 ARGYLE 1 {{!}} Plymouth Argyle - PAFC |url=https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/report-rotherham-0-argyle-1 |access-date=5 April 2024 |website=www.pafc.co.uk |language=en}}
In the 2024–25 season Nancekivell took on caretaker duties for the fifth time in his career, following the departure of Wayne Rooney. This time he took over in joint roles with club captain Joe Edwards.{{Cite web |title=Argyle and Rooney mutually part ways |url=https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/argyle-and-rooney-mutually-part-ways |date=31 December 2024|access-date=13 January 2025 |website=www.pafc.co.uk |language=en}} The duo managed three games, consisting of two league draws, and tail-ended by an FA Cup Third Round victory away to Brentford F.C. on 11 January 2025.{{Cite web |title=Emirates FA Cup Report Brentford 0-1 Argyle |url=https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/emirates-fa-cup-report-brentford-0-1-argyle |date=11 January 2025|access-date=13 January 2025 |website=www.pafc.co.uk |language=en}} When new head coach Miron Muslic took over, it was confirmed that Nancekivell would remain at the club as part of Muslic's coaching team.{{Cite web |title=Miron Muslic appointed as Argyle Head Coach |url=https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/miron-muslic-appointed-argyle-head-coach |date=10 January 2025|access-date=13 January 2025 |website=www.pafc.co.uk |language=en}}
Personal life
Nancekivell grew up on a dairy farm in Bradworthy, North Devon.{{Cite web |title=The Long Read: Kevin Nancekivell |url=https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/2020/april/the-long-read-kevin-nancekivell |date=2 April 2020|access-date=13 January 2025 |website=www.pafc.co.uk |language=en}}
He is part of the Horniwinks Racing Syndicate who own racehorse Adaay In Devon.{{Cite news|title=Plymouth Argyle coach Kevin Nancekivell reveals passion for horse racing on live TV |url=https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/plymouth-argyle-coach-kevin-nancekivell-9186826 |date=25 March 2024|access-date=13 January 2025 |website=Plymouth Live |language=en}}
In January 2025 Kevin was awarded the Freedom of the City of Plymouth for his services to Plymouth Argyle and to the city of Plymouth. {{cite web |title=Why I nominated Kevin Nancekivell for Freedom of the City |url=https://argyle.life/opinion/why-i-nominated-kevin-nancekivell-for-freedom-of-the-city/}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Plymouth Argyle F.C. managers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nancekivell, Kevin}}
Category:Alumni of the University of Liverpool
Category:Sportspeople from Barnstaple
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Southern Football League players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Bideford A.F.C. players
Category:Tiverton Town F.C. players
Category:Plymouth Argyle F.C. players
Category:English football managers
Category:Plymouth Argyle F.C. non-playing staff