Richard Kennedy (footballer)

Crystal Palace

Kennedy began his career in the youth system at Crystal Palace. He suffered from homesickness during the 1995–96 season, but slowly earned a regular place in the youth team. Kennedy reached the final of the FA Youth Cup and won the Southern Junior Floodlit Cup with the youth team during the 1996–97 season. He signed his first professional contract in March 1997 and was released at the end of the 1997–98 season, having never made a first team appearance. A double hernia operation kept Kennedy out for three months over the summer of 1998 and hindered his chances of finding a new club for the 1998–99 season.

Wycombe Wanderers

Kennedy signed for Division Two side Wycombe Wanderers in October 1998. He never made a first team appearance for the club and instead played for the reserves. He departed the club in July 1999.

Brentford

Kennedy signed for Division Two side Brentford on a two-year contract on a free transfer in July 1999. Under Brentford manager and former Crystal Palace chairman Ron Noades, Graham linked up with a number of former teammates, including Danny Boxall, Tony Folan, Gareth Graham, Hermann Hreiðarsson and Rob Quinn. Kennedy received his first call into the first team squad for a league match versus Cardiff City on 28 September 1999. He made his professional debut when he replaced Andy Scott after 85 minutes of the 2–1 victory. He also made a cameo in the following game, replacing Lloyd Owusu after 89 minutes of a 2–2 draw away at Burnley. Kennedy had to wait until 23 November to make his next appearance, when he came on for Martin Rowlands after 86 minutes of a 4–1 defeat by Bournemouth. Kennedy's first start came in the following game, against former club Wycombe Wanderers. He lasted 57 minutes, until being sent off for a second bookable offence. Kennedy made regular appearances during January 2000 and made successive starts in matches versus Chesterfield, Peterborough United and Oldham Athletic. His season ended after he suffered a torn cartilage during a 2–0 home defeat by Wigan Athletic on 1 April. He made 10 appearances during the 1999–00 season and scored no goals.

Kennedy was injured and out of favour under new manager Ray Lewington during the 2000–01 season, making sporadic appearances as an unused substitute. He made his first appearance of the season in a league match away at Notts County on 23 September 2000. He was named in the starting lineup and substituted for Tony Folan at half time. Kennedy's final Brentford appearance came in an emphatic 4–1 Football League Trophy first round win over Oxford United on 5 December, when he replaced Paul Evans in the dying minutes. Kennedy was released by the Bees on 20 March 2001, after making just 12 appearances in 18 months with the club.

Crawley Town (loan)

Kennedy and teammate Gareth Graham signed on loan for Southern League Premier Division side Crawley Town in November 1999.

Crawley Town

After his departure from Brentford, Kennedy joined Crawley Town on a permanent deal in March 2001. He made his only appearance for the club in a 3–0 Southern League Cup win over St Leonards on 27 March and departed in early April. Kennedy went on trial at several league clubs (including Colchester United), but failed to earn a deal.

Barry Town

Kennedy signed for League of Wales high fliers Barry Town in April 2001 and scored on his debut in a 7–1 demolition of Llanelli. He made seven appearances and scored one goal in what remained of the 2000–01 season as Barry achieved the League of Wales and Welsh Cup double. The title win saw Barry qualify for the Champions League for the 2001–02 season. Kennedy was not included in the squad for the first qualifying round first leg tie at home with Azerbaijani champions Shamkir, but he made the substitutes' bench for the second leg. Kennedy made his European debut when he replaced Kenny Brown after 76 minutes of the 2–0 win, which saw Barry progress to the second qualifying round 3–0 on aggregate. Kennedy featured in both legs against Portuguese club Porto in the second qualifying round, replacing Jamie Jenkins after 50 minutes of the 8–0 first leg thrashing and making his first European start for the club in a famous 3–1 win in the second leg. Kennedy made 28 league appearances during the 2001–02 season and won his second double in succession.

Kennedy made starting appearances in both of Barry's Champions League first qualifying round legs versus Skonto Riga early in the 2002–03 season, but a 6–0 aggregate defeat put the Dragons out of the competition. Kennedy made 29 league appearances and scored one goal on the way to his and Barry's third consecutive double in 2003. Barry once again kicked off their season with Champions League first qualifying round ties, but despite a 2–1 second leg win, the Dragons went out 4–2 on aggregate to Macedonian champions Vardar to exit the 2003–04 competition. Financial problems forced the owners of the club to file for administration early in the 2003–04 season and Kennedy departed in September 2003.

Forest Green Rovers

Kennedy joined Conference side Forest Green Rovers on 5 September 2003. He made his debut in a 1–1 draw with Gravesend & Northfleet on 4 October 2003, starting the match and lasting 84 minutes before being substituted for Luke Jones. He scored his first goal for the club on his next appearance, netting the third in a 3–1 victory over Farnborough. He played in Rovers' maiden Football League Trophy tie on 13 October, lasting 68 minutes before being substituted for Scott Rogers in a 2–0 defeat by Division Two side Brighton & Hove Albion. Kennedy's last appearance came in a 7–1 thrashing at the hands of Hereford United on 19 December and he departed the club on 1 February 2004. Looking back on his time with Rovers, Kennedy said that "it was a long commute and with a close family bereavement, my heart really wasn't in it". He made 15 appearances for Forest Green and scored one goal.

Return to Barry Town

Kennedy returned to ailing Barry Town in 2004. He helped the Dragons to only their second win of the 2003–04 season when he scored the third in a 3–1 win over Newtown on 29 March. He made 73 league appearances and scored six league goals across his two spells with the Dragons.

Waterford United

Kennedy returned to Ireland in 2004 to sign for hometown club Waterford United (then of the League of Ireland Premier Division) for the 2004 season. His made five appearances before his departure in August 2004. Reflecting on his time with the club, he said "my form was mixed and I didn't really settle back home".

Carmarthen Town

Kennedy returned to the Welsh Premier League to sign for Carmarthen Town in August 2004. Having qualified as a personal trainer, Kennedy was convinced to return to Wales after getting "a call from a friend who had become involved with Carmarthen Town. He had a great contact with the owner of the top personal training gym in Cardiff". He had a successful 2004–05 season with the club, making 30 appearances, scoring one goal and winning the Welsh League Cup. Town also qualified for the UEFA Cup after finishing as runners-up to league champions Total Network Solutions in the Welsh Cup. Town began their 2005–06 season with a two-legged UEFA Cup first qualifying round tie with Irish FAI Cup winners Longford Town. Kennedy started in both the 2–0 first leg defeat and the thumping 5–1 second leg win. The 5–3 aggregate victory set up a second qualifying round tie versus Danish Superliga runners-up Copenhagen. Kennedy played in both legs, which ended in a 4–0 aggregate defeat. Kennedy made 17 appearances during the 2005–06 season, with the club finishing fourth in the league and as runners-up to Haverfordwest County in the West Wales Senior Cup. He retired from football after the season.

Personal trainer

Kennedy is a qualified personal trainer and is the owner of Fitness Freak Gym in Rathgormack, Ireland. In the summer of 2013, Kennedy helped former Crystal Palace teammate and Republic of Ireland international Stephen Hunt back to fitness after his release from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Fitness coach

In the summer of 2013, Kennedy was named fitness coach at Tipperary Southern & District League Premier Division side Clonmel Town.

Honours

Crystal Palace

Barry Town

Carmarthen Town