Antony Kay

Antony Roland Kay (born 21 October 1982) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender or midfielder for National League side Chorley.

For the footballer of the 1960s, see Tony Kay. For the baseball player, see Anthony Kay.

Antony Kay
Kay playing for Tranmere Rovers in 2009
Personal information
Full name Antony Roland Kay[1]
Date of birth (1982-10-21) 21 October 1982[2]
Place of birth Barnsley, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[3]
Playing position(s) Defender; midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Chorley
Number 19
Youth career
0000–1999 Barnsley
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2007 Barnsley 174 (11)
2007–2009 Tranmere Rovers 82 (17)
2009–2012 Huddersfield Town 95 (10)
2012–2016 Milton Keynes Dons 142 (6)
2016–2017 Bury 42 (0)
2017–2019 Port Vale 60 (5)
2020– Chorley 4 (0)
National team
2001 England U18 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 00:00, 7 March 2020 (UTC)

He began his career with hometown club Barnsley, and made his first-team debut in August 2000. Established as a first-team regular by the age of 20, he was voted as the club's Player of the Season in 2003–04, and helped Barnsley to win promotion out of League One via the play-offs in 2006 after scoring the winning penalty in the shoot-out victory over Swansea City. He signed with Tranmere Rovers in June 2007, and was voted the club's Player of the Season for 2008–09, before moving on to Huddersfield Town in May 2009. He was again promoted into the Championship after victory in the 2012 League One play-off final. However he stayed in League One after joining Milton Keynes Dons in August 2012, and won his third promotion out of the division after helping the club to secure runners-up spot in 2014–15. He signed with Bury in June 2016, and played 47 matches as club captain, before moving on to Port Vale a year later. Released after two years in the Vale first-team, he went on to join non-league Chorley in January 2020.

Club career

Barnsley

Born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, Kay began his career in the youth system at hometown club Barnsley, signing a professional contract in October 1999.[2] He made his first-team debut under Dave Bassett on 12 August 2000, in a 1–0 victory over Norwich City at Oakwell.[4] He ended the 2000–01 season with seven First Division appearances to his name, and featured just once in the 2001–02 relegation campaign. Initially a midfielder, he was moved to centre back after Glyn Hodges took over from Nigel Spackman as manager in October 2002.[5] He played 16 Second Division matches in the 2002–03 season.

He established himself as the club's utility player following the appointment of manager Guðjón Þórðarson in June 2003, and in addition to operating across the defence and midfield was also utilised as a target man striker in January, picking up a man-of-the-match award in that role against Bournemouth.[6] He scored four goals in 51 appearances across the 2003–04 campaign, and was voted the club's Player of the Season.[7] He signed a new one-year contract in June 2004.[8]

Speaking in December 2004, manager Paul Hart said that "it's slightly too early to say whether he'll stay as a centre-half or return to midfield in his career", but was able to say that Kay had "shown that when he is concentrating he is as good as anybody" in both defence and midfield.[9] He scored six goals from 43 appearances in the 2004–05 campaign as Barnsley posted a 13th-place finish. He played 45 times in the 2005–06 season, and scored the fourth and final Barnsley penalty in the play-off final penalty shoot-out victory over Swansea City at the Millennium Stadium, in which Andy Ritchie's "Tykes" gained promotion to the Championship.[10] He played 33 matches in the 2006–07 season as Barnsley retained their second tier status with a 20th-place finish, but was rumoured to have had a bust-up with manager Simon Davey in February, and his future with the club was put into doubt three months later after he allegedly broke club rules.[11]

Tranmere Rovers

Kay signed a two-year contract with League One club Tranmere Rovers in June 2007.[12] He scored seven goals from 43 matches in the 2007–08 season, playing mainly in his natural position of centre back, which led manager Ronnie Moore to consider playing him as a goalscoring midfielder.[13] Moore shifted him forward into midfield during the 2008–09 season, and Kay went on to score 12 goals in 53 appearances as Tranmere narrowly missed out on the play-offs after conceding a late equaliser at Scunthorpe United on the final day of the season.[14] Kay was voted as the club's Player of the Season for 2008–09.[15]

Huddersfield Town

Kay joined League One club Huddersfield Town on a two-year contract in May 2009; manager Lee Clark said that "he is a strong, physical player and we have identified that we need that presence in the side".[16] He spent the 2009–10 season as a first-team regular in midfield, making 46 starts in league and cup competitions. Huddersfield qualified for the play-offs, and were knocked out by Millwall at the semi-final stage after losing 2–0 on aggregate.[17] He was reduced to the role of substitute for parts of the 2010–11 campaign.[18] He did though score both the extra-time equaliser and the winning penalty in the subsequent shoot-out victory over Bournemouth in the play-off semi-final second leg at the Galpharm Stadium on 18 May.[19] Eleven days later, Huddersfield went on to lose 3–0 to Peterborough United in the play-off final at Old Trafford.[20]

Kay signed a new two-year contract in July 2011.[21] He was limited to 28 league matches in the 2011–12 season, and was not in the matchday squad as Town secured promotion with victory over Sheffield United in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium.[22] Manager Simon Grayson signed centre backs Joel Lynch and Anthony Gerrard in the summer 2012 transfer window, and subsequently looked to move Kay on to a new club.[23]

Milton Keynes Dons

Kay had his contract with Huddersfield cancelled by mutual consent and signed a two-year contract with League One club Milton Keynes Dons in August 2012.[24] He made 42 appearances across the 2012–13 campaign as the Dons missed out on the play-offs after finishing two places and four points behind sixth-placed Swindon Town. In September 2013, he underwent surgery to correct a persistent hip problem, and was out of action for 12 weeks.[25] He recovered to play a total of 34 matches by the end of the 2013–14 campaign, during which time he also sent off three times.[26] He signed a new one-year contract in May 2014, having helped Karl Robinson's Dons to keep eight clean sheets in his 30 league matches on the way to a tenth-place finish.[27]

Kay missed just one of the club's 46 league matches in the 2014–15 season as the Dons secured promotion out of League One with a second-place finish behind champions Bristol City. He signed a new one-year contract in June 2015.[28] He played 34 Championship matches in the 2015–16 season as the Dons were relegated in 23rd-place. On 5 April, Kay made a late challenge on Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Michał Żyro which left Zyro suffering with multiple knee ligament damage and over a year-long recovery.[29] In May 2016, Kay was one of four players released from the club following relegation back into League One.[30]

Bury

On 19 June 2016, Kay joined League One club Bury on a two-year contract.[31] Six weeks later he was appointed as club captain by manager David Flitcroft.[32] However, Bury endured a poor start to the season, leaving tensions high as Kay and teammate Tom Soares had to be separated from each other after exchanging heated words following a 5–1 defeat to AFC Wimbledon at the Kingsmeadow on 19 November.[33] Bury's form did turn around over the new year though, and Kay praised manager Chris Brass for changing to a 5–3–2 formation and halting a club record 12-match losing streak and 17-match winless run.[34]

Port Vale

On 28 June 2017, Kay secured his release from Bury and signed a two-year contract with League Two club Port Vale, who had been relegated after finishing two places and one point behind Bury the previous season.[35] He was appointed as club captain by manager Michael Brown.[36] He scored a headed goal on his debut for the "Valiants" in a 3–1 win at Crawley Town on 5 August.[37] However he was dropped by new manager Neil Aspin in October, who also gave the captaincy to Danny Pugh.[38] Kay did though make a quick return to the first team playing out-of-position in midfield.[39] On 12 December, he scored the "goal of his life" with a stunning long-range lob in a 3–2 defeat at Yeovil Town in the FA Cup.[40] He maintained his new position as a holding central midfield player until the end of February, when he was both suspended for picking up ten yellow cards over the campaign and also ruled out of action for a month after undergoing a hernia operation.[41] He marked his return from injury on 2 April by scoring what would go on to win him the club's goal of the season award, his long-range strike helping to secure a 2–2 draw at local rivals Crewe Alexandra.[42][43] Two weeks later he was named on the EFL team of the week for scoring the only goal of a 1–0 win over Lincoln City.[44]

Kay featured 33 times during the 2018–19 season, however manager John Askey confirmed that he would not be offering Kay a new contract on 16 May.[45]

Chorley

On 16 January 2020, Kay signed a deal to join National League club Chorley until the end of the 2019–20 season.[46] He made four appearances for the "Magpies" in the 2019–20 season, which was permanently suspended on 26 March due to the COVID-19 pandemic in England, with Chorley bottom of the table.[47]

International career

Kay was capped once by the England national under-18 team,[48] coming on as a substitute in a 0–0 draw with Switzerland on 30 May 2001.[49]

Style of play

Kay plays as a centre back, but can also operate as a holding midfielder; early in his career he was something of a utility player, having also filled in at full back and as a striker on occasion.[50] Bury Times journalist Mikael McKenzie stated that he is a solid all-round defender, is capable in the air and has good positional skills.[51]

Career statistics
As of 7 March 2020
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Barnsley 2000–01[52] First Division 700000—70
2001–02[53] First Division 100000—10
2002–03[54] Second Division 16000001[lower-alpha 1]0170
2003–04[55] Second Division 43351102[lower-alpha 1]0514
2004–05[56] League One 39610201[lower-alpha 1]0436
2005–06[57] League One 36130204[lower-alpha 2]0451
2006–07[58] Championship 3210010—331
Total 1741191608019712
Tranmere Rovers 2007–08[59] League One 38641001[lower-alpha 1]0437
2008–09[60] League One 441141104[lower-alpha 1]05312
Total 82178210509619
Huddersfield Town 2009–10[61] League One 40630203[lower-alpha 3]0486
2010–11[62] League One 27341108[lower-alpha 4]1405
2011–12[63] League One 28110002[lower-alpha 1]0311
Total 9510813013111912
Milton Keynes Dons 2012–13[64] League One 33160201[lower-alpha 1]0421
2013–14[65] League One 30220101[lower-alpha 1]0342
2014–15[66] League One 451103000491
2015–16[67] Championship 3421010—362
Total 142610070201616
Bury 2016–17[68] League One 42020102[lower-alpha 5]1471
Port Vale 2017–18[69] League Two 333311000374
2018–19[70] League Two 27200105[lower-alpha 5]0332
Total 605312050706
Chorley 2019–20[71] National League 4000000040
Career total 5994940520035269456
  1. Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  2. One appearance in Football League Trophy, three in League One play-offs
  3. One appearance in Football League Trophy, two in League One play-offs
  4. Five appearances in Football League Trophy, three appearances and one goal in League One play-offs
  5. Appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours

Barnsley

Milton Keynes Dons

Individual

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References
  1. "EFL: Club retained and released lists published". English Football League. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  2. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 232. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  3. "Antony Kay". Port Vale F.C. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  4. "Barnsley 1–0 Norwich City". BBC Sport. 12 August 2000. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  5. Thomson, Doug (23 October 2010). "Antony Kay keen to keep his Huddersfield Town place – whatever the position". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  6. "A kick up the backside". officialplayersites.com. 19 January 2004. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  7. "Kay facing two-game ban". officialplayersites.com. 5 May 2004. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  8. "Contract signed". officialplayersites.com. 11 June 2004. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  9. "Kay a key man as Reds go for treble". officialplayersites.com. 10 December 2004. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  10. "Swansea 2–2 Barnsley (aet)". BBC Sport. 27 May 2006. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  11. "Doubts over Kay's future". The Star. Sheffield. 2 May 2007. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  12. "Tranmere net ex-Barnsley man Kay". BBC Sport. 29 June 2007. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  13. Hilton, Nick (1 May 2008). "Goals adding a new dimension for Ronnie Moore's plans". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  14. "Scunthorpe 1–1 Tranmere". BBC Sport. 2 May 2009. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  15. Ley, John (7 June 2009). "League One players of the season: club by club". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  16. "Huddersfield sign Tranmere's Kay". BBC Sport. 29 May 2009. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  17. Fletcher, Paul (18 May 2010). "Millwall 2–0 Huddersfield (agg 2–0)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  18. Hilton, Nick (17 September 2010). "Antony Kay returns to frontline". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  19. Mitchener, Mark (18 May 2011). "Hudd'field 3–3 B'mouth (agg 4–4)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  20. Begley, Emlyn (29 May 2011). "Huddersfield 0–3 Peterborough". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
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  37. "Crawley 1–3 Port Vale". BBC Sport. 5 August 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
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  40. "FA Cup: Antony Kay scores 'goal of his life' for Port Vale in FA Cup defeat by Yeovil". BBC Sport. 13 December 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
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  42. Baggaley, Michael (4 April 2018). "Catch us if you can, says Port Vale goal hero". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  43. Baggaley, Michael (28 April 2018). "Tom Pope makes history at Port Vale player of the year awards". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  44. "Team of the Week: Matchday 43". www.efl.com. 16 April 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
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  46. Salmon, Craig (16 January 2020). "Magpies bolster squad with the addition of veteran defender Antony Kay". Chorley Cuardian. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
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  48. "Antony Kay". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  49. "Switzerland v England, 30 May 2001". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  50. "Turning the corner". officialplayersites.com. 25 February 2004. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  51. Baggaley, Mike (28 June 2017). "Scouting report: Why Antony Kay is a good signing for Port Vale". The Sentinel. Stoke-on-Trent. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  52. "Games played by Antony Kay in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  53. "Games played by Antony Kay in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  54. "Games played by Antony Kay in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
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  57. "Games played by Antony Kay in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  58. "Games played by Antony Kay in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  59. "Games played by Antony Kay in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  60. "Games played by Antony Kay in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  61. "Games played by Antony Kay in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  62. "Games played by Antony Kay in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  63. "Games played by Antony Kay in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  64. "Games played by Antony Kay in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  65. "Games played by Antony Kay in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  66. "Games played by Antony Kay in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  67. "Games played by Antony Kay in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  68. "Games played by Antony Kay in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  69. "Games played by Antony Kay in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  70. "Games played by Antony Kay in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  71. Antony Kay at Soccerway
  72. Anderson, John, ed. (2015). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2015–2016. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 238–239. ISBN 978-1-4722-2416-3.
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