Jason Kennedy (footballer)

For the television personality, see Jason Kennedy (TV personality).

Jason Brian Kennedy (born 11 September 1986) is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Jason Kennedy

Personal information
Full name	Jason Brian Kennedy[1]
Date of birth	(1986-09-11) 11 September 1986 (age 39)[2]
Place of birth	Roseworth, England
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2]
Position	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Whitby Town (assistant manager)
Youth career
0000–2005	Middlesbrough
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2005–2008	Middlesbrough	4	(0)
2006–2007	→ Boston United (loan)	13	(1)
2007	→ Bury (loan)	12	(0)
2007–2008	→ Livingston (loan)	18	(2)
2008	→ Darlington (loan)	13	(2)
2008–2009	Darlington	46	(5)
2009–2013	Rochdale	177	(12)
2013–2015	Bradford City	28	(3)
2014	→ Rochdale (loan)	7	(0)
2015	→ Carlisle United (loan)	11	(3)
2015–2019	Carlisle United	83	(11)
2019–2020	Hartlepool United	18	(2)
2020	→ Spennymoor Town (loan)	7	(0)
2020–2022	Spennymoor Town	15	(0)
2022	→ Marske United (loan)	7	(1)
2022–2024	Marske United	67	(6)
2024	Redcar Athletic	3	(0)
2024–2025	Whitby Town	3	(0)
Total		532	(49)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

In his 12-year-long playing career, Kennedy spent most of his career with Rochdale with whom he signed in 2009, going on to appear in 177 official games. Apart from Rochdale, Kennedy has previously played for Middlesbrough, Darlington, and has had loan spells with Boston United, and Bury. In 2013, he signed for Bradford City.

Club career

Middlesbrough

Kennedy started his career at Middlesbrough. He made his debut for the North East of England club in the 2004–05 season, in a game against Fulham. He made six appearances, four of which were as substitute, in 2005–06, and participated in Middlesbrough's UEFA Cup run in the season against Litex Lovech, playing the full game.

Kennedy was handed a two-year contract in 2005 by manager Steve McClaren. He joined Scottish Football League club Livingston in August 2007 on a six-month loan deal.^[3]

Darlington

He made another loan move in 2008, this time to League Two side Darlington. On 10 May 2008, Kennedy scored the first goal in the League Two play-off semi-final first leg between Darlington and Rochdale. Darlington went on to win the match 2–1. However, in the second leg he missed his kick in a penalty shoot-out, sending Rochdale through to the play-off final. On 30 May 2008 Kennedy signed a two-year permanent deal with Darlington.^[4]

Rochdale

On 20 May 2009 Kennedy signed a two-year deal with Rochdale. He scored his first goal for the club on 28 August 2010 in a 3–1 win against Brentford, but was sent-off as celebrating his goal with the fans earned him a second yellow card.^[5] He followed these up with goals against MK Dons, Huddersfield Town and Charlton Athletic and ended the season with 4 goals.^[6][7][8] He played his final game for the club on 27 April 2013, helping Rochdale to a 1–0 win against Plymouth Argyle.^[9] He left having made over 200 appearances for the club during a four-year spell and was part of the 2009–10 promotion winning team.^[10]

Bradford City

On 2 July 2013, Kennedy signed for Bradford City on a free transfer following the expiry of his contract, on a two-year deal.^[11] He had almost signed for the club during the previous transfer window, and rejected the chance to stay at Rochdale as well as an offer from Hartlepool United to sign with The Bantams.^[12] He made his league debut on 5 October in a 2–0 win away to Walsall.^[13]

Rochdale Return

On 24 January, Kennedy moved to Rochdale on loan until the end of the 2013–14 season.^[14]

Carlisle United

On 12 March 2015, Kennedy completed a one-month loan deal to League Two club Carlisle United.^[15] He made a bright start to his Carlisle career, scoring his first goal on his second start for the Blues, a 2–0 away victory over Northampton.

In May 2015 it was announced Kennedy would leave Bradford City at the end of the season.^[16] Kennedy returned to Carlisle the same week signing a permanent two-year deal^[17]

He was released by Carlisle at the end of the 2018–19 season.^[18]

Hartlepool United

Following a successful trial, Kennedy signed for Hartlepool United on 18 July 2019.^[19]

Spennymoor Town

Kennedy signed for National League North side Spennymoor Town on loan till the end of the season^[20]

Kennedy became a player-coach at Spennymoor in May 2021.^[21]

On 11 January 2022, Kennedy joined Northern Premier League Division One East side Marske United on a two-month loan deal.^[22]

Marske United

On 25 February 2022, Kennedy joined Northern Premier League Division One East side Marske United on a permanent deal.^[22]

In October 2024, Kennedy announced his retirement.^[23]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Middlesbrough	2004–05[24]	Premier League	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	2005–06[25]		3	0	0	0	0	0	3[a]	0	6	0
	Total		4	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	7	0
Boston United (loan)	2006–07[26]	League Two	13	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	13	1
Bury (loan)	2006–07[26]	League Two	12	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	12	0
Livingston (loan)	2007–08[27]	Scottish First Division	18	2	1	0	2	0	1[b]	0	22	2
Darlington	2007–08[27]	League Two	13	2	0	0	0	0	2[c]	1	15	3
	2008–09[28]		46	5	2	0	2	1	3[d]	0	53	6
	Total		59	7	2	0	2	1	3	0	107	18
Rochdale	2009–10[29]	League Two	42	0	2	0	1	0	1[d]	0	46	0
	2010–11[30]	League One	45	4	1	0	2	0	0	0	48	4
	2011–12[31]		44	4	1	0	3	0	2[d]	0	50	4
	2012–13[32]	League Two	46	4	2	1	1	2	0	0	49	7
	Total		177	12	6	1	7	2	3	0	193	15
Bradford City	2013–14[33]	League One	8	1	1	0	1	0	1[d]	0	11	1
	2014–15[34]		20	2	2	0	3	0	1[d]	0	26	2
	Total		28	3	3	0	4	0	2	0	37	3
Rochdale (loan)	2013–14[33]	League Two	7	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	0
Carlisle United	2014–15[34]	League Two	11	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	11	3
	2015–16[35]		44	2	4	0	2	1	0	0	50	3
	2016–17[36]		27	9	2	1	1	0	2[e]	1	32	11
	2017–18[37]		6	0	0	0	1	0	1[f]	1	8	1
	2018–19[38]		6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
	Total		94	14	6	1	4	1	3	2	107	18
Hartlepool United	2019–20[39]	National League	18	2	1	0	0	0	1	0	20	2
Spennymoor Town	2019–20[40]	National League North	7	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	0
	2020–21[40]		9	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	11	0
	2021–22[40]		6	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	7	0
	Total		22	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	25	0
Marske United	2021–22[41]	NPL East Division	17	4	0	0	0	0	3	1	20	5
	2022–23[42]	NPL Premier Division	39	2	3	0	0	0	6	0	48	2
	2023–24[43][44]	NPL Premier Division	18	1	2	0	0	0	2	0	22	1
	Total		74	7	5	0	0	0	11	1	90	7
Redcar Athletic	2023-24[45]	Northern League Division One	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
Whitby Town	2024–25[46]	NPL Premier Division	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	4	0
Career total			532	49	24	2	19	4	33	4	608	58

1. Appearances in the UEFA Cup
2. Appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup
3. Appearances in the League Two play-offs
4. Appearances in the Football League Trophy
5. One appearance in the EFL Trophy and one in the League Two play-offs
6. Appearance in the EFL Trophy

Honours

Middlesbrough

• FA Youth Cup: 2003–04
• UEFA Cup runner-up: 2005–06

Rochdale

• League Two promotion: 2009–10, 2013–14