Alan Kernaghan
Encyclopedia
Alan Kernaghan is an Irish former footballer. Since retiring he has become a coach
and manager. Since January 2007 he has been a youth coach at Rangers
.
Born in Otley
, West Yorkshire
, England
, at the age of four, he moved with his family to Bangor, Co. Down. Kernaghan represented the Northern Ireland national football team
at schoolboy level and the Republic of Ireland
at senior level.
, and went on to make 212 appearances during an eight-year period, scoring 16 goals.
In September 1993, Kernaghan was signed for Manchester City
by then-boss Brian Horton
. He went on loan to various clubs—Bolton Wanderers
in 1994, Bradford City
in 1996, and then to St. Johnstone in 1997. The Saints signed him on a permanent deal just before the end of the year, after he was given a free transfer from Manchester City. He enjoyed four years at McDiarmid Park
, making 60 league appearances and scoring five goals.
Kernaghan then joined Brechin City
, but he made only three competitive appearances for the club. He then moved to Clyde
, where he started as a player but was promoted to a player/manager role in the 2003–04 season. He guided Clyde to a second-placed finish in the First Division
, behind Inverness Caley Thistle
, a division which they led for the majority of the season. Kernaghan made 63 appearances for Clyde as a player, scoring three goals.
His next move was to Livingston
as assistant manager to Allan Preston
. Kernaghan was on a player/assistant manager role at the club, making four first team appearances for Livingston, but he was sacked along with Preston after a poor run of results.
Kernaghan next moved to Falkirk
, where he took up a player/coach role. He made nine appearances for the Bairns but left the club on 2 September 2005, to take up the role as manager of Dundee
. He was removed from the position, after an unsuccessful spell, in April 2006.
policy at the time did not select players who were not or whose parents were not born in Northern Ireland he wasn't selected for the senior team. Due to his grandmother being an Irish citizen he was entitled to Irish Citizenship, he was selected by Jack Charlton
to play for the Republic of Ireland national side, gaining 26 caps and scoring one goal. He was a member of the 1994 World Cup squad. He is the first former player for the Republic of Ireland to hold a coaching role at Rangers F.C.
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
and manager. Since January 2007 he has been a youth coach at Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
.
Born in Otley
Otley
-Transport:The main roads through the town are the A660 to the south east, which connects Otley to Bramhope, Adel and Leeds city centre, and the A65 to the west, which goes to Ilkley and Skipton. The A6038 heads to Guiseley, Shipley and Bradford, connecting with the A65...
, West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, at the age of four, he moved with his family to Bangor, Co. Down. Kernaghan represented the Northern Ireland national football team
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
at schoolboy level and the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
at senior level.
Career
Kernaghan began his playing career as an apprentice at MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
, and went on to make 212 appearances during an eight-year period, scoring 16 goals.
In September 1993, Kernaghan was signed for Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
by then-boss Brian Horton
Brian Horton
Brian Horton is an English former footballer and manager, who is working as Phil Brown's assistant at Preston North End.Horton played for Hednesford Town, Port Vale, Brighton & Hove Albion, Luton Town and Hull City as a midfielder...
. He went on loan to various clubs—Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
in 1994, Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
in 1996, and then to St. Johnstone in 1997. The Saints signed him on a permanent deal just before the end of the year, after he was given a free transfer from Manchester City. He enjoyed four years at McDiarmid Park
McDiarmid Park
McDiarmid Park is a football stadium in Perth, Scotland, the home ground of St. Johnstone FC. It has an all-seated capacity of 10,673.-History:...
, making 60 league appearances and scoring five goals.
Kernaghan then joined Brechin City
Brechin City F.C.
Brechin City Football Club is a Scottish football team based in Brechin, Angus. They are members of the Scottish Football League and play in the Second Division in the 2010–11 season...
, but he made only three competitive appearances for the club. He then moved to Clyde
Clyde F.C.
Clyde Football Club are a Scottish professional football team currently playing in the Third Division of the Scottish Football League. Although based for the last fifteen years in the new town of Cumbernauld, they are traditionally associated with an area that covers Rutherglen in South...
, where he started as a player but was promoted to a player/manager role in the 2003–04 season. He guided Clyde to a second-placed finish in the First Division
Scottish Football League First Division
The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Championship is the highest division of the Scottish Football League and the second highest in the Scottish football league system....
, behind Inverness Caley Thistle
Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club are a Scottish football club from Inverness who compete in the Scottish Premier League. They are currently managed by Terry Butcher and assistant manager Maurice Malpas...
, a division which they led for the majority of the season. Kernaghan made 63 appearances for Clyde as a player, scoring three goals.
His next move was to Livingston
Livingston F.C.
Livingston Football Club is a Scottish association football club based in Livingston, West Lothian. The club currently plays in the Scottish Football League First Division.The club was founded in 1943 as Ferranti Thistle, a works team...
as assistant manager to Allan Preston
Allan Preston
Allan Preston is a retired Scottish professional footballer and manager. He is currently a radio sports pundit for BBC Scotland.- Playing career :...
. Kernaghan was on a player/assistant manager role at the club, making four first team appearances for Livingston, but he was sacked along with Preston after a poor run of results.
Kernaghan next moved to Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
, where he took up a player/coach role. He made nine appearances for the Bairns but left the club on 2 September 2005, to take up the role as manager of Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
. He was removed from the position, after an unsuccessful spell, in April 2006.
International career
Brought up in Bangor, Northern Ireland, he played for Northern Ireland Schoolboys six times. However the Irish Football AssociationIrish Football Association
The Irish Football Association is the organising body for association football in Northern Ireland, and was historically the governing body for Ireland...
policy at the time did not select players who were not or whose parents were not born in Northern Ireland he wasn't selected for the senior team. Due to his grandmother being an Irish citizen he was entitled to Irish Citizenship, he was selected by Jack Charlton
Jack Charlton
John "Jack" Charlton, OBE, DL is a former footballer and manager who played for Leeds United in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, and was part of the England team who won the 1966 World Cup...
to play for the Republic of Ireland national side, gaining 26 caps and scoring one goal. He was a member of the 1994 World Cup squad. He is the first former player for the Republic of Ireland to hold a coaching role at Rangers F.C.