John Kay (English footballer)
Encyclopedia
John Kay is an English
former footballer
.
Kay started his career at Arsenal
as an apprentice, joining in April 1980 and turning professional in July 1981. He made his League debut against West Bromwich Albion
on 26 February 1983 and went on to make a further seven appearances that season. He played another seven league matches in 1983-84
but in the 1984 close season he was given a free transfer.
He moved to Wimbledon
and spent three years there, including a brief loan period at Middlesbrough
. In 1987 he joined Sunderland
, and made over 200 appearances in eight years with the club (as well as a loan spell at Shrewsbury Town
before finishing his career with Preston North End
and Scarborough
.
Kay is fondly remembered by Sunderland fans for his hard tackling and determination, in a particularly tough challenge on a Leeds United player. The Leeds physio said after the incident that the player "looked like he'd been run down by a combine harvester". Kay earned the nickname "The Tractor" in reference to this comment. Another incident at Sunderland saw Kay break his leg, and instead of writhing in pain, he sat up on the stretcher and pretended to row it off the pitch.
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...
former footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
.
Kay started his career at Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
as an apprentice, joining in April 1980 and turning professional in July 1981. He made his League debut against West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
on 26 February 1983 and went on to make a further seven appearances that season. He played another seven league matches in 1983-84
1983-84 in English football
The 1983–84 season was the 104th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool had a great first season under the management of Joe Fagan as they wrapped up their third successive league title and the 15th in their history...
but in the 1984 close season he was given a free transfer.
He moved to Wimbledon
Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
and spent three years there, including a brief loan period at Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough 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...
. In 1987 he joined Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
, and made over 200 appearances in eight years with the club (as well as a loan spell at Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
before finishing his career with Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
and Scarborough
Scarborough F.C.
Scarborough Football Club was an English football club based in the seaside resort of Scarborough, North Yorkshire. They were one of the oldest football clubs in England, formed in 1879, before they were wound up on 20 June 2007, with debts of £2.5 million.In the 2006–07 season...
.
Kay is fondly remembered by Sunderland fans for his hard tackling and determination, in a particularly tough challenge on a Leeds United player. The Leeds physio said after the incident that the player "looked like he'd been run down by a combine harvester". Kay earned the nickname "The Tractor" in reference to this comment. Another incident at Sunderland saw Kay break his leg, and instead of writhing in pain, he sat up on the stretcher and pretended to row it off the pitch.