Kevin Thornton
Encyclopedia
Kevin Anthony Thornton (born 9 July 1986) is an Irish
footballer who was released by former club Northampton Town
on the 31st August
and product of the Sky Blues' Academy, Thornton was given a squad number for the first time in the 2005–06 season
, following a productive pre-season in which he was included on the trips to Ibiza
and his native Ireland. He made his debut on 20 September 2005, in a League Cup
1–0 defeat at Selhurst Park
, replacing Isaac Osbourne on 83 minutes. He made sixteen Championship
appearances later in the season, putting in a string of impressive displays in March and April. In a pre-season tour friendly
with Portland Timbers
he was sent off for an alleged stamp. A fans' favourite due to his exciting style of play, Thornton scored his first goal for the club on 26 August 2006 against Hull City
, but an ankle injury marred what seemed destined to be a successful season
, limiting him to just 13 appearances. The Irishman penned a new two-year extension to his contract in May 2007, keeping him at the club until summer 2010. In 2007–08
he was limited to twenty appearances and continued to be used mainly as a substitute. He had a good run at the end of the season under new manager Chris Coleman
. In September 2008, Thornton signed a six week loan deal at League One
team Brighton & Hove Albion
. Following a six week extension on the loan, he had played fifteen games for the Gulls before returning to the Ricoh Arena
.
On 2 July 2009, Thornton left Coventry City by mutual consent. Both the club and player refused to comment on this, but it is believed to be down to his court appearance the previous month. He had been found guilty of failing to stop at the scene of an accident, driving with excess alcohol
and without insurance
or a full licence
. For his crimes he was banned from driving for 22 months, fined £2,750 and ordered to pay £260 in costs and compensation. Two years earlier he had been convicted for criminal damage
to a taxi
after a night out in 2007. Then manager Iain Dowie
having only discovered of this after it was reported in the Coventry Telegraph.
In July 2009, Thornton was taken on by his former manager Micky Adams
, for a trial at League Two
side Port Vale
. He played his first game against Stafford Rangers
on 25 July, topping off an impressive performance with the only goal of the game. However, Adams said ""I am running a football club, not a fat club." and told him he would need to get his fitness back if he wanted a contract. Thornton had previously described his relationship Adams as "lively", saying "We were best mates at times and other times we wouldn't speak to each other!". Adams ended his interest the next month due to his concerns over Thornton's fitness.
On 1 September 2009 Thornton re-signed with his former school boy club Boyne Rovers FC. Boyne Rovers senior side operate in the fifth Tier of Irish amateur soccer. Convinced by legendary Rovers manager Declan Kierans that his time there would be a stepping stone to bigger things Thornton played 12 times for Rovers and scored the winning goal in a 4-3 win over bitter local rivals Drogheda Town. However his stay with Rovers was marred by his alleged involvement in an all night drinking session in the notorious bar The Stags Head with a group of female lap dancers on the eve of a cup game. Kierans took severe action and cancelled Thorntons contract along with banning Danny Gartland, Jason Tuite, Darragh Traynor & Paul Dowd from the club for the rest of the season. In November 2009 Thornton left Rovers to return to England where he signed for Coventry Sphinx, who play in the Midland Football Alliance
(Level 9 in England).
On 7 November he scored on his debut in the 6–0 win over Cradley. On 2 December 2009 he joined Nuneaton Town on a non contract deal, playing football part-time whilst also touring the West Midlands with his indie three-piece band.
On 8 January 2010 he joined League Two outfit Northampton Town on a short term contract during his time at Northampton Town, he made 24 Starts and 21 appearances, however due to lack of fitness he was released by Northampton Town on 31 August 2011
As of 27th September he has signed a one year contract with Blue Square North team Nuneaton Town although he had hoped to return to Irish League football and had been linked with a move to MDL Div 2 side The Black Bull.
and Leyton Orient
player Sean Thornton
. Kevin has a partner named Geoffrey and two adopted sons named Samuel and Timmy.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
footballer who was released by former club Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
on the 31st August
Career
A promising midfielderMidfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
and product of the Sky Blues' Academy, Thornton was given a squad number for the first time in the 2005–06 season
2005-06 in English football
The 2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*The rebuilt Wembley Stadium was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August 2005, The Football Association reserved the Millennium Stadium as a backup, as there was some doubt whether...
, following a productive pre-season in which he was included on the trips to Ibiza
Ibiza
Ibiza or Eivissa is a Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea 79 km off the coast of the city of Valencia in Spain. It is the third largest of the Balearic Islands, an autonomous community of Spain. With Formentera, it is one of the two Pine Islands or Pityuses. Its largest cities are Ibiza...
and his native Ireland. He made his debut on 20 September 2005, in a League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
1–0 defeat at Selhurst Park
Selhurst Park
Selhurst Park is an English football stadium located in the London suburb of South Norwood in the Borough of Croydon. It is the current home ground of Crystal Palace Football Club. Its present capacity is 26,309.-History:...
, replacing Isaac Osbourne on 83 minutes. He made sixteen Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
appearances later in the season, putting in a string of impressive displays in March and April. In a pre-season tour friendly
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
with Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers (USL)
Portland Timbers was an American professional soccer team based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 2001, the team played in various leagues at the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, including the USL First Division and the USSF Division 2 Professional League, until the end of...
he was sent off for an alleged stamp. A fans' favourite due to his exciting style of play, Thornton scored his first goal for the club on 26 August 2006 against Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
, but an ankle injury marred what seemed destined to be a successful season
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
, limiting him to just 13 appearances. The Irishman penned a new two-year extension to his contract in May 2007, keeping him at the club until summer 2010. In 2007–08
2007-08 in English football
The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...
he was limited to twenty appearances and continued to be used mainly as a substitute. He had a good run at the end of the season under new manager Chris Coleman
Chris Coleman (footballer)
Christopher "Chris" Coleman is a Welsh football manager and former player. He is currently the manager of Greek Side Larissa....
. In September 2008, Thornton signed a six week loan deal at League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
team Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
. Following a six week extension on the loan, he had played fifteen games for the Gulls before returning to the Ricoh Arena
Ricoh Arena
The Ricoh Arena , home to Coventry City F.C., is a stadium complex situated in the Rowleys Green district of the city of Coventry, England containing a 32,609 seater football stadium, a 6,000 square-metre exhibition hall, a hotel, a leisure club, and a casino...
.
On 2 July 2009, Thornton left Coventry City by mutual consent. Both the club and player refused to comment on this, but it is believed to be down to his court appearance the previous month. He had been found guilty of failing to stop at the scene of an accident, driving with excess alcohol
Driving under the influence
Driving under the influence is the act of driving a motor vehicle with blood levels of alcohol in excess of a legal limit...
and without insurance
Driver's license
A driver's license/licence , or driving licence is an official document which states that a person may operate a motorized vehicle, such as a motorcycle, car, truck or a bus, on a public roadway. Most U.S...
or a full licence
Driver's license
A driver's license/licence , or driving licence is an official document which states that a person may operate a motorized vehicle, such as a motorcycle, car, truck or a bus, on a public roadway. Most U.S...
. For his crimes he was banned from driving for 22 months, fined £2,750 and ordered to pay £260 in costs and compensation. Two years earlier he had been convicted for criminal damage
Property damage
Property damage is damage to or the destruction of public or private property, caused either by a person who is not its owner or by natural phenomena. Property damage caused by persons is generally categorized by its cause: neglect , and intentional damage...
to a taxi
Taxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
after a night out in 2007. Then manager Iain Dowie
Iain Dowie
Iain Dowie is a former footballer and manager. He is currently without a club. He has previously managed Hull City and Queens Park Rangers and was assistant manager of Newcastle United...
having only discovered of this after it was reported in the Coventry Telegraph.
In July 2009, Thornton was taken on by his former manager Micky Adams
Micky Adams
Michael Richard "Micky" Adams is an English former professional footballer turned football manager who is in charge of League Two side Port Vale. As a player he was a full back, and made a total of 438 league appearances in a nineteen year professional career in the Football League, including five...
, for a trial at League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
. He played his first game against Stafford Rangers
Stafford Rangers F.C.
Stafford Rangers Football Club is a semi-professional English football team from Stafford which plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.The team wear black and white stripes with black shorts...
on 25 July, topping off an impressive performance with the only goal of the game. However, Adams said ""I am running a football club, not a fat club." and told him he would need to get his fitness back if he wanted a contract. Thornton had previously described his relationship Adams as "lively", saying "We were best mates at times and other times we wouldn't speak to each other!". Adams ended his interest the next month due to his concerns over Thornton's fitness.
On 1 September 2009 Thornton re-signed with his former school boy club Boyne Rovers FC. Boyne Rovers senior side operate in the fifth Tier of Irish amateur soccer. Convinced by legendary Rovers manager Declan Kierans that his time there would be a stepping stone to bigger things Thornton played 12 times for Rovers and scored the winning goal in a 4-3 win over bitter local rivals Drogheda Town. However his stay with Rovers was marred by his alleged involvement in an all night drinking session in the notorious bar The Stags Head with a group of female lap dancers on the eve of a cup game. Kierans took severe action and cancelled Thorntons contract along with banning Danny Gartland, Jason Tuite, Darragh Traynor & Paul Dowd from the club for the rest of the season. In November 2009 Thornton left Rovers to return to England where he signed for Coventry Sphinx, who play in the Midland Football Alliance
Midland Football Alliance
The Midland Football Alliance is an English association football league for semi-professional teams. It covers Leicestershire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire and also southern parts of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire...
(Level 9 in England).
On 7 November he scored on his debut in the 6–0 win over Cradley. On 2 December 2009 he joined Nuneaton Town on a non contract deal, playing football part-time whilst also touring the West Midlands with his indie three-piece band.
On 8 January 2010 he joined League Two outfit Northampton Town on a short term contract during his time at Northampton Town, he made 24 Starts and 21 appearances, however due to lack of fitness he was released by Northampton Town on 31 August 2011
As of 27th September he has signed a one year contract with Blue Square North team Nuneaton Town although he had hoped to return to Irish League football and had been linked with a move to MDL Div 2 side The Black Bull.
Personal life
Thornton is the younger brother of former SunderlandSunderland 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 Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
player Sean Thornton
Sean Thornton
Sean Thornton is a professional footballer currently playing for Welsh Premier League side Aberystwyth Town, after a year out of the game following his release by Leyton Orient...
. Kevin has a partner named Geoffrey and two adopted sons named Samuel and Timmy.
External links
- Kevin Thornton player profile at ntfc.co.uk