Ex-goalkeeper Paddy Kenny takes up his first job as manager at 9th tier club

Ex-goalkeeper Paddy Kenny takes up his first job as manager at 9th tier club Goole AFC, with Nathan Helliwell also by his side.

The duo come into the Northern Counties East League Premier Division outfit, who currently sit 17th out of 20 teams, taking 11 points from 13 games played and after just two points above bottom side Bottesford, and 14 points behind the playoff places.

Their first game in the charge will be an away league fixture against Eccleshill United, followed up by Campion away, then Hallam at home.

Really excited about this @NathanHelliwel4 🙌🏻⚽️ https://t.co/bAMy5vuqOj

— Paddy Kenny (@paddykenny17) October 24, 2023

CLUB STATEMENT:

Firstly, we would like to thank everyone who applied for the position of first team manager.

Due to the high number of applicants, the club committee met over the weekend to evaluate each application and put together a shortlist for interviews.

Following a long day of interviews throughout Monday, we are now in a position to announce Paddy Kenny and Nathan Helliwell as our new joint management team.

Paddy and Nathan will be announcing their backroom team in due course.

Please join us in welcoming Paddy and Nathan to the club.

Paddy Kenny began his career with Bradford Park Avenue, and upon turning professional in the summer of 1998, he signed for Neil Warnock’s Bury.

In 2002, Warnock wanted him in at Sheffield United, where he spent much of his career and had notable success; making appearances in the League Cup and FA Cup semi-finals, two play-off finals, and then promotion to the Premier League in 2005–06.

Kenny then signed for Warnock once again in 2010, joining Queens Park Rangers after his time at Sheffield United ended having spent much of his final season on the sidelines having failing a drugs test the previous summer.

During his first season at QPR, he secured his second promotion to the Premier League and his first Championship winners medal, then remained as first choice goalkeeper the next season as QPR beat relegation on the final day of the season, before he was reunited with Warnock for the 4th time when he signed for Leeds United in 2012.

He stayed at Leeds for two years, before brief spells with Bolton Wanderers, Oldham Athletic (on loan), Ipswich Town, Bury, and Rotherham United, Northampton and ended his career at Maltby Main.

PADDY KENNY’S CAREER:

Youth career
Ovenden West Riding

Senior career
1997–1998 – Bradford Park Avenue – 56 games
1998–2002 – Bury – 151 games
1999 → Whitby Town (loan) – 8 games
2002-2010 → Sheffield United – 318 games
2010–2012 – Queens Park Rangers – 81 games
2012–2014 – Leeds United – 81 games
2014–2015 – Bolton Wanderers
2014 → Oldham Athletic (loan) – 4 games
2015 – Ipswich Town
2015 – Bury
2016 – Rotherham United
2016–2017 – Northampton Town
2017–2018 – Maltby Main
Total – 619 games

International career
2004–2006 – Republic of Ireland – 7 games

Managerial career
2023– Goole (joint)

Twitter users reacted as the ex-goalkeeper Paddy Kenny takes up his first job as manager at 9th tier club Goole AFC…

@Damonhfx: Quality @paddykenny17 good luck mate 👏

@GaryMoo27: Really positive appointment, looking forward to getting behind both @paddykenny17 and @NathanHelliwel4, onwards and upwards

@YouFUMS: Good luck @paddykenny17 There’ll be many Blades like me that will be following @GooleAFC progress 👍

@JohnCri61191561: Paddy one of my favourite Blades keepers. I wish him well at the Victoria Pleasure Grounds.

@GrimTim_GTID: Good luck for the future. Fingers crossed you’ll be able to get the team playing consistently well.

@DonnaHaslam1: Brilliant congratulations, enjoy & good luck x👏🥳

@gizmotomlinson: Welcome to Goole afc see you Saturday

@IanParfitt: All the best Paddy! 🤟

@KaylesCooper: My home town! Good luck Paddy 🙌

@JoeHylton1: Wish you all the football luck in the world… enjoy it Paddy👊

@FPL_Blayard: Grew up in Goole, a blade and live 10 mins down road. Definitely be in attendance!

@adambenjaminlee: Good luck will be keeping an eye on the scores!

@BarkergGraham: As a Goolie I can only wish you good luck Paddy! 🤞

@matt_duce1980: Paddy now a goolie not a goalie 🤣

@ChambersLuke7: Interesting one, Paddy Kenny enters the world of management 🙌🏻 A few Blades fans could be heading down to watch Goole at some point I’m sure

@Will_Unwin: First Pascal Chimbonda, now this

@Rachel_L_Walker: Wow! This I was not expecting … I’d nearly retired the season ticket … come on Goole!!!

@YorkyIron: This is absolutely mental btw! Football is wild

@doncasterblues1: Blimey this is the former blades keeper, big call for Goole