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Kevin Donovan

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Kevin Donovan
Personal information
Full name Kevin Donovan
Position(s) Midfield (retired)

Kevin Donovan (born 17 December 1971 in Halifax) is a retired professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He played a significant number of games for Grimsby Town and West Bromwich Albion, and scored goals at Wembley Stadium for both clubs in Football League play-off finals.

Career

Donovan joined Huddersfield Town as an apprentice in April 1988 and became a professional player in October 1989.[1] He joined Halifax Town on loan during February and March 1992, before moving to West Bromwich Albion for £70,000 in October of that year.[1] He made his Albion debut against Port Vale in the same month.[1] Donovan scored in Albion's 3–0 win over Vale in the Division Two play-off final the following May at Wembley as the club clinched promotion.

In July 1997 he signed for Grimsby Town for a £300,000 fee, joining up with his former manager at Albion, Alan Buckley. His time at Grimsby was arguably the best of his career. In his first season he scored 21 goals to help the club win twice at Wembley in the Auto Windscreens Shield, and in the play-off final, in which Donovan netted the only goal of the game. However, Donovan failed to score a single goal in the following season for the club.

Two more rather impressive seasons were spent at Blundell Park before Donovan confirmed the Grimsby supporters' worst fears and left to join rivals Barnsley. His time at Oakwell was mainly blighted by injury problems,and he experienced relegation with the club[1], and at the end of the 2002/2003 season he was released by The Tykes.

Donovan was snapped up by Alan Buckley, who had managed him at West Brom and Grimsby, and gave him a one-year deal for Rochdale[1]. However, after another fruitless campaign, playing only seven times for 'Dale, Donovan was released by the club.

His next port of call was at Conference club York City following a loan spell. At York he linked up with former Grimsby team mate Paul Groves, but neither really flourished. At the end of the season Donovan moved into the Conference North, joining Alfreton Town for a season before retiring from the game. Kevin now coaches youngsters in his native Yorkshire.

Honours

Grimsby Town

West Bromwich Albion

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Matthews, Tony (2005). The Who's Who of West Bromwich Albion. Breedon Books. p. 69. ISBN 1-85983-474-4.
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