Neil Kilkenny

Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox football biography Neil Martin Kilkenny (born 19 December 1985) is a former professional footballer. A midfielder, he began his career in the youth system at Arsenal, and went on to play league football for Oldham Athletic, Birmingham City, Leeds United, Bristol City, Preston North End, Melbourne City, Perth Glory, Western United, and Sorrento.

Kilkenny was born in England, has Irish grandparents, and was raised in Australia. He played youth international football for both England and Ireland before committing to Australia. He has 15 caps for Australia, and competed for the country at the 2008 Olympics.

Early life and career

Born in Enfield, London, Kilkenny moved to Australia with his family at the age of four, and grew up in Brisbane.<ref name=earlylife/> A promising schoolboy footballer, he captained the Queensland schools' representative team. When Kilkenny was eleven, the family returned to England to maximise his chances of making a career in the game. At twelve, he was invited to join Arsenal's youth development scheme, and while a student at Ravenscroft School, Barnet, he played for Middlesex Schools and appeared for Arsenal's under-17 team.<ref name=earlylife>Template:Cite news</ref> In July 2002 he began a two-year scholarship programme in Arsenal's Academy.<ref name=earlylife/>

By the 2003–04 season, he had graduated to Arsenal's under-19 team<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and once been an unused substitute for the reserves,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and had played international football for Republic of Ireland under-19s, qualifying via grandparents from Sligo,<ref name=IrelandU19>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=EnglandU20>Template:Cite news</ref> and for England under-18s.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> However, he became unhappy at Arsenal, chose to leave the club,<ref name=EnglandU20/> and after trials with clubs including Aston Villa,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Manchester City<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and Leicester City,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> he joined Birmingham City on a free transfer in January 2004.

Club career

Birmingham City and loans

Kilkenny signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Birmingham. The club's academy director felt he had "the ability to play at the highest level", and prioritised adding a "work ethic and competitiveness" to his "great technique".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The player travelled with the first team for the game at Charlton Athletic in April 2004,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> but was not included in the matchday squad.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Perceived as not ready for the first team at Premier League level, he was loaned to League One club Oldham Athletic in November 2004 to gain first-team experience.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He made his debut in the Football League as a second-half substitute in Oldham's 3–2 win at home to Barnsley on 20 November, and scored two goals in his second game, a 3–1 win away to Bradford City, four days later.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He played a full part in Oldham's season: he took the free kick which led to the winning goal against Premier League Manchester City in the FA Cup,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and ended up as winner of the club's Players' Young Player of the Season award.<ref name=YPOTY>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

At the start of the 2005–06 season he became part of the Birmingham first-team squad, though manager Steve Bruce warned him that he would not easily find his way into the team.<ref name=PLdebut>Template:Cite news</ref> On 20 September 2005, he made his Birmingham first-team debut in the League Cup away at Scunthorpe United, as a 26th-minute substitute to replace the injured Muzzy Izzet.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Four days later, with six other midfielders unavailable through injury or suspension,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> he made his full home debut against Liverpool in the Premier League, in which he was sent off late in the game for handling the ball on the goal-line, thus giving Liverpool a penalty and a 2–2 draw. Despite his dismissal, he received words of encouragement from teammates Mikael Forssell and Mario Melchiot for his performance,<ref name=PLdebut/> and went on to make 25 appearances in all competitions, mainly as substitute, as Birmingham were relegated to the Championship.<ref name=sb0506/> The following season Kilkenny's appearances were infrequent; he started only two games, both in the League Cup.<ref name=sb0607/> The player became frustrated; while part of the first-team squad, he was rarely part of the first team, yet Bruce was reluctant to allow him out on loan.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

It was announced on 30 July 2007 that Kilkenny would again join Oldham on loan until January 2008.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The move was blocked following the collapse of Birmingham's purchase of Hossam Ghaly, but was confirmed a few days later.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His last match before he returned to Birmingham was an influential performance as Oldham beat Leeds United 3–1 to become the first team that season to win a League game at Elland Road.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Leeds United

2007–08 season

On 4 January 2008 Kilkenny signed for League One team Leeds United on an emergency loan, with a view to ensuring his availability for the next day's game prior to completing a permanent transfer the following week.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He made his debut in the 3–0 win over Northampton Town, putting in an impressive performance to get the man of the match award.<ref name=LeedsLoan>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Kilkenny signed a three-and-a-half-year permanent contract with Leeds on 7 January for a fee of £150,000.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He scored his first goal for the club in their 2–0 win against AFC Bournemouth in March.<ref name=sb0708/> Leeds went on to reach the play-off final that season but lost 1–0 against Doncaster Rovers.<ref name=sb0708/> He was then called up to the Australian Olympic team during the summer and missed all of pre-season training for Leeds as a result.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

2008–09 season

After a period out of the team and the sacking of Gary McAllister Kilkenny regained a spot in the Leeds midfield under the stewardship of new manager Simon Grayson late in the 2008–09 season.<ref name=ShawIndy/>

His 43rd-minute goal against Yeovil Town on 10 March 2009 was a leading contender for the goal of the season.Template:Citation needed He followed this up with goals in the 3–2 win against Crewe Alexandra and the 3–1 win against Tranmere Rovers.<ref name=sb0809/> Kilkenny was part of the Leeds team who were knocked out of the play-off semi-final by Millwall; he injured an ankle and was substituted in the first half of the second leg at Elland Road.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

2009–10 season

Doncaster made their interest in signing Kilkenny public during the summer but Grayson made it clear that he was not for sale.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After again missing pre-season, this time because of ankle trouble, Kilkenny found himself trying to regain fitness and a place on the bench once the season was in full flow. With seven substitutes required for the 2009–10 season, he was used mainly as an impact substitute in the early part of the season.<ref name=Regular>Template:Cite news</ref>

Kilkenny started his first league game of the season in the top-of-the-table goalless draw with Charlton Athletic<ref name=Regular/> and also started the next game in the Football League Trophy win against Darlington.<ref name=sb0910/> He scored his first goal of the season for Leeds in the 3–1 win against Grimsby Town in the Trophy, "[playing] a give-and-go with Jermaine Beckford before tucking the ball into the far corner".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Kilkenny also received the man of the match award in the same game.<ref name=Regular/> He scored in his next match, against Brighton & Hove Albion, as well as providing an assist for Beckford,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and made it three in five when he scored against his former club Oldham.<ref name=sb0910/> Kilkenny's fourth goal of the season came in December, with a rare header against Accrington Stanley.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A few days later he provided yet another assist when he set up Beckford's first goal against Hartlepool United.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Kilkenny played against Manchester United when Leeds won 1–0 away at Old Trafford on 3 January in the FA Cup.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was at the heart of Leeds' midfield in the 2–2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur in the next round of the FA Cup.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He missed the cup replay through injury, and returned to the bench against Carlisle United in the Football League Trophy Northern Final second leg.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He came on as a second-half substitute and helped Leeds win the match 3–2, making the score 4–4 on aggregate. The match went to penalties: Kilkenny converted his kick but Leeds lost 6–5.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Kilkenny came back into the starting line-up for the next game against Leyton Orient after fully recovering from his injury. By the time Leeds equalised, via a 95th-minute own goal, Kilkenny had been substituted.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He played an instrumental part as Leeds were promoted to the Football League Championship after finishing second in League One and thus earning automatic promotion.Template:Citation needed

2010–11 season

Kilkenny scored his first goal of the 2010–11 season with a penalty in the League Cup match against Lincoln City.<ref name=sb1011/> He made several assists for Leeds in the first few weeks of the season,Template:Citation needed including two, for Jonny Howson and Davide Somma, in Leeds' 5–2 defeat against Barnsley.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After being ever-present for Leeds, Kilkenny was named on the bench for the game against Sheffield United.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In November, Kilkenny entered negotiations with Leeds over extending his contract<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> amid interest from other clubs.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Kilkenny said in December that he was keen to sign a new contract with Leeds.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Kilkenny was named in Australia's final 23-man squad for the 2011 Asian Cup in January 2011, so would miss a month of Leeds' season;<ref name=asiacup/> he said he was "gutted" to be missing the FA Cup tie against his old club Arsenal.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In January he repeated his desire to stay with Leeds,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He returned from international duty to be named on the bench against Hull City.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He scored his first league goal of the season with a "spectacular 20-yard shot" against Preston North End.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> At the end of the season, it became clear that club and player were unlikely to agree terms on a new contract,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and on 26 May, manager Simon Grayson said that neither Kilkenny nor his agent had responded to the club's offer and he was "keen to move on" in terms of planning for next season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Kilkenny said that despite speculation linking him with a move to the Australian A-League, he wanted "to play at the highest level and that's in Europe".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Bristol City

On 16 June 2011, Kilkenny showed an interest in moving to Leeds' Yorkshire rivals Hull City.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 24 June, he signed for fellow Championship team Bristol City on a three-year contract after turning down offers from Leeds and from other Championship clubs.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Ahead of his return to Elland Road with Bristol City on 17 September, he told the Yorkshire Evening Post he had never wanted to leave the club,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and in response to Leeds' chairman Ken Bates' comment that "Kilkenny wanted to leave for a big club and ended up at Bristol City", he felt that Bates "has always got something to say and sometimes he needs to keep quiet."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Kilkenny scored his first goal for Bristol City in that match.<ref name=sb1112/>

On 29 March 2013, Kilkenny reached his 250th career league appearance with Bristol City against Derby County.

Preston North End

Kilkenny joined Preston North End on 14 November 2013 on an initial one-month loan.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 6 January 2014, he signed for the club permanently until the end of the season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Kilkenny played the whole match as Preston beat Swindon Town in the 2015 League One play-off final to gain promotion to the Championship.<ref name=2015POF>Template:Cite news</ref>

He was released at the end of the 2015–16 season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Melbourne City

On 19 July 2016, Kilkenny joined A-League club Melbourne City on a two-year deal.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Dead link</ref> He made his first appearance in a City shirt in a 5–0 friendly match win over Port Melbourne SC on 20 July 2016.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Kilkenny's performances over the season earned him Melbourne City's Player of the Year award for 2016–17.<ref name=MPOTY>Template:Cite news</ref>

In January 2018, Melbourne City released Kilkenny.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Perth Glory

A couple of days after being released by Melbourne City, Kilkenny joined Perth Glory.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 24 February, Kilkenny scored his first goal for Perth Glory in a 2–1 victory against his former team, Melbourne City.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Kilkenny spent Template:Frac seasons at Perth Glory, before being released at the end of the 2020–21 season.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Western United

Having been released by Perth Glory, Kilkenny joined Western United ahead of the 2021–22 season. Kilkenny spent two seasons at Western United before departing at the end of the 2022–23 season,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> to return to Perth to play for Perth Division 1 side Sorrento. At the end of the NPL WA season, Kilkenny retired.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

International career

Kilkenny, who was born in England with Irish grandparents, moved to Australia at a young age and grew up there,<ref name=ShawIndy>Template:Cite news</ref> so was eligible to play internationally for Australia, England and the Republic of Ireland. He played for Ireland at under-19 level and for England under-20s,<ref name=IrelandU19/><ref name=EnglandU20/> but shortly before the 2006 World Cup he committed to Australia. He was among a group of young players, selected by manager Guus Hiddink, who trained with the Australian squad in Germany prior to the tournament, and made his international debut on 7 June 2006, coming on as a late substitute in their 3–1 victory in a World Cup warm-up game against Liechtenstein in Ulm, Germany.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2007, he was a part of the Australian Olyroos for the 2008 Beijing Olympics qualifying campaign. In June 2008 he was one of 33 players called up for a pre-Olympic training camp prior to selection of the final 18-man squad.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was included in the final 18-man squad and played one game in the Olympics for Australia, who were knocked out in the group stages.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> After Leeds' FA Cup win over Manchester United put Kilkenny back on the international radar, Australia sent scouts to watch him as a possibility for the 2010 World Cup squad, but manager Pim Verbeek did not select him.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In December 2010, Kilkenny was selected in Australia's 23-man squad for the 2011 Asian Cup.<ref name=asiacup>Template:Cite news</ref> Kilkenny came on as a second-half substitute against United Arab Emirates in a warm-up game for the Asian Cup.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He played his first game in the Asian Cup when he came on as a second-half substitute against Bahrain. In the quarter-final match, against reigning champions Iraq, Kilkenny made an appearance in the 109th minute, during a 1–0 win.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He was a late substitute in the final, which Australia lost 1–0 to Japan after extra time.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Kilkenny played for Australia in the 3–0 win over New Zealand and goalless draw with Serbia in June 2011.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Personal life

He has four children with his English girlfriend Caprice. His brothers, Gary and Paul Kilkenny supported him very much growing up along with his father and mother. Brian and Janet Kilkenny. Kilkenny is himself a fan of his former side Arsenal but holds an affinity with Leeds United, the team he made the majority of his career appearances with.<ref name=ShawIndy /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In October 2024, Kilkenny joined Football West as their Football Development Officer, overseeing a new academy in partnership with Football Australia.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National CupTemplate:Efn		League Cup		Asia		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Birmingham City	2004–05<ref name=sb0405>Template:Soccerbase season</ref>	Premier League	0	0	—		0	0	—		—		0	0
	2005–06<ref name=sb0506>Template:Soccerbase season</ref>	Premier League	18	0	4	0	3	0	—		—		25	0
	2006–07<ref name=sb0607>Template:Soccerbase season</ref>	Championship	8	0	3	0	3	0	—		—		14	0
	Total		26	0	7	0	6	0	—		—		39	0
Oldham Athletic (loan)	2004–05<ref name=sb0405/>	League One	27	4	3	0	—		—		4Template:Efn	1	34	5
Oldham Athletic	2007–08<ref name=sb0708>Template:Soccerbase season</ref>	League One	20	1	3	1	1	1	—		1Template:Efn	0	25	3
	Total		47	5	6	1	1	1	—		5	1	59	8
Leeds United	2007–08<ref name=sb0708/>	League One	16	1	—		—		—		3Template:Efn	0	19	1
	2008–09<ref name=sb0809>Template:Soccerbase season</ref>	League One	30	4	1	0	3	0	—		4Template:Efn	0	38	4
	2009–10<ref name=sb0910>Template:Soccerbase season</ref>	League One	35	2	5	0	3	0	—		5Template:Efn	2	48	4
	2010–11<ref name=sb1011>Template:Soccerbase season</ref>	Championship	37	1	0	0	2	1	—		—		39	2
	Total		118	8	6	0	8	1	—		12	2	144	11
Bristol City	2011–12<ref name=sb1112>Template:Soccerbase season</ref>	Championship	41	1	1	0	1	0	—		—		43	1
	2012–13<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref>	Championship	24	0	0	0	0	0	—		—		24	0
	2013–14<ref name=sb1314>Template:Soccerbase season</ref>	League One	3	0	—		2	0	—		0	0	5	0
	Total		68	1	1	0	3	0	—		0	0	72	1
Preston North End	2013–14<ref name=sb1314/>	League One	27	2	4	0	—		—		1Template:Efn	0	32	2
	2014–15<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>	League One	35	0	5	0	2	1	—		7Template:Efn	0	49	1
	2015–16<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref>	Championship	13	1	0	0	2	0	—		—		15	1
	Total		75	3	9	0	4	1	—		8	0	96	4
Melbourne City	2016–17<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>||A-League	25	2	4	0	—		—		1	0	30	2
	2017–18	A-League	3	0	3	0	—		—		—		6	0
	Total		28	2	7	0	—		—		1	0	36	2
Perth Glory	2017–18	A-League	10	1	0	0	—		—		—		10	1
	2018–19	A-League	28	6	1	0	—		—		—		29	6
	2019–20	A-League	28	3	1	0	—		5	1	—		34	4
	2020–21	A-League	18	1	—		—		—		—		18	1
	Total		84	11	2	0	—		5	1	—		91	12
Western United	2021–22	A-League Men	26	0	1	0	—		—		—		27	0
	2022–23	A-League Men	21	1	0	0	—		—		—		21	1
	Total		47	1	1	0	—		—		—		48	1
Career total			491	31	39	1	22	3	5	1	25	3	582	39

Honours

Leeds United

• Football League One runner-up: 2009–10<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Preston North End

• Football League One play-offs: 2015<ref name=2015POF/>

Perth Glory

• A-League Premiership: 2018–19

Western United

• A-League Men Championship: 2021–22<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Australia

• AFC Asian Cup: runner-up 2011<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Sorrento

• Football West State League Division 1: 2024<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Individual

• Oldham Athletic Player of the Year: 2004–05<ref name=YPOTY />
• Melbourne City Player of the Year: 2016–17<ref name=MPOTY />
• PFA A-League Men Team of the Season: 2018–19, 2021–22<ref name=PFA>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

External links

• OzFootball profile
• Template:Webarchive
• Template:Webarchive
• Template:Soccerbase
• Template:Olympics.com
• Template:AOC profile
• Template:Olympedia