Ken McKenna explained

Ken McKenna
Fullname:Kenneth McKenna
Birth Date:2 July 1960
Birth Place:Birkenhead, England
Position:Forward
Currentclub:AFC Fylde (assistant manager)
Years1:1982–1983
Years2:1983–?
Years3:?–1987
Years4:1987–1989
Years5:1989–1990
Years6:1990–1992
Years7:1992–1994
Years8:1994–1997
Years9:1997–1998
Years10:1998–2005
Clubs1:Tranmere Rovers
Clubs2:Telford United
Clubs3:Runcorn
Clubs4:Tranmere Rovers
Clubs5:Telford United
Clubs6:Altrincham
Clubs7:Barrow
Clubs8:Conwy United
Clubs9:Bangor City
Clubs10:The New Saints[1]
Caps1:4
Caps4:16
Caps6:74
Caps8:98
Caps9:27
Caps10:63
Goals1:0
Goals4:3
Goals6:41
Goals8:89
Goals9:18
Goals10:20
Manageryears1:2001–2008
Manageryears2:2008
Manageryears3:2010–2011
Managerclubs1:The New Saints
Managerclubs2:Cammell Laird
Managerclubs3:Altrincham

Kenneth McKenna (born 2 July 1960) is an English former professional footballer and manager who last worked as assistant manager of National League side AFC Fylde.[2]

Playing career

McKenna started his senior playing career with Poulton Victoria and then signed for Tranmere Rovers in the Football League on a non-contract basis, making four league appearances.[3] He left the club in 1983, joining Telford United and later won a Cheshire Senior Cup winner's medal with Runcorn, returning to Tranmere Rovers for a second spell in 1987.

After a second spell at Telford United, McKenna joined Altrincham at the start of the 1990–91 season, scoring 33 goals in 56 appearances in all competitions, finishing the season with the Robins' Player of the Year award and was part of a side that went 28 games without defeat and scored in 10 consecutive games. He also managed hat tricks against Merthyr Tydfil, Boston United and Cheltenham Town.[4] He continued to score goals during his second season with the club, finishing the year with 23 goals in all competitions, despite the Moss Lane outfit barely surviving the drop before leaving to join Barrow in 1992.

In 1994, McKenna joined Welsh Premier League side Conwy United, setting a new club scoring record in the 1995–96 season with 38 goals in 35 league appearances, finishing as the league's top scorer.[5] After one year with Bangor City, during which he scoring a late equaliser in the Welsh Cup final against Connah's Quay Nomads to take the game to penalties which Bangor later won,[6] he joined Total Network Solutions and was later appointed manager during the 2000–01 season.

Managerial career

McKenna steered TNS to three runners-up spots in the Welsh Premier League before winning three successive titles in 2004–05, 2005–06 and 2006–07, as well as adding FAW Premier Cup, Welsh Cup and Welsh League Cup successes.[7] In March 2008, he left the club by mutual consent.[8]

McKenna returned to his home town of Birkenhead to become manager of Cammell Laird but left the club soon after, later becoming chief scout at Cambridge United before joining Altrincham as assistant manager. In September 2010, he was appointed caretaker-manager at the club following the sacking of Graham Heathcote.[9] Following an improvement in the team's results under McKenna, he was later handed the job on a permanent basis.[10]

On 16 May 2011, it was announced that McKenna would take a new role as assistant manager, to the new Morecambe manager, Jim Bentley. In 2019, he followed Bentley to new club AFC Fylde, again taking the role of assistant manager. He left the position in July 2020.[11]

Honours

Player

Telford United
Bangor City
Individual

Manager

The New Saints

Individual

External links

Notes and References

  1. Prior to 2006, the club was known as Total Network Solutions
  2. Web site: Morecambe News Latest from the Globe Arena News New boss announces backroom staff. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110927075316/http://www.morecambefc.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10866~2361382,00.html. 27 September 2011.
  3. Web site: Ken McKenna . Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database . Neil Brown . 14 March 2010.
  4. Web site: Alty legends section 13 . Robins' review . 14 March 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090915195919/http://www.lusa.u-net.com/legend16.htm . 15 September 2009 .
  5. Web site: Top 25 individual goalscorers 1995/6 . welsh-premier.com . 14 March 2010 . 19 December 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131219010204/http://www.welsh-premier.com/index.php/people/players/goalscorers/top-scorers-19956 . dead .
  6. Web site: Bangor City 1–1 Connah's Quay Nomads . Welsh Football Data Archive . 14 March 2010.
  7. Web site: Saints boss McKenna to step down . . 18 February 2008 . 14 March 2010.
  8. Web site: Manager McKenna leaves Saints . . 13 March 2008 . 14 March 2010.
  9. News: McKenna takes charge of Altrincham . welsh-premier.com . 15 September 2010 . 15 September 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161030210256/http://welsh-premier.com/index.php/headline-news/2604-mckenna-takes-charge-of-altrincham . 30 October 2016 .
  10. News: Altrincham appoint Ken McKenna as manager . . 15 October 2010 . 17 October 2010.
  11. Web site: Fresh blow for AFC Fylde as number two Kenny McKenna stands down. 9 July 2020.
  12. Web site: WPL Golden Boot winner . Welsh Premier League . 13 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190601184838/https://www.wpl.cymru/GoldenBoot . 1 June 2019 . dead .
  13. Web site: Manager of the Season . Welsh Premier League . 7 June 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190601091431/https://www.wpl.cymru/ManageroftheSeason . 1 June 2019 . dead .