Stuart Kennedy Explained

Stuart Kennedy
Fullname:Stuart Robert Kennedy
Birth Date:31 May 1953
Birth Place:Grangemouth, Scotland
Height:1.74 m[1]
Position:Right-back
Years1:1971–1976
Clubs1:Falkirk
Caps1:110
Goals1:1
Years2:1976–1983
Clubs2:Aberdeen
Caps2:223
Goals2:3
Totalcaps:333
Totalgoals:4
Nationalyears1:1978–1981
Nationalteam1:Scotland
Nationalcaps1:8
Nationalgoals1:0

Stuart Robert Kennedy (born 31 May 1953) is a Scottish former footballer who played as a right-back for Falkirk and Aberdeen. He made eight appearances for the Scotland national team.

Club career

Kennedy was born in Grangemouth. He moved to Aberdeen in 1976 for £30,000 and featured prominently in Aberdeen's greatest period of success. A hard-working, skilful player, he won every major domestic honour in his time in the North-East, namely the League in 1979–80, the Scottish Cup in 1981–82, and the 1976–77 League Cup.

During the second leg of the European Cup Winners' Cup semi-final in 1983, Kennedy picked up a serious knee injury after catching his studs at the edge of the pitch.[2] Having played in every game of Aberdeen's European campaign up to then, he was forced to watch from the dugout when his colleagues faced Real Madrid in the final in Gothenburg, Sweden. The Dons lifted the trophy after a 2–1 victory over the Spanish giants. Kennedy earned himself a place on the substitutes bench, despite being unable to play, thanks to an act of respect from his coach Alex Ferguson. The injury proved so serious that he never played professionally again.[2]

International career

Kennedy was selected in the Scotland squad for the 1978 World Cup, where he played in the games against Peru and the Netherlands. He received eight caps in total in his three-year international career between 1978 and 1981.

Life after football

Since retiring, he has worked mainly as a publican in Falkirk.

Career statistics

Club

Club! rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueScottish CupLeague CupEuropeTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Falkirk1971–72Scottish Division One1000000010
1972–73340208000440
1973–74130006000190
1974–75Scottish Division Two36121111--493
1975–76Scottish First Division2602060--340
Total110161311--1473
Aberdeen1976–77Scottish Premier Division3213010000451
1977–78340606020480
1978–79320508330483
1979–803515011020531
1980–81310106130411
1981–82341509160542
1982–832504050101441
Total22332905552613339
Career total330429+0+55+5+26148012

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year!National team!Year!Apps!Goals
Scotland197870
1979
1980
198110
Total80

Notes and References

  1. Web site: AFC Heritage Trust Stuart Kennedy.
  2. Book: Ferguson, Alex . A Light in the North . Mainstream Publishing . 1985 . 86 . 1-85158-008-5.