Andy Kirk (footballer)
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| Andy Kirk | ||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Andrew Kirk | |
| Date of birth | May 25, 1979 (age 27) | |
| Place of birth | Belfast, Northern Ireland | |
| Height | 5'10" | |
| Playing position | Striker | |
| Club information | ||
| Current club | Northampton Town | |
| Senior clubs1 | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
| 1998-1999 1999-2004 2004-2005 2005- |
Glentoran Hearts Boston Utd Northampton |
0 (0) 134 (32) 31 (20) 77 (23) |
| National team2 | ||
| 2000- | Northern Ireland | 8 (0) |
|
1 Senior club appearances and goals |
||
This page refers to the Northern Irish footballer. For the jazz saxophonist see Andy Kirk
Andy Kirk (born in 25 May 1979, in Belfast) is a Northern Irish footballer, currently playing as a striker for Northampton Town. He is the son of former footballer and current Lisburn Distillery F.C. manager Paul Kirk.
Kirk started his career with hometown Glentoran, having had several unsuccessful trials in England. His spell in the Irish Football League was to prove short-lived though, as Jim Jefferies signed him for Heart of Midlothian for £50,000 in February 1999.
Initially viewed as an investment for the future, Kirk played in the club's U-21 side for most of his first two seasons at Tynecastle Stadium. However, in 2000-01 he firmly established himself in the first eleven, making 40 appearances and scoring 13 times. After a season decimated by injuries, he made further double-figure scoring contributions in 2002-03 and 2003-04. However, financial restraints at the Edinburgh club resulted in Kirk being released when his contract expired in the summer of 2004.
Steve Evans signed him for League Two side Boston United, and Kirk excelled at York Street, scoring 20 goals in little over 8 months. Interest in him was profuse and, after much speculation, Northampton beat off competition from higher leagues to sign Kirk for a fee of £125,000 in April 2005.
Despite Kirk scoring on his Cobblers debut, Northampton lost to Rushden & Diamonds and a stuttering finish to the season witnessed them fall in the play-off semi-finals. The following season, Kirk's 10 goals ensured there was no repeat and Northampton gained promotion to League One.
Kirk has been capped 8 times by Northern Ireland. His debut came against Hungary in April 2000. He has yet to score for his country.
The 2006-2007 season has been very disappointing for Kirk, seeing him transfer listed alongside the other strikers James Quinn and Scott McGleish due to them having scored at a rate of less than one goal a game.
[edit] External links
| Northampton Town F.C. - Current Squad |
|---|
|
2 Crowe | 3 Holt | 4 Hughes | 5 Murray | 6 Doig | 7 Taylor | 8 Kirk | 9 Deuchar | 10 Aiston | 11 Jess | 12 Hunt | 13 Bunn | 14 Burnell | 15 Brett Johnson | 16 Dyche | 17 Bradley Johnson | 18 Green | 19 Pearce | 20 Bojic | 21 Dunn | 22 Quinn | 23 Watt | 24 Dolman | 25 Cross | 26 Bonner | 27 Cole | 28 Gilligan | 29 May | 31 Cox | Manager: Gray |
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