{{Short description|English footballer}} {{Use British English|date=August 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Callum Kennedy | image = Callum Kennedy 2015.jpg | caption = Kennedy in training with AFC Wimbledon in 2015 | fullname = Callum Ewan Kennedy<ref name="Hugman2010-11">{{Cite book | editor-first = Barry J. | editor-last = Hugman | title = The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11 | year = 2010 | publisher = Mainstream Publishing | isbn = 978-1-84596-601-0 | page = 233 }}</ref> | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1989|11|9}} | birth_place = Chertsey, England | height = | position = Defender | currentclub = | clubnumber = | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Reading | youthyears2 = {{0|0000}}–2007 | youthclubs2 = Swindon Town | years1 = 2007–2012 | clubs1 = Swindon Town | caps1 = 33 | goals1 = 1 | years2 = 2010 | clubs2 = → Gillingham (loan) | caps2 = 3 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2011 | clubs3 = → Rotherham United (loan) | caps3 = 5 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2012–2013 | clubs4 = Scunthorpe United | caps4 = 17 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2013–2016 | clubs5 = AFC Wimbledon | caps5 = 67 | goals5 = 1 | years6 = 2016–2017 | clubs6 = Leyton Orient | caps6 = 32 | goals6 = 1 | years7 = 2017–2018 | clubs7 = AFC Wimbledon | caps7 = 14 | goals7 = 0 | years8 = 2018–2020 | clubs8 = Billericay Town | caps8 = 32 | goals8 = 1 | years9 = 2020–2025 | clubs9 = Dorking Wanderers | caps9 = 32 | goals9 = 1 | years10 = 2022–2023 | clubs10 = Dorking Wanderers B | caps10 = 3 | goals10 = 1 | totalcaps = 238 | totalgoals = 6 | club-update = 14:19, 27 May 2025 (UTC) }}
'''Callum Ewan Kennedy''' (born 9 November 1989) is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender.
==Career== ===Swindon Town=== Born in Chertsey, Surrey,<ref name="Hugman2010-11"/> Kennedy made his professional debut for Swindon Town at home to Brentford, in a 4–1 win in the Football League Trophy on 4 September 2007.<ref>{{cite news|title=Swindon 4–1 Brentford|date=4 September 2007 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6973865.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=30 August 2008}}</ref> Kennedy signed an eighteen-month professional contract with Swindon in February 2008 before being made captain of the reserve team.<ref name="Callum Kennedy profile STFC">{{cite web|title=Callum Kennedy player profile|url=http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/Person.asp?PersonID=KENNEDYC|publisher=Swindon-Town-FC.co.uk|accessdate=8 July 2013}}</ref> He was handed his Football League debut by caretaker manager David Byrne in a 1–1 draw at home to Carlisle United on 6 December 2008. He played 82 minutes before being substituted for Kevin Amankwaah.<ref>{{cite news|title=Swindon 1–1 Carlisle|date=6 December 2008 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_2/7767097.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=8 July 2013}}</ref> Kennedy started the next two games as well, a 1–0 away loss to Crewe Alexandra on 13 December 2008 which saw Kennedy play the full match,<ref>{{cite news|title=Crewe 1–0 Swindon|date=13 December 2008 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_2/7764738.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=8 July 2013}}</ref> and a 3–2 home loss to Yeovil Town on 20 December 2008 where he played for 83 minutes before being substituted for Blair Sturrock.<ref>{{cite news|title=Swindon 2–3 Yeovil|date=20 December 2008 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_2/7775934.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=8 July 2013}}</ref> Kennedy did well in the three matches he played and signed a new one-year deal in February 2009.<ref name="Callum Kennedy profile STFC" /> He made one more appearance during the 2008–09 season, an away loss to Yeovil, when he came on as a substitute after 24 minutes and played in an unfamiliar left midfield position after an injury to Hal Robson-Kanu.<ref>{{cite news|title=Yeovil 1–0 Swindon|date=28 March 2009 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_2/7948856.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=8 July 2013}}</ref>
Kennedy continued to be on the fringes of the first team at the start of the 2009–10 season, coming on as a substitute in 3 of the opening 4 games before playing the entire League Cup second-round game at Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers.<ref name="Games played by Callum Kennedy in 2009/2010"/> The game went to a penalty shoot-out with Kennedy taking and scoring Swindon's first penalty. However Wolves went on to win the shoot-out 6–5.<ref>{{cite news|title=Wolverhampton 0 – 0 Swindon|date=25 August 2009 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/league_cup/8205941.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=8 July 2013}}</ref> 4 games later Kennedy came on as a second-half substitute against Walsall and put in an impressive performance that boosted his hopes of getting a starting place in the first team.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kennedy keen to net Swindon start|date=22 September 2009 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/swindon_town/8269392.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=8 July 2013}}</ref> He got his wish and started 4 of the following 5 games, however he missed the next two games before returning to the starting line-up in a FA Cup first-round game at home to Woking that ended in a 1–0 win for Swindon.<ref name="Games played by Callum Kennedy in 2009/2010"/> Following this Kennedy suffered a massive blow when he suffered a stress fracture of the pelvis that sidelined him for the rest of the season. He returned to light training in March 2010 and although he took part in Swindon's pre-season tour of Austria, Kennedy had not yet returned to full training.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kennedy on the road to recovery|date=25 March 2010 |url=http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/5081750.Kennedy_on_the_road_to_recovery/|publisher=Swindon Advertiser|accessdate=8 July 2013}}</ref>
He returned from injury in mid August 2010 claiming he was ready for Swindon's first team<ref>{{cite news|title=Callum Kennedy says he is ready for Swindon first team|date=24 August 2010 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/swindon_town/8939181.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=8 July 2013}}</ref> and got himself back onto the fringes of the first team. After coming on against Brentford on 21 August, he started three consecutive games, all of which ended in clean sheets for Swindon, with two victories.<ref name="Games played by Callum Kennedy in 2010/2011"/> Despite this, when Alan Sheehan re-signed for the club in September, Kennedy was dropped to the bench finding himself behind both Sheehan and Michael Rose in the pecking order.<ref name="Games played by Callum Kennedy in 2010/2011"/> As a result of this Kennedy agreed to join Gillingham on a month's loan on 9 November 2010.<ref>{{cite news|title=Gillingham sign Swindon Town defender Callum Kennedy|date=9 November 2010 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/9171305.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=9 July 2013}}</ref> Whilst at Gillingham Kennedy made 3 appearances against Crewe, Oxford United and Barnet. After the loan spell was completed, he returned to Swindon and signed a one-year extension to his contract.<ref name="Callum Kennedy profile STFC" /> Still unable to break into the Swindon first team, Kennedy went out on loan again, this time to Rotherham United on an initial month loan on 11 February 2011.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rotherham United sign Swindon Town's Callum Kennedy|date=11 February 2011 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/r/rotherham_utd/9395084.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=9 July 2013}}</ref> The deal was extended to the end of the season on 16 March.<ref>{{cite news|title=Swindon's Callum Kennedy extends Rotherham loan deal|date=16 March 2011 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/swindon_town/9426462.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=9 July 2013}}</ref> His spell with Rotherham got off to a bad start when he was sent off in his debut for the club against Oxford United when he brought down Steve MacLean in the box, who scored the subsequent penalty to give Oxford a 2–1 victory.<ref>{{cite news|title=Oxford Utd 2–1 Rotherham|date=12 February 2011 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/9387900.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=9 July 2013}}</ref> In total Kennedy made 5 appearances for Rotherham.
By the time Kennedy returned to the County Ground Swindon had been relegated to League Two and had a new manager in Paolo Di Canio who made Kennedy his first choice left back. He scored his first career goal and Swindon's first of the 2011–12 season during the opening game of the season against Crewe. The goal was a penalty following a foul on Billy Bodin by Adam Dugdale. The game ended in a 3–0 win for Swindon.<ref>{{cite news|title=Swindon 3–0 Crewe|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/14351995|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=9 July 2013}}</ref> Kennedy went on to start the first thirteen matches of the new campaign.<ref name="Games played by Callum Kennedy in 2011/2012"/> With Swindon making an indifferent start, di Canio brought Liam Ridehalgh in on loan from Huddersfield Town on 28 September 2011.<ref>{{cite news|title=Swindon Town sign Huddersfield Town's Liam Ridehalgh|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/15089344|publisher=BBC Sport|date=28 September 2011|accessdate=17 July 2022}}</ref> As a result, Kennedy was dropped from the first team, only appearing in the 4–1 FA Cup win over Huddersfield<ref>{{cite news|title=Swindon came from behind to thrash in-form League One side Huddersfield.|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/15604922|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=9 July 2013}}</ref> in which Ridehalgh was not allowed to play. It wasn't until the turn of the year when Kennedy again made the starting eleven, appearing in four consecutive victories,<ref name="Games played by Callum Kennedy in 2011/2012"/> including a famous win over Premier League side Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup.<ref>{{cite news|title=League Two Swindon dumped Wigan out of the FA Cup to reach the fourth round for the first time since 1996.|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/16372054|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=9 July 2013}}</ref> After appearing in a big 4–1 win at promotion chasing Southend<ref>{{cite news|title=Swindon move second in League Two with a convincing win over fellow promotion chasers Southend.|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/16695959|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=9 July 2013}}</ref> and then helping Swindon to the 2012 Football League Trophy Final the following week, Kennedy made just two more starts over the next two months as during the buildup to the Wembley final, di Canio signed Jay McEveley on loan from Barnsley and thrust him straight into the starting eleven.<ref>{{cite news|title=Swindon sign Jay McEveley and John Bostock on loan|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/17457517|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=9 July 2013}}</ref> Kennedy was to make just one more appearance for Swindon, in a 2–1 defeat at Aldershot Town in a game where a point would have sealed promotion. Even though Swindon won the League Two title,<ref>{{cite web|title=Swindon Win Promotion To League One|url=http://www.swindon.vitalfootball.co.uk/matchrep.asp?a=280260|publisher=Vital Football|accessdate=9 July 2013}}</ref> Kennedy was released on 18 May 2012 after his contract was not going to be renewed and he left with four other Swindon players.<ref>{{cite news|title=Swindon Town choose to release four players|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/18114633|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=9 July 2013}}</ref>
===Scunthorpe United=== Following his release from Swindon Town, Kennedy attracted interest from Scunthorpe United, Yeovil and Crewe.<ref>{{cite news|title=Crewe boss Steve Davis keen on Swindon's Billy Bodin|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/18410644|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=9 July 2013}}</ref> It was League One side Scunthorpe who won the race to sign Kennedy when the 23-year-old joined the club on 20 June 2012.<ref>{{cite news|title=Scunthorpe United sign defender Callum Kennedy|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/18522229|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=9 July 2013}}</ref> Kennedy spent one season with "The Iron", making 18 appearances in all competitions, starting 12 of the games, but didn't play for the club after a 3–0 loss at Yeovil on 16 February 2013, a game were Kennedy played 83 minutes before being substituted for Eddie Nolan.<ref name="Games played by Callum Kennedy in 2012/2013"/> At the end of the 2012–13 season, Kennedy was made available by the newly relegated Scunthorpe and it looked like he would sign for Oxford United, but the deal fell through on 20 June 2013.<ref>{{cite news|title=Oxford United move for Callum Kennedy set to fall through|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22781991|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=9 July 2013}}</ref> Kennedy's stay at Scunthorpe came to an end by mutual consent.<ref>{{cite news|title=AFC Wimbledon have signed Callum Kennedy after the defender left Scunthorpe United by mutual consent.|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/23187306|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=9 July 2013}}</ref>
===AFC Wimbledon=== On 4 July 2013, Kennedy joined League Two side AFC Wimbledon on a free transfer.<ref>{{cite news|title=Callum Kennedy: AFC Wimbledon sign ex-Scunthorpe defender|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/23187306|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=9 July 2013}}</ref> He was given the number 3 shirt for the forthcoming 2013–14 season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Squad numbers for 2013/14|url=http://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/article/full-squad-list-893280.aspx|publisher=AFC Wimbledon|accessdate=9 July 2013}}</ref> At the end of that season Kennedy was released by Neal Ardley, however was allowed to continue training over the summer with the Dons and appeared in a number of pre-season fixtures. He was eventually re-signed at the start of the 2014–15 season but with squad number 17. Kennedy scored his first goal for Wimbledon in a 2–0 win over Hartlepool United on 31 October 2015.<ref>{{cite news|title=AFC Wimbledon 2–0 Hartlepool|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34623791|access-date=2 December 2015|work=BBC Sport|date=31 October 2015}}</ref> His second goal came a week later in a 2–1 defeat to Forest Green Rovers in the FA Cup.<ref>{{cite news|title=AFC Wimbledon 1–2 Forest Green Rovers|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34685561|access-date=2 December 2015|work=BBC Sport|date=7 November 2015}}</ref> On 30 May 2016 Kennedy was a member of the AFC team that beat Plymouth Argyle 2–0 at Wembley Stadium to win the EFL League Two play-offs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36355814|title=AFC Wimbledon 2 0 Plymouth Argyle|date=30 May 2016|accessdate=7 July 2017|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> Kennedy cites the play-off triumph as a major career highlight.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2020/may/callum-on-that-penalty-and-a-surreal-build-up-to-wembley/|title=Callum on his vital assist, that penalty, and the 'surreal' build-up to Wembley|date=30 May 2020|publisher=AFC Wimbledon}}</ref> Shortly after the final Kennedy was released by Wimbledon, when his contract expired.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wandsworthguardian.co.uk/sport/14524999.AFC_WIMBLEDON__Kennedy_signs_off_with_play_off_glory__an_assist_and_almost_a_penalty___/|title = AFC WIMBLEDON: Kennedy signs off with play-off glory, an assist and almost a penalty| date=30 May 2016 }}</ref>
===Leyton Orient=== Kennedy signed for Leyton Orient in June 2016.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36499153 |title=Callum Kennedy: Leyton Orient sign defender from AFC Wimbledon |publisher=BBC |date=10 June 2016 |accessdate=24 April 2017}}</ref> He scored his first goal for Orient in a 3–1 defeat at Doncaster Rovers on 26 November 2016.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38035973 |title=Doncaster 3-1 Leyton Orient |publisher=BBC |date=26 November 2016 |accessdate=24 April 2017}}</ref>
===Return to AFC Wimbledon=== Kennedy re-signed for AFC Wimbledon, for a second spell, on 7 July 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=Neal chooses unique way to reveal Callum has signed|url=https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2017/july/callum-re-signs-for-the-dons/|website=afcwimbledon.co.uk|publisher=AFC Wimbledon|accessdate=7 July 2017|date=7 July 2017}}</ref>
He was released by AFC Wimbledon at the end of the 2017–18 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44043859|title=AFC Wimbledon release nine players including captain Barry Fuller|date=8 May 2018|accessdate=9 May 2018|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref>
===Billericay Town=== On 6 June 2018, Kennedy signed for National League South club Billericay Town.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billericaytownfc.co.uk/kennedy-joins-the-blues/|title=Kennedy joins The Blues|date=6 June 2018|accessdate=24 August 2018|publisher=Billericay Town F.C.}}</ref> Kennedy's appearances for Billericay were limited by injuries before he left the club in March 2020 <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/sport/18272682.callum-kennedy-billericay-town-exit-frustrating-spell-sidelines/|title=Callum Kennedy in Billericay Town exit after a frustrating spell on sidelines|date=1 March 2020|publisher=Newsquest Media Group Ltd}}</ref>
===Dorking Wanderers=== On 1 March 2020, Kennedy signed for National League South club Dorking Wanderers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dorkingwanderers.com/callumkennedy|title=Callum Kennedy Signs for Wanderers|date=1 Mar 2020|accessdate=1 Mar 2020|publisher=Dorking Wanderers F.C.}}</ref> Kennedy's first two seasons were heavily impacted due to the COVID-19 Pandemic halting the league seasons. On 21 May 2022 Dorking Wanderers defeated Ebbsfleet United 3–2 to see them reach the National League for the first time in their history.
==Career statistics== {{updated|match played 26 December 2015.}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|FA Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="6"|Swindon Town |2007–08<ref name="Games played by Callum Kennedy in 2007/2008">{{Soccerbase season|47254|2007|name=Callum Kennedy|accessdate=7 July 2013}}</ref> |League One |0||0||0||0||0||0||1<ref group=lower-alpha name=FLT>Appearance in Football League Trophy</ref>||0||1||0 |- |2008–09<ref name="Games played by Callum Kennedy in 2008/2009">{{Soccerbase season|47254|2008|name=Callum Kennedy|accessdate=7 July 2013}}</ref> |League One |4||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||4||0 |- |2009–10<ref name="Games played by Callum Kennedy in 2009/2010">{{Soccerbase season|47254|2009|name=Callum Kennedy|accessdate=8 July 2013}}</ref> |League One |8||0||1||0||2||0||0||0||11||0 |- |2010–11<ref name="Games played by Callum Kennedy in 2010/2011">{{Soccerbase season|47254|2010|name=Callum Kennedy|accessdate=8 July 2013}}</ref> |League One |3||0||0||0||0||0||1<ref group=lower-alpha name=FLT/>||0||4||0 |- |2011–12<ref name="Games played by Callum Kennedy in 2011/2012">{{Soccerbase season|47254|2011|name=Callum Kennedy|accessdate=9 July 2013}}</ref> |League Two |18||1||2||0||2||0||1<ref group=lower-alpha name=FLT/>||0||23||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total !33!!1!!3!!0!!4!!0!!3!!0!!43!!1 |- |Gillingham (loan) |2010–11<ref name="Games played by Callum Kennedy in 2010/2011"/> |League Two |3||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||3||0 |- |Rotherham United (loan) |2010–11<ref name="Games played by Callum Kennedy in 2010/2011"/> |League Two |5||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||5||0 |- |Scunthorpe United |2012–13<ref name="Games played by Callum Kennedy in 2012/2013">{{Soccerbase season|47254|2012|name=Callum Kennedy|accessdate=9 July 2013}}</ref> |League One |17||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||18||0 |- |rowspan="4"|AFC Wimbledon |2013–14<ref name="Games played by Callum Kennedy in 2013/2014">{{Soccerbase season|47254|2013|name=Callum Kennedy|accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref> |League Two |22||0||1||0||1||0||1<ref group=lower-alpha name=FLT/>||0||25||0 |- |2014–15<ref name="Games played by Callum Kennedy in 2014/2015">{{Soccerbase season|47254|2014|name=Callum Kennedy|accessdate=28 May 2015}}</ref> |League Two |26||0||2||0||1||0||1<ref group=lower-alpha name=FLT/>||0||30||0 |- |2015–16<ref name="Games played by Callum Kennedy in 2015/2016">{{Soccerbase season|47254|2015|name=Callum Kennedy|accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref> |League Two |10||1||1||1||1||0||0||0||12||2 |- !colspan="2"|Total !58!!1!!4!!1!!3!!0!!2!!0!!67!!2 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !116!!2!!7!!1!!8!!0!!5!!0!!136!!3 |}
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
==Honours== '''Swindon Town''' *Football League Two: 2011–12<ref>{{cite book |editor1-first=Glenda |editor1-last=Rollin |editor2-first=Jack |editor2-last=Rollin |title=Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 |year=2012 |publisher=Headline Publishing Group |location=London |isbn=978-0-7553-6356-8 |pages=37, 370–371}}</ref>
'''AFC Wimbledon''' *Football League Two play-offs: 2016<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36355814 |title=AFC Wimbledon 2–0 Plymouth Argyle |first=Brent |last=Pilnick |publisher=BBC Sport |date=30 May 2016 |accessdate=24 December 2018}}</ref>
'''Dorking Wanderers ''' *National League South play-offs: 2022 *Surrey Senior Cup: 2022
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Callum Kennedy}} *{{Soccerbase}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kennedy, Callum}} Category:1989 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Chertsey Category:English men's footballers Category:Men's association football defenders Category:Swindon Town F.C. players Category:Gillingham F.C. players Category:Rotherham United F.C. players Category:Scunthorpe United F.C. players Category:AFC Wimbledon players Category:Leyton Orient F.C. players Category:Billericay Town F.C. players Category:Dorking Wanderers F.C. players Category:English Football League players Category:National League (English football) players Category:21st-century English sportsmen