Ken McKenna (football manager)
Encyclopedia
Kenneth "Ken" McKenna is an English
former professional footballer and manager, currently assistant manager of Football League Two
side Morecambe
.
in the Football League on a non-contract basis, making four league appearances. 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 1990–01 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
. 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 leagues top scorer. 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, he joined Total Network Solutions
and was later appointed manager during the 2000–01 season.
, Welsh Cup
and Welsh League Cup
successes. In March 2008, he left the club by mutual consent.
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. Following an improvement in the teams results under McKenna, he was later handed the job on a permanent basis.
On 16 May 2011, it was announced that McKenna would take a new role as assistant manager, to the new Morecambe
manager, Jim Bentley
.
Bangor City
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
former professional footballer and manager, currently assistant manager of Football League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side Morecambe
Morecambe F.C.
Morecambe Football Club is an English football club based in Morecambe, Lancashire. It plays its football in League Two, the fourth division of English football, having been promoted in 2007 for the first time in their history to the Football League. They played their home matches at Christie Park...
.
Playing career
McKenna started his senior playing career with Poulton Victoria and then signed for Tranmere RoversTranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
in the Football League on a non-contract basis, making four league appearances. He left the club in 1983, joining Telford United
Telford United F.C.
Telford United F.C. was an English football club based in Telford, Shropshire.The club existed under various names for a total of 132 years from its formation in 1872. The club was founder members of the Alliance Premier League in 1979 and played at this level for 25 years before being wound up in...
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
Altrincham F.C.
Altrincham Football Club is an English association football club from Altrincham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Conference North, having been relegated from the Conference National at the end of the 2010–11 season.-History:...
at the start of the 1990–01 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
Merthyr Tydfil F.C.
Merthyr Tydfil Football Club was a Welsh football club based at the Penydarren Park ground in Merthyr Tydfil. In 2010 the club was liquidated and reformed under the name Merthyr Town, which was accepted into Division One of the Western League.-History:...
, Boston United
Boston United F.C.
Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...
and Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
. 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
Barrow A.F.C.
Barrow A.F.C. are an English football club founded in 1901 based in the town of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria. Following promotion at the end of the 2007–08 season, they currently play in the Conference National. The club spent over fifty years in the Football League between 1921 and 1972, and have...
in 1992.
In 1994, McKenna joined Welsh Premier League side Conwy United
Conwy United F.C.
Conwy United F.C. are a Welsh amateur football club based in Conwy, playing in the Cymru Alliance league.-Club history:Following the demise of Borough United in 1967, Welsh representatives in the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1963/64, there was a void of Welsh League clubs in the Conwy area...
, setting a new club scoring record in the 1995–96 season with 38 goals in 35 league appearances, finishing as the leagues top scorer. After one year with Bangor City
Bangor City F.C.
Bangor City Football Club are a semi-professional Welsh football club from the City of Bangor. The club compete in the Welsh Premier League, being ever present since the league was founded in 1992....
, during which he scoring a late equaliser in the Welsh Cup
Welsh Cup
The Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
final against Connah's Quay Nomads to take the game to penalties which Bangor later won, he joined Total Network Solutions
The New Saints F.C.
The New Saints of Oswestry Town & Llansantffraid Football Club , also known as The New Saints or simply TNS is a full-time-professional British football club representing Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain in Powys, Wales and Oswestry in Shropshire, England . They play in the Welsh Premier League...
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 CupFAW Premier Cup
The FAW Premier Cup is a defunct Welsh football cup competition, organised annually by the Football Association of Wales from 1997 to 2008...
, Welsh Cup
Welsh Cup
The Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
and Welsh League Cup
Welsh League Cup
The Welsh League Cup is a cup competition in Welsh football organised by the Welsh Premier League...
successes. In March 2008, he left the club by mutual consent.
McKenna returned to his home town of Birkenhead to become manager of Cammell Laird
Cammell Laird F.C.
Cammell Laird Football Club is an English Semi Professional football club based in Birkenhead, Merseyside. The club are currently members of the Northern Premier League Division One North, The 8th Tier of English Football, and play at the Kirklands Stadium....
but left the club soon after, later becoming chief scout at Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
before joining Altrincham
Altrincham F.C.
Altrincham Football Club is an English association football club from Altrincham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Conference North, having been relegated from the Conference National at the end of the 2010–11 season.-History:...
as assistant manager. In September 2010, he was appointed caretaker-manager at the club following the sacking of Graham Heathcote. Following an improvement in the teams results under McKenna, he was later handed the job on a permanent basis.
On 16 May 2011, it was announced that McKenna would take a new role as assistant manager, to the new Morecambe
Morecambe F.C.
Morecambe Football Club is an English football club based in Morecambe, Lancashire. It plays its football in League Two, the fourth division of English football, having been promoted in 2007 for the first time in their history to the Football League. They played their home matches at Christie Park...
manager, Jim Bentley
Jim Bentley
Jim Bentley is an English footballer, currently employed as player-manager for League Two club Morecambe.Bentley, who debuted for Telford United in 1997, moved to Morecambe in 2002...
.
Player
Telford United- FA TrophyFA TrophyThe Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams...
Winner: 1
-
- 1989
Bangor City
- Welsh CupWelsh CupThe Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
Winner: 1
-
- 1998
Manager
The New Saints- Welsh Premier League Winner: 3
-
- 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07
- Welsh CupWelsh CupThe Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
Winner: 1
- Welsh Cup
- 2005
- Welsh League CupWelsh League CupThe Welsh League Cup is a cup competition in Welsh football organised by the Welsh Premier League...
Winner: 1
- Welsh League Cup
- 2006
- FAW Premier CupFAW Premier CupThe FAW Premier Cup is a defunct Welsh football cup competition, organised annually by the Football Association of Wales from 1997 to 2008...
Winner: 1
- FAW Premier Cup
- 2007
- 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07