Kevin Poole
Encyclopedia
Kevin Poole is an English
professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Football League Two
side Burton Albion
, where he is also goalkeeping coach. He has played more than 400 matches in the Football League
in his 30-year career, despite not being first choice goalkeeper for much of his career and is currently the oldest player in the Football League.
He has played in the Premier League for Leicester City
and Bolton Wanderers
, having also appeared in England's top flight for Aston Villa
before the formation of the Premiership. He has also featured for Northampton Town
, Middlesbrough
, Hartlepool United
, Birmingham City
and Derby County
.
, Worcestershire
. His first club was Aston Villa
, whom he initially joined as an apprentice, turning professional in 1981. He was Villa's third choice keeper behind Jimmy Rimmer
and Nigel Spink
when they won the European Cup
in 1982. He made his debut in the Football League
while on loan at Northampton Town
in late 1984, and played the first of his 32 games for Villa later in the 1984–85 season.
, newly promoted back to the Second Division
, in 1987, and played 42 first-team games in four seasons with the club. He spent the last part of 1990–91 on loan at Hartlepool United
, where he started their last 12 games of the season, keeping five clean sheets and never being on the losing side, to clinch promotion
from the Fourth Division
.In the 1989-90 season
, he helped Boro reach the final of the Full Members Cup
, where they lost to Chelsea
at Wembley
.
and went on to make 194 appearances in all competitions for the club between 1991 and 1997. He was part of the Leicester side that won promotion to the Premier League in 1996, but subsequently lost his position to Kasey Keller
.
in August 1997, achieving a regular place thanks to an injury to Ian Bennett in September 1998. Bennett, who had regained his place, was ruled out for the season in March 2000, but Poole himself was injured only days later, and played just once more for Birmingham's first team before he was released in May 2001. He returned on a short-term contract in September of that year while Bennett was injured, and played in one League Cup
game.
in October. He spent four years at the club, mainly as backup to Jussi Jääskeläinen
. During the 2003–04 season, he was part of the Bolton squad that reached the League Cup
final, and was an unused substitute in the final
against his old club Middlesbrough. While at Bolton, Poole often trained at West Bromwich Albion
with Bolton's goalkeeping coach Fred Barber
, due to it being nearer to his Midlands home.
in July 2005. Although he was also registered as a player, this was initially intended only for emergencies; however he was unexpectedly promoted to first choice for a spell due to poor form and injuries affecting young goalkeepers Lee Camp
and Lee Grant
. The 42-year-old Poole played seven times for the first team before returning to coaching duties. He was released in May 2006 after Brown's management team departed Derby County.
, Poole signed for Burton Albion
on a match-to-match basis in August 2006. He kept a clean sheet on his debut a day later at Morecambe
, and continued to play until the end of the 2006–07 season, when he was named Burton's Player of the Season. Poole then helped Albion to reach the playoff semi-finals of the Conference National
the following season, before playing a key role in the 2008–09 title-winning side, and coming runner-up to Jake Buxton as Player of the Season.
Poole signed a new contract in June 2009, which made him the oldest player in the Football League at the age of 46; he is also the club's new goalkeeping coach. Poole made a League Two appearance aged 46 years old, coming on as a substitute for the red-carded Artur Krysiak
at Port Vale
in January 2010. He then played in place of the suspended Krysiak in the next league game, a 3-2 win at Torquay United. Poole made an appearance in the away game against recently-promoted Rochdale
, and made a string of saves to help his team to a 2-1 win.
Poole signed a new contract for the 2010/2011 season, and made an appearance as a 47-year-old in a Football League Trophy
match against Rotherham in October 2010.
On the 9th of May 2011, Poole signed a further one-year deal, meaning he will turn 48 years old before the start of the new season.
Burton Albion
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for 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 Burton Albion
Burton Albion F.C.
Burton Albion Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. The club's home ground is the Pirelli Stadium, having moved from Eton Park in 2005...
, where he is also goalkeeping coach. He has played more than 400 matches in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
in his 30-year career, despite not being first choice goalkeeper for much of his career and is currently the oldest player in the Football League.
He has played in the Premier League for Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
and Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
, having also appeared in England's top flight for Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
before the formation of the Premiership. He has also featured for Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
, Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
, Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
, Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
and Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
.
Aston Villa
Poole was born in BromsgroveBromsgrove
Bromsgrove is a town in Worcestershire, England. The town is about north east of Worcester and south west of Birmingham city centre. It had a population of 29,237 in 2001 with a small ethnic minority and is in Bromsgrove District.- History :Bromsgrove is first documented in the early 9th century...
, Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
. His first club was Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, whom he initially joined as an apprentice, turning professional in 1981. He was Villa's third choice keeper behind Jimmy Rimmer
Jimmy Rimmer
John James "Jimmy" Rimmer is an English former footballer who played as a goalkeeper in the Football League for Manchester United, Swansea City, Arsenal and Aston Villa. He was capped once for England....
and Nigel Spink
Nigel Spink
Nigel Philip Spink is a former football goalkeeper who made his name at Aston Villa and also made one appearance for England at international level on the tour of Australia in 1983.-Career:...
when they won the European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
in 1982. He made his debut in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
while on loan at Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
in late 1984, and played the first of his 32 games for Villa later in the 1984–85 season.
Middlesbrough
Poole moved to MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
, newly promoted back to the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
, in 1987, and played 42 first-team games in four seasons with the club. He spent the last part of 1990–91 on loan at Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
, where he started their last 12 games of the season, keeping five clean sheets and never being on the losing side, to clinch promotion
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
from the Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
.In the 1989-90 season
1989-90 in English football
-European competitions:English clubs were still banned from competing in European competitions following the Heysel Stadium disaster.- First Division :...
, he helped Boro reach the final of the Full Members Cup
Full Members Cup
The Full Members Cup was an association football cup competition held in English football from 1985 to 1992. It was also known under its sponsored names of the Simod Cup from 1987 to 1989 and the Zenith Data Systems Cup from 1989 to 1992....
, where they lost to Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
at Wembley
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
.
Leicester City
In 1991, Poole signed for Leicester CityLeicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
and went on to make 194 appearances in all competitions for the club between 1991 and 1997. He was part of the Leicester side that won promotion to the Premier League in 1996, but subsequently lost his position to Kasey Keller
Kasey Keller
Kasey Keller is a retired American soccer player who last played for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer....
.
Birmingham City
Poole moved to Birmingham CityBirmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
in August 1997, achieving a regular place thanks to an injury to Ian Bennett in September 1998. Bennett, who had regained his place, was ruled out for the season in March 2000, but Poole himself was injured only days later, and played just once more for Birmingham's first team before he was released in May 2001. He returned on a short-term contract in September of that year while Bennett was injured, and played in one League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
game.
Bolton Wanderers
Poole signed for Bolton WanderersBolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
in October. He spent four years at the club, mainly as backup to Jussi Jääskeläinen
Jussi Jääskeläinen
Jussi Albert Jääskeläinen is a Finnish football goalkeeper, who plays for Bolton Wanderers.-Club career:Jääskeläinen was born in Mikkeli, and made his Veikkausliiga debut in Finland for MP Mikkeli in 1992, and became the club's first choice goalkeeper in 1994. In 1996, he moved to VPS Vaasa where...
. During the 2003–04 season, he was part of the Bolton squad that reached the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
final, and was an unused substitute in the final
2004 Football League Cup Final
The 2004 Football League Cup Final was played between Bolton Wanderers and Middlesbrough at the Millennium Stadium on 29 February 2004. Middlesbrough won the game 2-1 to clinch their first major trophy...
against his old club Middlesbrough. While at Bolton, Poole often trained at West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
with Bolton's goalkeeping coach Fred Barber
Fred Barber
Frederick Barber is an English former goalkeeper who is currently the goalkeeping coach with Bolton Wanderers and with Northern Ireland.-Local club:...
, due to it being nearer to his Midlands home.
Derby County
Phil Brown signed Poole, whom he had previously worked with at Bolton, as a goalkeeping coach for Derby CountyDerby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
in July 2005. Although he was also registered as a player, this was initially intended only for emergencies; however he was unexpectedly promoted to first choice for a spell due to poor form and injuries affecting young goalkeepers Lee Camp
Lee Camp
Lee Michael John Camp is an English-born Northern Irish footballer who plays for Nottingham Forest and internationally for Northern Ireland as a goalkeeper. He has also played for the England under-21's.-Derby County:...
and Lee Grant
Lee Grant (goalkeeper)
Lee Anderson Grant is an English footballer who currently plays as a goalkeeper for Burnley...
. The 42-year-old Poole played seven times for the first team before returning to coaching duties. He was released in May 2006 after Brown's management team departed Derby County.
Burton Albion
After a trial with WalsallWalsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
, Poole signed for Burton Albion
Burton Albion F.C.
Burton Albion Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. The club's home ground is the Pirelli Stadium, having moved from Eton Park in 2005...
on a match-to-match basis in August 2006. He kept a clean sheet on his debut a day later at 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...
, and continued to play until the end of the 2006–07 season, when he was named Burton's Player of the Season. Poole then helped Albion to reach the playoff semi-finals of the Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
the following season, before playing a key role in the 2008–09 title-winning side, and coming runner-up to Jake Buxton as Player of the Season.
Poole signed a new contract in June 2009, which made him the oldest player in the Football League at the age of 46; he is also the club's new goalkeeping coach. Poole made a League Two appearance aged 46 years old, coming on as a substitute for the red-carded Artur Krysiak
Artur Krysiak
Artur Łukasz Krysiak is a Polish footballer who plays for the English club Exeter City as a goalkeeper. He previously played in the Scottish Premier League for Gretna and Motherwell and in the Football League for Swansea City and Burton Albion...
at Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
in January 2010. He then played in place of the suspended Krysiak in the next league game, a 3-2 win at Torquay United. Poole made an appearance in the away game against recently-promoted Rochdale
Rochdale
Rochdale is a large market town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the foothills of the Pennines on the River Roch, north-northwest of Oldham, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester. Rochdale is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan...
, and made a string of saves to help his team to a 2-1 win.
Poole signed a new contract for the 2010/2011 season, and made an appearance as a 47-year-old in a Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
match against Rotherham in October 2010.
On the 9th of May 2011, Poole signed a further one-year deal, meaning he will turn 48 years old before the start of the new season.
Honours
Leicester City- First Division play-offFootball League Championship play-offsThe Football League Championship play-offs are a series of playoff matches contested by the teams finishing from 3rd to 6th in the Football League Championship table. The semi-finals are played over two legs, with 6th playing 3rd and 5th playing 4th, with the return fixtures following...
winners: 1995–96 - Football League CupFootball League CupThe Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
: 19971997 Football League Cup FinalThe 1997 Coca-Cola Cup Final was played between Middlesbrough and Leicester City. The first game at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, 6 April 1997 ended in a 1–1 draw after extra time. Fabrizio Ravanelli opened the scoring only for Leicester's Emile Heskey to equalise in the last minute of extra time...
Burton Albion
- Conference NationalConference NationalConference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
champions: 2008–092008–09 in English footballThe 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while...