Mark Kerr (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Mark Kerr is a Scottish
professional football player who currently plays for Greek
club Asteras Tripolis.
, where he played from 1998 until 2003. He had joined Falkirk from Moodiesburn Boys Club as a sixteen-year-old and progressed through the Youth Development scheme at Brockville
and was already well known to then-manager Ian McCall
and his management team. McCall had been keeping tabs on the Scotland Under-21 player since he himself left Falkirk.
Kerr made his Falkirk debut towards the end of the 1998–99 season
at the age of only 17 against Clydebank
. The following season he turned out seven times and scored his first goal in a 3–3 draw at Ayr United
. For the next three seasons he hardly missed a game for Falkirk and by the time he left, he had accumulated 125 appearances and scored nine times.
. Kerr soon settled at Tannadice
and became a regular in the side, and by the end of his first season, he had racked up 33 League and two cup appearances. His tenacity in midfield was a feature of the latter part of the campaign in which United finished strongly to take fifth place. He netted only once in the season but it was a goal to savour, a stunning volley for the opener against Rangers
in a 2–0 win at Tannadice.
Commencing the season 2004–05
in the starting eleven, Kerr suffered a dip in form and only appeared another four times before making his way back into the first team at the turn of the year. He went on to miss only one more match throughout the rest of the season, and became a vital part of the midfield as Gordon Chisholm
became manager. His two goals in that term came in the Cup competitions, one in the 3–0 CIS Cup win over Stranraer
at Tannadice and the other in the thrilling 4–3 Scottish Cup
tie against Gretna
. Kerr played in the majority of matches in every season but was responsible for a horrendous backpass in the League Cup Final of 2008. United were minutes away from lifting the trophy, the backpass forcing the game into extra time and a penalty shoot out, which United lost. Kerr chose to leave when his contract expired at the end of June 2008 and moved to Aberdeen F.C.
rivals Aberdeen
, and he subsequently moved to Pittodrie on a Bosman transfer
, taking over the number 8 shirt vacated by Barry Nicholson
. Kerr was made Aberdeen club captain from the start of season 2009–10.
in December 2005, coming on as a sub against Poland in the Future Cup 2005 competition.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
professional football player who currently plays for Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
club Asteras Tripolis.
Falkirk
Kerr began his career with FalkirkFalkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
, where he played from 1998 until 2003. He had joined Falkirk from Moodiesburn Boys Club as a sixteen-year-old and progressed through the Youth Development scheme at Brockville
Brockville Park
Brockville Park was a football stadium located on Hope Street in Falkirk, Scotland, north-west of the town centre. It was the home of Falkirk F.C. from 1885 until the end of 2002–03 Scottish football season. The record attendance at Brockville Park was 23,100 on 21 February 1953 in a match...
and was already well known to then-manager Ian McCall
Ian McCall
Ian Holland McCall is a Scottish former footballer and is currently without a job having resigned as the manager of First Division side Partick Thistle.-Playing career:...
and his management team. McCall had been keeping tabs on the Scotland Under-21 player since he himself left Falkirk.
Kerr made his Falkirk debut towards the end of the 1998–99 season
1998-99 in Scottish football
The 1998–99 season was the 102nd season of Scottish league football.-Summary:The 1998–99 SPL season was one that ended in success for Rangers. Dutchman Dick Advocaat was brought in to replace Walter Smith at Rangers and made major changes, bringing in many players.Rangers were...
at the age of only 17 against Clydebank
Clydebank F.C.
Clydebank Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the town of Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, near Yoker. The present club, formed in 2003, is a member of the Scottish Junior Football Association, and currently plays in West Super League Premier Division...
. The following season he turned out seven times and scored his first goal in a 3–3 draw at Ayr United
Ayr United F.C.
Ayr United Football Club are a Scottish association football team based in Ayr, South Ayrshire, that plays in the First Division of the Scottish Football League. Formed in 1910 after the merger of former clubs Ayr Parkhouse F.C. and Ayr F.C...
. For the next three seasons he hardly missed a game for Falkirk and by the time he left, he had accumulated 125 appearances and scored nine times.
Dundee United
In July 2003, he moved to Dundee United on a Bosman transferBosman ruling
Union Royale Belge des Sociétés de Football Association ASBL v Jean-Marc Bosman is a 1995 European Court of Justice decision concerning freedom of movement for workers, freedom of association, and direct effect of article 39 of the EC Treaty...
. Kerr soon settled at Tannadice
Tannadice Park
Tannadice Park, usually referred to as Tannadice, is a football stadium located on Tannadice Street in the Scottish city of Dundee. The stadium is home of Dundee United F.C. and has a capacity of 14,209.-Early days :...
and became a regular in the side, and by the end of his first season, he had racked up 33 League and two cup appearances. His tenacity in midfield was a feature of the latter part of the campaign in which United finished strongly to take fifth place. He netted only once in the season but it was a goal to savour, a stunning volley for the opener against Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
in a 2–0 win at Tannadice.
Commencing the season 2004–05
2004-05 in Scottish football
The 2004–05 season was the 108th season of competitive football in Scotland.-2004:*6 July 2004 - Nacho Novo from Dundee to Rangers, £450,000*1 July 2004 - Dado Prso from AS Monaco to Rangers, Bosman...
in the starting eleven, Kerr suffered a dip in form and only appeared another four times before making his way back into the first team at the turn of the year. He went on to miss only one more match throughout the rest of the season, and became a vital part of the midfield as Gordon Chisholm
Gordon Chisholm
Gordon Chisholm is a Scottish professional football former player and manager. Chisholm played as a central defender for Sunderland, Hibernian, Dundee and Partick Thistle....
became manager. His two goals in that term came in the Cup competitions, one in the 3–0 CIS Cup win over Stranraer
Stranraer F.C.
Stranraer Football Club is a Scottish semi-professional football team based in the town of Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway. They are members of the Scottish Football League, and currently play in the Third Division.-History:...
at Tannadice and the other in the thrilling 4–3 Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
tie against Gretna
Gretna F.C.
Gretna Football Club was a Scottish football club that represented the town of Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway, close to the border between England and Scotland...
. Kerr played in the majority of matches in every season but was responsible for a horrendous backpass in the League Cup Final of 2008. United were minutes away from lifting the trophy, the backpass forcing the game into extra time and a penalty shoot out, which United lost. Kerr chose to leave when his contract expired at the end of June 2008 and moved to Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen
In July 2008, it was reported that Kerr was on the verge of a move to New FirmNew Firm (Scotland)
The New Firm was the short-lived term used, during the 1980s, to describe the rivalry between Scottish football clubs Aberdeen and Dundee United...
rivals Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
, and he subsequently moved to Pittodrie on a Bosman transfer
Bosman ruling
Union Royale Belge des Sociétés de Football Association ASBL v Jean-Marc Bosman is a 1995 European Court of Justice decision concerning freedom of movement for workers, freedom of association, and direct effect of article 39 of the EC Treaty...
, taking over the number 8 shirt vacated by Barry Nicholson
Barry Nicholson
Barry Nicholson is a Scottish professional footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Preston North End.-Early years:...
. Kerr was made Aberdeen club captain from the start of season 2009–10.
Asteras Tripolis
Kerr agreed to join Greek side Asteras Tripolis; the move was announced on 6 June 2010.International career
Kerr made his debut for the Scotland B teamScotland B national football team
The Scotland B national football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is a secondary football team of Scotland, run occasionally as support for the Scotland national football team as a second string side to the first team....
in December 2005, coming on as a sub against Poland in the Future Cup 2005 competition.
Falkirk
- Scottish First Division Winner: 1
-
- 2002–032002-03 in Scottish footballThe 2002–03 season was the 106th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish Premier League:The 2002–03 Scottish Premier League was won on goal difference by Rangers by a single goal over Celtic. Both Rangers and Celtic qualified for the 2003–04 UEFA Champions League and...
- 2002–03
Dundee United
- Scottish CupScottish CupThe Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
Runner-up: 1
-
- 2004–052004-05 in Scottish footballThe 2004–05 season was the 108th season of competitive football in Scotland.-2004:*6 July 2004 - Nacho Novo from Dundee to Rangers, £450,000*1 July 2004 - Dado Prso from AS Monaco to Rangers, Bosman...
- Scottish League CupScottish League CupThe Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
Runner-up: 1
- Scottish League Cup
- 2007–082007-08 in Scottish footballThe 2007-08 season was the 111th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Overview:* Gretna were competing in the Scottish Premier League for the first time, their first ever season in the top-flight, after being promoted as First Division champions the previous season.* Dunfermline Athletic...
- 2004–05