Jake Kirby

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Jake Kirby
Personal information
Full name Jake Antony Kirby
Date of birth (1994-05-09) 9 May 1994 (age 29)
Place of birth Liverpool, England[1]
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Nantwich Town
Youth career
Tranmere Rovers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2018 Tranmere Rovers 98 (8)
2015Stockport County (loan) 11 (4)
2018–2019 Stockport County 42 (8)
2023– Nantwich Town 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10:26, 21 October 2023 (UTC)

Jake Antony Kirby (born 9 May 1994) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Northern Premier League Division One West club Nantwich Town.

Career[edit]

Kirby came through Tranmere Rovers's youth system and was awarded his first professional one-year contract by the club in April 2012.[3]

He made his Football League debut against Scunthorpe United on 5 May 2012 as a substitute for Jake Cassidy, playing the last 15 minutes of the match.[4] He made six more appearances in the first half of the next season before being offered a new two and a half year contract.[5]

The next season Kirby became regular first-team player, making 35 appearances and scoring two first senior goals against Coventry City, one away and one at home as Tranmere finished 21st in the division and relegated to the League Two.[6][7]

One year until contract expire, Kirby extended it till summer 2017 on 26 May 2014.[8] The 2014/15 campaign saw Rovers relegated from Football League, while Kirby made 20 appearances and scored a goal - winning one against Northampton Town.

On 28 August 2015 Kirby was loaned to the National League North side Stockport County, where he reunited with former teammates Kayode Odejayi, Andy Robinson and Abdulai Bell-Baggie.[9] Following day he made his County debut as a substitute. On 31 September, Stockport beat AFC Fylde 3-2 after Kirby scored the winning goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time.[10] Initial one-month loan was later extended to three months. On 26 November he was recalled to the parent club.[11] He was released by Tranmere at the end of the 2017–18 season and went to Stockport County for a second spell in that summer.[12]

He retired in September 2019.[13]

In October 2023, Kirby made his return to football when he joined Northern Premier League Division One West club Nantwich Town.[14]

Playing style[edit]

He can play in five positions: central midfield, right midfield, left midfield, behind the striker and as a striker.[15]

Statistics[edit]

As of match played 30 April 2016.
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Tranmere Rovers 2011–12[16] League One 1 0 1 0
2012–13[17] 4 0 1 0 1[a] 0 6 0
2013–14[18] 31 2 2 0 1 0 1[a] 0 35 2
2014–15[19] League Two 17 1 1 0 2[a] 0 20 1
2015–16[20] National League 15 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 16 3
Total 69 6 4 0 1 0 4 0 76 6
Stockport County (loan) 2015–16 National League North 11 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 4
Career total 80 10 4 0 1 0 4 0 88 10
  1. ^ a b c Appearance in the Football League Trophy

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Tranmere Rovers FC manager Ronnie Moore considers first team role for youngster Jake Kirby". Liverpool Echo. 19 April 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  2. ^ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 545. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
  3. ^ "Three Professional Contracts Offered At Tranmere". League Football Education. 26 April 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  4. ^ "Tranmere 1 - 1 Rochdale". BBC Sport. 5 May 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  5. ^ "New Contract For Kirby". Tranmere Rovers F.C. 31 January 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  6. ^ "Report: Coventry 1 Tranmere 5". Tranmere Rovers F.C. 23 November 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  7. ^ "Report: Tranmere 3 Coventry 1". Tranmere Rovers F.C. 22 February 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  8. ^ "Young Star Extends Tranmere Deal". Tranmere Rovers F.C. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  9. ^ "Stockport County Loan Jake Kirby". Tranmere Rovers F.C. 28 August 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  10. ^ "Loan Watch". Tranmere Rovers F.C. 2 September 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  11. ^ "Ins And Outs At Prenton Park". Tranmere Rovers F.C. 26 November 2015. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  12. ^ "Andy Mangan: Tranmere Rovers striker among seven released". BBC Sport. 16 May 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  13. ^ "Jake Kirby: Stockport winger to step away from football". BBC Sport. 12 September 2019.
  14. ^ "Sean Lawton and Jake Kirby join the Dabbers". www.nantwichtownfc.co.uk. 20 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  15. ^ Hilton, Nick (5 May 2012). "Lowdown on Tranmere Rovers' young ones". Wirral News. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  16. ^ "Games played by Jake Kirby in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  17. ^ "Games played by Jake Kirby in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  18. ^ "Games played by Jake Kirby in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  19. ^ "Games played by Jake Kirby in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  20. ^ "Games played by Jake Kirby in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 December 2015.

External links[edit]