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Squad Profiles - Senior

Andrew Kirk
Andrew Kirk
Picture: William Cherry (Kelvin Boyes Photography)
Andrew Kirk

Andrew Kirk

Picture: Pacemaker Press
Andrew Kirk

Andrew Kirk

Picture: Pacemaker Press

Andrew Kirk

Forward

By Martin Harris

Position: Forward
Club: Northampton Town
Date of birth: 29th May 1979
Place of birth: Belfast
NI debut: 26th April 2000; home v. Hungary (L 0-1)
Caps: 8
Goals: 0

PERHAPS the highest compliment you can pay any striker is to describe him as prolific - and that's most certainly a label that sits well with Andy Kirk.

Kirk, son of Lisburn Distillery boss Paul, has scored goals wherever he has hung his boots. From Glentoran in the Irish League to SPL side Hearts to Boston United and, now, Northampton Town.

Some view it as something of a mystery, then, as to why Kirk has only a handful of international caps to his name.

A series of injuries whilst at Hearts was a hinderance. His time there was continually interrupted by one niggling knock after another, a period which coincided with the growth of David Healy into our undoubted main striker.

That left Kirk - and a host of others - to compete for the partnering role up front. Andy's cause wasn't helped by his drop last summer from the relative bright lights of the Scottish top flight to the footballing backwater that was League Two football and Boston United.

Others, playing at a higher level, moved above him in the pecking order ..... but still the goals came. A recent move from the Pilgrims to Northampton Town brought him closer to League One although promotion for the Cobblers is still by no means a certainty.

All Andy is keep tucking the goals away. If he does that then his stock at international level will rise and rise.

 

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10th March 2005
COBBLERS FOR KIRK

NORTHERN Ireland frontman Andy Kirk has joined League One promotion hopefuls Northampton Town in a three-and-a-half year deal worth around £125,000.

After passing a medical the signing of 25-year-old was announced on Northampton's official website and will go straight into the side for Saturday's game with Rushden & Diamonds.

Ironically he will come into direct competition with international team-mate Mark Williams who is currently on loan at Rushden.

Kirk has been in high demand this term after scoring 20 goals for former club Boston United less than a year after making the move from SPL side Hearts less than a year ago.

Indeed interest did come from Championship and League One sides but Andy, with seven caps to his name, feels his future lies at The Sixfields Stadium.

He told the official site: "Once I knew Northampton were interested in me it wasn't a hard decision for me to make.

"I have been very impressed with the set up and how they played football whenever I visited with Boston.

"Northampton are a big club and I think they should be playing at a higher level. Hopefully I can help them achieve that."

25th January 2005
EVANS HAILS KIRK CALL-UP

BOSTON United boss Steve Evans tonight praised Lawrie Sanchez's decision to name Andy Kirk in the panel to face Canada on February 9th.

It has been almost a year since Kirk last featured in the Northern Ireland set-up - he was an unused sub against Estonia - but his prolific form since joining the Pilgrims from Hearts in the summer has left it difficult for Sanchez to leave him out.

Manager Steve Evans was delighted with the news.

Speaking to the official club website, he said: "It is great recognition for a striker who is a fantastic goalscorer. His finishing is top class and I am glad that Lawrie Sanchez has made the decision to include Andy in the squad to face Canada.

"It is no surprise to anyone at Boston United that he has been selected. To accompany his finishing ability, he is also a superb professional and an example to every young player that we have at the club."

17th January 2005
EVANS: PUT UP OR SHUT UP

BOSTON United manager Steve Evans has urged those clubs interested in Andy Kirk to make their intentions clear or to leave the player alone.

Kirk, with 16 goals this season for the Pilgrims, has been the subject of intense speculation over the last few weeks with clubs as diverse as Leicester City, Stoke City, Plymouth Argyle, Gillingham and, latterly, Doncaster Rovers all expressing an interest in the five times capped Northern Ireland international.

"Some clubs like to attach themselves to players of Andy's calibre, but never make an offer for the player," Evans today told BBC Sport.

"What I would say to those clubs who think they want to sign Andy is 'put your money on the table'.

"Otherwise, the football club and Andy want to be left alone. It doesn't do either of them any good with constant speculation."

15th November 2004
KIRK OUT FOR SIX WEEKS?

STRIKER Andy Kirk could be sidelined for up to six weeks after being injured in Boston United's 5-2 FA Cup victory over Hornchurch at the weekend.

The former Glentoran player will have a scan to assess the damage to his hamstring which forced him to come after just 35 minutes on Saturday. Whatever the outcome though Pilgrim's boss Steve Evans is hopeful that the 25 year-old striker will make a quick recovery.

"At worst he could be out for up to six weeks, which would be a blow because the boy has been magnificent recently," said Evans, "but, knowing Andy, he will work hard to return to action as soon as possible."

Kirk moved to the League Two club on a free transfer from Hearts last summer and since making his debut in September has managed eight goals in just eleven appearances for the Lincolnshire outfit.

29th May 2004
KIRK MOVE SOUTH CONFIRMED

BOSTON United manager Steve Evans has expressed his expressed his delight at clinching the signing of Northern Ireland striker Andy Kirk who was released by Hearts last week.

The former Glentoran ace penned a three-year deal with the Third Division outfit on Wednesday and Evans can't wait to see how both Kirk and his other pre-season signing Derek Lilley from Livingston fare come the new season.

"I am looking forward to seeing these lads in action," said Evans, "and I think they will both be great assets to the club."

"Andy is a good player and I hope the fans have been given something to get excited about. One of the main factors in Andy coming here was the fact he is a good pal of Derek, it shows that quality attracts quality and we are very satisfied."

The move to Boston will be a fresh start for 25 year-old Kirk, who despite hitting ten goals for Hearts last term was never assured of a place in the starting line-up.

18th May 2004
ANDY HEARTS BROKEN

ANDY Kirk today spoke of his sadness at leaving Hearts after five-and-a-half years at the club, a victim of cost-cutting at the hard-up SPL side.

Saturday's visit of Motherwell was his last game in the famous maroon jersey. He came on with 21 minutes remaining to bid farewell to the Tynecastle crowd and to also mark his return from injury after finally shaking off a niggling groin problem.

"I had an injection in my groin earlier in the week but didn't think I would be fit for the game. However, the gaffer said he wanted to play me to give me a chance to say farewell to the supporters and that was a decent gesture.

"It was an exciting day but at the same time quite sad as my Hearts career came to an end. I didn't really know until last week that I wasn't being kept on and it was a strange feeling, really.

"The whole thing has been a bit of an emotional roller-coaster for me and to be honest not knowing what was happening was unsettling for the family.

His focus now turns to finding a new club for next season and while reviving his international career is also a target that will have to take a backseat for the time being.

"Hopefully I can get something sorted out during the summer. These things happen in football and I have to look elsewhere now. There are a few things on the go and I'll have to sit down with my wife and agent to discuss what is best for me.

"I am not that concerned about my international career at the moment. It is more important that I find a new club, get settled in and do as well for them as I have for Hearts."

  • James Quinn

    JAMES Quinn fired a timely reminder to Lawrie Sanchez ahead of the Estonia friendly with his first goal in a month for Peterborough United.


  • Andrew Kirk

    ANDY Kirk fired a timely reminder to Lawrie Sanchez ahead of the forthcoming friendly with Estonia.


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