Tony Kane

[groo]

TONY KANE



Date of Birth:
29th August 1987
Place of Birth:
Lisburn
Height:
1.80m
Weight:
76kg
Position Played:
Right Back, Left Back

Current Club:
Darlington (loan)
Previous Clubs:
Lisburn Youth, Blackburn Rovers, Carlisle United
Honours:
Northern Ireland U19, U18 youth International,
Republic of Ireland U21 youth International


BLACKBURN ROVERS CAREER.
Date Signed:
December 1998.
Squad No’s:
34
Debut:
n/a
Appearances:
n/a
Goals:
n/a


INTERNATIONAL CAREER.
Debut:
n/a
Caps:
n/a
Goals:
n/a

[groo]

STOCKPORT SEAL ONE MONTH DEAL FOR KANE.

On Thursday 2nd November Tony Kane secured a one-month loan deal to Division Two outfit Stockport County. This deal should ensure that the Lisburn Lad will gain much needed first team experience in order to progress at Ewood Park.

Speaking after his first training session, Tony committed himself fully to the cause, "Even if I'm not having the best of games I'll always give 100%. I've got a good engine and love getting forward, he added. "And although I can play anywhere across the back line I prefer playing right full-back."

Last month saw Tony switch allegiancies to Don Givens' Republic of Ireland U21 setup. This is a bitter blow to Northern Ireland as we could have lost on of the most promising full-backs. He has previously been a regular with the U18s and U19s, but an administration error ruled Kane out of this year's Milk Cup competition.

[groo]

Tony Kane was recalled by Blackburn Rovers in mid-December just prior to County's local derby against Bury. He came straight into the reserves starting line-up in a narrow 2-1 defeat to Shrewsbury in the Pointin's Holiday League Cup. Whilst on loan he made 4 1st team starts with County and they came out undefeated in those fixtures.

Hughes' took the precaution to take him back to Ewood after Andy Todd came off injured against Nancy and looked like joining defenders Ryan Nelsen, Brett Emerton and Zurab on the treatment table. Tony's youth International team-mate Eddie Nolan made his his debut as he had to revert to his unfamiliar position of right-back to replace Todd.

Kane is now expected to keep his starting place in the Reserve League match away to Manchester City next week.

[groo]

KANE JOINS BELGIAN SIDE ON LOAN UNTIL END OF THE SEASON.

Tony Kane today joined Belgian side Cercle Brugge on loan to the end of the season in order to strengthen their defensive options.

Brugge play in the Belgian first division at the Jan Breydel Stadion and share the ground with their fierce rivals Club Brugge. Cercle are the official feeder club to Blackburn Rovers and are managed by Harm van Veldhoven.

Founded in 1899, they won their first national title in 1911, and won two more titles before the Second World War. Cercle also won the Belgian Cup in 1985 and have represented Belgium in Europe on several occasions.


All at NIBRSA would like to wish Tony well in his new venture in Belgium with his new club Cercle Brugge.

[groo]

CERCLE FANS TAKE TO TONY


19-year-old Tony Kane from Northern Ireland needed time to recover from the physical exertions of Cercle’s game with Zulte Waregem back in February. He was taken off in the closing stages, when he was suffering from cramp. “He did a great job”, said Cercle coach Harm van Veldhoven, “but he must learn how to dose his efforts. He had wasted too much energy and felt exhausted at the end.”

Tony Kane has certainly strengthened the green blacks’ defensive options. Kane, who has completed a two-year deal with Premier League side Blackburn Rovers, put in a convincing display on his debut and is set to be of added value to the squad. Kane has been living in an apartment in Brugge for nearly two weeks and has settled in quickly. He is living on his own, but has been going steady with his girlfriend for four years. “It’s a shame I can’t see her more often, because of my football career”, he explained on Sunday night.

Kane started on the bench one week before, when Cercle took on title contenders Genk. “We were 3-0 down in no time. I was shocked, because at training I met several technically well-skilled players. We did not exactly meet expectations at Genk, so a win over Zulte Waregem was a must. I have given my all and I am delighted we have taken all three points.”



Tony Kane was on loan at Stockport, before he joined Cercle. “They play Third Division football, but the level of football in that league is high”, claims Kane.

The versatile young defender, who can play as right or left back, is cherishing a dream. “I want to show my skills in the Premier League once. The level in England is really amazing. Blackburn think I could qualify for first-team appearances, but the manager thought I would benefit from gaining experience in the Belgian league and come back an improved player. It was easy for me to make a choice in view of the co-operation between Blackburn and Cercle. The people at Cercle have been very kind and obviously welcomed the crucial win. I feel they have taken me to heart. I am confident we will climb the table and be among the best ten teams in Belgium at the end of the campaign.”



I had word from Belgium that TK is doing very well in Holland. He has settled in very well and can see this move until the end of the season being successful. He was unaware that he was awarded man-of-the-match against , but will come back if I have any further information on this. Good work from the Lisburn man and I'm thinking that we could have given him a call into the friendly vs Wales and that could have put him in great stead. I will expect to see Tony to make his senior debut at Ewood Park next season. Has done well in his two loan spells and with Lu-cash gone there will be a likely chance that Hughes' will give him his chance.

[groo]

KANES IMPRESSIVE CERCLE RUN CONTINUES



Tony Kane's impressive run with Blackburn's feeder club Cercle Brugge, continued as he played a strong part in their 2-0 away win against high-fliers AA Gent yesterday.

Cercle played their best game of the season and eased past Gent, whose hopes of qualification for the UEFA Cup tournament have been hugely dented after they were deservedly beaten by Cercle at the Otten Stadium on Sunday night. Goals from Tom De Sutter on either side of the break, were enough to secure three vital points and basically ensure that Cercle will be playing top flight football next season.



Kane lasted the full 90 minutes and was invloved in a neat link-up play, that nearly resulted in a goal midway through the first half. The Lisburn lad however collected his second booking for the club, after being cautioned for a handball.

Right-back Kane has now played 5 games for Cercle and has already been awarded one man of the match performance. In his 5 games, the club have improved their league standing, collecting an impressive 10 points out of a possible 15.

[groo]

'ROVER-RETURN' TO NORTHERN IRELAND

Tony Kane has sensationally been called up to Northern Irelands forthcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers away to Latvia and Iceland. The defender has opted for a recall to his home country, since teaming up with the Republic of Ireland U21s last summer.



Kane, who was born in Lisburn, received a call from Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington during the week and expressed his admiration for the player and coaxed him to return to playing for Northern Ireland. Last summer, an administration error at the IFA offices prematurely ended the defenders participation for the U19s at the Milk Cup and shortly after Don Givens reacted swiftly to call him up to the Republic of Ireland U21's.

The right-back is highly rated at Blackburn Rovers and manager Mark Hughes has involved him during this season's pre-season campaign. During the last campaign, the right-back had a loan spell at Stockport County before moving to Cercle Brugge in Belgium for two months before returning back to Ewood Park.

This season Kane has now been allocated squad number 28, after moving up from 34 and is expected to push hard for his debut with the senior team.

[Chicken Wing]

Happy days. Fair play to the guy. I have never seen him play but have heard gleaming reports about him. A prospect for the future I take it. Watch out Emerton lol!

[groo]

KANE SIGNS ONE YEAR EXTENSION.

NIBRSA sponsored player Tony Kane has signed a new extension deal at Blackburn Rovers, which will keep him at Ewood Park until the summer of 2009. Tony has been called into the senior squad on a regular basis this season, but is still awaiting his debut.

Kane has also been called into the Northern Ireland U21 squad, who travel to Israel for the game this Wednesday (06/02/08).

[groo]

KANE MOVES TO STOCKPORT FOR ONE MONTH.

Tony Kane transferred to Stockport County for a one-month loan deal in order to gain more first team experience. The deal was completed on Thursday 9th October 2008

This will be the second time the Northern Ireland International will represent County, as he went out on loan during the 2006-07 season at Edgeley Park, notching up four appearances in the process. Kane will be a useful addition to the team, as he can play on either side of defence.

Tony will also link up with International team-mate Peter Thompson, who made the move across the water in a £200,000 deal from Linfield.

[groo]

TONY KANE
(updated February 2010)

Tony agreed a two year deal with Carlisle at the end of 2008/09 season after being released by Blackburn from his five year spell.



Kane had previously joined the Cumbrian's on loan last season making 9 appearances, starting 6 of the games. He made his debut against Morecambe in a 2-2 draw after signing permanently before going off on loan to Darlington.

At the Quaker's he featured in four games, before returning to Carlisle where he last played in a 1-0 defeat at home to Swindon when he replaced Richard Keough at half-time. He played all of the 2nd half keeping a clean sheet in the process.