Kenneth Vincent Lunt (born 20 November 1979) is an English retired professional footballer and current football coach, who works for Crewe Alexandra as player development manager.[1] Lunt previous played for Crewe, Sheffield Wednesday, Hereford United and Bala Town.

Kenny Lunt
Lunt (then Crewe assistant manager) at Crawley Town, August 2019
Personal information
Full name Kenneth Vincent Lunt
Date of birth (1979-11-20) 20 November 1979 (age 44)
Place of birth Runcorn, England
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Crewe Alexandra (player development manager)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–2006 Crewe Alexandra 373 (35)
2006–2009 Sheffield Wednesday 41 (0)
2008Crewe Alexandra (loan) 14 (0)
2008Crewe Alexandra (loan) 3 (0)
2009–2012 Hereford United 109 (1)
2012–2015 Bala Town 79 (9)
Total 619 (45)
Managerial career
–2017 Crewe Alexandra (U18)
2017–2022 Crewe Alexandra (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Crewe Alexandra

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Lunt is one of many players to emerge from the Crewe Alexandra Academy – alongside Dean Ashton, Rob Hulse and Danny Murphy – nurtured by then manager, Dario Gradi and Crewe Alexandra "Centre of Excellence" manager Bill Prendergast.[2] Having attended the National School at Lilleshall, in the same group of players as Michael Owen, Wes Brown and Michael Ball,[3][4] Lunt made his Crewe debut, aged 17, on the first day of the 1997–98 season against Swindon Town.[5] He went on to score on his home debut, hitting a 6th-minute volley against Bury in the League Cup.[6]

Lunt completed more than seven years of first team football at Gresty Road, and was previously club captain at Crewe (replacing David Brammer, sold to Stoke City on a free transfer) – a role he shared with Steve Foster.

During Crewe's 2002–03 season in the Football League Second Division Lunt headed the rankings of goal assists. During his time at Crewe, Lunt made over 400 appearances for the club.

Sheffield Wednesday

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Lunt at Sheffield Wednesday, 2006

In May 2006, Sheffield Wednesday beat competition from several other Championship clubs to sign Lunt on a free transfer, offering him a three-year deal.[7] Lunt made his debut for the Owls in their 1–0 defeat to Luton Town. In February 2008 Lunt rejoined Crewe Alexandra on loan until the end of the season.[8]

By the beginning of the 2008–09 season manager Brian Laws stated that Lunt had no first team future at Sheffield Wednesday.[9] Lunt refused to depart, but on 8 May 2009 Lunt and the club reached a mutual agreement to terminate his playing contract with immediate effect.[10]

Hereford United

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On 23 June 2009 Lunt signed a one-year contract with Football League Two club Hereford United and was named as captain. He was stripped of the captaincy of the club following a half-time argument with management during a League Cup match at Portsmouth. In May 2011 he signed a new one-year contract with the club.[11]

Bala Town

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In August 2012 Kenny Lunt signed for Welsh Premier League side Bala Town following his release from Hereford United.

Coaching and management roles

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Having previously been assistant academy director (and u18 manager) at Crewe, Lunt was appointed assistant to first team manager David Artell on 10 January 2017.[12] In March 2022, Artell reshuffled his team and Lunt was appointed player development manager.[1]

Personal life

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Lunt is the uncle of current Crewe midfielder Owen Lunt.[13]

Club statistics

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All-Time Club Performance
Club Season Domestic
League
FA Cup League Cup Total
App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals
Hereford United 11–12 25 0 0 0 2 0 28 0
10–11 42 0 4 0 1 0 48 0
09-10 42 1 2 0 2 0 50 1
Total 09-present 109 1 6 0 5 0 126 1
Sheffield Wednesday 07-08 4 0 1 0 3 0 8 0
06-07 37 0 2 0 1 0 40 0
Total 06-09 41 0 3 0 4 0 48 0
Crewe Alexandra 08-09 3 0 1 0 0 0 4 0
07-08 14 0 0 0 0 0 14 0
05-06 43 4 1 0 1 0 45 4
04-05 46 5 1 0 3 0 50 5
03-04 45 7 1 0 2 0 49 7
02-03 46 7 4 0 2 0 52 7
01-02 46 5 4 0 3 0 53 5
00-01 46 1 3 0 4 0 53 1
99-00 43 3 1 0 5 0 49 3
98–99 18 1 1 0 3 0 22 1
97–98 40 2 0 0 2 1 42 3
Total 07-09
97-06
390 35 17 0 25 1 432 36
Career Totals 97-Present 540 36 26 0 34 1 606 38
As of 8 May 2012.

Honours

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with Crewe Alexandra

References

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  1. ^ a b Baggaley, Michael (14 March 2022). "'Vital' - Dave Artell explains Crewe Alexandra reshuffle with new roles for Kenny Lunt, Alex Morris and Lee Bell". Cheshire Live. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  2. ^ Richmonds signs Bill to coach kids Manchester Evening News, 5 August 2008, retrieved 23 June 2009.
  3. ^ Kenny notches 100 starts at age 20 Crewe & Nantwich Guardian, 5 January 2001, retrieved 23 June 2009.
  4. ^ Gerrard, Steven (2006). Gerrard: My Autobiography. Bantam Press. pp. 41, 45. ISBN 0-593-05475-X.
  5. ^ The heat is on! Crewe & Nantwich Guardian, 14 August 1997, retrieved 23 June 2009.
  6. ^ Crewe buried by Bury Crewe & Nantwich Guardian, 14 August 1997, retrieved 23 June 2009.
  7. ^ "Sheffield Wed – News – Latest News – Latest News – Owls Capture Kenny Lunt". world.swfc.co.uk. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  8. ^ "Crewe Alexandra – News – Latest News – Latest News – Lunt Will Cause 'Topic Of Debate'". www.crewealex.co.uk.p.preprod.performgroup.com. Archived from the original on 6 April 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  9. ^ "No future for Lunt at Wednesday". BBC News. 2 September 2008. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  10. ^ "Sheffield Wed – News – Latest News – Latest News – Small and Lunt depart Hillsborough". world.swfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 6 April 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  11. ^ "Hereford United midfielder Kenny Lunt signs a new deal". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 5 May 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  12. ^ Morse, Peter (10 January 2017). "Crewe Alex appoint Kenny Lunt as assistant manager". Crewe Chronicle. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  13. ^ "30 Owen Lunt - Midfielder". Crewe Alexandra F.C. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
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Preceded by Crewe Alexandra Captain
2004–2006
Succeeded by