Kevin Wilkin

Kevin Wilkin

Born 1 October 1967 (Age 27 at debut)

Position: Forward

(Diamonds player #44)

Total appearances 95 – 43 goals

(69 League, 11 FA Cup, 2 FA Trophy, 6 League Cup, 6 Hiller Senior Cup, 1 Conference Shield)

Debut:

18 February 1995 (Away Atherstone United)

Final game:

31 March 1997 (Home Hayes)

Kevin began his career with his local side Histon while they were still competing in the Eastern Counties League. His goalscoring abilities led to the short move to Southern League side Cambridge City. In 1990, he was offered a contract with Northampton Town, just relegated into Divison 4. In some four years with the Cobblers however, he made just 78 appearances, scoring 11 goals, before joining Diamonds on loan in February 1995. His return to non-league football was an instant success scoring 12 goals in 15 games as they narrowly missed promotion to the Conference. His debut had come in the 7-1 win at Atherstone United, where he scored one of the Diamonds goals. During the close season, he signed for Diamonds on a permanent basis. Kevin’s goalscoring record demonstrates his value to the Diamonds in a Nene Park career that was troubled with injury. Despite this, he still managed nearly one goal every two games. In December 1996, he was still struggling with injury, and only managed three more appearances that season – all as substitute annihilation of Atherstone cae while on loan from Northampton Town. The last, as a substitute in the Easter Monday draw with Hayes. His 43 goals came from just 66 starts and included 4 against Gravesend and Sandwell Borough, and a hat-trick against VS Rugby. With fellow striker Darren Collins and Dale Watkins, he contributed to a prolific front line which was awesome at Beazer Homes League level. He left Diamonds at the end of Diamonds first season in the Conference, and joined Nuneaton Borough before moving back to Cambridge City in 2001.

Kevin went into management following his stint with Cambridge City, and he became assistant player/manager to Roger Ashby at Grantham Town in July 2002. When Ashby left to take up an appointment with Nuneaton Borough, he followed as his assistant. Ashby resigned in December 2006 however, and it allowed Kevin to take over as caretaker manager, before getting the job on a permant basis. The club suffered financial difficulties however, resulting in the liquidation of the club at the end of the 2007/2008 season, but Kevin remained in charge as the club reformed as Nuneaton Town for the following season in the Southern League Division One Midland. After guiding them to promotion to the Southern League Premier Division via the play-offs in 2009, he gained a further promotion the following season to the Conference North, again via the Play-Offs. They made the Play-Offs again the following season, but this time lost out. A fourth consecutive place in the League Play-Offs followed the following season, and this time, they gained promotion to the Conference. After stabilising the club in the Conference on a limited budget, he left on 20 March 2014 to become manager of fellow Conference side Wrexham. After taking Wrexham to the FA Trophy final in 2015 he took over the reins at Brackley Town in September 2015.

Appearances

1994/1995

1995/1996

1996/1997