Andy Kilner

Andrew William Kilner (born 11 October 1966) is an English former professional footballer and manager. He began his career with Burnley, progressing through the club's youth system and making his professional debut in 1986 before being released. After spells with non-league sides Hyde United and Altrincham, he moved to Sweden where he spent two seasons.

After impressing during a trial spell, he joined Stockport County in 1990 and scores twice on his full debut. He went on to make 49 appearances in all competitions and spent time on loan at Rochdale and Bury before leaving the club in 1992. He later played for Witton Albion, Chorley, Radcliffe Borough and Norwegian side Fredrikstad FK before retiring due to injury at the age of 29.

After working for Bolton Wanderers in a community role, he returned to Stockport where he was placed in charge of their Centre of Excellence. In June 1999, he was appointed manager of the club following the sacking of Gary Megson. He remained in charge until October 2001 when he was sacked following a poor start to the 2001–02 season. He is now the manager of the Swedish football club, Vänersborgs IF as of 2019.

Playing career Born in Bolton, Kilner had represented England at youth level and began his club career in the youth system at Burnley, after rejecting an approach from Manchester United, signing his first professional contract on his seventeenth birthday. However, when Kilner joined the club in 1983, John Bond had been appointed manager with Kilner describing him as a "daunting character" and that eventually he "was dreading walking into the football club because of the atmosphere he had created at the time." He joined non-league side Hyde United in 1986, making his debut in a 2–0 defeat to Southport on 1 November 1986 before scoring his first goal in a 3–3 draw with Mossley in the FA Trophy three weeks later.

In 1988, he joined Altrincham in a player swap deal where he spent the remainder of the 1987–88 season. He returned to Sweden soon after, joining Vänersborgs IF before scoring 20 times in the 1990 season for Jonsereds IF despite suffering a broken leg for the second time in his career in 1989. He played two matches for Stockport's reserve side, scoring once against Rochdale and twice against Crewe Alexandra. His performances saw him handed his first team debut on 1 January 1991 as a substitute in place of Paul Williams during a 1–1 draw with Gillingham. Three days later, he was named in the starting line-up for a league match against Wrexham and scored both goals in a 2–0 victory, signing a permanent contract with the club soon after.

After a spell with Witton Albion, Chorley and Radcliffe Borough Kilner joined Norwegian third tier side Fredrikstad FK. He enjoyed a prolific season, scoring fifteen times in eighteen league matches including two hat-tricks, as the club finished in second place and missed out on promotion by a point. Fredrikstad hoped to extend the deal but could not afford to offer him a new deal and he subsequently left the club. During his time in Norway, Kilner had been receiving injections in his knee to keep playing but after a few years at Radcliffe Borough he was eventually forced to retire from playing at the age of 29 due to longstanding complications from the broken leg he suffered playing for Burnley. He also helped the club reach the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time in over fifty years. After a poor start to the 2001–02 season during which the club won one of their opening fifteen matches, including losing six of his last seven matches, Kilner was sacked by Stockport despite Elwood stating that he "won't be sacking Andy" several days before. Kilner later criticised Elwood, stating his belief that the club had continually sold their best players and provided insufficient funds to replace them. He commented, "If you sell your best players and replace them at a fraction of the cost, then it's not going to be the same". He also revealed that his wife and son had received verbal and physical abuse from Stockport fans prior to his sacking.

In 2002, he joined Sunderland as part of Mick McCarthy's coaching staff, also undertaking scouting assignments in the North West, where he worked until 2006.

Managerial statistics

+ Managerial record by team and tenureTeamFromToRecordStockport County 28 June 199929 October 2001 Total—