Kevin Dearden

Playing career He began his career as an apprentice with Tottenham Hotspur, turning professional on 5 August 1988. In need of first-team experience, he joined Cambridge United on loan on 9 March 1989, making his league debut two days later in a 3–0 away win against Exeter City.

The next season, he joined Hartlepool United on loan in August 1989, moving to Oxford United on loan on 14 December, with a third loan move that season when he joined Swindon Town on 23 March.

He left White Hart Lane in September 1993, He played at Wembley for Brentford, but was on the losing side as Crewe Alexandra won the Second Division play-off final in May 1997. He lost his place in 1998–99 season, joining Barnet on loan on 4 February 1999, before moving to Huddersfield Town on a free transfer on 11 March, having played 213 league games for Brentford. He lost his place at the start of the following season to Kristian Rogers, and although he fought back to make 20 league appearances he was released at the end of the season, his final game for Wrexham being in the winning FAW Premier Cup Final side.

He signed on non-contract terms for Torquay United on 9 August 2001 to enable him to be registered in time to play in the opening game of the season away to Bristol Rovers. He soon signed a one-year contract in the knowledge that he would be Roy McFarland's first choice goalkeeper for the 2001–02 season. He began helping manager Leroy Rosenior with the coaching and Plainmoor and although a knee injury forced him into retirement in March 2005,

In February 2006 he signed as a player for non-league Boreham Wood.

Coaching In July 2006 he joined the coaching staff at Brentford briefly for a matter of days before deciding instead to take a full-time post at Millwall. After coaching for Luton, Stevenage and Leyton Orient, he took on a full-time role as goalkeeping coach and chief scout at Leyton Orient in June 2008. He resigned from the club on 8 December 2014 for personal reasons.

On 24 December 2014, Dearden joined home-town club Luton Town as goalkeeping coach, later becoming Team Operations Manager. He left the role in July 2026.