Kirk Hudson

AFC Bournemouth During the 2005–06 pre-season, Hudson joined League One club AFC Bournemouth on trial and impressed enough to sign a three-month contract on 5 August 2005. He was a regular inclusion on the substitutes' bench early in the regular season and made his professional debut as a late substitute for James Keene in a 2–1 win over Swindon Town on 17 September. Hudson again appeared as a late substitute in the following League Cup match,

Aldershot Town

Football Conference (2006–2008) After a non-playing spell with Conference South club Thurrock and failing a trial with League One high-flyers Southend United, Hudson joined Conference Premier club Aldershot Town on trial in January 2006. He made his debut with a start in a Hampshire Senior Cup quarter-final match versus Basingstoke Town on 14 January and scored both the Shots' goals in the 3–2 defeat. After the match, he joined the club on non-contract terms and made his league debut with a late substitute cameo in a 3–1 victory over Halifax Town on 21 January. Hudson was a regular in the team through to the end of the season and finished 2005–06 with 13 appearances and four goals.

After three substitute appearances early in the 2006–07 season, Hudson joined Southern League Western Division club Ashford Town (Middlesex) on a one-month loan, He made four league appearances. Upon his return to Aldershot Town in November 2006, he was utilised as an impact substitute and scored four goals in six appearances during the club's Hampshire Senior Cup-winning campaign. making 48 appearances and scoring 12 goals to help the Shots to the Conference Premier title and promotion to the Football League. He also contributed to Aldershot's Conference League Cup Final victory over Rushden & Diamonds (scoring a goal in the 3–3 draw and then converting a penalty in the deciding shootout), Hudson signed a new two-year contract in March 2008.

Football League (2008–2010) Now playing League Two football, Hudson began the 2008–09 season as a regular starter, but despite scoring five goals by mid-November 2008, manager Garry Waddock felt the need to challenge him to play with more consistency. Hudson responded by scoring three goals in four matches in December, A season of consolidation in the Football League ended with Hudson having made 48 appearances and scored 13 goals, He lost his starting place in January 2010 and only regained it for four matches in March. Just two defeats from the final 11 matches of the season saw Aldershot finish sixth, which qualified the club for a playoff place.

Brentford On 28 June 2010, Hudson joined League One club Brentford on a two-year contract for a fee that was later decided by an "amicable agreement". Manager Andy Scott stated in early July that he hoped to convert Hudson into a centre forward. but returned to fitness in September and made his debut as a substitute for Nicky Adams after 66 minutes of a 1–0 defeat to Leyton Orient late in the month. On 31 December 2010, Hudson reunited with his former Aldershot Town manager Terry Brown on loan at Conference Premier club AFC Wimbledon. Despite missing three weeks with a recurrence of the groin injury suffered in July 2010, Hudson made 14 appearances and scored one goal during the remainder of the 2010–11 season. After returning to fitness in October, potential loan moves to Southend United and Hayes & Yeading United fell through and he departed Griffin Park by mutual consent on 12 March 2012, having failed to win a call into the first team squad since November 2010.

Return to non-League football On 21 August 2012, Hudson joined Isthmian League Premier Division club Canvey Island. Hudson later played for Essex Olympian League clubs White Ensign and Shoebury Town between 2012 and 2022.

Personal life Hudson is an Arsenal supporter. As of November 2005, he was living in Shoeburyness. League One 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 Thurrock (loan) 2005–06 2 13 4 2006–07 Conference Premier 25 4

7 4 32 8 2007–08 Conference Premier 34 7 0 0

7 5 41 12 2008–09 League Two 43 11 3 2 1 0 1 0 48 13 2009–10 League Two 34 4 1 0 1 0 2 1 38 5

148 28 4 2 2 0 18 12 172 42 Ashford Town (Middlesex) (loan) 2006–07 League One 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 16 1 Canvey Island 2012–13 Isthmian League Premier Division 2 0 1 0

3 0

2012–13 Essex Olympian League Premier Division 5 2

0 0 5 2 2013–14 Essex Olympian League Third Division 17 7

1 0 18 7 2018–19 0 14 2

64 22

5 2 69 24

242 52 7 3 3 0 26 14 278 58

Honours Aldershot Town Conference Premier: 2007–08 Hampshire Senior Cup: 2006–07

Individual

Football Conference Young Player of the Year: 2007–08 Football Conference Premier Player of the Month: February 2008