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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Darren Edward Kenton | ||
| Date of birth | (1978-09-13)13 September 1978 (age 47) | ||
| Place of birth | Wandsworth, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1] | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1996–2003 | Norwich City | 158 | (9) |
| 2003–2006 | Southampton | 29 | (0) |
| 2005 | →Leicester City (loan) | 10 | (0) |
| 2006–2008 | Leicester City | 33 | (2) |
| 2008 | →Leeds United (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2008 | Leeds United | 12 | (0) |
| 2008–2009 | Cheltenham Town | 13 | (1) |
| 2009–2010 | Rochester Rhinos | 14 | (1) |
| Total | 273 | (13) | |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Darren Edward Kenton (born 13 September 1978) is an English former professionalfootballer who last played forRochester Rhinos in theUSL First Division.
Kenton was born inWandsworth and started his career atNorwich City in 1997. He played 158 league games and scored nine goals for the Canaries in the oldFootball League First Division.
Kenton signed forSouthampton in 2003 on afree transfer.[2] He made his debut in December 2003 in a match againstArsenal.[3][4] In a Premier League match againstChelsea in May 2004 he was described as "the best player on the pitch" and "outstanding" despite his side losing 4-0.[5][6] Kenton scored his only goal for Southampton in anFA Cup match againstMK Dons on 7 January 2006.[7]
Having been released bySouthampton in May 2006, he joinedLeicester City on 27 June 2006, a team for which he had previously had a loan spell in 2005.[8]
He started the2006–07 Championship season as a first-team regular, despite scoring an own goal againstWest Bromwich Albion in his sixth game for the club. He struggled with injury towards the end of the season. On 31 March 2007 he scored his first goal for the club in a 4–2 defeat away toStoke City[9] and got his second of the season in a 2–1 loss againstNorwich City on 14 April 2007.[10]
On 19 June 2007 Kenton was placed on the transfer list by then managerMartin Allen.[11] However, the injury ofStephen Clemence andJames Wesolowski on 23 October 2007 saw a recall into the senior squad, playing in midfield position. He was regularly involved in the first team in November and December 2007.
On 10 January 2008, Kenton joinedLeague One sideLeeds United on a one-month loan deal[12] He then had his Leicester contract terminated by mutual consent on 31 January 2008 and he joined Leeds permanently on the same day.[13] He played 12 games for the club as they finished sixth, but he did not play in their play-off campaign and he was released at the end of the season.[14]
On 2 October 2008, Kenton joinedCheltenham Town, he signed at the same time as former Leicester teammateJames Wesolowski and linked up with former Leicester managerMartin Allen.[15] He made 13 league appearances before turning down an extended contract and consequently left the club on 6 January 2009.[16] He scored once for Cheltenham, in a 4–3 win over Colchester United.[17]
After an unsuccessful trial withToronto FC in February 2009,[18] Kenton joinedRochester Rhinos on a one-year contract on 9 April.[19]
