Brendan Jason Kiernan (born 10 November 1992) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League Two club Grimsby Town, on loan from Walsall.
![]() Kiernan playing for Hampton & Richmond Borough in 2017 | |||
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Brendan Jason Kiernan[1] | ||
Date of birth | (1992-11-10) 10 November 1992 (age 30) | ||
Place of birth | Lambeth, England | ||
Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[2] | ||
Position(s) | Winger | ||
Club information | |||
Current team |
Grimsby Town (on loan from Walsall) | ||
Number | 27 | ||
Youth career | |||
Bromley | |||
Fulham | |||
Crystal Palace | |||
2009–2011 | AFC Wimbledon | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2011–2013 | AFC Wimbledon | 17 | (0) |
2012 | → Braintree Town (loan) | 4 | (0) |
2013–2014 | Bromley | 39 | (3) |
2014 | Staines Town | 5 | (1) |
2014–2015 | Ebbsfleet United | 8 | (0) |
2015 | Lingfield | 7 | (8) |
2015 | Hayes & Yeading United | 6 | (0) |
2015–2016 | Bromley | 1 | (0) |
2016–2018 | Hampton & Richmond Borough | 103 | (29) |
2018–2019 | Welling United | 42 | (13) |
2019–2021 | Harrogate Town | 63 | (11) |
2021– | Walsall | 30 | (4) |
2022– | → Grimsby Town (loan) | 11 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 09:25, 7 March 2022 (UTC) |
He spent his early youth career at Bromley, Fulham and Crystal Palace before joining AFC Wimbledon at the age of 16. He made his league debut for AFC Wimbledon as a substitute on 18 March 2011, at the age of 18. He joined Walsall on 1 July 2021.[3]
Kiernan grew up near Arsenal's Highbury Stadium, and was an Arsenal fan.[4]
Kiernan started his career in the youth team at Fulham, but left as a youngster to join Crystal Palace. He stayed with the club until he was 16, but was released at the end of the season in 2009.[5] He then underwent unsuccessful trials at QPR, Derby County, Charlton, Southend, Leeds and Leicester.[4]
He then joined the AFC Wimbledon Senior Academy at South Thames College, where he got picked for the England Colleges team.[6]
The midfielder made his league debut for "The Dons" in a Conference game against Crawley Town in a 3–1 defeat on 18 March 2011, coming on as a substitute for Luke Moore.[7] Kiernan only featured in one more game in the 2010–11 season, a 0–0 draw with Forest Green Rovers, which was his first League start for the club, securing a place in the Conference play-offs.[8] Following AFC Wimbledon's promotion to the Football league Kiernan made his football league debut on 24 September 2011 when he came on as a substitute for Luke Moore in a 2–1 win over Bradford City in League Two.[9] On 27 January 2012, Kiernan signed for Braintree Town on a one-month loan deal, making four appearances in total.[10] Kiernan scored his first goal in professional football in the First Round of the League Cup against Stevenage on 14 August 2012. It would only prove to be a consolation, however, as AFC Wimbledon went on to be defeated 3–1.[11] Having broken into the first team under manager Terry Brown at the start of the 2012 season, Kiernan left the club by mutual consent on 8 April 2013 under new manager Neal Ardley.[12]
Following his departure from Wimbledon, Kiernan joined his local club Conference South side Bromley in July 2013. After impressing in pre-season, he scored on his debut, netting the first goal in a 2–0 away victory against Hayes and Yeading United on 17 August 2013. A week later, he scored Bromley's third goal in a 5–1 win over local rivals Tonbridge Angels.[13] During his non-league career Kiernan worked as a teaching assistant and a personal trainer.[4]
On 5 June 2015, Kiernan's contract with Ebbsfleet expired.[14] He nearly retired from the game, but signed for Lingfield.[4]
After a season at Welling United, after again reaching the play off final, it was announced in May 2019, that Kiernan had joined Harrogate Town.[15]
Kiernan joined League Two side Walsall on a two-year contract on 1 July 2021.[3] In November 2021 it was revealed that he was training to become a counsellor, and also acted as a mentor to young players released by clubs.[4]
On 21 July 2022, Kiernan signed for Grimsby Town on loan until January 2023.[16]
Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
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Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
AFC Wimbledon | 2010–11[17] | Conference Premier | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
2011–12[18] | League Two | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
2012–13[19] | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 8 | 1 | ||
Total | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 1 | ||
Braintree (loan) | 2011–12[18] | Conference Premier | 4 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
Bromley | 2013–14[20] | Conference South | 39 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | 3[lower-alpha 2] | 0 | 44 | 3 | |
Staines Town | 2014–15[17] | Conference South | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | |
Ebbsfleet United | 2014–15[17] | Conference South | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 6[lower-alpha 3] | 1 | 14 | 1 | |
Lingfield | 2015–16 | Southern Comb. D1 | 7 | 8 | ? | ? | — | ? | ? | 7 | 8 | |
Hayes & Yeading | 2015–16[20] | National League South | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
Bromley | 2015–16[20] | National League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 3[lower-alpha 4] | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
Hampton & Richmond | 2015–16 | Isthmian Premier Division | 23 | 11 | ? | ? | — | ? | ? | 23 | 11 | |
2016–17[17] | National League South | 40 | 15 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 40 | 15 | ||
2017–18[17] | 40 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | 2[lower-alpha 5] | 0 | 43 | 3 | |||
Total | 103 | 29 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 106 | 29 | ||
Welling | 2018–19[17] | National League South | 42 | 13 | 1 | 0 | — | ? | ? | 43 | 13 | |
Harrogate Town | 2019–20[21] | National League | 33 | 7 | 2 | 0 | — | 6[lower-alpha 6] | 1 | 41 | 8 | |
2020–21[22] | League Two | 30 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[lower-alpha 7] | 2 | 35 | 6 | |
Total | 63 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 76 | 14 | ||
Walsall | 2021–22[23] | League Two | 24 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2[lower-alpha 8] | 0 | 28 | 5 |
Career total | 319 | 69 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 26 | 4 | 358 | 75 |
Grimsby Town F.C. – current squad | |
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