This article's introduction section may not adequately summarize its contents. To comply with Wikipedia's lead section guidelines, please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of the article's key points. (August 2009)

Kevin Nolan
Personal information
Full name	Kevin Anthony Jance Nolan
Date of birth	June 24, 1982 (1982-06-24) (age 27)
Place of birth	Liverpool, England
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position	Centre Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Newcastle United
Number	4
Youth career
1997–1999	Bolton Wanderers
Senior career1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1999–2009 2009–	Bolton Wanderers Newcastle United	296 (40) 027 0(7)
National team2
2002–2004	England U21	002 0(0)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:11, 8 November 2009 (UTC). 2 National team caps and goals correct as of 23:06, 20 December 2008 (UTC). * Appearances (Goals)

Kevin Anthony Jance Nolan (born 24 June 1982 in Liverpool, Merseyside) is an English footballer who currently plays for Newcastle United of the Football League Championship, and has also represented England at under-21 level.

[edit] Career

[edit] Bolton Wanderers

Nolan was brought up in a football playing family, and wanted to be a footballer from a young age. By the age of 14, he was playing for the City of Liverpool's schoolboys team. As a child, he supported Liverpool, although, conversely, his favourite players were Eric Cantona and Lee Sharpe of Liverpool's rivals, Manchester United.

He was asked to come to a Bolton youth team session by a friend, and was soon signed up to the club's books. At the age of 16 he was handed a year-to-year contract, co-inciding with the opening of Bolton's academy. At the age of 17 he signed professional terms and made his first team debut.

In his first season in the Premiership (2001-02), Nolan scored 8 goals in the league including 2 at Leicester City on the opening day of the season. He also scored Bolton's first goal as they beat Manchester United 2-1 at Old Trafford.^[1] The following season he scored at Old Trafford again, Nolan's only goal of the season was the winner at Old Trafford in the game which Bolton recorded their second shock win at the ground in as many seasons, this time winning 1-0.^[2] Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has been seen scouting Nolan.^[3] In his third season he amassed a total of 12 goals as Bolton had their best season for 45 years.

[edit] Newcastle United

On 29 January 2009 it was revealed that Newcastle had agreed a £4 million fee with Bolton^[4], which was confirmed the next day with Nolan travelling to Tyneside to discuss terms and have a medical.^[5] Nolan completed his move on the same day, describing it as impossible to turn down, signing a four and a half year contract.^[6] On 22 February, Nolan received his first red card playing for Newcastle United in a home match against Everton for a foul on Victor Anichebe. At the end of the season, Newcastle were relegated. Nolan would be one of the more vocal Newcastle players over the summer, demanding an end to the off the field distractions at the club, and suggesting the club should be looking to acquire players for an immediate return to the Premier League.^[7]

Nolan scored his first league goal for Newcastle on 22 August against Crystal Palace.^[8]

Due to a small squad size and numerous injuries, Nolan has been used on many occasions in the 2009-10 as a striker instead of his preferred position of central midfield. He scored the first hat trick of his career as part of a 4–0 away win against Ipswich Town on 26 September.

[edit] International career

Nolan has previously been called-up to the England Under-18s^[9] and Under-21s and some commentators have acknowledged that he could be a future candidate for the England squad.^[10]. Reports have claimed that Nolan could be called up to the Republic of Ireland^[9] or Dutch squads due to his ancestry.

[edit] Personal life

Nolan has been in a relationship for the last nine years. He became engaged in 2005, and married in the summer of 2008. He and his fiancee Hayley welcomed a daughter, Jasmine Elizabeth, in November 2006.

Nolan grew up in Toxteth, Liverpool and was educated at the Liverpool Blue Coat School.

During the summer break between the footballing season Nolan is known to travel to Africa to teach English to disadvantaged children. So far he has raised £45,000 to help the building of schools in these areas.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Career statistics

^[11]

[edit] Club Playing Honours

Bolton Wanderers

• League Cup: runner-up 2004
• Football League First Division Play-Off Winners: 2000-01
• Peace Cup: runner-up 2007
• Premier League Asia Trophy: 2005

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Kevin Nolan career stats at Soccerbase
• Nolans first BBC column