When Billy Kenny came to Barrow, he was hoping to resurrect his career and stay clear of a cocaine addiction which had seen him kicked out by Everton and Oldham. He played his first game for Barrow in October 1995, but just five months later he was sacked under controversial circumstances after falling out with new manager, Mike Walsh. We wanted to know more about Billy's five controversial months at Holker St, so we tracked him down to his cramped Liverpool flat and asked him to spill the beans...
BILLY KENNY The Fallen Idol
If you don't mind our asking, Billy, what went wrong at Everton? I was getting too much money too young. I had nothing to do and I was hanging around with the wrong crowd and it went from bad to worse really. It's a crazy thing I went through. I can't really remember when it all started. Everton just sacked me - that was it. After that you went to Oldham for a while. Why did you leave there? I got fed up at Oldham in the end. When I got fit Sharpey [Oldham manager, Graeme Sharp] didn't play me so I thought it was time to pack my bags and leave. So what were you doing before you joined Barrow? Before I joined Barrow I had four or five months to think about things. I needed time on my own. Everyone left me alone, the papers left me alone, they had nothing else to write about me and everyone else more or less forgot about me. I could have joined Millwall or Birmingham. They both offered me a deal but I didn't fancy it. It was rumoured that Stephen Vaughan tempted you to Holker St by describing Barrow as the Manchester United of non-League football. Is that how it happened? Stephen Vaughan just phoned our house. I didn't have any previous connection with either Stephen or Tony Hesketh [Barrow's manager at the time] but Stephen is a Liverpudlian like me. Your second game for Barrow was when you came on as substitute against Winsford in an FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round match and you got sent off just a few minutes later. Do you think the Winsford players deliberately set out to goad you because of your reputation? I don't really know. There was some scruffy little ß@$*@®¶ doing my head in. How did the standard of football in the UniBond suit you? It wasn't that bad really. I was a little bit unfit so it was all right. [Ed's note: Despite playing in a team which included Neil Morton, Andy Green, Peter Smith, Stuart Humphreys, Chris Speak and Ian Harrold, Billy wouldn't be drawn on his opinions of his team mates at Holker St.] Tony Hesketh obviously saw your potential, but he said that when he first saw you, you looked unfit and unhealthy. Do you agree with this assessment? Yes, I definitely had a lazy streak. But I hadn't played for two years before I played for Barrow. How did you get on with Tony Hesketh? Tony was sound and a good manager. There was a good atmosphere when Tony was boss and I got on with him. Training was good and he had an excellent relationship with the chairman and the other players. How did you get on with Mick Walsh? You only played once for him and he sacked you after you didn't appear for one game, I believe? It wasn't quite like that. I'd got sent off earlier in the season so I was suspended for the Guiseley game so I didn't turn up. I thought what the ƒ*¢#, I couldn't play anyway. I know that might sound as if my attitude stinks but in the UniBond you don't have to travel if you're suspended. The reason why I was sacked is because Mike Walsh didn't get on with me. He was jealous because I got more publicity than him. In the end he left Barrow for a bigger club [he became Assistant Manager at Swindon Town. Ed.]. So much for him. And what do you think about Stephen Vaughan? Stephen is a sound lad. He's put his money where his mouth is as far as Barrow AFC is concerned. That's because he's a winner and he believes Barrow can get back into the Football League and even into the Second or First Division in time. My relationship with Stephen was always sound, as was his relationship with every other player. He looks after everybody he can in the best way possible. How do you remember your time at Barrow? I really enjoyed it. I hope they can realise their ambitions to return to the Football League one day, I really do. Best of luck. Tell Stephen Vaughan and Owen Brown I said hello. Do you have a message for any up and coming young players just starting out on their careers? Stay away from the bar and the club scene whatever you do. The great tragedy is that if Billy Kenny had followed his own advice, he would have been playing alongside David Beckham and Michael Owen in an England midfield that really would have been something to watch. Reformatted from issue 037 - November 1998 and issue 038 - January 1999