Antony Kay

Barnsley

Born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, Kay began his career in the youth system at his hometown club Barnsley, signing a professional contract in October 1999. He made his first-team debut under Dave Bassett on 12 August 2000, in a 1–0 victory over Norwich City at Oakwell. He ended the 2000–01 season with seven First Division appearances to his name, and featured just once in the 2001–02 relegation campaign. Initially a midfielder, he was moved to centre back after Glyn Hodges took over from Nigel Spackman as manager in October 2002. He played 16 Second Division matches in the 2002–03 season. He established himself as the club's utility player following the appointment of manager Guðjón Þórðarson in June 2003, and in addition to operating across the defence and midfield was also utilised as a target man striker in January, picking up a man-of-the-match award in that role against AFC Bournemouth. He scored four goals in 51 appearances across the 2003–04 campaign and was voted the club's Player of the Season. He signed a new one-year contract in June 2004. Speaking in December 2004, manager Paul Hart said that "it's slightly too early to say whether he'll stay as a centre-half or return to midfield in his career". Still, he was able to say that Kay had "shown that when he is concentrating he is as good as anybody" in both defence and midfield. He scored six goals from 43 appearances in the 2004–05 campaign as Barnsley posted a 13th-place finish. He played 45 times…

Kay was capped once by the England national under-18 team, coming on as a substitute in a 0–0 draw with Switzerland on 30 May 2001.

Kay plays as a centre-back but can also operate as a holding midfielder; early in his career, he was something of a utility player, having also filled in at full back and as a striker on occasion. Bury Times journalist Mikael McKenzie stated that he is a solid all-round defender, is capable in the air and has good positional skills.

Kay was appointed as Runcorn Linnets' new manager on 18 May 2024, following his retirement as a player. He was sacked on 30 January 2025 as the club's board felt there were a series of "disappointing results and performances". He applied for the vacant head coach role at Milton Keynes Dons in March 2025. In July 2025, Kay joined National League North side Southport in the role of first-team coach, supporting manager and former Bury teammate Neil Danns.