Kevin Nancekivell

Summary

Kevin Nancekivell (born 22 October 1971) is an English first-team coach at Plymouth Argyle and a former semi-professional footballer.

Kevin Nancekivell
Personal information
Date of birth (1971-10-22) 22 October 1971 (age 52)
Place of birth Barnstaple, England
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1987–1996 Bideford 339 (88)
1996–2000 Tiverton Town 166 (107)
2000–2001 Plymouth Argyle 6 (1)
2001Tiverton Town (loan) 31 (11)
2001–2004 Tiverton Town 140 (44)
Managerial career
2013 Plymouth Argyle (joint caretaker)
2019 Plymouth Argyle (caretaker)
2023–2024 Plymouth Argyle (joint caretaker)
2024 Plymouth Argyle (joint caretaker)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

As a player, he was an attacking midfielder. He mainly competed at a semi-professional level, spending most of his career at Tiverton Town, although he did have a short stint as a professional at Argyle.

Playing career edit

Originally from a farming background [1][2][3] he played for Bideford before joining Tiverton Town in 1996.[4] Nancekivell was a regular scorer from midfield, finishing as the club's top goalscorer twice, before being given a chance in the professional game at the age of 28 by Plymouth Argyle manager Kevin Hodges.[5] He made six league appearances as a substitute, scoring his first goal against Hartlepool United on 21 October 2000,[6] but fell out of first team contention after the arrival of Paul Sturrock.[7] He re-joined Tiverton Town on loan in January 2001 and returned to Ladysmead permanently that summer. He scored Tiverton's consolation goal in the FA Cup first round defeat against Cardiff City in November 2001.[8]

Coaching career edit

After retiring, Nancekivell took a job at Plymouth Argyle's youth coaching centre of excellence in 2005. He was promoted to coaching the first team in 2010.[9] In January 2013 he was appointed as joint caretaker manager with Romain Larrieu following the sacking of Carl Fletcher. The duo lost their only game in charge, 4–0 to Port Vale.[10][11] Kevin was released from his contract as First team coach following a backroom reshuffle by new manager John Sheridan[12] however, he was offered an alternative role at the club and on 4 July 2013 he accepted a youth coaching role designed to help with youth team players' progression from the Academy to first-team football while also helping with the progress of some of the newer academy coaches.[13]

In January 2014 Kevin was appointed as Professional Development Phase Coach for 17 to 21 year-olds at Torquay United, however following the closure of Torquay's Youth Department in May 2015, Kevin made a return to Plymouth Argyle as Head of Academy Coaching. In June 2017 Kevin was successfully awarded his UEFA Pro Licence and in May 2018 he was appointed as a first-team coach at Argyle, following the departure of Craig Brewster.[14] After Derek Adams was sacked in April 2019, Nancekivell was appointed caretaker manager of Plymouth Argyle for their final match of the 2018–19 season.[15] Following the appointment of Ryan Lowe as Plymouth Argyle manager in June 2019, Kevin retained his role as first team coach. In July 2021, Kevin graduated from the University of Liverpool with the LMA Diploma in Football Management.

Following the departure of Steven Schumacher as Manager of Plymouth Argyle on 19 December 2023, Nancekivell and Director of Football Neil Dewsnip took joint charge of first-team duties[16] until the appointment of Ian Foster on 5 January 2024.[17] In this period, they managed five fixtures, winning one, losing one, and drawing the rest. Following Foster's sacking on 1 April 2024,[18] the pair took charge once more until the end of the 2023-24 season, immediately ending a seven-game winless streak and relegating Rotherham United.[19]

References edit

  1. ^ "Kevin Nancekivell". Greens on Screen. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  2. ^ Metcalf, Rupert (10 May 1998). "Football: Vase goes west with Varley". The Independent. London. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  3. ^ "Farmer is tending a new crop of players". Western Morning News. Plymouth. 23 September 2010. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  4. ^ "Kevin Nancekivell". Tivvy Archive. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  5. ^ "Kevin Nancekivell". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  6. ^ "Hartlepool 1–1 Plymouth". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  7. ^ "Dream over for Nance". Sky Sports. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  8. ^ "Tiverton 1–3 Cardiff". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 July 2010.
  9. ^ "Plymouth Argyle add new coach, former midfielder Kevin Nancekivell". Plymouth Herald. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  10. ^ "Kevin Blackwell could return as Plymouth Argyle's new manager". Plymouth Herald. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  11. ^ "Port Vale v Plymouth Argyle, 05 January 2013".
  12. ^ "Thanks". PAFC.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  13. ^ "Under 16s Role For Nance". PAFC.co.uk. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  14. ^ "Nance's Argyle Romance".
  15. ^ "Plymouth Argyle sack manager Derek Adams". BBC Sport. 28 April 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  16. ^ "Club Statement: Steven Schumacher | Plymouth Argyle - PAFC". www.pafc.co.uk. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  17. ^ "Foster appointed new Argyle Head Coach | Plymouth Argyle - PAFC". www.pafc.co.uk. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  18. ^ "Foster departs | Plymouth Argyle - PAFC". www.pafc.co.uk. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  19. ^ "REPORT | ROTHERHAM 0 ARGYLE 1 | Plymouth Argyle - PAFC". www.pafc.co.uk. Retrieved 5 April 2024.