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Testimonial for Histon's Kennedy

Kennedy's goals have fuelled the rise of the Stutes (Getty Images)

Histon forward Neil Kennedy will bring his career to a close in Sunday's testimonial match.

During his 10 years service, the 26-year-old scored over 300 goals to help the Stutes earn five promotions to reach the Blue Square Premier in 2007.

"It's been amazing the run we've had over the years with promotion after promotion," he told BBC Cambridgeshire.

"To be part of it for this amount of time has been incredible and it's a testament to how far the club's come."


Histon striker Neil Kennedy looks back on his career.

Over the last decade many people have played their part in Histon's magnificent rise, but few can claim to have been as influencial as Kennedy.

In only his second season with the club, Kennedy - or Kendo as he is known to the Stutes faithful - scored a club record 46 goals as Histon finished third in the Eastern Counties Premier Division.

I'm 36 years old, I'm not getting any younger, my contract runs out at the end of this season and I think I've done pretty well to last as long as I have

Neil Kennedy

That was back in 96/97, but you have to fast forward a few seasons to find his real highlights.

"In the 2004-2005 season we won the Southern League Premier title, I scored the winning goal against Chippenham on the last day of the season," he said.

"Scoring a hat-trick against Havant last season [2006-2007] in the Conference South and getting my 300 goals at the same time was also a highlight."

Kennedy will finish his Stutes career with 301 goals, the last coming in the match against Havant.

Following promotion to the Blue Square Premier last year, Kennedy made one start and thirteen substitute appearances, but failed to find the net and decided this summer would be the right time to hang up his boots.


Kennedy celebrates an FA Cup victory over Shrewsbury in 2004 (Getty Images)

"I'm 36 years old, I'm not getting any younger, my contract runs out at the end of this season and I think I've done pretty well to last as long as I have."

The occasion will be marked with a special testimonial match on Sunday in which Kennedy will lead out a team of Histon Heroes against a Mickey Quinn all-star side.

Former Histon favourites such as Ian Cambridge and Colin Vowden will be in attendance as well as former Premier League stars like Mark Venus and Dave Bennett.

Kennedy is unsure as to what the future will hold after next Sunday, but does have one short term ambition.

"I'll get the golf clubs out, because I'm pretty poor at the moment and we'll go from there," he said.

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