Kevin Donovan had a long career which took in 525 games across 18 years. He started his career in Yorkshire, at Huddersfield Town where he made 27 appearances, scoring three goals. He spent three years at Leeds Road, during which time he had a six game loan stint at Halifax. He left Huddersfield, who had finished third in the Third Division, but had lost in the play-offs, in 1992 to join West Brom, who had missed out on the Third Division play-offs that year by three points, for £70,000.

Donovan had a pretty successful five years in the West Midlands, making 203 appearances and scoring 32 goals. He helped the Baggies to promotion in his first season as he scored in their 3-0 play-off final victory over Port Vale. His move to the Hawthorns was vindicated by the fact that Huddersfield finished in a lowly 15th place. He then helped them stay up in the Endsleigh League Division One, the following season on goal difference ahead of Midlands rivals Birmingham.

Donovan headed back down to Division Two in the summer of 1997 when he joined Grimsby Town -fresh from relegation- for £300,000. It was at Blundell Park where he really made his name, netting 31 goals in 291 games over a four year spell. He was an instant hit as he scored 21 goals in 1997-1998, to help the Mariners to victory twice at Wembley- in the Auto Windscreen Shield and by grabbing the winner in a 1-0 success over Northampton in the Play-Off final. He was also key in Town finishing 11th back in Division One in 1998-1999, although, amazingly, he failed to score and then helped them to stop up the following two seasons.

Town fans were heartbroken in the summer of 2001 however when Donovan refused to sign a new contract at Blundell Park and instead headed to Barnsley. He was a flop at Oakwell however, with injuries and poor form restricting him to just 59 games and one goal in his one and a half seasons at the club, during which time The Reds were relegated to Division Two for the first time in 21 years. He was released by Barnsley on Christmas Eve 2003, and joined Third Division strugglers Rochdale the same day to be reunited with his former Grimsby boss Alan Buckley.

It became apparent Donovan was now in the twilight of his career as Buckley could not work his magic with the winger twice and he made just seven appearances at Spotland, and left in March 2004, just three months after joining.

Donovan moved onto York City, who were 17th in the Third Division at the time, but then went on a disastrous run- losing seven of the remaining 10 games (drawing the other three) and finished bottom- thus exiting the league for the first time in their history. He remained at Bootham Crescent for another two years and made 32 appearances in all, scoring once before joining Conference North side Alfreton Town. He failed to make the team however and retired to coach youngsters in Yorkshire.

Kevin Donovan Playing Record: Played: 525(Including 60 as sub) Scored: 69.