Kirk Hudson

A right winger, Hudson began his career as a schoolboy with Ipswich Town.^[2] He entered the academy at Celtic in 2004 and was a part of the team which finished as runners-up in the 2004 Jersey International Tournament.^[3][4] Hudson won the 2004–05 SPL U19 League and Scottish Youth Cup double with the U19 team,^[5] but was released in May 2005.^[6]

During the 2005–06 pre-season, Hudson joined League One club AFC Bournemouth on trial and impressed enough to sign a three-month contract on 5 August 2005.^[7][8] He was a regular inclusion on the substitutes' bench early in the regular season and made his professional debut as a late substitute for James Keene in a 2–1 win over Swindon Town on 17 September.^[9] Hudson again appeared as a late substitute in the following League Cup match,^[9] but was not called into the squad again and was released at the end of his contract.^[10]

After a non-playing spell with Conference South club Thurrock and failing a trial with League One high-flyers Southend United,^[6][11] Hudson joined Conference Premier club Aldershot Town on trial in January 2006.^[12] He made his debut with a start in a Hampshire Senior Cup quarter-final match versus Basingstoke Town on 14 January and scored both the Shots' goals in the 3–2 defeat.^[13] After the match, he joined the club on non-contract terms and made his league debut with a late substitute cameo in a 3–1 victory over Halifax Town on 21 January.^[14][15] After recovering from a bout of mumps,^[16] Hudson was a regular in the team through to the end of the season and finished 2005–06 with 13 appearances and four goals.^[9] He signed a permanent contract in July 2006.^[17]

After three substitute appearances early in the 2006–07 season,^[18][19] Hudson joined Southern League Western Division club Ashford Town (Middlesex) on a one-month loan,^[18] which was later extended for a second month.^[20] He made four league appearances.^[21] Upon his return to Aldershot Town in November 2006, he was utilised as an impact substitute and scored four goals in six appearances during the club's Hampshire Senior Cup-winning campaign.^[22][23] Hudson signed a new one-year contract in April 2007 and had an excellent 2007–08 season,^[24] making 48 appearances and scoring 12 goals to help the Shots to the Conference Premier title and promotion to the Football League.^[25][26] He also contributed to Aldershot's Conference League Cup Final victory over Rushden & Diamonds (scoring a goal in the 3–3 draw and then converting a penalty in the deciding shootout),^[27] in addition to winning the February 2008 Conference Premier Player of the Month award and being voted the Conference Young Player of the Year.^[28][29] Hudson signed a new two-year contract in March 2008.^[30]

Now playing League Two football, Hudson began the 2008–09 season as a regular starter, but despite scoring five goals by mid-November 2008,^[31] manager Garry Waddock felt the need to challenge him to play with more consistency.^[32] Hudson responded by scoring three goals in four matches in December,^[33] which earned him a nomination for the League Two Player of the Month award.^[34] A season of consolidation in the Football League ended with Hudson having made 48 appearances and scored 13 goals,^[33] an improvement on his figures of the previous season in the Conference Premier.^[25]

Despite again beginning the season as a starter, Hudson found the going harder in 2009–10, in a Shots team pushing for a playoff place.^[35] He lost his starting place in January 2010 and only regained it for four matches in March.^[36] Just two defeats from the final 11 matches of the season saw Aldershot finish sixth, which qualified the club for a playoff place.^[35] The Shots were defeated 3–0 on aggregate to Rotherham United in the semi-finals and Hudson made what would be his final appearance for the club as a second-half substitute in the second leg on 19 May.^[35][37] Hudson was released by manager Kevin Dillon after the defeat and he finished his career at the Recreation Ground with 172 appearances and 42 goals.^[38][39]

On 28 June 2010, Hudson joined League One club Brentford on a two-year contract for a fee that was later decided by an "amicable agreement".^[40][41] Manager Andy Scott stated in early July that he hoped to convert Hudson into a centre forward.^[2] Hudson picked up a groin injury a week before the beginning of the 2010–11 season,^[42] but returned to fitness in September and made his debut as a substitute for Nicky Adams after 66 minutes of a 1–0 defeat to Leyton Orient late in the month.^[43] Hudson made just three further substitute appearances over the following six weeks and requested a loan move in November 2010.^[43][44] On 31 December 2010, Hudson reunited with his former Aldershot Town manager Terry Brown on loan at Conference Premier club AFC Wimbledon.^[45] Despite missing three weeks with a recurrence of the groin injury suffered in July 2010,^[46] Hudson made 14 appearances and scored one goal during the remainder of the 2010–11 season.^[43]

Hudson was ruled out of the early months of the 2011–12 season with a hip injury suffered in July 2011.^[47] After returning to fitness in October, potential loan moves to Southend United and Hayes & Yeading United fell through and he departed Griffin Park by mutual consent on 12 March 2012,^[48][49][50] having failed to win a call into the first team squad since November 2010.^[51]

On 21 August 2012, Hudson joined Isthmian League Premier Division club Canvey Island.^[5] He made just three substitute appearances before departing the club on 20 September.^[52] Hudson later played for Essex Olympian League clubs White Ensign and Shoebury Town between 2012 and 2022.^[53][54][55] He then transitioned into veterans' football, with Wakering Sports, Corinthians and Leigh United.^[56][57]

Hudson is an Arsenal supporter.^[58] As of November 2005, he was living in Shoeburyness.^[6]