Fraser Kerr (born 17 January 1993) is a Scottish footballer who plays as a centre back. Kerr has represented his country at levels from under-16 to under-21.

Fraser Kerr
Personal information
Date of birth (1993-01-17) 17 January 1993 (age 31)[1]
Place of birth Rutherglen, Scotland
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[1]
Position(s) Centre back
Youth career
2003–2009 Motherwell
2009–2011 Birmingham City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2013 Birmingham City 0 (0)
2012–2013Motherwell (loan) 14 (0)
2013–2015 Motherwell 40 (1)
2015–2016 Cowdenbeath 13 (0)
2016–2017 Stenhousemuir 32 (3)
2017–2019 Gateshead 62 (4)
2019–2020 Hartlepool United 32 (0)
2020–2021 Torquay United 7 (0)
2021–2022 Chesterfield 36 (2)
2022–2023 York City 24 (2)
2023–2024 AFC Telford United 30 (1)
International career
2008 Scotland U16 4 (0)
2009 Scotland U17 6 (1)
2010–2011 Scotland U19 4 (0)
2012–2013 Scotland U21 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:36, 11 May 2023 (UTC)

Kerr began his professional career at Premier League side Birmingham City in 2011, having progressed through the club's youth ranks. He never made an appearance for the club, and spent the 2012–13 season on loan to Scottish Premier League side Motherwell, where he made 19 appearances. He was released by Birmingham City in July 2013, having returned from his loan spell. Kerr then moved to Motherwell on a permanent basis, making 40 league appearances in two seasons. He spent a season with Cowdenbeath before moving to Stenhousemuir in June 2016. The following year, he returned to England, where he played non-league football for Gateshead, Hartlepool United, Torquay United, Chesterfield and York City. In July 2023 Kerr signed for Southern League Premier Division Central club AFC Telford United.

Club career

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Birmingham City

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Kerr was born in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire,[2] and attended Calderglen High School, in East Kilbride.[3] He began his football career as a schoolboy with Motherwell.[2] Spotted playing for the Scotland under-16 team in the televised Victory Shield,[4] he moved to England at the age of 16 to begin a two-year scholarship in Birmingham City's youth academy.[5]

Much to his surprise, Kerr was included as defensive cover in the first-team squad for a 2010 pre-season tour to Hong Kong and China.[2] He played in only one of the games, as a 76th-minute substitute for Stephen Carr in the 2–0 win against Chinese Super League team Liaoning Whowin.[6] He signed his first professional contract, of two-and-a-half years, in January 2011.[2] Academy manager Terry Westley described the "tall and gangly" Kerr as having "good awareness on the ball", but said that it was "his change of pace that really convinced us to bring him here", comparing him with England international Matthew Upson at a similar age.[7]

His first competitive involvement with the first team came in January 2011, when named on the substitutes' bench for the fourth-round FA Cup tie against Coventry City.[8] He was part of the Birmingham squad for their 2011 pre-season visit to Ireland, and played the second half of the friendly against Cork City.[9] Named in the "B" list for Birmingham's 2011–12 Europa League campaign,[10] he was an unused substitute for the play-off round second leg against CD Nacional.[11]

In August 2012, Kerr rejoined Motherwell on a six-month loan after a successful trial.[12] He made his debut as a substitute in a 2–1 win over Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premier League on 18 August.[13] The loan was later extended to last for the season.[14] In April, Birmingham confirmed that his contract would not be renewed when it expired at the end of the season.[15]

Motherwell

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On 1 July 2013, after his Birmingham contract expired, Kerr signed a two-year permanent deal with Motherwell.[16] On 31 May 2015, Kerr was involved in an incident in Fir Park following Motherwell's 3–0, 6–1 on aggregate, victory against Rangers that secured their place in the Scottish Premiership. After a clash between players Bilel Mohsni (Rangers) and Lee Erwin (Motherwell), Kerr got involved to defend teammate Erwin. Both teams' managers described the event as both "unacceptable" and "disgraceful".[17] Kerr was released by Motherwell at the end of the 2014–15 season.[18]

Cowdenbeath and Stenhousemuir

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Kerr signed for Cowdenbeath in November 2015,[19] where he spent one season before signing for Scottish League One side Stenhousemuir in June 2016.[20] At the end of the 2016–17 season Kerr was released following the club's relegation to Scottish League Two.[21]

Non-League football

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Kerr returned to English football in July 2017, signing a one-year contract with National League club Gateshead.[22] On 27 February 2019, Kerr signed for Hartlepool United for an undisclosed fee.[23] He was released at the end of the 2019–20 season.[24]

Kerr joined Torquay United on a free transfer in July 2020.[25] He made seven National League appearances, all in December,[26] before moving closer to his family home by joining Chesterfield on 2 March 2021 until the end of the season; Chesterfield's Scott Boden had moved on loan in the other direction.[27] He made his debut that evening at right-sided centre-back, played the whole of a 1–0 win at home to Eastleigh and, according to the Derbyshire Times, "A couple of crunching tackles in the first half would have drawn applause had fans been at the Technique. He was strong in the air and played the ball out from the back."[28] Kerr was released at the end of the 2021–22 season,[29] and signed for York City, newly promoted to the National League.[30] He was released by York after one season,[31] and joined AFC Telford United in July 2023.[32][33] Kerr left the club at the end of the 2023/24 season to move abroad.[34]

International career

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Kerr made his debut for the Scotland under-16 team in August 2008 in a friendly match against a Jersey team, and played twice in that year's Victory Shield.[35] The following year he made six appearances for Scotland's under-17s, including two in the qualifying round of the 2010 European under-17 championships, and scored his first international goal, against Finland in the Nordic Tournament.[36] As a 17-year-old, Kerr played two friendlies for Scotland at under-19 level in 2010, and appeared in five more matches in 2011, which included three European under-19 championships qualifiers.[37] Kerr made his under-21 debut in the Marbella Cup in October 2012.[38]

Career statistics

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As of match played 28 February 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Birmingham City 2011–12[39] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Motherwell 2012–13[39][40] Scottish Premier League 14 0 2 0 1 0 2[c] 0 19 0
2013–14[41][42] Scottish Premiership 19 0 1 0 0 0 2[c] 0 22 0
2014–15[43] Scottish Premiership 21 1 1 0 1 0 2[c] 0 25 1
Total 54 1 4 0 2 0 6 0 66 1
Cowdenbeath 2015–16[44] Scottish League One 13 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 16 0
Stenhousemuir 2016–17[45] Scottish League One 32 3 3 1 4 0 2[d] 0 41 4
Gateshead 2017–18[26] National League 27 1 3 0 8[e] 0 38 1
2018–19[26] National League 35 3 2 0 1[e] 0 38 3
Total 62 4 5 0 9 0 76 4
Hartlepool United 2018–19[26] National League 9 0 9 0
2019–20[26] National League 23 0 5 0 1[e] 0 29 0
Total 32 0 5 0 1 0 38 0
Torquay United 2020–21[26] National League 7 0 0 0 1[e] 0 8 0
Chesterfield 2020–21[26] National League 16 1 0 0 16 1
2021–22[26] National League 20 1 4 0 0 0 24 1
Total 36 2 4 0 0 0 40 2
York City 2022–23[26] National League 24 2 1 0 2[e] 1 27 3
Career total 260 12 25 1 6 0 21 1 312 14
  1. ^ Includes FA Cup, Scottish Cup
  2. ^ Includes Football League Cup, Scottish League Cup
  3. ^ a b c Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ Appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup
  5. ^ a b c d e Appearance(s) in FA Trophy

References

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  1. ^ a b "First team: Fraser Kerr". Motherwell F.C. Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d "Asante and Kerr sign pro deals". Birmingham City F.C. 19 January 2011. Archived from the original on 22 January 2011.
  3. ^ "Celebrating Success – Recognising Excellence" (PDF). Newsletter. Calderglen High School. December 2008. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
  4. ^ Tattum, Colin (22 January 2011). "Fraser Kerr wants more of the same after stepping up at Birmingham City". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  5. ^ "Academy sign up future stars". Birmingham City F.C. 14 July 2009. Archived from the original on 19 August 2009.
  6. ^ "Blues' Far East hat-trick". Birmingham City F.C. 24 July 2010. Archived from the original on 27 July 2010.
  7. ^ Thomson, Paul (12 January 2011). "Fraser signs pro deal with Birmingham". East Kilbride News. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
  8. ^ "Birmingham 3–2 Coventry". BBC Sport. 29 January 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  9. ^ "Cork City 0 Blues 1". Birmingham City F.C. 16 July 2011. Archived from the original on 20 August 2011.
  10. ^ "UEFA Europa League 2011/12: Birmingham City FC Squad". UEFA. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  11. ^ "UEFA Europa League 2011/12: Birmingham–Nacional". UEFA. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  12. ^ "TV: Kerr signs for six months". Motherwell F.C. 10 August 2012. Archived from the original on 28 January 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
    Ralston, Gary (3 July 2012). "Motherwell skipper Keith Lasley: We've as much chance of winning Champions League as SPL". Daily Record. Glasgow. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  13. ^ Barnes, John (18 August 2012). "Kilmarnock 1–2 Motherwell". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  14. ^ "Kerr stay extended". Birmingham City F.C. 4 January 2013. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  15. ^ Walker, Andy (25 April 2013). "Youngsters offered new deals". Birmingham City F.C. Archived from the original on 28 April 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  16. ^ "TV: Kerr pens extended deal". Motherwell F.C. 1 July 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  17. ^ "TV: Bilel Mohsni, Lee Erwin and Fraser Kerr sent off after play-off brawl". STV Sport. 31 May 2015. Archived from the original on 17 June 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  18. ^ "Motherwell offer new deals to Ainsworth, Erwin & Sutton". BBC Sport. 2 June 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  19. ^ "Kerr joins Cowdenbeath". Scottish Professional Football League. 4 November 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  20. ^ McMenemy, Iain (22 June 2016). "Player Update - updated 22nd June". Stenhousemuir F.C. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  21. ^ McMenemy, Iain (27 May 2017). "Marsh signs back on". Stenhousemuir F.C. Archived from the original on 28 January 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  22. ^ "Fraser Kerr: Gateshead sign ex-Motherwell defender on one-year deal". BBC Sport. 21 July 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  23. ^ "Hartlepool United sign defender Fraser Kerr from Gateshead". The Non-League Paper. 27 February 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  24. ^ "Hartlepool United retained list". Hartlepool United F.C. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  25. ^ Henderson, Guy (28 July 2020). "Torquay United boss Gary Johnson says new signings Warren and Kerr will improve Gulls squad". DevonLive. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h i "F. Kerr". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  27. ^ Norcliffe, Liam (2 March 2021). "Chesterfield sign Torquay United defender Fraser Kerr". Derbyshire Times. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  28. ^ Norcliffe, Liam (3 March 2021). "How we rated each Chesterfield player in dramatic win against Eastleigh". Derbyshire Times. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  29. ^ "Retained list released". Chesterfield F.C. 31 May 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  30. ^ Kilbride, Jacob (2 July 2022). "York City continue recruitment drive by signing five players". The Press. York. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  31. ^ "York City retained list for 2023/24 season". www.yorkcityfootballclub.co.uk. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  32. ^ Ramsay, Gabriel (28 July 2023). "Fraser Kerr joins AFC Telford United after York City exit". York Press. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  33. ^ Drury, Jonny (28 July 2023). "Brendon Daniels departs AFC Telford United as defender Fraser Kerr arrives". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  34. ^ "Farewell, Fraser". 22 May 2024.
  35. ^ "Fraser Kerr: U16 Squad". Scottish Football Association. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  36. ^ "Fraser Kerr: U17 Squad". Scottish Football Association. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
    "Finland v Scotland U17 Squad". Scottish Football Association. 29 July 2009. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  37. ^ "Fraser Kerr: U19 Squad". Scottish Football Association. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  38. ^ "International round-up". Motherwell F.C. 17 October 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
    "Fraser Kerr: U21 Squad". Scottish Football Association. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  39. ^ a b "Games played by Fraser Kerr in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  40. ^ "UEFA Europa League 2012/13: Fraser Kerr". UEFA. 31 August 2012. Archived from the original on 5 June 2013.
  41. ^ "Games played by Fraser Kerr in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  42. ^ "UEFA Europa League: Fraser Kerr". UEFA. Archived from the original on 14 September 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  43. ^ "Games played by Fraser Kerr in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  44. ^ "Games played by Fraser Kerr in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  45. ^ "Games played by Fraser Kerr in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
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