Kevin Barry Fallon (born 3 December 1948) is an English-born football coach residing in New Zealand. He is the father of New Zealand international footballer Rory Fallon and former coach of the

Cook Islands national football team The Cook Islands national football team is the men's football team that represents the Cook Islands in international competition since 1971. It is governed by the Cook Islands Football Association which is part of the Oceania Football Confeder ...

but did not manage any official games for them.

Career

Fallon spent most of his playing career outside of New Zealand at

Sligo Rovers Sligo Rovers Football Club ( ga, Cumann Peile Ruagairí Shligigh) is an Irish professional football club playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club is based in Sligo in the west of Ireland. The club was founded in 192 ...

of Ireland. Fallon ended his career in NZ in 1979 with the now defunct Gisborne City. Fallon was assistant coach to the John Adshead-led

New Zealand national team New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...

, which qualified for the

1982 FIFA World Cup The 1982 FIFA World Cup was the 12th FIFA World Cup, a quadrennial football tournament for men's senior national teams, and was played in Spain between 13 June and 11 July 1982. The tournament was won by Italy, who defeated West Germany 3–1 i ...

. Fallon took sole charge of the New Zealand side in May 1985 but failed to qualify for the

1986 FIFA World Cup The 1986 FIFA World Cup was the 13th FIFA World Cup, a quadrennial football tournament for men's senior national teams. It was played in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June 1986. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia ha ...

. New Zealand won 19, drew 11 and lost 22 of his 52 games in charge. In 1999 he managed hosts New Zealand at the

FIFA U-17 World Championship The FIFA U-17 World Cup, founded as the FIFA U-16 World Championship, later changed to U-17 in 1991 and to its current name in 2007, is the world championship of association football for male players under the age of 17 organized by ''Fédératio ...

of 1999 to third in Group A. In 2001 he managed the professional team the Football Kingz FC. In 18 games managing the Football Kingz FC he won twice. Also in 2001 he allegedly racially abused an opposing team when he admitted that he said “I told them to go back to the jungle and eat their bananas", for which he later apologised, and admitted to saying to a teenage opponent that "You’re xpletivediving all over the place like a big tart. Like your Mum." In September 2008 Auckland Grammar pulled out of the final with Mount Albert Grammar School after allegations Kevin Fallon "man-handled" a player during a brawl. In the

2008 New Year Honours The New Year Honours 2008 for the Commonwealth realms were announced on 29 December 2007, to celebrate the year passed and mark the beginning of 2008. The recipients of honours are displayed here as they were styled before their new honour, and ...

, Fallon was appointed a

Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order of merit in the New Zealand royal honours system. It was established by royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rend ...

for services to soccer. In August 2009 he was banned for a season because of complaints he accused ref Alan Marriott of being biased. In September 2012 a complaint was made by a parent that he made offensive comments to a rival player when coaching Mount Albert Grammar School. In May 2013 Fallon was banned from making on-field decisions after complaints about his behaviour. In July 2014, Fallon was dismissed from Mount Albert Grammar School for breaking the school's sporting code of conduct. In September 2018 Fallon was announced as head coach for the

. He signed a contract for two years but did not coach any competitive games for them.

References

*Hilton, T. (1991) ''An association with soccer.'' Auckland: The New Zealand Football Association. . pp. 88, 91 {{DEFAULTSORT:Fallon, Kevin Living people League of Ireland players Sligo Rovers F.C. players New Zealand association footballers New Zealand people of English descent New Zealand national football team managers Gisborne City AFC players English people of Irish descent New Zealand people of Irish descent 1948 births Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit Association football central defenders New Zealand association football coaches Cook Islands national football team managers