The 41-year-old defender has enjoyed a 25-year playing career, the vast majority of it in the Football League. He's played more than 800 games and won three promotions in the EFL.
It's fair to say he's been there, seen it and done it in an extraordinary career that began with home-town club Barnsley and then took in further Football League stops at Tranmere, Huddersfield, MK Dons, Bury and Port Vale.
He briefly dipped his toe into NonLeague with Chorley in Covid times before serving Welsh side Bala Town.
Last summer, aged 40, he pitched up at the Linnets to play under another ex-pro in Billy Paynter. Any thoughts he was there to wind down were dismissed as he notched up 41 appearances for the club in all competitions, chipping in with four goals.
However, it wasn't to be a season with a happy ending as the NPL West runners-up were bounced out of the play-offs at the semi-final stage by fifth-placed City of Liverpool. With stepPaynter ping down in the aftermath, the club turned to Kay to take the reins - and he didn't need much persuading.
"It was pretty simple in my mind," he told The NLP. "I'm getting a bit older now and I've had a manager's head on for quite a while. It's been since I was 31 or 32, so nearly ten years.
"I have had opportunities in academies, but I felt I wanted to be a manager. When this job arose, I thought 'Why not? It's a great opportunity'. Hopefully I can take it with both hands."
It's all a world away from when Kay, then just 17, made his Football League debut for Barnsley in the second tier back in August 2000.
Denne historien er fra June 02, 2024-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
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Denne historien er fra June 02, 2024-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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I'M READY FOR A NEW PROJECT
LEAGUE One, League Two, National League John Coleman doesn't care. He just wants to manage a club with scope for 'doing an Accrington'.
BEARNE'S DOUBLE IS A PITMEN TRIUMPH
HEDNESFORD Town marched on as this tie was settled in the first 21 minutes with a glut of goals in favour of the Pitmen.
STAG-DO SPOILED BY LIAM DOUBLE
AFC Totton and Basingstoke played out an entertaining draw at The Snows Stadium.
FOALLE'S THERE AT DEATH TO STEA IT!
A GOAL with almost the last kick of the game from Jack Foalle saw Ashton's unbeaten start to the season go up in smoke at Hurst Cross after they had hit the post in each half.
TUDORS STAY TOP THANKS TO AJAYI!
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD TOWN secured a crucial victory over Slough Town that solidifies their position at the top of National League South.
MOLS ON ROLL AS NASH GO SECOND!
CURZON ASHTON moved up to second place after doing a job on former boss Adam Lakeland and his King's Lynn Town side at the Walks.
REAL DEAL HEED KEEP PILING ON THE POINTS
GATESHEAD scored early in each half to strengthen their position at the top of the table after they stretched their unbeaten start to the season to seven games.
JOSH JOY DELIGHTS DAGGERS BOSS BEN
JOSH UMERAH marked his first league start for Dagenham & Redbridge by grabbing the goal that ensured a share of the spoils at Maidenhead.
DOGGED DALE WILL NOT BE MOVED!
ROCHDALE cruised to victory with a superb first-half performance which settled the age-old debate as Dale's immovable defensive object blunted Aldershot's previously irresistible attacking force.
SPITFIRES BACK IN THE GROOVE
EASTLEIGH bounced back from their last-gasp defeat at Gateshead last weekend as they edged past lowly Tamworth in a lackluster affair at the Silverlake.
