A native of Farley Hill, Kevin attended Cardinal Newman School, where he achieved his first footballing honours. He captained the School team to victory in the Under-14 Heinz Cup Final at Highbury - a nationwide competition for schools - and was also named Player Of The Tournament. He was pushed forward into the Hatters' U-19 team while still a Schoolboy, and acquitted himself well, earning a Scholarship with the club during that summer.

Having barely left school, Kevin found himself playing Reserve team football. He was involved in the very first Reserve game of the 2001-02 season, at Barnet, and was a regular in the squad from then on. He played a part in every Youth Team fixture of that season, scoring four goals along the way. Strangely, he spent most of the 2001-02 season playing central or right midfield for the U-19s, yet always appearing at right-back for the Reserves. Of the two positions, he appeared more comfortable as a full-back coming on to the ball.

Despite his lack of height and tender physique, Kevin is a real battler. He is disciplined on and off the pitch, and a key feature of his game is that he oozes class and rarely makes a mistake. His progress in the 2001-02 season was acknowledged by Joe Kinnear, who named him Luton's Young Player Of The Season, despite fierce competition from the likes of Rob Gillman and James Osborn, with Kinnear speaking of how intelligently Kevin uses the ball. The signs are good that he will make the grade, and Luton look to have a truly home-grown talent on their hands.

Kevin made the breakthrough into Luton’s first-team during the 2002-03 season, featuring in 4 matches at senior level during the campaign – two of those appearances coming in the League.

His first taste of first-team football came in late October when he played in a 2-0 win at Woking in the LDV Vans Trophy First Round when manager Joe Kinnear decided to field youngsters and fringe players. He also featured in the next round in a 4-3 victory at neighbours Stevenage Borough, Kevin operating at right-back.

A regular in the reserve side throughout the season, and always highly thought of by former Hatters boss Joe Kinnear, Kevin was handed his League debut in a 2-2 home draw with Bristol City on April 19th 2002 when coming on as a 69th minute substitute for Peter Holmes.

He also featured in one further match during the season when coming on with 8 minutes remaining of the final game of the campaign, a 1-2 loss at Swindon Town.

The captain of the Hatters’ youth team during the season and a solid and reliable young full-back who can operate equally effectively on the right-hand side of midfield, Kevin was rewarded for his excellent season by winning the Young Player of the Year award for the second consecutive season.

Having made his League debut at the tail end of the previous season, Kevin quickly emerged as an important first-team member under new manager Mike Newell for the 2003-04 season, and it was evident almost immediately that he would begin the season at right-back after he appeared consistently in the pre-season friendlies.

That proved to be the case as he started the season at right-back for the opening game of the campaign against Rushden & Diamonds and he gave a very mature performance for such a young player as he helped the Hatters claim a 3-1 victory over the Nene Park-based club.

He then found himself on the score sheet in the next match as he fired home the opening goal as the Hatters beat League newcomers Yeovil Town 4-1 at Kenilworth Road in the First Round of the League Cup.

Continuing in the side for the following 8 League matches, during which time he netted his first League goal (as Port Vale were beaten 2-0) he then scored again as he hit the opening goal as Luton surged into a 2-0 lead at Premiership Charlton Athletic in the Second Round of the League Cup – but were pegged back and ended up losing narrowly on penalties after drawing 4-4 after extra-time.

So impressive was his form, that he was called into the Republic of Ireland U-21 squad, but, unfortunately, injury forced him to miss his international debut.

After a further 16 appearances in which he helped the Hatters to the brink of the play-off places and the Fourth Round of the FA Cup, he was rewarded for his fantastic performances by being handed a new two-and-a-half-year deal – which he duly signed. At the time of signing the deal, Kevin had made 24 League appearances, scoring 1 goal (plus 7 Cup appearances, scoring 2 goals).

Manager Mike Newell was delighted that he had penned the contract – that was signed while the club were still in administrative receivership and came just a fortnight after rookie striker Enoch Showunmi had signed a similar contract following his rapid emergence after moving from non-league Willesden Constantine.

Newell said, “We are delighted. Obviously there had been a bit of interest in Kevin since he came into the team. He has performed well for us and we are pleased that he has signed.

"You are never sure that someone will sign a deal until they actually do it. He is a scholar and technically he would have been out-of-contract at the end of the season, but it's great that he has signed a professional contract with us. He has been at the club since he was nine and it's pleasing that he has extended that."

Speaking on signing the new deal, Kevin said, “It's great to sign. It's all I've ever wanted to do, to be a professional footballer. To sign for Luton means a lot to me because the club has taught me a lot.

"I came to the club as a nine-year-old, we didn't play matches back then, just friendlies but it was mainly training. When I got older we played organised matches and I've just carried on up the ranks from there.

"I was delighted to get my chance in the first-team at the start of the season, I just wanted to take my chance and do well and I think I've done that.

"I want to get in the play-offs at least this season, we've got a good chance. We've got a good team and if we can keep playing passing football then we should be up there.

"I want to do as well as I can with Luton and see where that takes me, hopefully Division One."

Kevin became the first YTS player to sign a professional deal with the Hatters for 2 years since midfielder Michael Leary in 2002.

Kevin had a superb season with Luton Town during the 2004-05 campaign – arguably his best season as a professional at Kenilworth Road.

Manager Mike Newell’s first-choice right-back throughout the campaign, and always at full-back if available for selection, Kevin showed a calmness and maturity beyond his years and had a real sense of class about his game.

Extremely talented and one of a new breed of promising youngsters to come through the Hatters never-ending manufacturing line, Kevin rarely gives the ball away and, strong defensively, he was also very effective when going forward, his surging runs down the right-hand side a joy to behold and the source for many of Luton’s goals during the season.

He also popped up with two goals himself during the season – both coming in February 2005 – the first a crucial strike in a 3-2 win at Hartlepool United and the second in a disappointing 1-3 loss at Port Vale after Kevin had given the Hatters an early lead.

Once again rewarded for his excellent form at club level by earning international honours for the Republic Of Ireland at U-21 level, making his debut against Scotland in May 2004, Kevin’s season also saw him rewarded with a medal – a League One Championship medal as Luton Town stormed to the League One title with a mammoth 98 points.

A first-choice member of Mike Newell’s side despite his young age, and playing in 39 of the Hatters 46 League matches in 2004-05, Kevin will undoubtedly go on to play at the highest level of football.

Kevin had another excellent season during the 2005-06 campaign that culminated in him not only attracting the interest of several Premiership sides, but also earning a surprise call-up to the Republic Of Ireland senior squad for a friendly match with Chile during the summer of 2006.

Once again usually operating in his accustomed right-back role, Kevin was also given opportunities in the centre of the Luton Town midfield during the campaign and he looked more than capable of playing in the position, his neat passing causing problems for opposing defences. This was demonstrated as he played a major part in his central midfield role as eventual Champions Reading were beaten 3-2 at Kenilworth Road – a result that ended an undefeated run for The Royals that would have seen them set a new Football League record.

Making 38 League appearances during the course of the season, Kevin is a highly-rated full-back who has continued to add to his growing reputation as one of the most sought after defenders outside the Premiership. Rumoured to have attracted interest from Premiership sides West Ham United, Charlton Athletic and Fulham during the campaign, Kevin added to his Republic Of Ireland U-21 caps. Appearing a further 4 times for Ireland’s U-21’s, Kevin netted his first goal at that level when scoring a header in a 5-1 aggregate victory over Azerbaijan to book Ireland’s place at the UEFA European Championship qualifiers.

By the end of the 2005-06 season, Kevin had made 112 League appearances for Luton Town (scoring 3 goals) and had earned 8 caps for the Republic Of Ireland U-21’s. He was rewarded for his excellent form with a call-up to the senior Republic Of Ireland squad by manager Steve Staunton.

In November 2006, Kevin was called-up to the Republic Of Ireland ‘B’ side for the first time in his career. He played the full 90 minutes at right-back in a 0-0 draw with Scotland at Dalymount Park – with fellow Hatters defender Lewis Emanuel playing at left-back – in the first Ireland ‘B’ international for eight years.

He also continued to feature regularly for the Hatters' senior side, operating at right-back primarily, although he also featured in the centre of midfield on occasions.

However, his form dipped slightly during the 2006-07 season as Luton struggled and were eventually relegated from the Championship. Manager Mike Newell, who had brought Kevin into the first-team, was sacked and replaced by Kevin Blackwell.

With Blackwell rebuilding for the 2007-08 season in a bid to regain promotion from League One at the first attempt, Kevin's value in the transfer market would be a real benefit as Blackwell looked to revitalise his squad. After selling Leon Barnett to West Bromwich Albion for £2.5 million, Kevin was also on his way, joining Championship side Wolves for £750,000 - a fee that could rise to £1 million on appearances - just prior to the start of the 2007-08 campaign.

A highly-rated young player, Kevin moved to Molineux after 151 League appearances and 8 goals at senior level for the Hatters.