Dewsbury-Hall's Rise To The Premier League With The Foxes
For much of Dewsbury-Hall's childhood, the idea of Leicester regularly competing in the top-flight was an unlikely one, yet alone running out in the Club's colours at that level, but the dynamic, aspiring midfielder worked on his game at Belvoir Drive. Over time, he climbed the levels.
His name first became known to City fans as a star of the Development Squad, becoming a virtual ever-present from 2018 onwards. There was something about him. Coaches and team-mates saw real potential in Kiernan, a player who would always have his head down, working hard.
In May 2019, after a hugely impressive campaign in Premier League 2 Division 1, Dewsbury-Hall was selected as Leicester's captain for the end-of-season Hong Kong Football Club Citi Soccer Sevens tournament, a seven-a-side contest including illustrious academies from around the globe.
"I’m really happy to captain the team," he told LCFC TV at the top of a 27-storey building overlooking the Causeway Bay in Hong Kong. "We’ve got a young team, we’ve got a fresh team… a team that wants to work hard, so we've got to rally the troops and get a good result in the end."
Being given the captain's armband was a deliberate move from the Club's coaches to allow Dewsbury-Hall to develop his leadership skills and grow as an individual as he headed into his 20s. Back in England, former Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers was now in charge at King Power Stadium.
The following January, with the Foxes holding onto a one-goal lead at Brentford, Rodgers turned to his bench and decided the recipient of Leicester City’s Development Squad Player of the Season prize was ready for his competitive debut in the Emirates FA Cup.
Leicester won and Dewsbury-Hall impressed. "I’m so happy, I’m over the moon!" the midfielder said at Griffin Park, the west London club's former home venue. "I’ve been at the Club since I was eight, this is my boyhood club, and I’ve worked so hard to get to this point.
"So, it’s just an honour to be able to play for this club and I’m grateful for everyone that’s helped me along the way and hopefully this is just the beginning."
Two days later, the lad from Shepshed's progress continued with a loan move to Blackpool in Sky Bet League 1, where he would go on to net four goals in just 10 outings for the Tangerines. A new contract followed in the summer, as well as another loan switch, this time to Championship outfit Luton Town.
By any measurement, Dewsbury-Hall's time at Kenilworth Road was a roaring success. By the end of the 2020/21 campaign, Kiernan left Luton a firm fans' favourite, scooping the Ian Pearce Memorial Trophy, given for most man of the match performances, Junior Supporters’ Player of the Season, Internet Player of the Season and the Players’ Player of the Season at Kenilworth Road.
The young Foxes midfielder made a total of 40 appearances in all competitions for the Hatters, scoring three goals. His return to Leicester this summer enabled Dewsbury-Hall to work more closely with Rodgers during the Club's first-ever pre-season at LCFC Training Ground in Seagrave.
A succession of friendly outings - including a goalscoring cameo at Queens Park Rangers - were followed by a substitute appearance at Wembley Stadium as the Foxes defeated Manchester City to lift the FA Community Shield. On Saturday 28 August, though, a 14-year dream finally came true for 'KDH'.
With four minutes of normal time remaining, which would have another five added onto it in added time, Rodgers again entrusted Dewsbury-Hall to get the job done as City led Norwich 2-1 at Carrow Road in the Premier League. The Blue Army, meanwhile, sung his name to the tune of Oasis' Wonderwall.
The Foxes left East Anglia with all three points and Kiernan had finally featured in the top flight. It was a magical moment, which he described as a 'dream come true' at full-time, but it seems clear that this is only the beginning. There's still so much to come from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.