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Kevin started his career of playing for Yorkshire outfit Huddersfield Town in 1989, he made over 20 apperances in between then and 1992, and also another 6 apperances on loan at his home town club Halifax Town.
In 1992 West Brom payed The Terriers £70,000 for the English/Irish midfielder. Donovan was a hit at The Hawthorns and shone under Alan Buckley, and was one of the many players that Buckley brought with him to Blundell Park. Stacy Coldicott,Adam Buckley,Lee Ashcroft,David Smith,Paul Raven,Ian Hamilton,Paul Groves and more made the switch from West Brom to the North East coast over the years.
Donovan out classed loads of defences in his first year and sling shot Town from a low position in Division 2 into the Play-Offs after netting 16 goals and finishing the clubs top scorer in the legendary 97/98 season.
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Kevin stayed on the following year and was a great hand in achieving 11th place in Division 1 in 98/99 but oddly did not even score a single goal only the following season after bombarding second division defences week in week out.
Kevin stayed on for the next two seasons and got back into scoring ways but only scored around 5 or 6 in each season. After being plagued with injuries in his final two seasons at Blundell Park, and with his contract expired, Donovan switched to rivals Barnsley at the start of the 2001/2002 season.
Donovan became a regular an instant crowd pleaser at Oakwell until his unlucky injury problems set him back and the player spent the majority of his time at
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Donovan never re-instated himself as a regular at Barnsley when he returned from injury,and he was released in December 2003.
Town manager Paul Groves looked into Donovan but before he could make an enquiry he signed up with ex boss Alan Buckley at Division 3 strugglers Rochdale.
Kevins stay at Rochdale was short lived and his month to month contract was torn up by mutual consent in March 2004 after the departure of Buckley as manager. Donovan returned to Grimsby and trained with the club for a week and in the end was offered a monthly rolling deal by Groves. However he rejected the deal stating that he had promissed York City player-manager Chris Brass he would sign a short term deal at Bootham Crescent.
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Still plagued with injury Donovan has kept rolling on and has stayed with York this season even after there relegation to the Conference league. Paul Groves is also at York now as is fellow 97/98 legend Lee Nogan. The future may not be so bright for veteran Kevin Donovan in the world of non league football however the past was very bright while at Blundell Park.