Kirk Game

Kirk Game

Personal information
Full name	Kirk Michael Game[1]
Date of birth	(1966-10-22) 22 October 1966
Place of birth	Rochford, England
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Playing position	Defender

Kirk Michael Game (born 22 October 1966 in Rochford, Essex) is a former professional footballer who played as a defender and midfielder for Southend United, Colchester United and a number of semi-professional football clubs in England.

Background

Game was raised in Essex where he played in local junior leagues as a boy for Hadleigh Town, Blenheim Sports and Leigh Ramblers.

Club career

Southend United

Game joined Southend United at the age of eleven and gradually worked his way through the playing ranks. He represented the under-18 youth team at fifteen whilst still at school and regularly trained with the first team squad during his school breaks. He signed as an apprentice at sixteen, became captain of the youth team and eventually the reserves.

He was offered a professional contract just after his seventeenth birthday by Bobby Moore, then manager of Southend. Game turned down a new contract he left the club for local rivals Colchester United.

Career after leaving Southend United

Former Everton and Norwich manager, Mike Walker, then manager of Colchester, signed Game and it wasn't long before he made his return to his old club to secure a well earned draw. He made 29 appearances in the Football League for Colchester.^[2]

After several successful seasons Game took up a new challenge by moving to Europe where he played in Germany.

He returned to England a year later to play semi-professional for Dartford who were managed by Peter Taylor.

He remained at non-League level for the rest of his career playing for Chelmford City, Heybridge Swifts, Dagenham & Redbridge, Billericay Town, Braintree Town.

Career after football

Game became football coach having achieved the UEFA 'A' licence and has been a coach/manager at the Youth Academy of West Ham United.

He also has many years experience as a secondary school P.E. Teacher, personal fitness trainer and has run many independent soccer schools and coaching clinics in England and the USA. He now manages the full-time U19 Academy at Chelmsford City FC with former West ham United player Stuart Slater.

References