Michael Kightly
English footballer / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Michael John Kightly (born 24 January 1986) is an English former professional footballer who played as a winger.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Michael John Kightly[1] | ||
Date of birth | (1986-01-24) 24 January 1986 (age 38)[1] | ||
Place of birth | Basildon, England | ||
Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[1] | ||
Position(s) | Winger | ||
Youth career | |||
2000–2001 | Tottenham Hotspur | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2001–2002 | Basildon United | ||
2002–2005 | Southend United | 13 | (0) |
2004–2005 | → Farnborough Town (loan) | 11 | (0) |
2005–2007 | Grays Athletic | 53 | (24) |
2006–2007 | → Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan) | 5 | (2) |
2007–2012 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 109 | (21) |
2011–2012 | → Watford (loan) | 12 | (3) |
2012–2014 | Stoke City | 22 | (3) |
2013–2014 | → Burnley (loan) | 36 | (5) |
2014–2017 | Burnley | 40 | (1) |
2017 | → Burton Albion (loan) | 12 | (4) |
2017–2019 | Southend United | 60 | (7) |
2020–2021 | Rushall Olympic | 6 | (0) |
Total | 379 | (70) | |
International career | |||
2007–2008 | England U21 | 7 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Kightly was rejected as a schoolboy by Tottenham Hotspur but worked his way back to League football with Southend United. He again slipped into the non-League though, before being spotted by Wolverhampton Wanderers while starring for Grays Athletic. He soon became a vital player for Wolves and was pivotal in their promotion to the Premier League in 2009. However injuries disrupted his time in the top flight before the club's relegation after three seasons. He joined Stoke City in August 2012 for an undisclosed fee. Kightly spent the 2012–13 season at Stoke before joining Burnley on loan in August 2013. After helping the Clarets gain promotion to the Premier League he made the move permanent in June 2014.