Ex-England international footballer Chris Kirkland joins staff at Northern Premier League club Colne as head goalkeeping coach.
The Lancashire side announced the exciting news to their supporters on the 31st of May, and it’s gone down very well.
Tonight, we are extremely excited to announce that @ChrisKirkland43 has agreed to join the club as Head Goalkeeper Coach! #ThisMeansMore #RedRevolution ?⚪️https://t.co/bRH14pkVwT pic.twitter.com/c5bl4PTmG6
— Colne F.C. (@Colne_FC) May 31, 2020
The club statement read: Colne can announce that Chris Kirkland has agreed to join the club as Head Goalkeeper Coach in Nathan Rooney’s new look backroom team, alongside current GK Coach, Steve Petty, who has also agreed terms for the coming season.
As a player Chris made 321 league and cup appearances in an 18-year professional career from 1998 to 2016, and won one cap for the English National Team in 2006.
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Kirkland started his career at Coventry City where he was regarded as one of the country’s most promising young goalkeepers. He was later signed by Premier League club Liverpool for £6 million in August 2001.
Following retirement in August 2016, Kirkland took up coaching with Port Vale and subsequently joined the coaching staff of Liverpool Women where he stayed until March 2019.
Rooney commented: “I’m delighted we have managed to bring a coach with the reputation and experience of Chris to the club. Again, I think this emphasises the ambition and vision of the club and he will be a great addition to the club and provide support both on and off the pitch”
Chairman Ryan Haigh added: “I am thrilled at the appointment we have managed to make. Chris’ enthusiasm, passion and desire for the role and interest to be involved at this level of the pyramid impressed me from our first conversation. Nathan is building a brilliant team around him and together with our vision for the club and it’s future, I believe it speaks volumes that people with these reputations want to come to Colne.
People will probably read this and wonder what’s happening at Colne! We want to be the best we can and the squad we are assembling gives us a chance when we eventually start again”
Chris will join up with Nathan and the rest of the squad when training is once again safe to resume.
Colne ended the null and void NPL North West Division in 15th place out of 20 teams.
They picked up a total of 30 points from 25 games, however had many games in hand over teams around them.
The Reds, who formed in 1996, scored a total of 31 goals as well as conceding the same amount.
Fans reacted after seeing that ex-England international Chris Kirkland joins staff at the Northern Premier League club…
Tremendous news! Great work by @ryan_haigh, the new gaffer @NathanRooney89, and all at @Colne_FC for making this happen ??
— Dev Kumar Parmar (@dkp_official) May 31, 2020
If carlsberg did football signings!!
Top class appointment.#thismeansmore
Red Army
?⚽️?⚽️— Nicholas Peacock (@nickpcolne) May 31, 2020
What a co-op. Welcome to the family Chris. #premin10
— novak84 (@novak84) May 31, 2020
Some no 2 for petts!
— Steve Turner (@Turnerwines) May 31, 2020
Now that’s ambition
— Wendy (@WendyJBrown65) May 31, 2020
great appointment ??
— Daniel Havern (@danielhavern1) May 31, 2020
Quite some appointment, don’t let him play he’s made of glass?
— Steve Marriott (@stevemarriott67) May 31, 2020
Congrats on the new job @ChrisKirkland43
— Jan Rye Hansen ⚽ (@janrye72) May 31, 2020
Fantastic goalkeeper back in the day. Unlucky with injury but a massive boost for both Colne FC and a start of new chapter for @ChrisKirkland43
— CJM (@CJMeers1984) May 31, 2020
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