Michael Kightly
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Michael Kightly
| image = KightlyWolves07.png
| image_size = 200
| caption = Kightly playing for Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2007.
| fullname = Michael John Kightly{{cite book| last = Hugma | first = Barry J. (ed | title = The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2008–0 | publisher = Mainstream| year = 2008| isbn = 978-1-84596-324-8}}
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=9}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|1|24|df=y}}
| birth_place = Basildon, England
| position = Winger
| youthyears1 = 2000–2001
| youthclubs1 = Tottenham Hotspur
| years1 = 2001–2002
| clubs1 = Basildon United
| caps1 =
| goals1 =
| years2 = 2002–2005
| clubs2 = Southend United
| caps2 = 13
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2004–2005
| clubs3 = → Farnborough Town (loan)
| caps3 = 11
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2005–2007
| clubs4 = Grays Athletic
| caps4 = 53
| goals4 = 24
| years5 = 2006–2007
| clubs5 = → Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan)
| caps5 = 5
| goals5 = 2
| years6 = 2007–2012
| clubs6 = Wolverhampton Wanderers
| caps6 = 109
| goals6 = 21
| years7 = 2011–2012
| clubs7 = → Watford (loan)
| caps7 = 12
| goals7 = 3
| years8 = 2012–2014
| clubs8 = Stoke City
| caps8 = 22
| goals8 = 3
| years9 = 2013–2014
| clubs9 = → Burnley (loan)
| caps9 = 36
| goals9 = 5
| years10 = 2014–2017
| clubs10 = Burnley
| caps10 = 40
| goals10 = 1
| years11 = 2017
| clubs11 = → Burton Albion (loan)
| caps11 = 12
| goals11 = 4
| years12 = 2017–2019
| clubs12 = Southend United
| caps12 = 60
| goals12 = 7
| years13 = 2020–2021
| clubs13 = Rushall Olympic
| caps13 = 6
| goals13 = 0
| totalcaps = 379
| totalgoals = 70
| nationalyears1 = 2007–2008
| nationalteam1 = England U21
| nationalcaps1 = 7
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| club-update =
}}
Michael John Kightly (born 24 January 1986) is an English former professional footballer who played as a winger.
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.
Club career
=Southend United=
Born in Basildon, Kightly played schoolboy football for Tottenham Hotspur but was released and subsequently picked up by his hometown team, non-League Basildon United. His stay was short and was soon back in professional football, signing a two-year scholarship with Southend United on 16 December 2002{{cite web|url=http://origin-www.southendunited.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10444~316558,00.html|title=Kightly signs Shrimpers scholarship|publisher=Southend United F.C. official website|date=16 December 2002|access-date=15 October 2010}}{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} following a five-game trial period.{{cite web|url=http://origin-www.southendunited.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10444~348868,00.html|title=Rising stars – Michael Kightly|publisher=Southend United F.C. official website|date=26 February 2003|access-date=15 October 2010}}{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He made his league debut for the club on 3 May 2003, in a 1–0 defeat at Exeter City.{{cite news|title=Exeter 1–0 Southend|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/2976523.stm|work=BBC Sport|date=3 May 2003|access-date=25 November 2012}}
Although featuring in all their cup games of this time, scoring once in the Football League Trophy against Luton Town,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3301465.stm|title=Southend 3–0 Luton|publisher=BBC |date=9 December 2003 |access-date=3 March 2010}} he made only 13 league appearances over three different seasons for them. On 22 October 2004, he joined Farnborough Town on loan,{{cite web|url=http://origin-www.southendunited.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10444~579763,00.html|title=Kightly goes out on loan|publisher=Southend United F.C. official website|date=22 October 2004|access-date=15 October 2010}}{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} spending three months with the club before returning to Southend United on 20 January 2005.{{cite web|url=http://origin-www.southendunited.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10444~615828,00.html|title=Loan Spell Does Kightly World of Good|publisher=Southend United F.C. official website|date=22 October 2004|access-date=15 October 2010}}{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He was released at the end of the season by Southend manager Steve Tilson.{{cite news| title = Kightly released by Southend boss| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/southend_utd/4596331.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 31 May 2005}}
=Grays Athletic=
Conference side Grays Athletic signed Kightly, where he scored 15 league goals in his first season, and won the FA Trophy. He began the 2006–07 season still with Grays, and had scored 10 goals by November. Such form caught the eye of scouts at Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers, to whom he completed a two-month emergency loan move on 17 November 2006.{{cite news| title = Kightly completes move to Wolves| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wolverhampton_wanderers/6143282.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 17 December 2006}}
He would subsequently return to play against Grays for Wolves in a pre-season friendly, which was a condition of the permanent deal later made between the clubs.{{cite news| title = Grays reception impresses Kightly| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wolverhampton_wanderers/6902452.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 14 July 2007}}
=Wolverhampton Wanderers=
Kightly scored his first ever league goal to earn a 1–0 victory at Queens Park Rangers in December 2006. His form at Grays Athletic led him to be dubbed "The Ryan Giggs of non-league football", and it was reported that Sir Alex Ferguson was interested in signing Kightly for Manchester United.{{cite news | title = Saturday's football gossip| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/gossip_and_transfers/6218749.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 30 December 2006}} After scoring two goals in five games, his loan move was made permanent when he signed a two-and-a-half-year contract for a nominal fee on New Year's Day 2007.{{cite news| title = Wolves sign McIndoe and Kightly| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wolverhampton_wanderers/6222413.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 1 January 2007}}
He became a first-team regular in the remainder of the season, and his six goals helped the club into a play-off position. His performances saw him come runner-up for Wolves' Player of the Year 2006–07, losing out to goalkeeper Matt Murray. Kightly signed a new four-year deal with Wolves in June 2007,{{cite news| title = Kightly signs new Wolves contract| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wolverhampton_wanderers/6763641.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 18 June 2007}} after reported interest from Manchester United, Aston Villa, and Everton.{{cite news |title=Kightly pens four year deal at Wolves |url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/sport/1481008.kightly-pens-four-year-deal-at-wolves/ |access-date=24 October 2020 |work=The Echo (Essex) |date=19 June 2007}}
His first full season with the club was severely hampered by a persistent ankle injury suffered in November 2007, from which he twice tried to return to first team football, eventually undergoing surgery in February 2008.{{cite news| title = Kightly suffers fresh ankle woe| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wolverhampton_wanderers/7213455.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 28 January 2008}} Kightly had further injuries that kept him out of the Wolves side, finally returning to play in the final four fixtures as the club narrowly missed the play-off places on goal difference. He signed an improved new four-year deal with the club in June 2008.{{cite news| title = Kightly pens new deal with Wolves| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wolverhampton_wanderers/7471056.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 24 June 2008}}
During the 2008–09 season, he contributed eight goals, as Wolves led the promotion race. However, his campaign was prematurely halted by a broken metatarsal sustained during a reserve game in March 2009.{{cite news| title = Kightly's season ended by injury| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wolverhampton_wanderers/7975284.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 1 April 2009}} He returned to make his first appearances in the Premier League, following promotion, by September but again suffered another injury after needing an ankle operation.{{cite news| title = Wolves winger Michael Kightly faces eight-week lay-off| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wolverhampton_wanderers/8389345.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 1 December 2009}} Although planned to return early in the 2010–11 season, he suffered a further setback and was therefore omitted from the club's 25-man squad list for the first part of the campaign.{{cite news| title =Premier League clubs name their 25-man squads| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8960432.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 1 September 2010}} He eventually made his return to first team action after 16 months on the sidelines from various injuries, against Newcastle United in April 2011.
In October 2011, he joined Championship side Watford in an initial one-month loan deal to regain match fitness, making his debut on 15 October 2011 in a 2–0 loss against Crystal Palace.{{cite news|title=Watford sign Wolves winger Michael Kightly on loan|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/15265177|newspaper=BBC Sport|access-date=8 August 2012}} This was later extended to run until January 2012, during which time Kightly made twelve appearances for the Hornets, scoring three times.{{cite news|title=Wolves winger Michael Kightly seals longer Watford stay|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/15820139|newspaper=BBC Sport|access-date=8 August 2012}}
Following his loan spell, Kightly returned to Wolves and managed his longest period of Premier League football. However, he could not prevent the team from suffering relegation at the end of a troubled campaign that saw the departure of manager Mick McCarthy. Despite Wolves struggling Kightly hit a rich vein of form towards the end of the season scoring three goals against Aston Villa, Bolton Wanderers and Stoke City.{{cite news|title=Michael Kightly is relegation-threatened Wolves' one bright light|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17703628|newspaper=BBC Sport|access-date=8 August 2012}} In August 2012 it was revealed by Wolves that Kightly was in talks with Stoke City, having rejected a contract extension to instead remain in the top flight.{{cite news|url=http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/wolves-confirm-kightly-talks-298483.aspx |title=Wolves Confirm Kightly Talks |publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C |date=8 August 2012}} After signing for Stoke Kightly revealed that after missing 15 months of football at Wolves it left him fighting against depression.{{cite news|title=Stoke winger Michael Kightly faced depression at Wolves|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19198174?|newspaper=BBC Sport|access-date=10 August 2012}}
=Stoke City=
Kightly joined Premier League side Stoke City on 8 August 2012 for an undisclosed fee.{{cite web|title=Kightly Seals Move|url=http://www.stokecityfc.com/news/article/kightly-transfer-300059.aspx|work=Stoke City F.C|access-date=8 August 2012}}{{cite news|title=Michael Kightly: Stoke City sign Wolves winger|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19178586|newspaper=BBC Sport|access-date=8 August 2012}} He made an instant impact with Stoke scoring with his first touch in a 1–1 draw with German side SpVgg Greuther Fürth in a pre-season friendly.{{cite web|title=Kightly strikes in Stoke draw|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11701/7980726?|work=Sky Sports|access-date=10 August 2012}} He then scored on his Premier League debut for Stoke in a 1–1 draw away at Reading.{{cite news|title=Reading 1–1 Stoke|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19221348|newspaper=BBC Sport|access-date=19 August 2012}} He scored his second goal for Stoke on 20 October 2012 in a 4–2 defeat at Manchester United.{{cite news|title=Man U 4–2 Stoke|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19939725|newspaper=BBC Sport|access-date=20 October 2012}} However, he fell out of favour with manager Tony Pulis and found himself in and out of the team.{{cite web|title=Stoke City: It's not nice when the fans turn against their team, says Michael Kightly|url=http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Stoke-City-s-nice-fans-turn-team-says-Michael/story-18365946-detail/story.html#axzz2Ufc641kI|work=The Sentinel|access-date=30 May 2013}} He scored against Aston Villa on 6 April 2013.{{cite news|title=Stoke 1–3 Aston Villa|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21979453|newspaper=BBC Sport|access-date=30 May 2013}} Kightly ended the season with 26 appearances to his name of which 19 were starts, as Stoke finished in 13th position.{{cite web|title=Michael Kightly is hoping to be a first-team regular for Stoke this term|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11701/8850916?|work=Sky Sports|access-date=2 August 2013}} In May 2013 Pulis was replaced by Mark Hughes and Kightly expressed his desire to become a first team regular under the new manager and also admitted he struggled with confidence in the 2012–13 season.{{cite web|title=Michael Kightly: I'll fight for my place on the Stoke City wing|url=http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/story-19604184-detail/story.html?#axzz2ahhE1fQD|work=The Sentinel|access-date=2 August 2013}}
=Burnley=
On 2 September Kightly joined Burnley on loan for the 2013–14 season.{{cite web|title=Clarets Take The Michael|url=http://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/news/article/clarets-take-the-michael-020913-1031947.aspx|work=Burnley|access-date=2 September 2013}} He scored his first goal for Burnley in a 1–0 win over Barnsley on 7 December 2013.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25163801|title=Burnley 1 – 0 Barnsley|publisher=BBC|date=7 December 2013 |access-date=16 December 2013}} Kightly scored five goals in 38 games for Burnley as they gained promotion to the Premier League.{{Soccerbase season|34715|2013|name=Michael Kightly|access-date=2 June 2013}} He made his move to Turf Moor permanent on 27 June 2014, signing a three-year contract.{{cite web|title=Kight Flies In|url=http://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/news/article/kight-flies-in-260614-1690151.aspx|website=Burnley F.C|access-date=27 June 2014}}
On 31 January 2017, Kightly joined Burton Albion on loan until the end of the 2016–17 season.{{cite news|title=Michael Kightly: Burnley midfielder joins Burton Albion on loan|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38821767|access-date=1 February 2017}} He scored on his debut for the club in a 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on 4 February 2017.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38778706|title=Burton 2-1 Wolves |publisher=BBC Sport|date=4 February 2017|access-date=5 February 2017}} He made a total of twelve appearances for the Brewers, scoring four goals as they secured their Championship status. He was released by Burnley at the end of the 2016–17 season.{{cite news|title=Joey Barton: Banned midfielder released by Burnley|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40019100|access-date=23 May 2017}}
=Return to Southend=
In July 2017 Kightly rejoined Southend United on a three-year contract.{{cite news|title=Michael Kightly: Southend United re-sign former Burnley winger|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40539779|publisher=BBC Sport|date=7 July 2017|access-date=7 July 2017}} Kightly announced his retirement from football on 12 August 2019.{{cite news |title=Michael Kightly: Former Wolves winger retires aged 33 |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48937856 |access-date=12 August 2019}}
=Rushall Olympic=
On 4 September 2020, Kightly came out of retirement and signed for Rushall Olympic.{{cite web |title=BREAKING NEWS: PICS BLOWN AWAY BY KIGHTLY CAPTURE |url=https://www.rofc.co.uk/news/breaking-new--pics-blown-away-by-kightly-capture |website=Rushall Olympic |access-date=4 September 2020}}
International career
Kightly was called into the England U21 squad in August 2007 for a friendly against Romania and went on to make his debut, playing the first half of the game.{{cite news| title = Agbonlahor in England U21 squad| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6949403.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 16 August 2007}}
Personal life
Kightly has a daughter called Alexa and a son Leo. He grew up supporting Manchester United but switched allegiances to Tottenham Hotspur.Stoke City Official Matchday Magazine 26 August 2012 v Arsenal
Career statistics
{{updated|28 January 2021}}
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
Honours
Grays Athletic
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Burnley
- Football League Championship: 2015–16; runner-up: 2013–14
Individual
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{2008–09 Football League Championship Team of the Year}}
{{The Football League Young Player of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kightly, Michael}}
Category:Footballers from Basildon
Category:English men's footballers
Category:England men's under-21 international footballers
Category:England men's semi-pro international footballers
Category:Men's association football wingers
Category:Premier League players
Category:English Football League players
Category:National League (English football) players
Category:Basildon United F.C. players
Category:Southend United F.C. players
Category:Farnborough F.C. players
Category:Grays Athletic F.C. players
Category:Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. players
Category:Stoke City F.C. players
Category:Burton Albion F.C. players
Category:Rushall Olympic F.C. players