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Norman Kirkman

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Norman Kirkman
Personal information
Date of birth (1920-06-06)6 June 1920
Place of birth Bolton, England
Date of death 17 November 1995(1995-11-17) (aged 75)
Place of death Bolton, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s) Full-back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1939–1946 Burnley 0 (0)
1946–1947 Rochdale 53 (0)
1947–1949 Chesterfield 41 (0)
1949–1950 Leicester City 12 (0)
1950–1952 Southampton 20 (0)
1952–1953 Exeter City 11 (1)
Managerial career
1952–1953 Exeter City
1953–1954 Bradford Park Avenue
1965 Northwich Victoria
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Norman Kirkman (6 June 1920 – 17 November 1995)[1] was an English footballer who played as a full-back for various clubs in the Football League in the 1940s and 1950s, before a brief career as a manager.

Football career

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Playing career

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Kirkman was born in Bolton and attended Folds Road School. His football career started when he joined Burnley in May 1939, but his professional career was immediately interrupted by the Second World War.[1]

During the war, he trained as an R.A.F. navigator and represented the R.A.F. in a football match against an Army team. He also made guest appearances for Brighton & Hove Albion, Fulham and Manchester United.

After he was "demobbed", he returned to Burnley before being signed by Rochdale in October 1946. He spent a little over a year in the Third Division North, during which he made 53 League appearances[2] before moving up to the Second Division when he joined Chesterfield in November 1947.[1]

Two years later, in August 1949, Kirkman joined fellow Second Division club, Leicester City, for a fee of £8,500.[3] Although he made five appearances at the start of the 1949–50 season, he lost his place, firstly to Sandy Scott and then to Ron Jackson, before a return to the side in March for the final seven matches of the season.[3]

In July 1950, he was signed by another Second Division side, Southampton, for "a four figure fee".[1] Described as "a cool professional player", who "possessed a fastidious left foot",[1] he made his debut for the "Saints" in the opening match of the 1950–51 season, playing at left-back in a 2–1 victory at Barnsley on 19 August 1950. After only one further match, he was replaced by Ted Ballard, although Kirkman regained his place in January before losing out again to Jack Gregory.[4] In the following season, Kirkman made only seven further appearances, with the teenaged Peter Sillett being the first-choice at left-back.[5]

In March 1952, Kirkman was "persuaded" to move to Exeter City in a player-manager role, with George Roughton moving in the opposite direction to replace Sid Cann, who had been "relieved of his duties" in December, following a falling-out with the board of directors.[1]

Management career

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Kirkman spent a year at St James Park in the Third Division South with no conspicuous success, before spending the 1953–54 season at Bradford Park Avenue of the Third Division North.[1]

He then dropped out of football, to become a baker[6] although he did return to management briefly in 1965 with Northwich Victoria. He also became a scout for various clubs, including Southampton, Newcastle United, Leeds United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Stoke City and Carlisle United.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Holley, Duncan; Chalk, Gary (2003). In That Number – A post-war chronicle of Southampton FC. Hagiology Publishing. pp. 537–538. ISBN 0-9534474-3-X.
  2. ^ Brown, Neil. "Norman Kirkman". Career summary. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  3. ^ a b "Norman Kirkman". Player profile. foxestalk.co.uk. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  4. ^ Chalk, Gary; Holley, Duncan (1987). Saints – A complete record. Breedon Books. p. 119. ISBN 0-907969-22-4.
  5. ^ Saints – A complete record. p. 121.
  6. ^ "The Return of Bradford Park Avenue". 29 March 2010. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
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