Draft:Matthew Kirk

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    The disambiguation page should be Matthew Kirk (disambiguation). Robert McClenon (talk) 04:52, 8 July 2023 (UTC)

Matthew Kirk
Born1999/04/13 24 years old
NationalityIrish
Height185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Websitehttps://charlotte49ers.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/matthew-kirk/10002

Matthew Kirk (Born 13 April 1999) is an Irish footballer born in Derry, Ireland, who plays as a midfielder for NCAA Division 1 Soccer School, University of North Carolina Charlotte (UNCC)[1] under head coach Kevin Langan[2].They play in the American Athletic Conference (AAC)[3] He has played as a box to box midfielder majority of his career. He has amassed a generous following on his social media accounts, with over 45,000 between his Tik-Tok[4] and Instagram accounts.

Career[edit]

Over 70 senior mens football appearances in Northern Ireland between Northern Ireland Football League NIFL Premiership & NIFL Championship, including 3 appearances in the Europa League vs FK Haugesund (Home & Away) & Spartak Subotica (Away).[5]

In 2017 he signed with the NIFL Premiership team Coleraine F.C. and manager Oran Kearney on a 2 year contract[6] despite interest from Derry City F.C. and manager Kenny Shiels.[7] That year Coleraine FC narrowly missed out on their second league win in their history, finishing behind Crusaders F.C. on the last day of games by 1 point. Coleraine ran out winners of the prestigious 2017–18 Irish Cup that year, winning it for the 6th time. Kirk scored 2 goals in the second round of that Irish cup run.[8]

In the 2018/19 season Kirk went on loan to from Coleraine FC, wanting more game time, to NIFL Championship side Dergview F.C. [9]where he played 30 games under Ivan Sproule in a heated relegation battle. Scoring 4 goals and assisting 4 goals from midfield that year.

In the 2019/20 season Kirk took the opportunity to pursue football in California, America. At a NCAA D2 school California Sate University, Monterey Bay. This venture would be curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Returning to Northern Ireland in 2020, Kirk rejoined Dergview FC and in the 2021/ 22 [10] season he reached double digits in G/A scoring 11 goals and assisting 10 from midfield.[11] With interest from NIFL Premiership teams, Ballymena F.C., Glenavon F.C. and Coleraine F.C. he decided to move back to the states to pursue a professional soccer career in the USA.

Currently playing NCAA Division 1 Mens Soccer in the USA, at top 20 soccer program, UNC Charlotte.[12] He played 16 games, starting 12 of those in the 2022 Fall season, scoring 5 goals and assisting 4 times from midfield. Scored the only goal for Charlotte at the AAC conference tournament as they narrowly missed out of the NCAA national tournament.[1]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Matthew Kirk - Men's Soccer". Charlotte Athletics. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  2. ^ "Kevin Langan - Men's Soccer Coach". Charlotte Athletics. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  3. ^ "Men's Soccer". theamerican.org. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  4. ^ "Matthew Kirk (@matthewkirk88)". TikTok. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  5. ^ "Matthew Kirk - Stats by club". www.transfermarkt.us. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  6. ^ McNabb, Jonathan (2017-06-26). "Bannsiders land Matthew Kirk | Coleraine FC". Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  7. ^ "DERGVIEW'S KIRK HAILS THE 'FRIGHTENING' QUALITY OF THE LOUGH 41 CHAMPIONSHIP". NI Football League. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  8. ^ Sofascore. "Football Live Score - Sofascore". www.sofascore.com. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  9. ^ "Dergview". NI Football League. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  10. ^ "DERGVIEW'S KIRK HAILS THE 'FRIGHTENING' QUALITY OF THE LOUGH 41 CHAMPIONSHIP". NI Football League. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  11. ^ "Matthew Kirk (Dergview) - Career Stats - Flashscore.com". www.flashscore.com. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  12. ^ "Men's Soccer". Charlotte Athletics. Retrieved 2023-07-06.