Former Sheffield Wednesday man Chris Kirkland opens up on surprising move into non-league football

The Owls stopper, who spent three years at the club prior to his departure in 2014, will take on the role of goalkeeping coach at Northern Premier League Division One outfit Colne FC, who play in level seven of the football ladder, the equivalent to that of Sheffield FC or Stocksbridge Park Steels.

It is Kirkland’s first job in football for over a year after he left a similar job at Liverpool Women in order to focus on his commitment to mental health charities and with the Liverpool FC Foundation.

And it was a connection from his time at LFC Women that lead to the approach from Colne – a small but fiercely ambitious club based six miles north of Burnley.

One-time England-capped Kirkland, 39, who also starred as a number one at points for Coventry, Liverpool and Wigan, was impressed by the vision laid out by Colne’s young head coach Nathan Rooney who himself has league coaching experience at Crawley and Carlisle.

“This is ideal for me,” Kirkland told The Star. “I know Nathan through Rhiannon Roberts who plays for Liverpool Women. He just rang me on the off-chance and asked if I knew anyone who could do this or whether I’d be interested.

“He said he was trying his luck a little bit but this sort of thing really interests me. I like doing things that people don’t expect. I spoke to him a couple of times, the schedule works and it’s only a 40-minute drive or so.

“We met on Saturday with the owner. They’re building a new stadium, it’s going to be a 4G stadium with 6,500 people, they showed me the plans for that. I asked them about their ambitions and what is good was that they want to try to get through the league but they’re not going crazy doing stupid things that aren’t possible.

“It just felt right from the word go. We’re hoping to start pre-season on July 11.”

Speaking on the club’s website, Colne chairman Ryan Haigh said: “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 its future, I believe it speaks volumes that people with these reputations want to come to Colne FC.

“People will probably read this and wonder what’s happening at Colne FC! We want to be the best we can and the squad we are assembling gives us a chance when we eventually start again.”

Kirkland, who left Hillsborough due to concerns over his mental health, also has coaching experience at Port Vale on his CV.

He joins the club’s existing goalkeeping coach Steve Petty at the club, with former Liverpool youth goalkeeper Hakan Burton set to benefit most closely as Colne’s number one.

Last month the 39-year-old told The Star about how a change in coaching styles at Wigan Athletic had paved the way for his move to Wednesday as he grew more frustrated at the DW Stadium.

And he says his own style of coaching methods will be lead by 27-year-old Burton, who also works as a personal trainer.

Kirkland said: “I spoke to Hakan this morning on the phone, I told him what I’m about, I told him that it’s all about what’s best for him. He needs to let me know what he wants from training.

“A lot of coaches think it’s about them but it’s not – the players go out on the pitch. I’m here for him and whatever he needs.

“He’s a fit lad, I work my keepers hard and always have done so hopefully that won’t be an issue for him.”

This is Kirkland’s first foray into non-league football but he is jumping into the role with his eyes open and with a firm love of the semi-professional game, having grown up watching a similar level in the Midlands.

“I grew up watching Barwell,” he said. “they were literally at the end of my back garden growing up. I used to watch them on Saturdays, I used to watch them train and I’d be out fetching balls.

“Non-league is the heart of the game. It doesn’t currently have the resources obviously but hopefully, more money will filter down from the FA. The passion at the game there, the fans that come to support their local team.”

And is Kirkland one day eyeing up a full-time return to league football?

“A couple of years ago I’d have said yes,” he said, “but now I’m more than happy doing what I’m doing. I do a lot of work with the LFC Foundation who do some amazing charity work around the area, so I’m joining them and taking part in the 24 projects they have around Merseyside.

“When you go into league football that’s all you can do, it’s 24/7, you don’t have time for anything else. I’m enjoying doing what I’m doing, on the mental health side and all that sort of stuff.

“Long-term I really don’t know, things can obviously change.”

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