| 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 | 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 Englishfootballer who played as afull-back for various clubs inthe Football League in the 1940s and 1950s, before a brief career as amanager.
Kirkman was born inBolton and attended Folds Road School. His football career started when he joinedBurnley in May 1939, but his professional career was immediately interrupted by the Second World War.[1]
During the war, he trained as anR.A.F. navigator and represented the R.A.F. in a football match against an Army team. He also made guest appearances forBrighton & Hove Albion,Fulham andManchester United.
After he was "demobbed", he returned to Burnley before being signed byRochdale in October 1946. He spent a little over a year in theThird Division North, during which he made 53 League appearances[2] before moving up to theSecond Division when he joinedChesterfield 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 the1949–50 season, he lost his place, firstly toSandy Scott and then toRon 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 the1950–51 season, playing atleft-back in a 2–1 victory atBarnsley on 19 August 1950. After only one further match, he was replaced byTed Ballard, although Kirkman regained his place in January before losing out again toJack Gregory.[4] Inthe following season, Kirkman made only seven further appearances, with the teenagedPeter Sillett being the first-choice at left-back.[5]
In March 1952, Kirkman was "persuaded" to move toExeter City in aplayer-manager role, withGeorge Roughton moving in the opposite direction to replaceSid Cann, who had been "relieved of his duties" in December, following a falling-out with the board of directors.[1]
Kirkman spent a year atSt James Park in theThird Division South with no conspicuous success, before spending the1953–54 season atBradford Park Avenue of theThird Division North.[1]
He then dropped out of football, to become a baker[6] although he did return to management briefly in 1965 withNorthwich Victoria. He also became ascout for various clubs, including Southampton,Newcastle United,Leeds United,Wolverhampton Wanderers,Stoke City andCarlisle United.[1]