Kyle Vassell

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Kyle Vassell
Vassell playing for Rotherham United in 2018
Personal information
Full name Kyle Thomas Vassell[1]
Date of birth (1993-02-07) 7 February 1993 (age 31)[2]
Place of birth Milton Keynes, England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Kilmarnock
Number 9
Youth career
0000–2007 Norwich City
2007–2010 Brentford
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2011 Brentford 0 (0)
2010 → Woking (loan) 1 (0)
2011 → St Albans City (loan) 2 (0)
2011 Dover Athletic 2 (0)
2011–2012 Sutton United 26 (4)
2011 → Tooting & Mitcham United (dual-reg) 2 (0)
2011–2012 → Whitehawk (dual-reg) 6 (2)
2012 → Staines Town (loan) 7 (2)
2012–2013 Chelmsford City 23 (5)
2013 Bishop's Stortford 12 (6)
2013–2016 Peterborough United 28 (5)
2015 → Oxford United (loan) 6 (1)
2015–2016 → Dagenham & Redbridge (loan) 8 (0)
2016 → Shrewsbury Town (loan) 13 (0)
2016–2018 Blackpool 63 (22)
2018–2021 Rotherham United 55 (4)
2021 → Fleetwood Town (loan) 26 (4)
2021–2022 Cheltenham Town 16 (2)
2022 San Diego Loyal 29 (14)
2023– Kilmarnock 60 (14)
International career‡
2018 Northern Ireland 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 November 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:36, 15 October 2018 (UTC)

Kyle Thomas Vassell (born 7 February 1993) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for and captains Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock. Born in England, he represents the Northern Ireland national team.

He began his career as a youth at Norwich City and Brentford, before embarking on a nomadic period in non-League football. He made his Football League debut for Peterborough United in 2013 and thereafter notably played for Blackpool F.C. and Rotherham United. He is a distant relative of Darius and Isaac Vassell.[3][4]

Club career

Early years

Vassell began his career as a schoolboy at Norwich City and joined Brentford at age 15 after having difficulty with commuting from his London home to Norfolk.[5] He later acknowledged that at the time he found the change of clubs difficult to comprehend.[6] He failed to feature in the first team while at Brentford and spent work experience loan spells at Conference South sides Woking[7] and St Albans City during the 2010–11 season. He was released by Brentford in June 2011[8] after he completed his two-year scholarship[9] and later felt that he had given away his opportunity at being a professional footballer.[10]

Dover Athletic

Following interest from Gillingham and Burton Albion[9] and an unsuccessful trial with League Two side Crewe Alexandra, Vassell signed non-contract terms with Conference South side Dover Athletic in October 2011,[11] linking up with former Brentford manager and player Nicky Forster.[8] He scored on his debut against in a 6–3 Kent Senior Cup win over Maidstone United on 12 October.[12][13] He made three further appearances before leaving the club.[citation needed]

Sutton United, dual-registrations and loan

Vassell signed non-contract terms with Conference South side Sutton United on 30 November 2011[14] and scored on his debut in a 1–0 Surrey Senior Cup win over Epsom & Ewell on 6 December. Vassell bagged four goals in a 6–0 Surrey Senior Cup win over Godalming Town on 17 January 2012.[15] In December 2011 and January 2012, Vassell had dual-registration spells with Isthmian League Premier Division side Tooting & Mitcham United[16] and Isthmian League Division One South side Whitehawk respectively.[17] He signed for Conference South side Staines Town on loan on 21 March 2012.[14] During the 2011–12 season, he made fifteen Sutton appearances, scored seven goals and helped the club into the Conference South playoffs, where they were knocked out in the semi-finals by Welling United. Vassell made 17 appearances and scored three goals for Sutton during the early months of the 2012–13 season before leaving the club in November 2012.[citation needed]

Chelmsford City

Vassell signed for Conference South side Chelmsford City on 6 December 2012.[14][18] He scored his first goal for the club on his second appearance in a 2–1 league victory over Boreham Wood on 29 December. From early January 2013 to early February, he was in fine form and bagged five goals in five games. He helped secure a fifth-place finish for Chelmsford, but he suffered playoff heartbreak for the second season running as Chelmsford were beaten in the semi-finals by the eventual promoted team Salisbury City. He finished the season having made 25 appearances and scored seven goals, despite being utilised predominantly in a wide midfield role.[citation needed]

Bishop's Stortford

Vassell signed for Chelmsford City's neighbours and divisional rivals Bishop's Stortford on 30 June 2013.[14][19] He scored a hattrick in his first competitive game for the club, a 6–1 Herts Charity Cup win over Ware on 1 August.[20] Vassell scored his first league goal for Bishop's Stortford in a 2–2 draw with Boreham Wood on 19 August. Vassell bagged four goals in 17 minutes[21] in a 5–0 FA Cup second qualifying round win over Hendon on 29 September, which saw him receive an FA Cup Player Of The Round nomination.[22] Another hattrick followed for Vassell in the FA Cup third qualifying round in a 6–1 victory over Chipstead.[23] Vassell's run of 16 goals in 16 games saw him hailed as "the new Dwight Gayle"[24] (after Gayle secured a move to League One with Peterborough United and subsequently Premier League side Crystal Palace the previous year on the back of a prolific goalscoring spell for Bishop's Stortford), though Vassell dismissed the comparison.[25] Vassell was the subject of national attention[5][10] when Bishop's Stortford's FA Cup first round tie with League Two side Northampton Town was chosen to be screened by ITV.[26] Vassell started the match on 10 November, but suffered a dead leg[25] early in the second half and was substituted as Northampton ran out 2–1 winners.[27] It was his last appearance for the club.[citation needed]

Peterborough United

After his goalscoring exploits for Bishop's Stortford led to interest from Football League clubs, Vassell signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with League One side Peterborough United for an undisclosed fee on 11 November 2013.[25] Vassell made his Peterborough debut (his first appearance in the Football League) on 24 November, starting in a 1–0 home league defeat to Stevenage.[28] He was replaced by Shaun Jeffers after 71 minutes. Vassell was an unused substitute for a 3–2 league defeat to former club Brentford on 26 November[citation needed] and his third Posh appearance came in the return fixture on 1 January 2014.[29] He replaced Mark Little after 76 minutes of the 3–1 defeat. Vassell scored his first goal for the club in a 2–2 Football League Trophy Southern Area Final first leg draw at home to Swindon Town on 5 February.[30]

Vassell later spent time on loan at Dagenham & Redbridge, before joining Shrewsbury Town on loan for the rest of the season in January 2016.[31]

He was released by Peterborough at the end of his contract in May 2016.[32]

Blackpool

On 16 June 2016 it was confirmed Vassell had signed a one-year contract to play for League Two side Blackpool.[33] On 6 August 2016 he scored on his League debut for Blackpool, against Exeter City.[34]

Rotherham United

In July 2018, Vassell signed a three-year deal with Championship side Rotherham United.[35] His first league goal for the club came over a year later; an acrobatic strike against Peterborough United in the League One game on 29 December 2019.[36] On 15 January 2021, Vassell joined League One side Fleetwood Town on loan for the remainder of the 2020–21 season.[37] On 17 May 2021, Rotherham United published their retained list, and confirmed Vassell would be leaving the club at the end of his contract.[38]

Cheltenham Town

On 9 August 2021, Vassell signed a one-year contract with League Two Champions, Cheltenham Town for their League One campaign. On 6 January 2022, Vassell left the club midway through his contract.[39]

San Diego Loyal

Vassell moved overseas for the first time in his career on 17 January 2022, signing with USL Championship club San Diego Loyal SC.[40] He was released by San Diego following the 2022 season.[41]

Kilmarnock

On 1 January 2023, Vassell signed with Scottish Premiership club Kilmarnock on a deal until the end of the season. On 19 April 2023 vassell signed a 2-year extension keeping him at the club till the summer of 2025.[42]

International career

In October 2018, Kyle Vassell was called up to the Northern Ireland squad for the first time, for their Nations League matches away to Austria and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Qualifying for Northern Ireland as his grandfather was from County Fermanagh, on his call up, Vassell said: "I'm over the moon, it has been a while coming, I'm grateful that my opportunity has come and it's my first ever call-up, so I'm really excited." On 12 October he made his debut against Austria, coming on as a substitute in the 77th minute.[43][4][44]

Career statistics

As of 8 August 2024.
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[a] League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Brentford 2010–11[45] League One 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Woking (loan) 2010–11[45] Conference South 1 0 0 0 — 0 0 1 0
St Albans City (loan) 2010–11[45] Conference South 2 0 0 0 — 0 0 2 0
Dover Athletic 2011–12[45] Conference South 2 0 1 0 — 1[b] 1 4 1
Sutton United 2011–12[45] Conference South 11 2 0 0 — 4[c] 5 15 7
2012–13[45] Conference South 15 2 1 0 — 1[d] 1 17 3
Total 26 4 1 0 — 5 6 32 10
Tooting & Mitcham United (dual-reg) 2011–12[46] IL Premier Division 2 0 — — — 2 0
Whitehawk (dual-reg) 2011–12[46] IL Division One South 6 2 — — — 6 2
Staines Town (loan) 2011–12[45] Conference South 7 2 0 0 — 0 0 7 2
Chelmsford City 2012–13[45] Conference South 23 5 0 0 — 2[e] 1 25 6
Bishop's Stortford 2013–14[45] Conference South 12 6 4 7 — 0 0 16 13
Peterborough United 2013–14[47] League One 6 0 0 0 0 0 2[f] 1 8 1
2014–15[48] League One 17 5 2 0 1 0 1[f] 0 21 5
2015–16[49] League One 5 0 0 0 1 0 1[f] 0 7 0
Total 28 5 2 0 2 0 4 1 36 6
Oxford United (loan) 2014–15[48] League Two 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 1
Dagenham & Redbridge (loan) 2015–16[49] League Two 8 0 4 3 0 0 0 0 12 3
Shrewsbury Town (loan) 2015–16[49] League One 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 0
Blackpool 2016–17[50] League Two 34 11 4 0 0 0 4[g] 2 42 13
2017–18[51] League One 29 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 29 11
Total 63 22 4 0 0 0 4 2 71 24
Rotherham United 2018–19[52] Championship 23 0 0 0 2 0 — 25 0
2019–20[53] League One 20 4 2 1 2 1 0 0 24 6
2020–21[54] Championship 12 0 1 0 1 0 — 14 0
Total 55 4 3 1 5 1 0 0 63 6
Fleetwood Town (loan) 2020–21[54] League One 26 4 — — 0 0 26 4
Cheltenham Town 2021–22[55] League One 16 2 2 0 2 2 2[h] 0 22 4
San Diego Loyal SC 2022 USL Championship 29 14 1 0 — 1 0 31 14
Kilmarnock 2022–23 Scottish Premiership 14 4 3 2 1 0 — 18 6
2023-24 Scottish Premiership 35 9 3 1 3 1 — 41 11
2024-25 Scottish Premiership 1 0 0 0 0 0 3[i] 1 4 1
Total 50 13 6 3 4 1 3 1 63 18
Career total 375 84 28 14 13 4 22 12 438 114
  1. ^ Including FA Cup and U.S. Open Cup
  2. ^ Appearances in Kent Senior Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in Surrey Senior Cup
  4. ^ Appearances in FA Trophy
  5. ^ One appearance and one goal in Essex Senior Cup, one in Conference South play-offs
  6. ^ a b c Appearances in Football League Trophy
  7. ^ Two appearances in the EFL Trophy and two in the League Two play-offs
  8. ^ Appearances in EFL Trophy
  9. ^ Two appearances in UEFA Europa League, one appearance and one goal in UEFA Conference League

Honours

Blackpool

References

  1. ^ "The Football League Limited: Club list of registered players as at 16th May 2015" (PDF). The Football League. 16 May 2015. p. 54. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 June 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  2. ^ "Kyle Vassell". Rotherham United F.C. Archived from the original on 8 October 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  3. ^ "New signing Kyle Vassell keen to give Oxford United a boost". Oxford Mail. 27 March 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Nations League: Rotherham United striker Kyle Vassell earns first NI call-up". BBC Sport. 8 October 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  5. ^ a b Badcock, Matt (23 October 2013). "Forget Dwight Gayle – I'm The New Bishop's Stortford King | The Non League Football Paper – Daily football news". The Non League Football Paper. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  6. ^ "Non-League Football News". Footballexclusives.co.uk. 20 April 2012. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  7. ^ "Woking Football Club | News | Two Players Sign From Brentford". Wokingfc.co.uk. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  8. ^ a b "The Official Football Conference League Website". Footballconference.co.uk. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  9. ^ a b [1][dead link‍]
  10. ^ a b FA Cup (10 November 2013). "Kyle Vassell determined to make each moment count as Bishop's Stortford take on Northampton in FA Cup". Telegraph. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  11. ^ Hoad, Alex (12 October 2011). "Dover Athletic complete signings of Agustin Battipiedi and Kyle Vassell". Kentonline.co.uk. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  12. ^ "Match Details – Maidstone United 3–6 Dover Athletic – KSC – 12 October 2011". Aylesbury United FC. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  13. ^ "The Official website of Dover Athletic Football Club | Profile for Kyle Vassell". Doverathletic.com. 5 June 1992. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  14. ^ a b c d "England – K. Vassell – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway". Uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  15. ^ "Match Details – Sutton United 6–0 Godalming Town – SSC – 17 January 2012". Aylesbury United FC. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  16. ^ "Tooting & Mitcham searching for a goalscoring hero (From Your Local Guardian)". Yourlocalguardian.co.uk. 28 November 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  17. ^ "mitoo.co". football.mitoo.co. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  18. ^ "Striker Kyle Vassell Joins Clarets Squad". Chelmsford City FC. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  19. ^ "Bishop's Stortford FC new signings relish the challenge | Blues News – all the latest from Bishop's Stortford Football Club". Hertsandessexobserver.co.uk. 27 July 2013. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  20. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  21. ^ "Posh Sign Stortford Hot-Shot". Theposh.com. 11 November 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  22. ^ Coney, Steven (2 October 2013). "Four Up For FA Cup Accolade | The Non League Football Paper – Daily football news". The Non League Football Paper. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  23. ^ "Hat-trick for Vassell as Blues hit six to march on in FA Cup | Blues News – all the latest from Bishop's Stortford Football Club". Hertsandessexobserver.co.uk. 12 October 2013. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  24. ^ "A number of Football League clubs are tracking Bishop's Stortsford's Kyle Vassell". Sky Sports. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  25. ^ a b c "BBC Sport – Peterborough United complete deal for Kyle Vassell". Bbc.co.uk. 11 November 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  26. ^ "Watch FA Cup first round live on ITV – Bishop's Stortford v Northampton | FA Cup – ITV Sport". Itv.com. 28 October 2013. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  27. ^ "FA Cup match report and highlights: Bishop's Stortford 1–2 Northampton | FA Cup – ITV Sport". Itv.com. 10 November 2013. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  28. ^ "BBC Sport – Peterborough United 0–1 Stevenage". Bbc.co.uk. 23 November 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  29. ^ "BBC Sport – Peterborough United 1–3 Brentford". Bbc.com. 1 January 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  30. ^ Osborne, Chris. "BBC Sport – Peterborough United 2–2 Swindon Town". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  31. ^ "Kyle Vassell and Richie Wellens sign for Shrewsbury Town". BBC Sport. 8 January 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  32. ^ "Peterborough United release Gabriel Zakuani and five other players". BBC Sport. 13 May 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  33. ^ "Striker Agrees Blackpool Deal". 16 June 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  34. ^ "Blackpool 2–0 Exeter". BBC Sport. 6 August 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  35. ^ "Rotherham sign Vassell and Robertson". BBC. 29 June 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  36. ^ "Rotherham United 4–0 Peterborough United". BBC Sport. 29 December 2019.
  37. ^ "Vassell joins Town on loan". Fleetwood Town FC. 15 January 2021.
  38. ^ "Retained list confirmed by Millers ahead of 2021/22 campaign". Rotherham United F.C. 17 May 2021.
  39. ^ "Vassell leaves the Jonny-Rocks stadium". Cheltenham Town FC. 6 January 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  40. ^ "SD Loyal Adds Kyle Vassell Ahead of 2022 Season". USLChampionship.com. 17 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  41. ^ USLChampionship com Staff (6 December 2022). "SD Loyal announces initial roster moves for 2023 season". USL Championship.
  42. ^ Fitzsimmons, Andrew (1 January 2023). "Kyle Vassell: our first signing of 2023". Kilmarnock FC. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  43. ^ "Waiting is over as Vassell gets Northern Ireland call". www.rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  44. ^ "Austria 1–0 Northern Ireland – Arnautovic scores winner". BBC Sport. 11 October 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  45. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Games played by Kyle Vassell – Aylesbury United". Aylesbury United F.C. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  46. ^ a b "Games played by Kyle Vassell – Football Mitoo". Football Mitoo. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  47. ^ "Games played by Kyle Vassell in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  48. ^ a b "Games played by Kyle Vassell in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  49. ^ a b c "Games played by Kyle Vassell in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  50. ^ "Games played by Kyle Vassell in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  51. ^ "Games played by Kyle Vassell in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  52. ^ "Games played by Kyle Vassell in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  53. ^ "Games played by Kyle Vassell in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  54. ^ a b "Games played by Kyle Vassell in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  55. ^ "Games played by Kyle Vassell in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  56. ^ Law, James (28 May 2017). "Blackpool 2–1 Exeter City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
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