Kris Bright

Football player infobox
playername = Kris Bright


height = 1.88m
weight = 81
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1986|9|5
cityofbirth = Auckland
countryofbirth = New Zealand
currentclub = Kristiansund BK
position = Striker, Attacking Midfield
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 2005
2005–06
2006–07
2007–present
clubs = Waitakere City
New Zealand Knights
Fortuna Sittard
Kristiansund BK
caps(goals) = 21 (29)
12 (0)
11 (1)
19 (21)
nationalyears= 2001
2002
2003
2005
nationalteam=New Zealand U15
New Zealand U16
New Zealand U17
New Zealand U20
nationalcaps(goals)=??
??
??
??
pcupdate = 30 January 2007
ntupdate = 08:45, 4 October 2006 (UTC)

Kris Bright (born September 5, 1986) is a New Zealand footballer who plays as a striker. He currently plays for Kristiansund BK in the Norwegian Division 2 Group 2. Bright has represented New Zealand at U15, U16, U17 and U20 levels.

Career

Born in South Auckland, New Zealand, the son of New Zealand 1982 World Cup representative Dave Bright, Kris Bright started his football career with Manurewa AFC in his home city. [cite web| title=2005 NZ U20 Profiles| url=http://www.nzsoccer.com/page/2005_u20_profiles.html| work=NZ Soccer| accessdate=October 4| accessyear=2006] Bright then played for several clubs throughout New Zealand, including a stint with North Shore United in 2003, before joining Waitakere City in 2004. Whilst with Waitakere, Bright was the 2004 top scorer in the Northern Premier League, and played in the club's 0-1 loss to Miramar Rangers in the final of the 2004 Chatham Cup.cite web| title=Knights confirm apprenticeship scheme and finalise squad of 20| url=http://www.nzknights.com/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=1067| date=June 21, 2005| accessdate=October 4| accessyear=2006] Over two seasons, as a semi-professional with Waitakere City, Bright scored a total of 29 goals before heading to England to trial for Gillingham FC.cite web| title=Twee spitsen vanaf maandag op proef| url=http://www.fortunasittard.nl/index.jsp?content=1070&archive=1| language=Dutch| date=August 20, 2006| accessdate=October 4| accessyear=2006] The trial was unsuccessful, and Bright returned home to play for Canterbury United in the New Zealand Football Championship during 2005.cite web| title=New Zealand squad named to play in Oceania qualifiers| url=http://www.nzsoccer.com/files/u20_final_squad.pdf| work=NZ Soccer| format=pdf| accessdate=October 4| accessyear=2006]

In mid-2005, Bright was named as one of three players (alongside Sam Jasper and Jeremy Christie) in the New Zealand Knights' apprenticeship scheme through the Charlton Athletic Youth Academy. He did not join the full-time squad of the A-League club, and in the meantime had transferred to Waitakere United for the 2005–06 NZFC season. [cite web| title=New Zealand – National League preview| url=http://www.oceaniafootball.com/index.cgi?det=1&intArticleID=1771&sID=12| work=Oceania Football Confederation| date=October 22, 2005| accessdate=October 4| accessyear=2006] Shortly after the start of the season, though, Knights player Neil Emblen suffered a knee injury and was forced onto the injured list, which would allow the club to sign Bright as a replacement for four weeks. [cite web| title=Bright gets big chance as Emblen ruled out| url=http://www.nzknights.com/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=2129| date=October 27, 2005| accessdate=October 4| accessyear=2006] Bright was rushed into the squad to play the Central Coast Mariners at North Harbour Stadium, [cite web| title=Knights look on the Bright side| url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=242&ObjectID=10352555| work=The New Zealand Herald| last=Maddaford| first=Terry| date=October 29, 2005| accessdate=October 4| accessyear=2006] and played the full 90 minutes on debut as the New Zealand side went down 1-3. [cite web| title=Match Summary: New Zealand Knights FC vs Central Coast Mariners FC| url=http://www.a-league.com.au/scoreboard/0000260089/scoreboard.html| date=October 29, 2005| accessdate=October 4| accessyear=2006] Bright's performance in his first match earned praise from Knights manager John Adshead, and he was rewarded with a starting place in the following match against the Newcastle United Jets. [cite web| title=Knights build Kiwi contingent| url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411749/624348| work=One Sport| date=November 3, 2005| accessdate=October 4| accessyear=2006] Again Bright played the full match, and received an early yellow card in the 2-4 loss. [cite web| title=Match Summary: New Zealand Knights FC vs Newcastle Jets FC| url=http://www.a-league.com.au/scoreboard/0000260092/scoreboard.html| date=November 4, 2005| accessdate=October 4| accessyear=2006] Bright appeared in the Knights's following four games up until Emblen's return from injury, but had done enough to retain his position in the squad, having signed another short-term contract, this time to cover for Joshua Rose. [cite web| title=Emblen back to face Sydney| url=http://www.nzknights.com/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=2804| date=December 29, 2005| accessdate=October 4| accessyear=2006] By the end of the 2005–06 season, Bright had made a total of 12 appearances, three from the interchange bench.

In mid-2006, Bright left for England again, this time to trial at Scottish side Kilmarnock, where he was for a month, playing three games & scoring 2 goals. Although he was not signed by Kilmarnock, Bright remained in Europe, and in late August began trialling with Dutch Eerste Divisie club Fortuna Sittard, including a match against FC Geleen-Zuid scoring 1 goal.cite web| title=Kris Bright voor één jaar Fortunees| url=http://www.fortunasittard.nl/index.jsp?content=1297&archive=1| language=Dutch| date=August 31, 2006| accessdate=October 4| accessyear=2006] Bright subsequently landed a one year contract with the club, with the option of a further year; despite earlier reports, the deal was only finalised as the transfer window closed. [cite web| title=Fortuna Sittard land Kiwi striker Bright| url=http://www.tribalfootball.com/article.php?id=9968| work=Tribal Football| date=August 31, 2006| accessdate=October 4| accessyear=2006]

Bright managed to gain a spot in the starting line-up for the struggling Dutch side. He played in eleven league games, in which he scored one goal, against HFC Haarlem. He also played part in Fortuna's dramatic Cup loss to non-league Rijnsburgse Boys.

After his contract with the Dutch side was not renewed for the 2007 season, he signed a six month contract with Norwegian Division 2 club Kristiansund BK. Where he has scored 11 goals in seven games, Levanger (1), Lillestrom (2), Hodd (1), Baerum (1), Valarenga (2) & Steinkjer (4).

With two games remaining in the season and several Norwegian Tippeligaen & Addecoligaen clubs following his progress, Bright suffered a broken leg. Bright then renewed his contract with Kristiansund BK until July 2009.

After 6 months of recovery, Bright then made his return in the 2008 season opener against Strindheim. He continued his goal scoring form with 2 goals including a 25 metre free-kick to help Kristiansund to a 3-1 win. After playing 12 games in the competition so far, he is 2nd top goal-scorer in the league with 10 goals. Also, in the 3rd round of the Norwegian Cup, Bright scored KBK's only goal against Tippeligaen club & close rivals Molde F.K. in a 2-1 extra-time loss.

International career

Bright has represented New Zealand at U15, U16, U17 and U20 levels. He played in all of New Zealand's matches during their failed qualifying campaign for the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship, scoring four goals, including a hat-trick in a 13-0 win over Tonga. [cite web| title=Oceania Preliminary Competition for the U-17 World Cup 2003| url=http://www.rsssf.com/tableso/oc-u17-03.html| work=RSSSF| accessdate=October 4| accessyear=2006] In 2005, Bright was selected for the under-20 squad to compete in the OFC qualifying tournament for the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship, but again the country were unable to make the finals, finishing third in their group behind the Solomon Islands and Fiji. [cite web| title=Oceania U-20 World Cup 2005 Qualifiers| url=http://www.rsssf.com/tableso/oc-u20-05.html| work=RSSSF| accessdate=October 4| accessyear=2006]

Footnotes

References

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