Kyle Lightbourne (born 29 September 1968) is a former Bermudian footballer who played for Scarborough, Walsall,Coventry City, Fulham, Stoke City, Swindon Town, Cardiff City, Macclesfield Town and Hull City.
Lightbourne was born in Hamilton, Bermuda and played for PHC Zebras before moving to England to play forScarborough at the age of 23. He played 21 times for Scarborough before joining Walsall in September 1993. Lightbourne soon struck up a partnership with Kevin Wilson and the pair became prolific goalscorers and earned Walsall some success. He scored nine goals in 41 appearances in 1993–94 before scoring 27 goals in 1994–95 as Walsall gained promotion. He scored 24 goals in 1995–96 and 25 in 1995–96.
This earned him a lucrative move to Premier League side Coventry City for a fee of £500,000. However his chances atHighfield Road were limited and after making only seven appearances plus a loan spell at Fulham he moved to Stoke Cityin February 1998. He didn’t get off to the best of starts with Stoke as he struggled with illness and form as Stoke suffered relegation in 1997–98. He improved marginally in 1998–99 scoring eight goals in 38 matches.[1] In 1999–2000Lightbourne scored 10 goals in 52 appearances as Stoke reached the play-offs where they lost to Gillingham. He played in the 2000 Football League Trophy Final as Stoke beat Bristol City 2–1. In 2000–01 he found his chances of first team football restricted and made 28 appearances scoring five goals as well as spending time out on loan at Swindon Town and Cardiff City.
He was released by Stoke in the summer of 2001 and after an unsuccessful spell in Sweden with IFK Norrköping he played two seasons with Macclesfield Town and had a short loan spell at Hull City before returning to Bermuda.
In 2007, Lightbourne joined Shaun Goater as part of the management team of USL team Bermuda Hogges playing 200 minutes, over 6 games, without scoring.
Lightbourne’s international cricket career was less notable, consisting of 5 ICC Trophy games, during which he took 11 wickets at an average of 16.81.
| YEARS | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986–1992 | PHC Zebras | ||
| 1992–1993 | Scarborough | 19 | (3) |
| 1993–1997 | Walsall | 165 | (65) |
| 1997–1998 | Coventry City | 7 | (0) |
| 1998 | Fulham (loan) | 4 | (2) |
| 1998–2001 | Stoke City | 111 | (21) |
| 2001 | Swindon Town (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2001 | Cardiff City (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| 2001 | IFK Norrköping | 0 | (0) |
| 2001–2003 | Macclesfield Town | 73 | (15) |
| 2002 | Hull City (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2003–2007 | PHC Zebras | ||
| 2007–2009 | Bermuda Hogges | 12 | (0) |
| 2008 | PHC Zebras (loan) | 1 | (1) |
| NATIONAL TEAM | |||
| 1989–2004 | Bermuda | 40 | (16) |
| TEAMS MANAGED Current manager at Robin Hood. | |||
| Bermuda | |||
| 2007–2009 | Bermuda Hogges | ||
FROM THE BERMUDA NEWS
Kyle Lightbourne Joins Walsall Backroom Staff
A former star striker with the UK club Walsall, Bermudian Kyle Lightbourne has joined the League One team’s backroom staff for the second time.
Mr. Lightbourne scored 65 goals in 165 appearances for Walsall Football Club during a four-year playing spell at the Bescot Stadium and is regarded as one of the best strikers in the clubs history.
Last season he joined the backroom staff on a temporary basis before leaving to return back to Bermuda.
It is reported at some sports websites that he may become manager Dean Smith’s number two in the coming months.
A one-time PHC Zebras striker, Mr. Lightbourne also played for Premier League side Coventry City and Stoke City during his professional football career in the UK.
He has been associated with the Bermuda Hogges football team since 2007.
Mikes WFC Players History 