Charlie Kirk (footballer)
Charlie David Kirk (born 24 December 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for Barrow. Playing careerCrewe Alexandra (first spell)Kirk came through the Crewe Alexandra Academy, earning a call-up to the senior team whilst still a second year scholar.[4] He made his debut in the Football League on 16 February 2016, in a 2–2 draw with Rochdale at Spotland, coming on as an 88th-minute substitute for Callum Saunders.[5] He scored his first Crewe goal on 26 December 2017, the second in a 2–0 win at Chesterfield.[6] In May 2018, after making 69 appearances and scoring five goals, Kirk signed a new three-year deal with Crewe through to summer 2021.[7] The following season, he scored 11 goals in 45 first-team appearances.[8] After helping Crewe win promotion to League One in 2020, scoring nine goals and providing more assists than any other League Two player, Kirk signed a new two-year deal with the club through to June 2022.[9] In September 2020, Kirk (along with Crewe team-mate Perry Ng) was named in the PFA League Two Team of the Year for the 2019–20 season.[10] Charlton AthleticOn 12 August 2021, Kirk was announced to have joined fellow League One side Charlton Athletic for an undisclosed fee on a four-year deal;[11] Charlton had triggered a £500,000 release clause in his Crewe contract; Kirk later said: "I didn't just want to leave and for them [Crewe] not to get anything for me."[12] He made his Charlton debut in the club's 2–1 defeat at Milton Keynes Dons on 17 August[13] and two games later played in the club's first win of the season, 2–0 against former club Crewe Alexandra, on 28 August 2021.[14] Playing in all of Charlton's opening games of the 2022–23 season, Kirk scored his first Charlton goal in the fifth match, a 5–1 League One defeat of Plymouth Argyle at The Valley on 16 August 2022.[15] He later scored twice in Charlton's 3–3 League One draw at Burton Albion on 12 November 2022.[16] On 20 December 2023, Kirk's contract with Charlton Athletic was cancelled by mutual consent.[17] Blackpool (loan)On 27 January 2022, Kirk joined Blackpool on loan for the rest of the 2021–22 season with a view to a permanent transfer.[18] He made his Blackpool debut on 5 February 2022, coming on as a second-half substitute for CJ Hamilton in a 3–1 victory over Bristol City at Bloomfield Road.[19] Burton Albion (loan)On 31 January 2023, Kirk joined Burton Albion on loan for the rest of the 2022–23 season,[20] and made his debut as an 82nd minute substitute and scored the 96th minute winner in Burton's 3–2 win at Fleetwood Town on 4 February 2023.[21] Crewe Alexandra (second spell)On 1 February 2024, Kirk returned to Crewe Alexandra on a deal until the end of the 2023–24 season,[22][23] and made his second Crewe debut two days later, coming on as a 91st minute substitute in Crewe's goal-less draw at Tranmere Rovers.[24] Kirk was released by Crewe at the end of the 2023–24 season.[25] BarrowOn 22 October 2024, Kirk joined League Two side Barrow on a contract until the end of the season with the option for a further year.[26] He made his Barrow debut as a second-half substitute in the side's FA Cup first round defeat by Doncaster Rovers at Holker Street on 2 November 2024.[27] Career statistics
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