Kyle Vassell

Kyle Thomas Vassell (born 7 February 1993) is English-born Northern Irish professional footballer who plays as a striker for the Northern Ireland national football team and at club level for Cheltenham Town. 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. He is a distant relative of Darius and Isaac Vassell.

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. He later acknowledged that at the time he found the change of clubs difficult to comprehend. He failed to feature in the first team while at Brentford and spent work experience loan spells at Conference South sides Woking and St Albans City during the 2010–11 season. He was released by Brentford in June 2011 after he completed his two-year scholarship and later felt that he had given away his opportunity at being a professional footballer.

Dover Athletic

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

Sutton United, dual-registrations and loan

Vassell signed non-contract terms with Conference South side Sutton United on 30 November 2011 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. In December 2011 and January 2012, Vassell had dual-registration spells with Ist