Kyle Perry

Kyle Blain Perry (born 5 March 1986) is an English footballer who plays as a forward for club West Didsbury & Chorlton.

Failing to make the first team at Walsall, he dropped into non-League circles with AFC Telford United, Sutton Coldfield Town, Hednesford Town, and Willenhall Town, before impressing when non-League Chasetown knocked Port Vale out of the FA Cup.

Born in Birmingham, West Midlands, Perry joined the Centre of Excellence at Walsall as an eleven-year-old and developed through the club's youth team structure to be one of seven players, including Matty Fryatt, to sign a three-year scholarship for the club in March 2002; the scholarship commencing at the start to the 2002–03 season.

He later said he did not enjoy his time at the Bescot Stadium as he was picked on by the older youth-team players.

In the third and final year of his scholarship, Perry joined up with then Northern Premier League First Division side AFC Telford United on a temporary basis, scoring twice on his debut: a 2–0 victory at Gresley Rovers on 14 September 2004 the goals being scored against his cousin Dale Belford.

He continued with Telford for the remainder of the season, whilst continuing to play for Walsall's reserve team, an issue that concerned Telford's then manager Bernard McNally.

Having scored 23 goals for the Bucks as they secured promotion, Perry agreed to join the club permanently in July 2005.

In October 2005, he joined Sutton Coldfield Town on loan, debuting in the club's Southern League Western Division 2–0 home victory over Taunton Town on 22 October 2005.

A week later his scored his first goal for the club in their 2–2 draw with Ashford Town.

Despite his tally of 32 goals in 68 games he was released in July 2006.

He joined Northern Premier League newcomers Hednesford Town in the summer of 2006, but only played one game for the "Pitmen" – the opening day defeat against Marine before being released by manager StarBuck">Phil StarBuck.

He then moved to Southern League Division One Midlands side Willenhall Town on £70-a-week, where he formed a potent partnership with Matthew Barnes-Homer.

Perry went on to score 26 goals for the "Reds" and was selected in the Southern Football Division One Midlands Team of the year, but was not selected to play in the play-off final defeat to Bromsgrove Rovers.

After a prolific season at Noose Lane, he joined Chasetown in the summer of 2007.

Another excellent return in front of goal saw him play in Chasetown's 1–0 FA Cup victory over Port Vale in December 2007.

In doing this he helped Chasetown become the lowest ever ranked club to reach as far as the third round proper of the FA Cup.

This was despite the fact that the 20-year-old's goal tally had actually made him the top scorer in the young club's history, his record standing until 1 December 2008 when Lee Moore bagged his 33rd.

He signed for Port Vale along with Chasetown teammate Chris Slater on 11 January 2008 for a nominal fee and gave up his day job as a graphic designer.

He made his debut for Port Vale as a 57th-minute substitute in a 2–0 defeat to Swansea City in January 2008.

Perry later thanked Vale boss Lee Sinnott for saving his career.

In December 2008, after not making an appearance for Vale in three months, Perry made it clear his intentions were to earn a spot in the first team and brushed off rumours that he would follow Chris Slater back into non-League football.

Failing to score for the Vale, he dropped down into the Conference National with Mansfield Town in June 2009.

However, by February 2009, he was informed that he would not be offered a new contract in the summer.

On 6 March 2009, he joined Northwich Victoria on a one-month loan.

This move was extended to a two-month loan as Perry hit two goals in four games for the club.

After three further games the popular striker was recalled by Vale manager Dean Glover after the club's strike force were hit with injuries.

After speaking to several clubs, Perry signed for Mansfield Town on 24 June 2009 on a two-year contract.

In his first three appearances for Mansfield he scored twice against Crawley Town and once against Salisbury City, though also scored an own goal in the 4–1 defeat to Luton Town.

By the end of the campaign he had netted ten goals in all competitions.

In July 2010, whilst in a middle of a two-year deal with the "Stags", Perry left the club by mutual consent to join Conference National rivals Tamworth.

There he bagged seventeen goals in forty games in his first and only season at the club.

The following year he moved on to Tamworth, before signing with Lincoln in summer 2011.

His final game for the club saw his score the consolation goal in a 2–1 defeat at Thame United on 5 November 2011 before he returned to AFC Telford United.

He later had a brief spell on loan at Moor Green.

In July 2011, he rejected deals with Tamworth, to sign a two-year contract at fellow Conference club Lincoln City, who had lost their Football League status earlier in the year.

He re-joined his former club AFC Telford United on loan in January 2012, before signing with Nuneaton Town seven months later.

He was loaned out to Hereford United in October 2012.

He joined Tamworth on loan in February 2013.

He joined Altrincham in May 2013, and helped the club to win promotion out of the Conference North via the play-offs in 2014.

He later played for Hednesford Town, Worcester City, Stafford Rangers, Barwell, Stourbridge, Coalville Town, Bromsgrove Sporting, Alvechurch, Stratford Town, Redditch United, Kettering Town, Nuneaton Borough (again), Chasetown (again), Atherstone Town and West Didsbury & Chorlton.