- Colin Kazim has recalled the time he was signed by Brighton back in 2005
- He was signed for £250,000 after a fan of the club won the sum in a competition
- Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’
Former Fenerbahce and Blackburn star Colin Kazim Richards recalls the time he was signed by Brighton and Hove Albion for £250,00 after a fan of the club won the sum in a Coca-Cola competition.
The 37-year-old truly defines the word journeyman and has played for 18 different clubs in eight countries during his unique career.
His first taste of senior football came in 2004 when he played for Bury after struggling to break into Arsenal‘s first team.
In 2005, a transfer war between Brighton and Wigan broke out – with both clubs eager to get his signature. The Lactics were close to signing the forward as the club were willing to pay more money.
In the same year, Coca-Cola were running a competition for fans to win a huge sum of money for their club as part of a sponsorship the soft drink company had with the EFL.
Former Brighton forward Colin Kazim-Richards recalls the time he was signed by the Seagulls
The ex-former Blackburn star was signed by the Seagulls after a fan of the club won £250,000 in a competition run by Coca-Cola
The forward was eventually signed by Brighton after Seagulls fan Aaron Berry won the sum of money after entering nearly 80 times.
Speaking on the Filthy Fellas podcast, the 37-year-old explained how he was signed by Brighton in 2005.
‘So how it worked is… when you brought a can of Coke there was a [phone] number to call to see if you win money for your club,’ he said.
‘Brighton fan won the money – Brighton already wanted me, I was already talking [to them]. I was supposed to go to Wigan.
‘Brighton couldn’t match the transfer fee Bury wanted. Then they won this money so they did that (brought me).
‘It was a better story to say a fan brought me.’
Since then, the forward has been known as the ‘Coca-Cola kid.’
Kazim-Richards would only play for the Seagulls for one season after falling out with then manager Mark McGhee.
He has since played for Sheffield United, Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, Feyenoord and Celtic and has also made 37 appearances for Turkey.
Kazim-Richards is currently without a club after he left Super Lig side Fatih Karagumruk this summer.
Kazim-Richards would only spend one season at the club before he was sold to Sheffield United
The 37-year-old is currently without a club after he left Super Lig side Fatih Karagumruk this summer
