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| | '''Michael James Earley''' (born 1984), also known as '''MikeE''', is a New Zealand [[paintball]] player, tournament organiser, referee and former paintball industry professional. His involvement includes international competition with [[Team Kiwi]] and [[Phoenix Tahiti]], commercial roles with [[Asylum Paintball]] and [[Giant Sportz]], and organisational work with [[South Auckland Paintball Club]] and [[Malta Paintball]].[2][3][6][7][8] |
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| '''Michael James Earley''' (born 1984), commonly known in paintball as '''MikeE''', is a New Zealand paintball player, tournament organiser, referee and former paintball industry professional. Active in the sport since the late 1990s, he has been involved in recreational and competitive paintball in New Zealand, Asia, Europe and the United States.
| | == Early involvement == |
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| Earley has worked with commercial paintball facilities including [[Commando One Paintball]], [[Lock N Load Paintball]], [[Asylum Paintball]], [[SC Village]] and [[Hollywood Sports Park]]. His activities have included tournament organisation, coaching programmes, refereeing, player development, field operations and paintball marketing. | | Earley began playing paintball in the late 1990s and assisted with recreational games and field operations at [[Commando One Paintball]] in Whangārata, near Tuakau. |
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| In New Zealand, Earley played for [[Team Insane]] during the early 2000s, competed internationally with New Zealand teams and later became involved in the establishment of the [[South Auckland Paintball Club]] (SAPC). He was marketing director and spokesperson for Asylum Paintball during the early 2010s.
| | He began competing with [[Team Insane]] in 2000, with appearances at the [[Northland Open]] and [[Volcanic Rotorua]] in 2001. Team Insane placed second in the three-man category of the 2001 [[Valhalla National Rankings]], with 181.7 points.[1] |
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| After moving to Malta in 2024, Earley became involved in the development of [[Malta Paintball]], serving as a strategic advisor to the organisation and supporting its international tournament activities.
| | == International paintball == |
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| == Early involvement in paintball == | | === New Zealand teams in Malaysia === |
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| === Introduction to the sport ===
| | In 2004, Earley helped organise a [[Team Kiwi]] delegation to an international tournament at Xtion Paintball in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He refereed on Field 2 and assisted with commentary rather than competing. Team Kiwi finished fifth, and Earley documented the visit in a report published in January 2005.[2] |
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| Earley began playing paintball in New Zealand during the late 1990s, when he was approximately 13 or 14 years old. | | He returned as a player at the 2005 [[Asia Pacific Paintball Championship]]. According to Earley, the team entered under the sponsored name '''ZAP Kiwis''', which also appears on his surviving PALS player card.[2][9] |
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| His earliest experiences were at [[Commando One Paintball]], an Auckland paintball operation associated with Rob Tapper.
| | === Other Asian teams and tournaments === |
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| Commando One had previously operated in Penrose before establishing a rural facility at Whangārata, near Tuakau.
| | At the 2012 [[Paintball World Cup Asia]], Earley played for [[Phoenix Tahiti|Phoenix Authority]] in Division 2. A contemporary report in ''La Dépêche de Tahiti'' identified him as the New Zealand member of the multinational squad, which finished 17th of 28 teams. His player accreditation also records the Phoenix Authority name.[3][10] |
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| Earley subsequently worked at Commando One as a teenager, initially in recreational field operations and refereeing. He also became involved in maintaining and developing the business's website.[1]
| | He returned with Phoenix Tahiti in 2013, when the team finished 47th of 54 entries in Division 3.[3] His accreditation for [[PALS Thailand 2013]] separately records him with '''[[Hoodlums]]''' in Division 2.[12] |
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| The venue introduced him to both recreational paintball and the operation of commercial paintball facilities.
| | Earley's other Asian appearances included '''[[Kacaworang]]''' in the Open Division at a [[World Paintball Players League]] event at Wedna Hol Sports, which he dates to 2012, and '''[[Southern Alliance]]''' in the mechanical division at the [[2018 Paintball World Cup Asia]]. These affiliations are documented by surviving player cards and his accompanying recollections.[11][13] |
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| During this period, Earley encountered early paintball equipment associated with New Zealand manufacturer [[Paintball Sports International]] (PSI), including equipment developed by Steve Constable.
| | === United States === |
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| === Entry into tournament paintball ===
| | In Southern California, Earley competed with [[SD Crush]] in [[Almost Famous Paintball League]] events. He also established [[SD Pump Crew]], a San Diego playing group focused on pump paintball.[4] |
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| Earley began competing in organised paintball tournaments around 2000.
| | == Industry and organisational work == |
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| His early tournament experience developed through Auckland's recreational clubs and a group of young players associated with the South Auckland Miniature Wargames Club.
| | === New Zealand === |
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| He subsequently joined [[Team Insane]], an Auckland tournament team whose members were connected with Red Alert Paintball Club.
| | Earley worked in marketing and operations for [[Lock N Load Paintball]] near Auckland Airport and subsequently served as Marketing Director at [[Asylum Paintball]], based at the former Kingseat Hospital complex in Karaka. An Asylum business listing names him as a marketing contact.[5][7] |
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| The team competed in seven-player and three-player tournaments during the early 2000s. | | He was involved in developing the [[South Auckland Paintball Club]] (SAPC), initially associated with Lock N Load and later with tournament activities at Asylum. The club's Race Series included X-Ball and mechanical-pump divisions.[6] |
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| == Team Insane ==
| | In March 2014, a press release identified Earley as an Asylum spokesperson announcing video coverage of the 2013 [[New Zealand Paintball Players League]] season. It also identified Asylum as a venue for SAPC Race Series and NZPPL events.[6] |
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| === Formation and membership === | | === United States === |
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| Team Insane was formed around 2000, bringing together younger Auckland players and members of the Red Alert paintball community.
| | During the mid-2010s, Earley worked for [[Giant Sportz]] as Design, Marketing and Events Manager. His responsibilities included marketing, design and event work associated with [[SC Village]], [[Hollywood Sports Park]] and [[Giant San Diego]].[7] |
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| '''Kevin Lunt''' was the team's captain.
| | === Malta === |
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| Other members included:
| | Earley moved to Gozo in 2024 and became involved with [[Malta Paintball]] as a non-executive strategic adviser, supporting administration, communications, international relationships and training-facility development. |
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| * Andy Lunt
| | He also participated in the organisation's international programme, including the [[Central Paintball Premier Series]] in the United Kingdom. In September 2026, he represented Malta at its inaugural [[UPBF Nations Cup]] appearance at the NXL European Championships in Dreux, France. Malta Paintball's tournament report names him among the eight players in the squad.[8] |
| * Neil Morris
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| * Vitaly Miheev
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| * Francis Hambrook
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| * Adam Hambrook
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| * Michael Earley
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| The team's membership is documented through participant recollections, while its tournament activity appears in the Valhalla national ranking database maintained by [[Mercenaries Star]].[1][2]
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| === 2001 tournament season ===
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| Earley participated in the 2001 [[Northland Open]] and RotoVegas tournament in Rotorua, competing in the seven-man format.
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| He recalls using a Spyder paintball marker and second-hand JT Proflex goggles during his early tournaments.[1]
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| The Valhalla national rankings list Insane in three seven-man competitions during 2001:
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| {| class="wikitable"
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| ! Tournament
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| ! Team ranking points
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| | Northland Open
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| | 6.7
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| |-
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| | RotoVegas, Rotorua
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| | 5.6
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| |-
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| | New Zealand Nationals
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| | 15.9
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| |}
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| Insane finished 21st in the published national seven-man rankings with 28.2 points.[2]
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| The team performed more successfully in three-man competition, finishing second in the 2001 national season standings with 181.7 ranking points, behind DamNatives Red.
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| These were team results. The surviving ranking tables do not identify the individual player lineup for every three-man competition.
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| === Later tournament participation ===
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| Earley continued participating in New Zealand tournaments during 2002, including events associated with the Volcanic Rotorua series.
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| He subsequently became involved in tournament refereeing, including Rotorua competitions during 2002 and 2003. | |
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| His early experience included both recreational field refereeing and tournament officiating, which later became part of his work in New Zealand and overseas.
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| == International tournament paintball ==
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| === Malaysia ===
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| Earley's first international paintball tournament was in [[Malaysia]] in 2004.[1]
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| He subsequently became involved in organising New Zealand participation at international tournaments in Asia.
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| His activities included coordinating players and teams attending events connected with the [[Paintball Asia League Series]] (PALS) and other regional competitions.
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| In 2005, Earley helped organise New Zealand participation at the Asia Pacific Paintball Championship in Malaysia.
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| The New Zealand contingent included players such as Peter Mumby and Gavin Mumby, alongside other participants from the domestic tournament community.
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| New Zealand participation at the event was documented in the June 2005 issue of ''Action Pursuit Games'' magazine, which included coverage of the Malaysian Nations Cup and a photograph of Team Kiwi.[1]
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| Earley also appeared in the magazine's coverage of the Malaysian Paintball Association.[1]
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| === Paintball Asia League Series ===
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| Earley continued competing at and attending events associated with the Paintball Asia League Series during subsequent years.
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| His involvement included tournaments in Malaysia and Thailand, as well as participation with teams assembled from players from different countries.
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| In 2008, he was involved in organising New Zealand participation in the Malaysian Nations Cup.[1]
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| Earley's experiences in Asia contributed to his involvement with international tournament administration, team logistics and event organisation.
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| === Phoenix Tahiti ===
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| Earley has also played with [[Phoenix Tahiti]], a paintball team from French Polynesia that participated in international competitions in the Asia-Pacific region.
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| Phoenix Tahiti appeared in New Zealand and overseas events, including the 2014 NZPPL International Pacific Championship at Asylum Paintball.
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| Earley's participation with the team forms part of his wider international tournament history, although individual event rosters require separate documentation.
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| === European competition ===
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| Earley participated in paintball activities in Europe during the 2010s, including events and training in Croatia and Germany in 2012.
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| He subsequently played in France and Italy, and became involved with the development of competitive paintball in Malta.
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| His participation across different countries included tournament events, mixed-nationality teams and recreational paintball activities.
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| == Paintball industry career ==
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| === Early New Zealand field operations ===
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| Earley's employment in paintball began as a teenager at Commando One in Auckland.
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| His early responsibilities included assisting with recreational games, refereeing players and supporting the operation of commercial paintball fields.
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| He later became involved in other New Zealand paintball operations, gaining experience in field administration, website development, marketing and tournament organisation.
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| === Lock N Load Paintball ===
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| Earley was involved in the development of [[Lock N Load Paintball]], an Auckland recreational and tournament paintball facility established in 2011 near Auckland Airport.
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| The venue opened at 46 Nixon Road in Māngere and incorporated themed recreational fields alongside facilities intended for competitive speedball.
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| Earley's involvement included work associated with the development and promotion of the facility, as well as activities involving Auckland's tournament paintball community.[1]
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| He also recalls organising a coaching clinic at Lock N Load with professional American player [[Ryan Greenspan]] of [[San Diego Dynasty]].
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| The clinic formed part of his activities bringing international paintball players and coaching opportunities to New Zealand.
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| === Asylum Paintball ===
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| Earley subsequently worked with [[Asylum Paintball]], a recreational and tournament paintball facility developed at the former [[Kingseat Hospital]] complex in Kingseat, south of Auckland.
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| Asylum began development in 2012 and operated a combination of indoor recreational playing areas and outdoor tournament fields.
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| Earley worked in marketing and communications for the venue during the early 2010s.
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| A historical business directory identified Earley as a marketing contact for Asylum, alongside Vitaly Miheev in management.[3]
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| Earley was also identified as Asylum Paintball's spokesperson in a March 2014 press release concerning the [[New Zealand Paintball Players League]] (NZPPL).[4]
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| The release announced the publication of Blacksheep Media's video coverage of the 2013 NZPPL final, which had been held at Asylum Paintball.
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| Earley commented on the value of tournament media coverage for promoting paintball and increasing awareness of competitive paintball in New Zealand.
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| His work at Asylum included marketing, communications, tournament promotion and support for the venue's competitive paintball activities.
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| === South Auckland Paintball Club ===
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| Earley was involved in founding and developing the [[South Auckland Paintball Club]] (SAPC), an incorporated competitive paintball organisation established in September 2013.[1]
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| The club was associated with both Lock N Load Paintball and Asylum Paintball.
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| SAPC organised tournament competition for Auckland players, including the South Auckland Paintball Club Race Series during 2014 and 2015.
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| The competitions included Open X-Ball and mechanical pump divisions, with event schedules and results recorded in the PBLeagues tournament database.[5][6]
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| SAPC provided regular competition opportunities for established teams and developing players.
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| Earley's involvement was part of his wider activities supporting organised tournament paintball in Auckland.
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| === New Zealand paintball organisations ===
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| Earley was also involved in efforts to organise and formalise paintball through New Zealand national sporting and regulatory structures.
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| His activities included work associated with paintball organisations, industry regulation and the coordination of players and teams attending international competitions.[1]
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| These activities took place alongside his work at commercial paintball fields and as an organiser and referee.
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| == United States ==
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| === California paintball industry ===
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| Earley relocated to the United States during the 2010s and worked in the paintball industry in California.
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| His roles included marketing, design, event operations and tournament refereeing.
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| He worked with [[Giant Sportz]], an operator associated with several major Southern California paintball facilities, including [[SC Village]] and [[Hollywood Sports Park]].
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| SC Village, located in Corona, California, is a long-established recreational and competitive paintball venue.
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| Hollywood Sports Park, located in Bellflower, California, operates themed recreational paintball and other outdoor activities.
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| Earley's responsibilities included event promotion, marketing, design and operational support for paintball activities.
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| === Scenario events ===
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| While working in California, Earley participated in the organisation and operation of large-scale scenario paintball events.
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| These included '''Decay of Nations''', an annual scenario event associated with SC Village, and '''Operation Tet''', a scenario paintball event.
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| His responsibilities included event operations, promotional activities and refereeing support.
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| The events involved large numbers of recreational players participating in organised scenario games across extensive playing areas.
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| === Tournament refereeing ===
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| Earley also worked in tournament officiating and senior refereeing roles in Southern California.
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| His experience covered both recreational field supervision and organised tournament paintball.
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| The work included supporting competitive events, enforcing game rules and coordinating referees.
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| === San Diego Crush ===
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| Earley played tournament paintball in Southern California, including participation with '''San Diego Crush''' in competitions associated with the [[Almost Famous Paintball League]] (AFPL).
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| The team formed part of his continued involvement as a player while working professionally in the paintball industry.
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| == Malta Paintball ==
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| === Relocation to Malta ===
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| Earley moved to Gozo, Malta, in 2024.
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| He subsequently became involved in the development of organised competitive paintball in Malta, supporting local players seeking opportunities to train and compete internationally.
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| His activities included tournament planning, player development, communications and organisational administration.
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| === Malta Paintball organisation ===
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| Earley serves as a '''strategic advisor''' to [[Malta Paintball]], a registered voluntary organisation established to develop organised paintball in Malta.
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| Malta Paintball is registered as voluntary organisation VO/2678 and is affiliated with the United Paintball Federation and European Paintball Federation.
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| Earley's role has included supporting the organisation's website and communications, liaison with international sporting organisations and administrative work connected with Malta's international competition activities.
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| The position is non-executive.
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| === International competition ===
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| Malta Paintball began participating in international European competitions during the mid-2020s.
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| The organisation fielded teams in the United Kingdom's [[CPPS]] tournament series and participated in the [[UPBF Nations Cup]] at NXL Europe in Dreux, France.
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| Earley's work with the organisation has included support for international tournament entry, player communications and relationships with event organisers.
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| === Field development ===
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| Earley has also been involved in efforts to establish permanent training facilities for competitive paintball in Malta.
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| During 2026, Malta Paintball secured an agreement for a training field at the Malta National Shooting Ranges complex in Ta' Kandja.
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| The project involved the development of a tournament-standard inflatable-bunker field, compressed-air infrastructure and facilities for regular player training.
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| Earley provided assistance with planning, fundraising, administration and communications connected with the project.
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| == Later playing career ==
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| Earley has continued playing paintball alongside his work in field operations and sporting organisations.
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| Over his career, he has participated in paintball activities in New Zealand, Malaysia, Thailand, Croatia, France, the United States, Italy, Malta and other countries.
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| His playing experience has included local and national tournaments, international competitions, recreational scenario games and teams assembled for individual events.
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| === The Leftovers ===
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| In 2026, Earley became involved with [[The Leftovers (paintball)|The Leftovers]], a paintball organisation that assembles teams from available players for major tournament events.
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| He supported The Leftovers III at the September 2026 NXL European Championships in Dreux, France.
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| Earley was also scheduled to compete with The Leftovers in the over-40 Masters Open division at the [[NXL World Cup]] in Orlando, Florida, in November 2026.
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| He also planned to participate in a three-man competition alongside former New Zealand teammates, marking a return to the tournament format in which he had competed during the early 2000s.
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| == Tournament participation ==
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| Selected events and competition activities associated with Earley include:
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| {| class="wikitable"
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| ! Period
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| ! Event or organisation
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| ! Location
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| ! Involvement
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| |-
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| | 2000–2002
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| | Team Insane
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| | New Zealand
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| | Tournament player
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| |-
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| | 2001
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| | Northland Open
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| | Whangārei, New Zealand
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| | Seven-man player
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| |-
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| | 2001
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| | RotoVegas
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| | Rotorua, New Zealand
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| | Seven-man player
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| |-
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| | 2004
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| | International paintball tournament
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| | Malaysia
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| | Player
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| |-
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| | 2005
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| | Asia Pacific Paintball Championship
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| | Malaysia
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| | New Zealand team coordination
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| |-
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| | 2008
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| | Malaysian Nations Cup
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| | Malaysia
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| | New Zealand team coordination
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| |-
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| | 2012
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| | European paintball events
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| | Croatia and Germany
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| | Player
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| |-
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| | 2013–2015
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| | Asylum Paintball
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| | Auckland, New Zealand
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| | Marketing and tournament promotion
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| |-
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| | 2014–2015
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| | South Auckland Paintball Club
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| | Auckland, New Zealand
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| | Organisation and competition support
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| |-
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| | 2010s
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| | San Diego Crush / AFPL
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| | California, United States
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| | Tournament player
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| |-
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| | 2010s
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| | SC Village and Hollywood Sports
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| | California, United States
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| | Industry and event operations
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| |-
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| | 2024–2026
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| | Malta Paintball
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| | Malta
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| | Strategic advisor
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| |-
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| | 2026
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| | The Leftovers
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| | France and United States
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| | Team support and scheduled tournament participation
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| |}
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| The table summarises selected activities rather than a complete tournament record. Individual results are documented separately where contemporary competition records are available.
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| == Role in paintball development ==
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| Earley's involvement in paintball has included several forms of participation beyond tournament playing.
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| His activities have included establishing clubs, organising tournament series, refereeing events, developing playing fields, promoting coaching programmes and supporting national sporting bodies.
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| In New Zealand, he was involved in the transition from locally organised tournament events toward structured club and league competition.
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| In the United States, his work included large-scale recreational and scenario event operations.
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| His later activities in Malta have focused on establishing facilities and supporting international participation in a country with a comparatively small competitive paintball community.
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| == See also == | | == See also == |
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| * [[History of paintball in New Zealand]] | | * [[Team Kiwi]] |
| * [[Team Insane]] | | * [[Phoenix Tahiti]] |
| * [[South Auckland Paintball Club]] | | * [[South Auckland Paintball Club]] |
| * [[Lock N Load Paintball]] | | * [[SD Pump Crew]] |
| * [[Asylum Paintball]]
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| * [[New Zealand Paintball Players League]]
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| * [[Commando One Paintball]]
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| * [[SC Village]]
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| * [[Hollywood Sports Park]]
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| * [[Paintball Asia League Series]]
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| * [[Phoenix Tahiti]]
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| * [[Malta Paintball]] | | * [[Malta Paintball]] |
| * [[The Leftovers (paintball)]]
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| == References == | | == References == |
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| # Michael Earley, personal recollections and oral-history interviews recorded for the New Zealand Paintball History project, October 2026. Accounts of early playing history, tournament participation, international travel, employment and sporting administration.
| | # [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/2001Hall.htm Mercenaries Star, Valhalla National Rankings, 2001.] Team Insane's three-man ranking. |
| # [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/2001Hall.htm Valhalla National Team Rankings, 2001]. ''Mercenaries Star''. Records of Team Insane's seven-man and three-man competition results. | | # [https://www.wikipaintball.com/index.php/Team_Kiwi WikiPaintball, Team Kiwi.] Account of the 2004 and 2005 Malaysian delegations, drawing on Earley's January 2005 tournament report. |
| # [https://www.cylex.co.nz/company/asylum%20paintball-18135556.html Asylum Paintball]. ''Cylex New Zealand''. Historical business directory identifying Michael Earley in marketing and Vitaly Miheev in management. | | # [https://www.wikipaintball.com/index.php/Phoenix_Tahiti WikiPaintball, Phoenix Tahiti.] Sources include the 2012 ''La Dépêche de Tahiti'' report "Une honorable 17e place" and 2013 PALS tournament results. |
| # [https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1403/S00280/blacksheep-media-release-2013-nzppl-video.htm Blacksheep Media Release 2013 NZPPL Video]. ''Scoop Independent News'', 16 March 2014. Identifies Earley as spokesperson for Asylum Paintball. | | # [https://www.facebook.com/groups/797011917106395/posts/3518308728310020/ San Diego Pump Paintball Crew, historical community post identifying Michael Earley and SD Pump Crew.] |
| # [https://pbleagues.com/leagues/262 South Auckland Paintball Club – Event Archive]. ''PBLeagues''. | | # [https://www.cylex.co.nz/company/asylum%20paintball-18135556.html Cylex New Zealand, Asylum Paintball.] Business listing identifying Earley as a marketing contact. |
| # [https://pbleagues.com/league/262/seasonRankings/2014 South Auckland Paintball Club – 2014 Season Rankings]. ''PBLeagues''. | | # [https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1403/S00280/blacksheep-media-release-2013-nzppl-video.htm Scoop, "Blacksheep Media Release 2013 NZPPL Video", 16 March 2014.] |
| # [https://pbleagues.com/leagues/267 New Zealand Paintball Players League – Event Archive]. ''PBLeagues''. | | # [https://me.sh/profile/michael-earley Michael Earley, professional career profile.] Roles at Giant Sportz and Asylum Paintball. |
| # [https://www.actionspaintball.co.nz/ Actions Paintball]. Historical New Zealand paintball business and field information. | | # [https://primrose-plane-aasz.squarespace.com/news/maltas-first-nations-cup-building-from-dreux Malta Paintball, "Malta's First Nations Cup: Building from Dreux", 9 October 2026.] |
| # [https://www.facebook.com/leftoverspb The Leftovers Paintball]. Team organisation and tournament announcements. | | # PALS player card identifying Michael Earley, ZAP Kiwis, PR/AM and New Zealand. Michael Earley private collection; photograph and accompanying recollections supplied by Earley. He identifies ZAP Kiwis as Team Kiwi's sponsored name at APPC 2005. The card carries conflicting printed dates: “2006” and “Valid thru: 2005”. |
| | # Phoenix Authority player accreditation, 2012, identifying Michael Earley and D2. Michael Earley private collection; photograph supplied by Earley. |
| | # WPPL/CAP3 player card identifying Michael Earley, Kacaworang and Open Division. Michael Earley private collection; photograph and accompanying recollections supplied by Earley. He identifies the event as taking place at Wedna Hol Sports in 2012 and the printed 2013 date as the card's expiry year. |
| | # PALS Thailand 2013 player card identifying Hoodlums and D2. Michael Earley private collection; photograph supplied by Earley. His surname is printed as “Early”. |
| | # Player card identifying Michael Earley, Team Southern Alliance, Mech Division and 2018. Michael Earley private collection; photograph and accompanying recollections supplied by Earley, who identifies the event as PALS World Cup Asia 2018. |
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| == External links == | | == External links == |
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| * [https://mt.linkedin.com/in/mikeenz Michael Earley – LinkedIn]
| | * [https://www.maltapaintball.org/ Malta Paintball official website] |
| * [https://www.maltapaintball.com/ Malta Paintball – official website] | |
| * [https://www.facebook.com/leftoverspb The Leftovers – Facebook]
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| * [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/2001Hall.htm Team Insane – 2001 Valhalla rankings]
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| * [https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1403/S00280/blacksheep-media-release-2013-nzppl-video.htm 2014 Asylum Paintball media release]
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| [[Category:New Zealand paintball players]] | | [[Category:New Zealand paintball players]] |
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| [[Category:Paintball referees]] | | [[Category:Paintball referees]] |
| [[Category:Paintball industry professionals]] | | [[Category:Paintball industry professionals]] |
| [[Category:Paintball in Auckland]] | | [[Category:Paintball in New Zealand]] |
| | [[Category:Paintball in the United States]] |
| [[Category:Paintball in Malta]] | | [[Category:Paintball in Malta]] |
Michael James Earley (born 1984), also known as MikeE, is a New Zealand paintball player, tournament organiser, referee and former paintball industry professional. His involvement includes international competition with Team Kiwi and Phoenix Tahiti, commercial roles with Asylum Paintball and Giant Sportz, and organisational work with South Auckland Paintball Club and Malta Paintball.[2][3][6][7][8]
Early involvement
Earley began playing paintball in the late 1990s and assisted with recreational games and field operations at Commando One Paintball in Whangārata, near Tuakau.
He began competing with Team Insane in 2000, with appearances at the Northland Open and Volcanic Rotorua in 2001. Team Insane placed second in the three-man category of the 2001 Valhalla National Rankings, with 181.7 points.[1]
International paintball
New Zealand teams in Malaysia
In 2004, Earley helped organise a Team Kiwi delegation to an international tournament at Xtion Paintball in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He refereed on Field 2 and assisted with commentary rather than competing. Team Kiwi finished fifth, and Earley documented the visit in a report published in January 2005.[2]
He returned as a player at the 2005 Asia Pacific Paintball Championship. According to Earley, the team entered under the sponsored name ZAP Kiwis, which also appears on his surviving PALS player card.[2][9]
Other Asian teams and tournaments
At the 2012 Paintball World Cup Asia, Earley played for Phoenix Authority in Division 2. A contemporary report in La Dépêche de Tahiti identified him as the New Zealand member of the multinational squad, which finished 17th of 28 teams. His player accreditation also records the Phoenix Authority name.[3][10]
He returned with Phoenix Tahiti in 2013, when the team finished 47th of 54 entries in Division 3.[3] His accreditation for PALS Thailand 2013 separately records him with Hoodlums in Division 2.[12]
Earley's other Asian appearances included Kacaworang in the Open Division at a World Paintball Players League event at Wedna Hol Sports, which he dates to 2012, and Southern Alliance in the mechanical division at the 2018 Paintball World Cup Asia. These affiliations are documented by surviving player cards and his accompanying recollections.[11][13]
United States
In Southern California, Earley competed with SD Crush in Almost Famous Paintball League events. He also established SD Pump Crew, a San Diego playing group focused on pump paintball.[4]
Industry and organisational work
New Zealand
Earley worked in marketing and operations for Lock N Load Paintball near Auckland Airport and subsequently served as Marketing Director at Asylum Paintball, based at the former Kingseat Hospital complex in Karaka. An Asylum business listing names him as a marketing contact.[5][7]
He was involved in developing the South Auckland Paintball Club (SAPC), initially associated with Lock N Load and later with tournament activities at Asylum. The club's Race Series included X-Ball and mechanical-pump divisions.[6]
In March 2014, a press release identified Earley as an Asylum spokesperson announcing video coverage of the 2013 New Zealand Paintball Players League season. It also identified Asylum as a venue for SAPC Race Series and NZPPL events.[6]
United States
During the mid-2010s, Earley worked for Giant Sportz as Design, Marketing and Events Manager. His responsibilities included marketing, design and event work associated with SC Village, Hollywood Sports Park and Giant San Diego.[7]
Malta
Earley moved to Gozo in 2024 and became involved with Malta Paintball as a non-executive strategic adviser, supporting administration, communications, international relationships and training-facility development.
He also participated in the organisation's international programme, including the Central Paintball Premier Series in the United Kingdom. In September 2026, he represented Malta at its inaugural UPBF Nations Cup appearance at the NXL European Championships in Dreux, France. Malta Paintball's tournament report names him among the eight players in the squad.[8]
See also
References
- Mercenaries Star, Valhalla National Rankings, 2001. Team Insane's three-man ranking.
- WikiPaintball, Team Kiwi. Account of the 2004 and 2005 Malaysian delegations, drawing on Earley's January 2005 tournament report.
- WikiPaintball, Phoenix Tahiti. Sources include the 2012 La Dépêche de Tahiti report "Une honorable 17e place" and 2013 PALS tournament results.
- San Diego Pump Paintball Crew, historical community post identifying Michael Earley and SD Pump Crew.
- Cylex New Zealand, Asylum Paintball. Business listing identifying Earley as a marketing contact.
- Scoop, "Blacksheep Media Release 2013 NZPPL Video", 16 March 2014.
- Michael Earley, professional career profile. Roles at Giant Sportz and Asylum Paintball.
- Malta Paintball, "Malta's First Nations Cup: Building from Dreux", 9 October 2026.
- PALS player card identifying Michael Earley, ZAP Kiwis, PR/AM and New Zealand. Michael Earley private collection; photograph and accompanying recollections supplied by Earley. He identifies ZAP Kiwis as Team Kiwi's sponsored name at APPC 2005. The card carries conflicting printed dates: “2006” and “Valid thru: 2005”.
- Phoenix Authority player accreditation, 2012, identifying Michael Earley and D2. Michael Earley private collection; photograph supplied by Earley.
- WPPL/CAP3 player card identifying Michael Earley, Kacaworang and Open Division. Michael Earley private collection; photograph and accompanying recollections supplied by Earley. He identifies the event as taking place at Wedna Hol Sports in 2012 and the printed 2013 date as the card's expiry year.
- PALS Thailand 2013 player card identifying Hoodlums and D2. Michael Earley private collection; photograph supplied by Earley. His surname is printed as “Early”.
- Player card identifying Michael Earley, Team Southern Alliance, Mech Division and 2018. Michael Earley private collection; photograph and accompanying recollections supplied by Earley, who identifies the event as PALS World Cup Asia 2018.
External links
