Michael Earley
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.