Colin Kazim- Richards developed an interest in football when he was at Greenleaf Primary School, Walthamstow. This continued when he attended Aveling Park Secondary School who he represented in inter-borough sports. He started his professional career at the age of 15 when he signed for Bury where he worked his way through the club's Youth Team. At the age of 19 his first team appearances got him noticed by larger clubs and he signed a 3 year contract for Brighton & Albion Hove. Towards the end of the 2005/06 season he had scored 6 league goals including the clubs 5000th League goal.