Phil King (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Philip Geoffrey King is an English
former professional footballer. He represented England
at Under-21 level and in a B international. He was born in Bristol
.
King began his career as an apprentice with Exeter City
, turning professional in January 1985, and making his league debut the same season. After 27 games for the Grecians, he moved to Torquay United
in July 1986 for a fee of £3,000 instantly fitting in as a regular in Stuart Morgan
's struggling side. However, in February 1987, after 24 league games in which he scored 3 times, he was sold to Swindon Town
for £25,000 with United desperately short of players and with no money to spend, Mark Gardiner
and Charlie Henry
(on loan) coming in the opposite direction.
At Swindon, his career really took off, culminating in England Under-21 honours and a £400,000 move to Sheffield Wednesday
in November 1989, after 116 games (four goals) for the Robins. He made his Owls' debut on the 4th of November and settled well into playing higher level football, although Wednesday were relegated to Division Two at the end of the season. The following season, he played at Wembley in 1991, when Wednesday won the League Cup
, beating Manchester United
1-0 in the final, and played his part in Wednesday's instant return to the top flight. After losing his place to Andy Sinton
, King went to Notts County
on loan in October 1993, and joined his former Wednesday manager Ron Atkinson
at Aston Villa
for a fee of £250,000 in August 1994.
After an impressive start to his Villa Park career, including scoring the winning penalty in a UEFA Cup
tie against Inter Milan, he lost his place at left-back to Shaun Teale
(normally a central defender) when Brian Little
was appointed manager, and moved further out of the first team picture after the signing of Alan Wright
from Blackburn Rovers. He joined West Bromwich Albion
on loan in October 1995, but two months later suffered a serious cruciate ligament injury in the Baggies' game against Norwich City
, which took him 17 months to recover from, and meant his knee would never be fully fit again.
He eventually returned to fitness and became a regular in Villa's reserve side until leaving in March 1997 to rejoin Swindon Town on a free transfer. However, he fell out with the manager Steve McMahon
, and other than a loan spell at Blackpool
and more time out with injuries, mainly just saw action on the training ground until a free transfer move to Brighton & Hove Albion
in March 1999. He played only three times for the Seagulls, before being released at the end of the season.
He spent the following pre-season with Chester City
and was offered a monthly contract, but instead decided to join Conference
side Kidderminster Harriers
in August 1999, helping them to the Conference title the following season. It appeared that King he would return to the Football League with Kidderminster, but he moved to Bath City
on a free transfer in July 2000, as he wanted to remain part-time while running The Dolphin pub in Swindon
. Given his history of injuries and Bath's financial plight he signed a pay-as-you-play deal, but almost as soon as he had joined aggraveted an old calf injury which kept him out of the team for four months. On 10 January 2001, he finally made his Bath debut in the Dr Martens Cup, a 5-0 defeat against Newport County at Spytty Park, but this was his only first team appearance, as the following month he picked up another knee injury, playing with his children in the garden. In April 2001 the Bath Chronicle reported that he was about to retire from football as tests on his knee injury had shown cartilage damage and early signs of arthritis.
In March 2004, King came out of retirement to play for Cinderford Town
, answering an SOS call from manager Phil Mullen.
Although King is currently retired from football he still runs out for the Aston Villa side in the annual Masters Football Tournament and he is currently still involved with Swindon Town. King currently commentates on Swindon Town matches for BBC Radio Wiltshire
.
He remains a cult hero with many Villa
fans as a result of his famous winning penalty in the shootout against Inter Milan.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former professional footballer. He represented England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
at Under-21 level and in a B international. He was born in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
.
King began his career as an apprentice with Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
, turning professional in January 1985, and making his league debut the same season. After 27 games for the Grecians, he moved to Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
in July 1986 for a fee of £3,000 instantly fitting in as a regular in Stuart Morgan
Stuart Morgan
Stuart Edward Morgan is a Welsh former professional footballer and football manager. A central defender, he made 222 appearances in the Football League playing for Torquay United, Reading, Colchester United and A.F.C. Bournemouth...
's struggling side. However, in February 1987, after 24 league games in which he scored 3 times, he was sold to Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
for £25,000 with United desperately short of players and with no money to spend, Mark Gardiner
Mark Gardiner
Mark Christopher Gardiner is an English former professional footballer who made 262 appearances in the Football League...
and Charlie Henry
Charlie Henry
For the English footballer born 1986 see Charlie Henry Charles Anthony Henry is an English former professional footballer, born in Acton, London, who played in the Football League for Swindon Town, Torquay United, Northampton Town and Aldershot.Henry began his career as an apprentice with Swindon...
(on loan) coming in the opposite direction.
At Swindon, his career really took off, culminating in England Under-21 honours and a £400,000 move to Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
in November 1989, after 116 games (four goals) for the Robins. He made his Owls' debut on the 4th of November and settled well into playing higher level football, although Wednesday were relegated to Division Two at the end of the season. The following season, he played at Wembley in 1991, when Wednesday won the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
, beating Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
1-0 in the final, and played his part in Wednesday's instant return to the top flight. After losing his place to Andy Sinton
Andy Sinton
Andrew "Andy" Sinton born 19 March 1966 in Cramlington, Northumberland, is an English former professional footballer and current manager of A.F.C. Telford United...
, King went to Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
on loan in October 1993, and joined his former Wednesday manager Ron Atkinson
Ron Atkinson
Ronald Ernest Atkinson, commonly known as "Big Ron" and "Bojangles" is an English former football player and manager. In recent years he has become one of Britain's best-known football pundits...
at Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
for a fee of £250,000 in August 1994.
After an impressive start to his Villa Park career, including scoring the winning penalty in a UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
tie against Inter Milan, he lost his place at left-back to Shaun Teale
Shaun Teale
Shaun Teale is a former English professional footballer. He is perhaps most famous for being in the League Cup winning team of Aston Villa in 1994.-Playing career:...
(normally a central defender) when Brian Little
Brian Little (footballer)
Brian Little is an English former football player and manager who is currently without a job after being relieved of his duties as manager of Gainsborough Trinity on 22 August 2011. Little has previously managed Darlington, Leicester City, Aston Villa, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, Hull City,...
was appointed manager, and moved further out of the first team picture after the signing of Alan Wright
Alan Wright
Alan Geoffrey Wright is an English professional footballer. He is a coach in the Centre of Excellence at his first club, Blackpool, a role he assumed in June 2011....
from Blackburn Rovers. He joined West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
on loan in October 1995, but two months later suffered a serious cruciate ligament injury in the Baggies' game against Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
, which took him 17 months to recover from, and meant his knee would never be fully fit again.
He eventually returned to fitness and became a regular in Villa's reserve side until leaving in March 1997 to rejoin Swindon Town on a free transfer. However, he fell out with the manager Steve McMahon
Steve McMahon
Stephen Joseph McMahon is an English former football midfielder who most notably played for Liverpool in the late 1980s...
, and other than a loan spell at Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
and more time out with injuries, mainly just saw action on the training ground until a free transfer move to Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
in March 1999. He played only three times for the Seagulls, before being released at the end of the season.
He spent the following pre-season with Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
and was offered a monthly contract, but instead decided to join Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
side Kidderminster Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
in August 1999, helping them to the Conference title the following season. It appeared that King he would return to the Football League with Kidderminster, but he moved to Bath City
Bath City F.C.
Bath City Football Club are a semi-professional football club based in Bath, Somerset. They play in the Conference National league after gaining promotion from the Conference South via the play-offs in May 2010...
on a free transfer in July 2000, as he wanted to remain part-time while running The Dolphin pub in Swindon
Swindon
Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
. Given his history of injuries and Bath's financial plight he signed a pay-as-you-play deal, but almost as soon as he had joined aggraveted an old calf injury which kept him out of the team for four months. On 10 January 2001, he finally made his Bath debut in the Dr Martens Cup, a 5-0 defeat against Newport County at Spytty Park, but this was his only first team appearance, as the following month he picked up another knee injury, playing with his children in the garden. In April 2001 the Bath Chronicle reported that he was about to retire from football as tests on his knee injury had shown cartilage damage and early signs of arthritis.
In March 2004, King came out of retirement to play for Cinderford Town
Cinderford Town F.C.
Cinderford Town A.F.C. are a football club based in Cinderford in Gloucestershire, England. They were established in 1922 and joined the Western League in 1946. For the 2011-12 season, they are members of the Southern League Division One South and West...
, answering an SOS call from manager Phil Mullen.
Although King is currently retired from football he still runs out for the Aston Villa side in the annual Masters Football Tournament and he is currently still involved with Swindon Town. King currently commentates on Swindon Town matches for BBC Radio Wiltshire
BBC Radio Wiltshire
BBC Wiltshire is the BBC Local Radio station and BBC Online service for the English county of Wiltshire. The station marked its 20th anniversary in 2009.-BBC Wiltshire Sound :...
.
He remains a cult hero with many Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
fans as a result of his famous winning penalty in the shootout against Inter Milan.