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Simon King (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Simon Daniel Roy King is an English footballer who plays for Football League Two
club Gillingham
as a defender
.
making his debut on, 1 May 2001 against Port Vale
in the last competitive match to be played at The Manor Ground. Overall he only played four games for Oxford United before he signed for Barnet in 2003.
He has won three caps for the England non-league team
, scoring the winning goal on his debut against Italy in 2005.
King was transfer listed by Barnet
at the end of the 2006-07 season, for which he was named player of the year, to avoid him leaving on a free transfer a year later. He was signed by Gillingham
for £
200,000 on a three-year deal in June 2007. This fee could however rise to £250,000, depending on appearances and whether Gillingham achieve promotion to the Football League Championship
.
He made his debut on the first day of the season against Cheltenham Town
, but was on the wrong end of a 1–0 defeat.
He was named Gillingham's Player of the Year for the 2008–09 season as well as being voted into the Professional Footballers' Association
League Two team of the year. On 3 July 2009, King signed a new three-year contract, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2012.
However during a pre-season friendly against Bromley
, King suffered an ankle injury which kept him out of the entire 2009–10 season. The injury also carried over to the beginning of the 2010–11 season.
King finally returned to training on 1 November 2010 after 18 months out, with the last professional game he played in having been the 2009 Football League Two play-off Final
.
The return from injury for King was short lived however, after suffering a setback during training which caused the length on the sidelines to be extended for a few weeks. On 8 February 2011, King finally made his return to football after 18 months without playing after replacing Matthew Lawrence
in the 25th minute in the 3-1 home win against Rotherham United
.
He joined Plymouth Argyle
on loan for one month on 31 August 2011, and made his debut in a 2–1 defeat at Burton Albion
on 3 September. He made two further appearances before the loan was extended until 7 November.
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
club Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
as a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
.
Career
King started his career with Oxford UnitedOxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
making his debut on, 1 May 2001 against Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
in the last competitive match to be played at The Manor Ground. Overall he only played four games for Oxford United before he signed for Barnet in 2003.
He has won three caps for the England non-league team
England National Game XI
The England C National Football Team is the football team that represents England at non-league level. Formed in 1979 as the England Non-League team, it features players who play for clubs outside of the Football League...
, scoring the winning goal on his debut against Italy in 2005.
King was transfer listed by Barnet
Barnet F.C.
Barnet Football Club is an English football team from High Barnet, London, England, currently playing in Football League Two. The ground is in the town of Barnet within the London Borough of Barnet....
at the end of the 2006-07 season, for which he was named player of the year, to avoid him leaving on a free transfer a year later. He was signed by Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
for £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
200,000 on a three-year deal in June 2007. This fee could however rise to £250,000, depending on appearances and whether Gillingham achieve promotion to the Football League Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
.
He made his debut on the first day of the season against Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
, but was on the wrong end of a 1–0 defeat.
He was named Gillingham's Player of the Year for the 2008–09 season as well as being voted into the Professional Footballers' Association
Professional Footballers' Association
The Professional Footballers' Association is the trade union for professional footballers in England and Wales. The world's oldest professional sport trade union, it has 4,000 members....
League Two team of the year. On 3 July 2009, King signed a new three-year contract, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2012.
However during a pre-season friendly against Bromley
Bromley F.C.
Bromley Football Club are an English football club based in Bromley, in Greater London, England. They currently play in the Conference South, and play their home matches at Hayes Lane.-Early years:...
, King suffered an ankle injury which kept him out of the entire 2009–10 season. The injury also carried over to the beginning of the 2010–11 season.
King finally returned to training on 1 November 2010 after 18 months out, with the last professional game he played in having been the 2009 Football League Two play-off Final
2009 Football League Two play-off Final
The 2009 Football League Two play-off final was a football match played at Wembley Stadium on 23 May 2009, at the end of the 2008–09 season. The match determined the fourth and final team to gain promotion from Football League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system, and featured...
.
The return from injury for King was short lived however, after suffering a setback during training which caused the length on the sidelines to be extended for a few weeks. On 8 February 2011, King finally made his return to football after 18 months without playing after replacing Matthew Lawrence
Matthew Lawrence (footballer)
Matthew James "Matt" Lawrence is an English footballer who plays for Gillingham in League Two. He is a right back and centre back.-Playing career:...
in the 25th minute in the 3-1 home win against Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
.
He joined Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
on loan for one month on 31 August 2011, and made his debut in a 2–1 defeat at Burton Albion
Burton Albion F.C.
Burton Albion Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. The club's home ground is the Pirelli Stadium, having moved from Eton Park in 2005...
on 3 September. He made two further appearances before the loan was extended until 7 November.
Honours
- Football ConferenceFootball ConferenceThe 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...
Winner 2005 - Football League TwoFootball League TwoFootball League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
Playoff Winners 20092009 Football League Two play-off FinalThe 2009 Football League Two play-off final was a football match played at Wembley Stadium on 23 May 2009, at the end of the 2008–09 season. The match determined the fourth and final team to gain promotion from Football League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system, and featured...
External links
- Simon King player profile at gillinghamfootballclub.com
- Simon King player profile at barnetfc.com
- Simon King player profile at oufc.co.uk