Leichhardt Tigers’ own King

After settling in Manly last year, the 33-year-old got in contact with Phil Moss looking for an opportunity to showcase his talent in the Telechoice Premier League after thirteen fruitful years as a professional in the UK.
After signing with Aston Villa as a teenager, King spent six years at Villa Park before enjoying successful stints with Stoke City, Rushden and Diamonds and Stevenage Borough FC before moving to Australia to pursue a career as a PE teacher.
?At the time (signing with Manly United) would have been a good fit, I was living in the area and I heard they were a squad on the rise,? he said.
?I was keen but Mossy was honest enough to say he was looking at some A League players coming off contract and couldn?t promise me anything.
?That?s football, I don?t hold any grudges and I am enjoying my football with APIA.
?They have looked after me from the moment I arrived and even though we haven?t been at our best this year, we are still in the mix for a semi final spot and with the players we have we should be thereabouts.?
Recent acquisitions Mark Byrnes, Paul Kohler and Jamie McMaster have made the Tigers an imposing proposition to line up against but lady luck hasn’t smiled on last year?s Johnny Warren Cup winners thus far.
?We have been in most our matches but for whatever reason the bounce of the ball hasn?t gone our way,? he said.
?It has been frustrating but you can?t do much about it.
?I am still confident we can ruffle a few feathers leading into the semis.?
King has eighteen months of study ahead of him before completing his degree at the Australian College of Physical Education at Homebush and is excited at what lays ahead.
?I have been fortunate enough to have football as a job since I was young so entering the workforce is going to be an experience,? he said.
?At the moment I am working with the football team at Knox Grammar along with guys like Brad Boardman and Chi Chi Mendez and I am really enjoying that.
“Teaching fulltime is something I am looking forward to sinking my teeth into.”
When pressed on his thoughts regarding retirement, a forthright King said it hadn’t entered his mind.
?I haven?t had a lot of luck over the years when it comes to injuries so touch wood I have a few more seasons in me,” he said.
?My hunger for the game hasn?t waned and I would love some more silverware with APIA.
?They say you are only as old as you feel and at the moment I feel like I did when I was at Villa.
?You never know what could happen tomorrow so my goal is to keep playing and enjoy every moment along the way.?
-By Andrew Prentice