Simon King (footballer)
English footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Simon Daniel Roy King (born 11 April 1983) is an English retired footballer who played as a defender.
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Simon Daniel Roy King[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 11 April 1983 | ||
| Place of birth | Oxford, England | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2000–2003 | Oxford United | 4 | (0) |
| 2003–2007 | Barnet | 151 | (6) |
| 2007–2012 | Gillingham | 101 | (3) |
| 2011 | → Plymouth Argyle (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2012–2013 | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 4 | (0) |
| 2013–2015 | Thurrock | 48 | (1) |
| Total | 314 | (10) | |
| International career | |||
| 2004–2005 | England C | 3 | (1) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career
Oxford United
King started his career with Oxford United and made his debut on 1 May 2001 against Port Vale in the last competitive match to be played at the Manor Ground.[2] He would leave the club having made just four appearances.
Barnet
King signed for Conference side Barnet in 2003.[3] While with the club he would win the league title in 2004–05.[4]
King was transfer listed by Barnet at the end of the 2006–07 season, for which he was named player of the year,[5] to avoid him leaving on a free transfer a year later.
Gillingham
He was signed by League Two side 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 were to achieve promotion to the Football League Championship.[6]
King made his debut as a 62nd minute substitute for Aaron Brown on the first day of the 2007–08 season against Cheltenham Town, but was on the wrong end of a 1–0 defeat.[7]
The following season King would achieve promotion with the Kent side, playing the full 90 minutes as they defeated Shrewsbury Town 1–0 in the 2009 League Two play-off final, a game in which he was named Man of the Match.[8] He was named Gillingham's Player of the Year for the season[9] as well as being voted into the Professional Footballers' Association League Two team of the year.[10]
On 3 July 2009, King signed a new three-year contract, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2012.[11] However, during a pre-season friendly against Bromley,[12] 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.[13] King finally returned to training in November 2010 after 18 months out, with the last professional game he played in having been the 2009 League Two play-off final.[14]
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 Matt Lawrence in the 25th minute in the 3–1 home win against Rotherham United.[15]
Loan to Plymouth Argyle
He joined Plymouth Argyle on loan for one month on 31 August 2011,[16] 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.[17]
Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Following his release by Gillingham in May 2012,[18] King agreed to sign for Inverness Caledonian Thistle in July 2012.[19]
He made his debut for the side on the opening day of the 2012–13 Premier League season in 2–2 draw against St Mirren.[20]
King was forced to retire from professional football after failing to recover from an injury sustained playing for Inverness.[21]
Thurrock
King signed for Isthmian League Division One North club Thurrock on 23 August 2013, reuniting with Mark Stimson, his former manager at Gillingham.[22]
International career
King won three caps for the England non-league team, scoring the winning goal on his debut against Italy on 11 November 2004.[23]
Honours
Barnet
Gillingham
Individual
- PFA Team of the Year: 2006–07 Football League One,[25] 2008–09 Football League Two[26]
- Barnet Player of the Season: 2006–07[5]
- Gillingham Player of the Season: 2008–09[9]
