Carl King
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Carl King (born 14 August 1982 in Hebburn, Borough of Gateshead, England) is a British non-league footballer who plays in the position of goalkeeper.
Born in a working class suburb of Hebburn, Carl became a goalkeeping prodigy when signing for Middlesbrough F.C age 8. He gained a reputation of being a consistent, if unspectacular goalkeeper who assiduously trained and improved his game, which saw him retained at the Riverside stadium while other juniors with perhaps more flair, but a more relaxed attitude to self-improvement were released.
He quickly attracted the attention of Sunderland A.F.C through Youth Development Scout Ricky Sbragia, tipping him to become one of the best home-grown 'keepers from the North East. King agreed to participate in a pre-season tour of Ireland with the first team with a view to signing a contract, having already shown considerable aplomb between the sticks at the Charlie Hurley Centre, Sunderland's training ground. Mere days before the squad were to fly out, King broke his ankle jumping from a bus stop in his native Hebburn under the influence, a prime example of an erratic personal life which would end his professional career.
Sunderland quickly cooled their interest now King was unable to fly to Ireland. Among the prospective suitors waiting for him there were scouts of the Irish national Youth team looking for a goalkeeper to add to their prospective Milk Cup squad, King being eligible to play for Ireland due to his maternal Grandmother.
Undaunted, King managed to resurge his career by joining Redheugh Boys' Club in Gateshead, famous for producing Don Hutchison and Paul Gascoigne. King's performances were as assured as ever, once managing a total of 17 consecutive clean sheets saving 8 penalties in the process as well as bizarrely, scoring the winning goal when playing makeshift striker in the late stages of one particular match. This form didn't go unnoticed, and this time King secured a national place, representing England in the 1998 Four Nations tournament.
Despite impressing in several appearances for England, King's personal life became a problem leading many to compare him to a Goalkeeping version of Robin Friday. Players noted of King's intimidating posture in the showers and changing room after the match if he found fault with particular players' performances. He failed to negotiate with a professional club, and joined ambitious UniBond outfit, Gateshead F.C.
During his time at Gateshead, King found himself playing his trade in the reserves behind two other keepers, but happily reunited with former Redheugh Coach Jamie Cummins. After putting on an excess amount of weight and falling out with Manager Alan Bell over his selections, King stormed out of the International Stadium.
After that he became a journeyman around the local non-league scene and spet a brief period of sleeping rough in Clubs' changing rooms in return for his playing services. He was briefly appointed interim manager of Cramlington town, after winning the committee's player of the year award, he then left the club. It is not known if King still plays football, but is registered with Alliance minnows Percy Main.
As of June 2006, King is thought to have turned his life around, becoming a born-again Christian as well as living in North Tyneside.
