Johnny King (footballer, born 1932)

John William King (born 9 August 1932) is an English former footballer who played in the Football League for Cardiff City, Crewe Alexandra and Stoke City.[1]

Johnny King
Personal information
Full name John William King[1]
Date of birth (1932-08-09) 9 August 1932[1]
Place of birth Wrenbury, England[1]
Playing position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1950–1953 Crewe Alexandra 48 (17)
1953–1961 Stoke City 284 (106)
1961–1962 Cardiff City 33 (6)
1962–1967 Crewe Alexandra 178 (45)
Total 543 (174)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

King began his career with his local side Crewe Alexandra in 1950. He formed a good partnership with Frank Blunstone and the pair were highly wanted by other clubs. King joined Stoke City for £8,000 and soon began to show his worth. He spent eight seasons at the Victoria Ground making 311 appearances scoring 113 goals to become one of the club's greatest goalscorers. He later played for Cardiff City and made a return to his home town team, Crewe Alexandra.

Career

King was regarded as a natural goalscorer and despite his rather 'chunky' build was a fast runner.[1] He started his career at his local side Crewe Alexandra, where he partnered Frank Blunstone who was later capped by England.[1] When Blunstone left for Chelsea King decided to join Stoke City who were at the time in the Second Division.[1] He immediately began to score goals and quickly became a firm fan favourite.[1] He was a regular goalscorer season after season at Stoke and became one a few Stoke players to have score over one hundred League goals.[1]

A natural left footer King was a very skilful player and at 5 ft 7in he was not the typical Forward of the 1950s but there was no question about his ability to lead the forward line.[1] A regular scorer, he topped the scorer charts at Stoke in three seasons amassing 113 goals for the club in all competitions placing him as Stoke's fifth all-time top goalscorer.[1]

He later joined Cardiff City and returned to Crewe Alexandra where he helped win promotion in 1963. After retirement from football King went on play tennis and almost qualified for the Wimbledon Championships in 1970.[1]

Career statistics

Source:[2]

Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Crewe Alexandra 1950–51 Third Division North 1000–10
1951–52 Third Division North 2000–20
1952–53 Third Division North 401710–4117
1953–54 Third Division North 5000–50
Total 481710–|4917
Stoke City[1] 1953–54 Second Division 241131–2712
1954–55 Second Division 361763–4220
1955–56 Second Division 361652–4118
1956–57 Second Division 34910–359
1957–58 Second Division 381530–4115
1958–59 Second Division 331300–3313
1959–60 Second Division 421320–4413
1960–61 Second Division 411261104813
Total 28410626710311113
Cardiff City 1961–62 First Division 3361042388
Crewe Alexandra 1962–63 Fourth Division 461730105017
1963–64 Third Division 4192010449
1964–65 Fourth Division 421000104310
1965–66 Fourth Division 40841314710
1966–67 Fourth Division 81001091
Total 17745917119347
Career Total 542174378123591185
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References
  1. Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
  2. Johnny King at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
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