Cyril King (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Cyril William King, is a former English
professional footballer
who played his entire career, as a half back
, with Southampton
in the 1930s.
he was capped for Devon
schools when only fifteen years old, playing his youth football for Plymouth United
. He joined Southampton
as a trainee in November 1932, signing as a professional the following April. According to Holley & Chalk's "The Alphabet of he Saints" he "used his sturdy build to good effect and served the club well for five years".
His first appearance for the Division Two side was away to Newcastle United
on 1 December 1934 as a replacement for Stan Woodhouse
. He made a total of 13 appearances that season
as The Saints narrowly avoided relegation. The following season had a similar pattern with King replacing the aging Woodhouse, making 21 appearances.
In 1937–38
he lost his place briefly to Bobby Whitelaw, who had been signed by new manager George Goss
as a replacement for the now-retired Woodhouse. On regaining his place, King formed a useful partnership with fellow half-backs Bill Kennedy
and Billy Kingdon
, but again The Saints struggled to avoid relegation finishing 19th in the table. For the following season he again lost his place, this time to Welsh
international Alf Day who had arrived on a free transfer from Millwall
. Once King got back into the side in December he played in the remainder of the season's matches. He started the following season but after the match against West Bromwich Albion
on 1 October 1938, he was replaced by the former Arsenal
player Ray Parkin who had dropped back from his previous role as an inside forward
.
Although he was retained by Southampton, he returned to Plymouth in 1939 and had started work in the Devonport dockyards
before Darlington
found he was available and signed him on loan in July. The outbreak of World War II
prevented him making any appearances for Darlington.
serving in North Africa. After the war he returned to Hampshire
and became a prison
officer.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who played his entire career, as a half back
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
, with Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in the 1930s.
Playing career
Born in PlymouthPlymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
he was capped for Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
schools when only fifteen years old, playing his youth football for Plymouth United
Plymouth United F.C.
Plymouth United Football Club was a football club from Plymouth, Devon, England formed at least by 1886.As a pioneering club in Devon it played against Argyle Football Club in its first season and was a founding member of the Devon County Football Association....
. He joined Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
as a trainee in November 1932, signing as a professional the following April. According to Holley & Chalk's "The Alphabet of he Saints" he "used his sturdy build to good effect and served the club well for five years".
His first appearance for the Division Two side was away to Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
on 1 December 1934 as a replacement for Stan Woodhouse
Stan Woodhouse
Stanley "Stan" Woodhouse was an English footballer who played initially as an inside forward and later as a half back with Bury and Southampton in the 1920s and 1930s.-Playing career:...
. He made a total of 13 appearances that season
1934-35 in English football
The 1934–35 season was the 60th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Arsenal become only the second team to win the League three consecutive times.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
as The Saints narrowly avoided relegation. The following season had a similar pattern with King replacing the aging Woodhouse, making 21 appearances.
In 1937–38
1936-37 in English football
The 1936–37 season was the 62nd season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
he lost his place briefly to Bobby Whitelaw, who had been signed by new manager George Goss
George Goss
George Goss is a former naval officer and football manager, who was manager of Southampton F.C. for the 1936-37 season.Goss served in the Royal Navy during World War I, and played football for the naval side. On leaving the navy, he joined the staff of Southampton F.C...
as a replacement for the now-retired Woodhouse. On regaining his place, King formed a useful partnership with fellow half-backs Bill Kennedy
Bill Kennedy (footballer)
William Kennedy was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a half back with various clubs in the 1930s.-Playing career:...
and Billy Kingdon
Billy Kingdon
William "Billy" Issacher Garfield Kingdon was an English footballer who played, as a wing-half, over 240 games for Aston Villa.-Aston Villa:...
, but again The Saints struggled to avoid relegation finishing 19th in the table. For the following season he again lost his place, this time to Welsh
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
international Alf Day who had arrived on a free transfer from Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
. Once King got back into the side in December he played in the remainder of the season's matches. He started the following season but after the match against West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
on 1 October 1938, he was replaced by the former Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
player Ray Parkin who had dropped back from his previous role as an inside forward
Inside forward
In football, the position of inside forward was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries. The inside forwards would support the centre forwards, running and making space in the opposition defence, and, as the passing game developed, supporting him with passes...
.
Although he was retained by Southampton, he returned to Plymouth in 1939 and had started work in the Devonport dockyards
HMNB Devonport
Her Majesty's Naval Base Devonport , is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy . HMNB Devonport is located in Devonport, in the west of the city of Plymouth in Devon, England...
before Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
found he was available and signed him on loan in July. The outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
prevented him making any appearances for Darlington.
Career after football
During the war he joined the Royal Air ForceRoyal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
serving in North Africa. After the war he returned to Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
and became a prison
Her Majesty's Prison Service
Her Majesty's Prison Service is a part of the National Offender Management Service of the Government of the United Kingdom tasked with managing most of the prisons within England and Wales...
officer.