393 George King

Biography

Centre forward George King joined the Tigers in March 1948 at the dawning of the Raich Carter era, with league titles, Cup runs and gigantic attendances all to come. Unfortunately George was not a significant part of those successes despite his pedigree (he signed from Newcastle United) and his impressive physique. King filled in for Norman Moore at centre forward for the last two games of the 1947/48 season, which enabled Raich to have a look at the six foot Northumbrian. He was perhaps not so impressed, as when matters resumed in August 1948 Moore was back in the centre forward role. King played once more for City, again filling in for Moore in October 1948, but left the club in the April 1949.

Born in Warkworth, an ancient fortified village on the Northumbrian coast where the River Coquet flows into the North Sea, in his teenage years King lived in Amble a few miles down the coast and worked as a grocer’s apprentice. He was enlisted with the Royal Air Force during World War Two, for whom he played forces football. He also escaped death when a boat he was sailing on was attacked by a submarine missile. When the War ended King joined Newcastle United and he was quickly introduced to the Magpies’ first XI, playing twice in September 1946, but the presence of more experienced forwards prevented further first team exposure and he moved to Hull City in March 1948. King was also an accomplished all-round cricketer in this era, spending summers playing for Amble in Northumberland.

King joined Port Vale in April 1949 and finally broke his senior scoring duck, netting five times for the Valiants in ten appearances. In February 1950 he was on the move again to Barrow on the Cumbrian Coast and in two years he scored 38 times in 87 appearances in all competitions, scoring 20 goals in 1950/51 season to prove himself a productive striker in the professional game. In January 1952 he moved to Bradford City for a £4,500 fee, at the time a record fee paid between Division Three North clubs, where his scoring record persisted (9 goals in 23 starts) then in October 1952 he headed to Kent where he played a season for Gillingham. In June 1954 he joined King’s Lynn, who had just been promoted to the Midland League after winning the league and cup double in the Eastern Counties League. In June 1955 he moved to Ely City where he was appointed player-coach, quickly becoming first team manager and winning the Peterborough & District League title at the first attempt. His Ely side reached the FA Cup First Round in 1956 where they were beaten 2-6 by Torquay United. After two years at the Robins’ helm he retired to become a chiropodist in Ely, where he died in February 2002.

Details

Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 5 January 1923, Warkworth
Hull City First Game: 24 April 1948, Crewe Alexandra A (Division Three North), 25 years, 110 days old
Hull City Final Game: 2 October 1948, Doncaster Rovers A (Division Three North), 25 years, 271 days old

Clubs

Newcastle United (1946-1948), Hull City (1948-1949), Port Vale (1949-1950), Barrow (1950-1952), Bradford City (1952), Gillingham (1952-1954), King’s Lynn (1954-1955), Ely City (1955-1957)

Hull City Record

Career: 3 apps, 0 goals

George King
SeasonLGE
App
LGE
Gls
FAC
App
FAC
Gls
FLC
App
FLC
Gls
EUR
App
EUR
Gls
OTH
App
OTH
Gls
1947/4820--------
1948/4910--------

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