Jeff King

We profile the career of Jeff King who played for both Sheffield United and Wednesday as well as Derby County, Portsmouth and Walsall...

DoB: 9 November 1953 PoB: Fauldhouse (Scotland) Position: Midfield
Career: Albion Rovers (1972-74), Derby County (1974-77), Nott's County (loan) (1975-76), Portsmouth (loan) (1975-76), Walsall (1977-79), Sheffield Wednesday (1979-81, 65 (3) + 7), Sheffield United (1981-83, 41 (2) + 5), Chesterfield (1983, 1 (0) + 0).

His football career started north of the border with Albion Rovers in 1972-73 season in Scotland. He joined Derby County in 1974, though it wasn't until he joined Nott's County on loan in January 1976 where he made his Football League debut.

During the same 1975-76 season he went to Portsmouth on loan before he eventually made his Rams debut in their 6-2 victory over Ipswich Town in April 1976. In November 1977 he stayed in the Midlands area when Fellows Park, Walsall became his new home. He made himself a regular at the Saddlers club but couldn't stop them from relegation to Division Four at the end of the 1978-79 season.

Following Walsall's relegation he signed for Sheffield Wednesday in August 1979, he proved to be another shrewd buy by manager Jack Charlton. He played a huge part in the Owls promotion from Division Three that season and scored one of four goals past Sheffield United in that famous 'Boxing Day' game.

King was then allowed to leave Hillsborough following a successful consolidation the following season. He joined the Blades for free in December 1981, Sheffield United, in Football League Division Four won the league in 1982 with King providing a vital role in that team.

Some important goals were netted that season including a late match winner against Crewe Alexandra, and one-of-four in the epic game that secured promotion against Peterborough United. The Blades released King in November 1982 after personal problems stopped him from playing but was re-signed a month later.

On New Year's Day 1983 he scored against Leyton Orient, this his first game back and later that season he scored a magnificent goal against Reading at Elm Park. At the end of the 1982-83 season he was released where he was given a trial by Chesterfield but only made one appearance.

Edited: 17 April 2010