John King (Scottish footballer)

John King

King while a Partick Thistle player.
Personal information
Full name	John King[1]
Date of birth	25 November 1888[2]
Place of birth	Dykehead, Scotland
Date of death	9 August 1984(1984-08-09) (aged 95)
Place of death	Law, Scotland
Height	5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[3]
Position(s)	Inside right
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
	Renfrew
0000–1910	Shotts United
1910–1913	Partick Thistle	78	(11)
1913–1915	Newcastle United	33	(6)
1915–1916	Dykehead
1915–1916	→ Third Lanark (loan)	14	(2)
1916–1917	Motherwell	29	(3)
1917	→ Newcastle United (guest)
1917–1918	Partick Thistle	30	(4)
1918–1920	Hibernian	11	(2)
1920–1921	Newcastle United	21	(2)
1921–1922	Dykehead
1921–1922	→ Clydebank (loan)
1922	Clydebank
1922–1923	Dykehead
1923–1926	Clydebank
International career
1910	Scotland Juniors	1	(0)
1912	Scottish League XI	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

John King (25 November 1888 – 9 August 1984) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as an inside right in the Scottish League and the Football League, most notably for Partick Thistle and Newcastle United respectively.

Career

An inside right, King had a long career in the Scottish and the English leagues and played top-division football for Partick Thistle (two spells), Newcastle United (two spells),[3] Third Lanark, Motherwell, Hibernian and Clydebank.[1][4] In 1915 he played a full league match for Newcastle as goalkeeper after regular Bill Mellor was injured, keeping a clean sheet.[3]

At international level, King was capped by Scotland Juniors and came into consideration for a full cap,[5] evidenced by his selection for the Home Scots v Anglo-Scots trial match in 1913.[6] He made one appearance for the Scottish League XI in 1912.[7]

Personal life

King served as a private on home service with the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) during the First World War.[8] His brother Alex (17 years older, leading him to be mistakenly described as an uncle)[6] was a Scottish international footballer. Both had several short spells with hometown team Dykehead between engagements with more prominent clubs.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Partick Thistle	1909–10[4]	Scottish Division One	3	0	0	0	3	0
	1910–11[4]		21	3	1	0	22	3
	1911–12[4]		22	6	2	0	24	6
	1912–13[4]		32	2	2	0	34	2
	Total		78	11	5	0	83	11
Newcastle United	1913–14[9]	First Division	15	1	0	0	15	1
	1914–15[9]		18	5	7	2	25	7
	Total		33	6	7	2	40	8
Third Lanark (loan)	1915–16[4]	Scottish Division One	14	2	—		14	2
Motherwell	1916–17[10]	Scottish Division One	29	3	—		29	3
Partick Thistle	1917–18[4]	Scottish Division One	30	4	—		30	4
	Total		108	15	5	0	113	15
Hibernian	1918–19[4]	Scottish Division One	11	2	—		11	2
Newcastle United	1919–20[9]	First Division	9	0	—		9	0
	1920–21[9]		12	2	0	0	12	2
	Total		54	8	7	2	61	10
Clydebank	1921–22[4]	Scottish Division One	22	4	—		22	4
Career total			238	34	12	2	250	36

References

1. Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. p. 164. ISBN 978-1905891610.
2. John King, The Thistle Archive. Retrieved 31 December 2021
3. "John King". toon1892. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
4. Litster, John. Record of Pre-War Scottish League Players. Norwich: PM Publications.
5. "Scotland Junior Internationals". Scottish Football Historical Archive. Archived from the original on 5 May 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
6. "Trials and Triallists. | Anglo-Scots Match". The Scottish Referee. 21 March 1913. p. 2. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
7. "John King – Scotland Football League Record from 14 Oct 1912 to 14 Oct 1912 clubs – Partick Thistle". www.londonhearts.com. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
8. "Newcastle United Footballers in the Great War". North East War Memorials Project. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
9. "John King". 11v11.com. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
10. "John King". motherwellnet. Retrieved 10 November 2019.