Full name Derek Albert King Name Derek King | Role Footballer | |
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Date of birth (1929-08-15)August 15, 1929 Date of death 16 June 2003(2003-06-16) (aged 73) Died June 16, 2003, Huntingdon, United Kingdom | ||
Place of death Huntingdon, England Playing position | ||
Derek Albert King (15 August 1929 – 16 June 2003) was an English professional footballer who played for Tottenham Hotspur and Swansea City.
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Biography
King attended the Glynn Road School, Hackney. After leaving school aged 14 he trained as a tie maker and played his early football for Alexander Palace football club in 1945. King joined Tottenham Hotspur as a junior in the season of 1945–46. After completing two years National Service serving with the Grenadier Guards he returned to Tottenham and in 1950 he became a full-time player. He made his senior debut in a 1-0 home win against Fulham on 20 August 1951. The central defender made 19 appearances for the Spurs before transferring to Swansea City in August 1956. A resolute player he featured in five matches with the Vetch Field club in 1956 before a recurring knee injury ended his senior career in December 1956. King attempted a come back at Ted Ditchburn's Romford in 1959.
Post football–career
After retiring from football King used his skills as a tie maker when he was employed by Spurs legend Dave Mackay at his tie business. He later worked as a school caretaker. At one time he lived adjacent to White Hart Lane at Paxton Road and maintained a close interest in football up to his death at a Huntingdon nursing home in 2003.