He began his career with Newcastle United but spent World War II in the army and also had to contend with a catalogue of injuries.
He was in goal for the "Valiants" in one of the club's brightest periods, helping them to win the Third Division North title and to reach the FA Cup semi-finals in 1953–54.
[4] They briefly attempted to run a fish and chip shop, but had to give up the business when elder brother Frank accidentally burnt the house down.
[2] King began his career playing wartime football for Newcastle United, signing a contract of thirty shillings for every first-team appearance, plus a £10 signing-on fee.
[16] In goal for the "Seals" at Goodison Park, Everton's Tommy Lawton hit a penalty shot so hard that it broke King's right wrist.
[17] After his recovery, he continued to play for the "Magpies" in 1945, but again broke his wrist after punching the crossbar in an attempt to save a shot from Bradford Park Avenue's Len Shackleton.
[1] On his arrival King stated that The Old Recreation Ground was like 'some shanty town out west' and compared the dressing room to 'a dungeon', despite which somehow he 'felt completely at home'.
[1] King survived Ivor Powell's 'reign of terror' at the start of the 1951–52 season, and remained with the "Valiants" for the beginning of Freddie Steele's reign.
[24] The 1953–54 season was one of the most successful in Port Vale's history, as the club won the Third Division North title and reached the FA Cup semi-finals.
[1] King played all but one of Vale's 54 games that season, and was ably assisted by an 'Iron Curtain' defence consisting of Tommy Cheadle, Reg Potts, Stan Turner, and Roy Sproson.
[1] He achieved this despite playing the second half of the season with a chipped bone in his right knee, following a knock sustained in a defeat to Hartlepools United at Victoria Park.
He played the FA Cup defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane despite splitting open his hand.
[27] He featured 41 times in 1955–56,[1] despite spending a brief period on the sidelines after being 'pole-axed' at Filbert Street by Leicester City duo Arthur Rowley and Willie Gardner.
[1] King made one international appearance for England 'B' on 22 May 1954 when he played the first half in a 2–0 defeat by their Swiss equivalents before giving way to George Thompson at half-time.
[41] He made a return to the Football League in November 1971, when he was appointed youth team manager at Luton Town by Harry Haslam.
[42] His charges included future professionals Andy King, Alan Biley, Lil Fuccillo, and Dave Carr.
[49] He failed to find success as a private masseur in Poole, his only customer being a man who left after he discovered his belief that his wife Norma would be giving the massage was erroneous.
[51] After leaving Luton, King was employed by the Department for Education as a painting and decorating supervisor for a government training programme.