Legendary Altrincham FC player and manager John King has died.
Announcing the news this afternoon, the club said it was “terribly saddened” by the news.
A scaffolder by trade, King hailed from Kirkby in Liverpool and was once described as “looking like Brutus from Popeye”.
He started his career at Everton and Shrewsbury Town but first appeared at Moss Lane as a 21-year-old centre-back playing for Kirkby Town.
He had spells at Wigan Athletic and Northwich Victoria before being signed by then Robins manager Tony Sanders in 1977 for £3,500.
Terry Rowley, Joint Editor of The Robins’ Review, said: “His deeds are legendary, scoring the third goal at Wembley, to seal Altrincham’s first FA Trophy win, clashing with ‘Ossie’ Ardiles of Spurs in the FA Cup, leading the side to two back to back Alliance Premierships and saving the club from virtual extinction at the 11th hour.
“Every Altrincham fan has their favourite ‘Kingy’ memory (and let’s be honest there were plenty of them).”
King made over 200 appearances for the Robins, scoring 28 goals.
After going into management at South Liverpool, he took the helm at Moss Lane in 1984, leaving in 1986 after the FA Trophy success, but had two further spells in 1988 and 1994.
According to Rowley, he will “always be remembered at Moss Lane, a true Colossus and one worthy to stand in the pantheon of ‘Alty’ legends”.
Further tributes poured in on Twitter. @freddie_alty said “there would be no Altrincham without King”, @GVayro called him a “true legend” and Simon Tasker said he was “a big part of the history of the club”.
