Raymond King (15 August 1924 – 19 July 2014) was an English footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He made 278 league and cup appearances in an 11-year career in the Football League. He was the younger brother of Frank and George King.

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. After the war, he played for Leyton Orient, before injury again forced him out of the professional game. He spent time with Ashington, before making another comeback in May 1949, this time with Port Vale. 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. He won one cap for the England "B" team, and later went into management with non-League clubs Boston United, Poole Town and Sittingbourne. He later worked as a physiotherapist, and also spent time behind the scenes at Oxford United, Luton Town, Southampton.

Raymond King, the youngest of three brothers, was born in the Northumberland mining village of Radcliffe on 15 August 1924.^[3] The family were evicted from their colliery house after his father was suspected of instigating a miner's strike.^[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.^[5] At age eight, he moved with his family to the town of Amble, where his father had secured a position as a check weighman.^[6] After he left school at age 14, King began a five-year painter and decorator apprenticeship.^[7] Not long after the outbreak of World War II, he spent two years serving in the Home Guard, under the command of his father.^[8] He was enlisted into the army in December 1942.^[9] He served in the King's Own Royal Regiment, leading his comrades to remark that "he even has his own regiment!".^[2]

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.^[30] He later toured with the full England squad, but never won a senior cap. He instead sat on the bench as cover for Reg Matthews.^[31]

King managed Boston United from 1957 to 1960. The "Pilgrims" were elected to the Southern League from the Midland League in 1958. They finished third in 1958–59 and ninth in 1959–60. He departed York Street after former chairman Ernest Malkensen returned to the club and re-appointed former manager Ray Middleton.^[32] He then took charge at Poole Town, who had just released all but one of their first-team squad.^[33] He won one promotion with the "Dolphins", as they finished as runners-up of the Southern League Division One in 1961–62.^[34] He also led them to the First Round of the FA Cup, before they then took Watford to a replay following a 2–2 draw at Vicarage Road.^[35] In 1963, he left Poole after only being offered a one-year contract, and took the management post at Sittingbourne.^[36] However, he quickly left the "Brickies" after the club encountered trouble in paying his wages.^[37] King then coached at Oxford United under Arthur Turner.^[38] He gave pre-match massages to Ron Atkinson, who he stated had "the meatiest legs I had ever seen".^[39] King was offered the management position at Cambridge United, but a pay rise convinced him to stay at the Manor Ground.^[40] However, he was sacked by Turner for 'disloyalty' after he applied for the management position at Cardiff City.^[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.^[43] However, he fell out with Haslam, and left Kenilworth Road during the 1974–75 campaign.^[44] He later did scouting work for Southampton, though quit the role after finding his payment did not meet the costs of driving to watch the players he was scouting.^[45]

He married wife Norma in October 1949.^[46] They were one month off celebrating their golden wedding anniversary, when Norma died.^[47] Together they had a son, Gary, in 1951; he became an educator, who taught in Bermuda, New York, and Thailand.^[48]

After leaving Oxford, King dabbled in physiotherapy, and worked as a masseur at RAF Brize Norton.^[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 wife Norma would be giving the massage was erroneous.^[50] He later worked as a salesman, before becoming a P.E. instructor; in this capacity he taught aspiring cricketer Mark Austin, who went on to become a well-known journalist.^[51]

After leaving Luton, King was employed by the Department for Education as a painting and decorating supervisor for a government training programme.^[52] Returning to physiotherapy, he built up a list of clients, including John Lennon.^[17] As a physiotherapist in the early 1990s, he was accused of sexually assaulting a female patient, and cleared his name following a four-day trial. He released an autobiography, entitled Hands, Feet and Balls, of which only 1,500 copies were printed. In 2011, he released a second book, entitled To the End of the Road.^[53] He also wrote columns for the Bangkok Post^[54] and The Ambler,^[55] a newspaper based in his home town of Amble.

King died after a fall at his home in Bangkok, Thailand on 19 July 2014.^[54]

Source:^[56][57][58]

Port Vale

• Football League Third Division North: 1953–54^[59]

Poole Town

• Southern Football League First Division second-place promotion: 1961–62