Image: Newport County AFC
By Lee Clow
17 February 2021 | EFL League Two
For goalkeeper Tom King, January 19 2021 will forever live long in the memory.
The Newport Country shot stopper joined an elite group of goalkeepers, as he scored his first ever goal against Cheltenham Town. From a goal kick, King managed to catch out his opposite number, Josh Griffiths, and score from an incredible record distance of 96.01 metres. The Welshman’s effort has now been included in the Guinness World Records for the longest goal in football and King himself has been awarded with ‘Screwfix’s’ Moment of the Month for January.
Speaking on his goal, King said: “Of course I didn’t mean it, it’s a complete freak”
“To be honest I was looking to pick up Padraig Amondit who was quite close to the goal, but obviously he missed the ball completely, which thank God he did”
“I was absolutely unbearable for about a week, I was almost intolerable just because of how happy, so yeah it was a special moment, but I can confirm I didn’t mean it.”
Following his goal, King is still in disbelief that he is now in the book of Guinness World Records: “It’s feels crazy” said King.
“Obviously you get the books for Christmas every year, it’s my nan’s favourite present to me for Christmas normally, and now to be there and to be a part of it and still be in contact with those people that run it, is a special moment and one when I’ll cherish forever”
“Also, it gives me the easiest Christmas present for everyone ever, so I’m just going to sign a few of the books and give it to family and friends.” joked King.
The Welshman also spoke about the man he clinched the record from, Asmir Begovic: “I know Asmir from my younger days at Portsmouth when I was a trainee, and he’s got tremendous strike on him as well, but I am a bit gutted that I had to beat him, but he took it well.”
Despite his goalscoring heroics, King has his head down and is focused on helping Newport chase promotion, as their goalkeeper.
“Unfortunately, managers generally pick goalkeepers for how many they keep out, not by how many they can put in”
“I’m now just going to focus on the goalkeeping part and hopefully that will take my career to the next step and help us climb the league table again to a position that we were already in.”
Despite seeming like an uncommon event, there is a whole list of goalkeepers who have actually scored in a game(s). Below are five names that are part of this elite group.
Peter Schmeichel:
As well as being on the greatest goalkeepers that there has ever been, Schmeichel appeared to have a good eye for goal as well. The Dane netted 11 times in his career with his first coming against Rotor Volgograd for Manchester United in the 1995 UEFA Cup. Schmeichel also became the first goalkeeper in the Premier League to score a goal, when he scored against Everton for Aston Villa.
Tim Howard:
Tim Howard has had an amazing career for both club and country and certainly one of his standout moments came when he was at Everton. In the 2011/12 Premier League season, the American scored his first professional goal against Bolton Wanderers. From a clearance, Howard managed to catch out opposite goalkeeper, Adam Bogdan, with the help of the wind to become the fourth number one to score in the Premier League.
Brad Friedel:
As with Howard, Brad Friedel is another American goalkeeper who has had an amazing career and has even scored in the Premier League. The now retired shot stopper scored his only ever goal against Charlton Athletic in February 2004. From a corner kick, Friedel managed to latch on and turn home the ball in the 90th minute to equalise for his club at the time, Blackburn Rovers.
Asmir Begovic:
Until King’s goal in January 2021, Asmir Begovic held the record for the longest football goal. In 2013, the then Stoke City goalkeeper scored after 13 seconds against Southampton at a distance of 97.5 yards, after his long kick downfield deceived Artur Boruc. His goal earned him a place in the 2015 Guinness World Records. Speaking about his goal, Begovic has shown sympathy towards his opposite number as his long ball ‘got caught in the wind’ and ‘took a wicked bounce’.
Rogério Ceni:
If you were to look at Rogério Ceni’s statistics, you would never think that he was a goalkeeper. During his career, Ceni scored a spectacular 131 goals, making him the goalkeeper to have scored the most goals in the history of football. The Brazilian has also scored the most penalties (69) and the most free kicks among all goalkeepers (61).
To find the full list of goalkeepers who have scored a goal, click here.
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