07 - Jeff King on Football, Coaching, and Career Highs and Lows

We're back!!!

Kicking off Season 2 with an exhilarating episode featuring Jeff King, Chesterfield’s dynamic defender. 

From non-league football to professional debut against West Ham at the Olympic Stadium, Jeff’s story is packed with grit, resilience, and passion. 

Discover his rise through the ranks, his coaching days at Active Soccer, and the highs and lows of his career, including his unforgettable moments at Wembley and the Carabao Cup. 

This is a must-listen for football fans, aspiring athletes, and sports enthusiasts!

If you liked this episode, and want to know more about Mark and his amazing organisation Active Sports Group, then follow him, and make sure to keep listening for more updates, discussions and sports related content!

Edited with finesse by Mike at Making Digital Real

Transcript

Mark Whitwood: 0:03

Welcome to Season Two, episode one of the active Journey podcast. In today's episode, I'm really pleased to be joined by Jeff King, a professional footballer whose journey from playing non league at the age of 20 and coaching active soccer changed overnight. Jeff's journey is nothing short of remarkable. With his debut being against West Ham at the Olympic Stadium to penalty misses at Wembley and playoff finals. It's an incredible journey. Join us as we delve into his career, his resilience and the lessons he's learned along the way. Okay, I'd like to welcome Jeff King to season two episode one of the active Journey podcast. Jeff, it's great to see how you doing. Yeah. Thanks for having me on.

Jeff King: 0:48

Very well. And I'm excited to tell people my story. Yeah, I can't wait to get into I was just thinking back to when it was we last saw each other and I think we, we think it's 2017. But I'm just gonna go back to 2016. When at the time you were coaching, that's how we first got to know each other. You were you were working across all the schools and delivering holiday camps as a football coach for active soccer. But at the time, playing non league football Tuesday, Thursday, Saturdays we were changing timetables to make sure you could fit it all in. Yeah, I ended up coming to watch it. Because we thought you're gonna get a 90 minutes or at least a start when you were playing for Ashton Maxfield town as it was then. And I remember me my dad speaking to you at halftime because you didn't start the game, did you? And that was sort of autumn 2016. And then the journey from there to now has just been incredible, isn't it? Really? Yeah, it's been a it's been a really, really good last seven, no, eight years. There'll be moments comfortable. There's no money invested in me. And they might be listed as podcasting, please only might think can be an arrogance. But to come from somebody's background and semi pro low we've hosted level two they've gone to highly one championship at Premier League club. I'm thinking a copy of with that. Yeah, in the same department. Yeah, wins. And they've just given him the loss of confidence then for the rest of the trial period. Yeah, you could see that because it just reflecting back to when we last caught up. You did call back into where we started out certainly active officers in there. I remember chatting with Tom, you mentioned as well they used to get on really well with when you when you left that physically, we could see that your body had changed as well a little bit from the time that you've been here in terms of the level of training that you've been doing. You know, you could see your body shape change so you you could see like how much you were going for

Mark Whitwood: 10:00

and the professionalism that you're putting in and we knew that from when you were here like if you're going to do something you always did anything here properly you went all in and you could just see that you're just embracing every day it look you're you look to be buzzing with the opportunity really yeah it was like you know at the time it was one football you know the other life the beam Pro two years and the other lives outside football we've got kids we've got to get home I didn't want to leave the training ground yeah like once I got that opportunity was like I'll be lost on the training pitch I'll be lost in the gym I'll I'll do anything to console to get some opportunity and my dad was a massive influence of privitar build up into football even when I got to 17 1819 When my friends were going out and doing whatever they're doing they're going on holiday together I still to this day I've never experienced like a lads holiday yeah because I've always been full fully committed to one on one to the day and we don't you say to me you'll get all that when you retire you'll you can go and watch it but notice at the end of it you can go part in if you want do whatever you want. Yeah, trust me he said you can he is really sure to make the most of it if you can't keep pay and say I didn't and

Jeff King: 11:09

I didn't ever want to let him down and told me you put a big reference for me I bought and I never wanted to get into Yeah, so I wanted to make a big big impact as soon as possible and I was fully committed to what I wanted to do. Yeah, and so I'm right in thinking at the time they Bolton were under a transfer embargo so you were probably pushing and knocking on the door to perhaps get a start or place in the in the first team squad but there was potentially a transfer issue was the in terms of like delaying that a little bit

Unknown: 24:36

I only went into Halifax on trial in the preseason. And obviously the Sami and Alex are played across the front three and then the back end last season we've transformed formation to like a 352. He tried to integrate one back in and that was a real opportunity for you to get consistent run of games as well wasn't it in the levels did you feel like they were going up all the time and they well supported club as well. Aren't they Halifax as well in that division really good club and really good people who were on it and get it get a decent enough fan base, Garmin have they have a nice stadium, you know, feel feels proper from going there. So I got a lot of game turn in the two in the two seasons and sort of where I started to make a bit of a reputation for example. Yeah, new ones and one was about what I could do. Which was for a callback Halifax to be fair, we have really good seasons, you close to promotion when you're knocking on the door. And we missed out on the playoffs on the last game of the season. But I really enjoyed the time there that our managers in town with Pete Wilde, who obviously as Dan kicked on, more recently being battle manager and got a really good guy with a Commonwealth foreign. He gave me the probably the non league conference platform. Yeah, this was established himself. And then after two good seasons, a big opportunity comes about the next move. I'm really excited to talk about this because I've have been watching from cheering you on from the sidelines here and seeing how both you and the football club have developed also with an interest in it because one of our active sport franchise is Jonathan Smith, which was caps in at Chesterfield on leaving as you arrived, but it was a great opportunity to join a massive club move you know big history and Chesterfields really well supported club and yeah that was the next move and yeah, how did you feel when that sort of phone call came? And you know Did you know much about Chesterfield was it Did you know straight away that you do want to go and sign that Yeah, so I went when I played Leeds Chesterfield it was called the town so obviously another good opportunity to see what their fan base were about or or anything like that. But I played at Chesterfield against them at their stadium and instantly when you see their same thing you think well this is this is proper and then when the opportunity when the the asked me to meet them and give me an opportunity to sign a contract that was no brainer rarely because there's a massive COVID massive ambitions to get back where the where the she'll be for that size. And then it was when I'd mentioned it to me daddy was like well Chesterfield big club, you know, it was when the preseason come about and we had our preseason friendlies and the funds would enter realise and for a while yeah, this is this has meant for this level of specially to get the funds we're getting the stage and we had just everything just a couple of notches I could see that they took to you as well, the fan base pretty quickly became a bit of a living legend. I'm sure there's many of them that are disappointed that you're not still there now. But in terms of like that, that journey. Some of the experiences that you had in the team had were were massive when the you've now really missed out on the playoffs. A playoff final. You've won the league, you've ticked a lot of boxes here you've played in FA Cup fixtures at Stamford Bridge. There's so many highs and lows but I don't know if we were just to pick out some some of those moments for you, which was the sort of the most satisfying was there. It's garbage promotion, because I always said like, I have no little golden beard and my first goal I've said this on many events interviews is I want to be part of the team that gets Chesterfield button Football League, that that's what I want to do. And this year, as on a personal level, I didn't play as many games and probably the goals are so successful as I like to to but to still play 25 games in the promotion season and achieve that goal. Yeah, it was it was probably a little bit like a bit of a weight off your shoulders you are for like, I've done it. Yeah, what I set out to do, because the expectation of when you play for a club like that is really high and when stuffs not gone right, you will receive a lot of criticism, but that's what happens when you have a top block. Yeah. And but the funds rarely very good people. Yeah, I can see they there's all sorts of kinky songs coming out in in two seasons previous. Which credit to you and the football club in terms of the mental resilience side of things because men's professional sport can be mentally demanding and challenging and the pressures of the crowd and the expectations but having missed out on promotion after long seasons at the playoff stage is really hard, isn't it and then you know to process that and then come back and start again and then do it again and then go a step closer and If we just those two seasons, I know you've contributed a lot with assists and some spectacular goals, we can pick out your favourite in a minute. But there was one message as well that probably stood out. I was watching at home on the TV and you stepped up in the playoff final and bravely took a penalty, didn't you? What did that feel like? Even just to? Well forget the penalty, but just get into Wembley as well. I mean, that is everybody's dream, like as a kid when you're running around the on the playground and stuff. And, you know, we see that every day with the kids that we work with. They want to play at Wembley, you've fulfil many dreams here, you've played at the Olympic Stadium. But next on this journey here at Wembley Stadium, what was that like? So obviously, when, when we finished that year, we were finished the last time so we get instantly in the semi final level, we bought ourselves a home full out we're gonna get to Wembley, so that's always in the back of your mind obviously, we'd be probably in the semi final and then you're just counting down the days until you want to be there and you know, we drove down the day before could you keep focused I mean, he was just the lads you must have been in the day before you arrive and you get to see everything because obviously you've got to know the environment you're playing in when you do when you want to tell me this thing like it's like the standings are just towering over here it's crazy the size once you're on that pitch and you've offline even while this was some size and then obviously on the day you build off to you you want to leave you want to get them to coach because you just want to get there and just enjoy the experience for that was really for me personal problems was walking out and obviously your face the garden. I let me mourn with that family friends, everyone was there and you know just just me mom and dad to see me play with me was probably for them but just that journey that you've been on Yeah, all the way all the highs, the lows, the time in Scotland and and all of a sudden, you know, Wembley, Wembley took me all around the country to play football and must have been so proud. Oh, you will you will not be prouder than anyone in the stadium I think that was massive for me. And once the game kicked off, I forgot about everything. This was the 40 pitch and which obviously on the day we played really well but Notts County should have went up anyway. And then independents should hold back and say a little bit about themselves take a penalty and those lads in my team we were a lot younger than me and didn't have as much experience as me and I just felt like I had to step up and be one of the more experienced players in the group and take a penalty and take a bit of weight off their shoulders you probably didn't feel comfortable taking a policy like say that I missed we we didn't go up on the day it was obviously not a nice feeling at the time but you know, nothing for a reason and we knew after that game was quite a famous picture with authenticate after dependency shields or do we just lost them it was the shelf going around in the huddle was next year we'll go with a long doing and take this field and now we take this next year even writing say it in national leader see there's not a single team on Salacia who's lost in the player final and when the when the lead the money issues that has some gearing isn't it and that I'm keen to look at that and just chat about that with you because culture in you've been at a few different clubs is a certainly before you even got the professional opportunity. So you're seeing differences in management and cultures that are created. How how did that culture you know, come about at Chesterfield, I'm assuming like because you've been there for a while and when I was looking at the club from the outside you seem to be a big part of that in the dressing room. Was it coming from the management was it the lads in the team I you know to have some of those setbacks but then the ride and the journey that you ran I think the same season you played at Chelsea and had a really good FA Cup run. How did all that environment sort of keep building? Well to fail once once Paul calls are coming, obviously the big name football, first play in Korea and then obviously polygon managing wide was at Pompey and Chesterfield previously, were good. Once he come back to The Club. The whole environment changed again. It went up another notch and eat massive on sign and good lads before GO players got to be a good lots of faces in the changing room because one bad egg in Gmail can ruin the whole of vitamins and the players he brought in not that second season after we lost and lost in the final. We are like Well, Greg, massive and Tom Baylor played for the game for the championship the year before and dropped down to a conference play poker with Michael Jacobs. And we played up we can play dumb moves throughout. We have rarely rarely A good name because lots and I'm the environments he creates it was was a winning environment training was really really intense leaders people have been cuts in Did you cut in the club was wasn't one game area trophy yeah and that was obviously just the season gone that was a really nice moment because I was about five as it were non facing players and the rest of it you've seen plays and you know it made me cut down the day and it was nice to saw that helped me on that streak to the game and we play the full strength softball team on the day it would be the father one Yeah, and that was close to the young lads but it was really nicely for us because those long lads in any made the debut scored Faceball for Chesterfield. So that was really nice and you have mentioned them that day is established first team player yeah that that that winning mentality even any athlete trophy with your words and every come from the top you know from from the from the gaffer to the staff and and a volunteer with the club. Yeah. So before we get to sort of the promotion winning final game of the season, what standout goal I think I know which one you're gonna say here as the Ben few because anytime I saw highlights there was goals from all angles, left foot right foot 20 yards 30 yards enough the bar free kicks, you name it. Jeff Kingsguard in Chesterfield and they wander the crowd fell in love with you because every time you pick the ball up inside there after probably thought it's gonna have a go with it I'm sure he scored one in the in the playoffs. semis didn't do that it was yeah, that was a player cause a farm that was aware Halifax yeah I got some booze that game and building off that game we had a terrible and Halifax were absolutely flying every single person and only in sports he was against us. BC sports were probably against Chesterfield on and I didn't think that nobody expected it. And then yeah, we turned up and I scored the winning goal which is unbelievable. That was a great that was one of the favourite golf with me favourite which I've said to every single person is myself and left was a goal and to the whole occasion we had 10 Men, it'd be the rain was coming down onto the lights, propped it up with fear just felt and then to squander money God will await the way up and send the spireites Faithful mentor for the people who haven't seen it if you got a chance to plug get on YouTube self and three to Jeff King test. I'm not to beat yourself up too much, but it's worth a look. Now I should obviously then this season's ended up fulfilling what you want it to achieve with the football club as well. But for the football club itself, they've been knocking on the door they've that's compete against the likes of Wrexham, who you narrowly missed out and promotion to who I'm assuming that a bigger budget than Chesterfield and you know you came up against one of your old managers they're Notts County as well another big team. This is some big clubs Stockport county you know, there's a lot a lot of big teams in the National League but eventually Chesterfield have a secure promotion so they'll be starting the new season as in lead to but you the promotion use points and points and points ahead for most of the season and then you kept sort of delaying it like a draw here draw there. Finally it was at home so it was probably meant to be you started and that was a day probably Chesterfield for many young and older and I'll never forget what was that day like? Yeah, amazing. And I hadn't had the greatest season personally. But enough to play in that game. The one what will always be remembered in terms of what what they want to start in that game and it was on telly it was just like, honestly, the whole fiddling around the place was built last that was amazing, you know, and then as soon as that final whistle went in there pitch invasion it was just well, it was it was like a big relief for everyone involved and we knew what had to happen that year that was our biggest opportunity and when you speak around town and annual do say like, you'll go down in history and you know what, maybe many years from now it'll be a reunion, gives you goosebumps a little bit and I'm sure there will be a special and it was amazing, amazing day and then definitely an amazing couple of nights as well after. I did see that when you're given Jackery Alicia room for the celebrations. I know it's great, but in turn like Chesterfield now, I know you're not there for the for the lead to journey but your time at Chesterfield how's it shaped you not just as a footballer, but as a person if you did experience living away from home as a footballer up in Scotland, but this this was a proper move for you, wasn't it? It's worked out over 100 games, a big club, you know, how did that impact you on and off the pitch? Well, first of all, you know, when you move to a new environment, it's not it's not easy to joson AF, Afghanistan writer on straightaway, you know, funds talk to me, I took the course straightaway, I, I always felt that, you know, a non negotiable work with the cool boys, I had to be number one. And by game, which we all love, you know, work hard, and people can see that, that you're trying your best, even if you're not performing well. And I'm not really any lower respect. And that's why I think I've got a really good relationship with the fans and people at the club and around the town. And yet, it's a really, really great place to live with some great people. And I'm forever grateful for for the opportunity in the three years I had, I don't know, it's Yeah, that's great. And so inspiring. And, you know, I want to ask, really, for listeners, sort of two bits of advice fairly from your guests, to our youngest listeners, and from primary school onwards. What advice would you give to young footballers who are looking up to you and dream of a career in professional football? I honestly believe it's never too late. You know, so I think it you know, an academy when you friends or academies or 56789 10, even up to 16 1718, don't don't think the opportunity is gone, because the football pyramid that we have in England is the best, the best in the world. And there's massive, massive opportunities, even when you get to 1920. So it's a case of, if you really can take got it got a chance in hot pursuit and giving it all closing, you're giving it all and if it doesn't work out, at least you can hold your hands up and say, I gave him best shot. And it didn't work. You know, the biggest regret is once with my friends who didn't give it their best shot is of a show that a lot more of a woman went up there or the window went on the slides already. We're not whatever it will be, and give everything you've got. And if it didn't work out, at least you can hold your hands up and be proud and say that I gave everyone a cannon. Yeah, it's definitely never too late as you've just learned from my experience. Yeah. And that's what you say you'd give that same message because your story is so inspiring to many footballers who are out there playing at the moment who were signing for clubs in non league as well would you know you were currently playing non League and working as a football coach. So to people and players that are there at the moment, would you would you give the same advice like keep keep working towards your dream? There is a big you never know when that big break might happen? Yeah, definitely. Now as the game progresses, you know is the pediments getting us more and more you know, people people people are trying to buy players from from lowly closer, non League clubs because this does many many downs and there's you know, to be picked out and that's what we were planning on tournament for because for that reason, you know, the place progress I played on lots of play and now even at Chesterfield, Halifax will play in the league. Now, the good news in Ligue one clubs and championship clubs and yeah, just because you're, you're playing the evil stick team, or, or even lower, don't think that you can't progress because honestly, within 12 months, things can change. Very quickly, as you've seen, in my scenario, absolutely. Well, coming towards sort of the end of the podcast now, we always ask the guests as a as an organisation active with values driven in what we teach and work with young people aspiring to offer like fun, healthy, inclusive activities, helping children build their resilience and confidence. There are three values to you, sort of either as a person or as a footballer in some of the teams that you've been part of that that are important to you that you expect of of yourself and those around you. Yeah, I think respect is massive. And whether you're a first team player, you've seen player, get a chef, you sold the tickets, you the manager, everybody for me, I've got to be treated the same. Because you're all in it together. You know, you're all trying to go in the same direction. You're all waiting for each other. No one's working against each other. So you've got to, everyone's got to be, for me respectful. It's fixed. First of all. I'm a big one to discipline as well, you know, everyone's on board with what you're trying to do eating the right things, sleep and rights, training rights, looking after the body. stuff all come together, you know, stuff doesn't just happen by lock. You know, it comes together when when things are done properly. Absolutely. Consistency is you consistently a discipline on your systems, any discipline sorry. stuff will come together. And then too rarely for me yet, I stuff. If I'm a future cup, a cup of coffee, I'd like to implement them into my dressing room or the future cultural manager. And then non negotiables. Yeah, if you don't like them, off you go, you've got you're not possible I want to do. And your third friend, maybe that might have different views on things, but I think a lot of people will agree with me in any walk of life. They're really, really important. Yeah. One more, there's one more Yeah. Happy to enjoy it. Yeah, I absolutely love it. But you said that that's one that people miss out because they think that you've got to always have like, sort of that strict. And you've got you've got to have an enjoyment. We're always saying that, obviously to the kids do the programmes. And I emphasise that the other week when I was doing a talk, but yeah, it doesn't matter whether you're starting out, or you're playing in the Euros. Now, if you're not having fun in what you're doing. Yeah, it's got it's got to be an enjoyment factor. Yeah. Because, like you're saying, if you don't say no to a game of five or side walk and football 11 Assad kids football to go, I'm not here for a good time. Yeah, you go, because you enjoy it. That's the first thing you do. So you've got to volunteer demonstrations and really enjoy the enjoy. And believe in the picture. Smile. Yeah, I get that you don't win every game or you might lose or you might perform really well. You've got to take an enjoyment factor either and you know, with football what's really good is the next day you can go and become open up another game up so you'll find the balls again straightaway. Yeah, absolutely. So what what finally what what can we expect from Jeff King next? We're excited to see where where Jeff ends up? Well, we've been enjoying a bit of downtime, you've got good, you've got a good time at the moment, by the way, you've been on holiday, enjoy yourself and get back to work. Now when I'm look, I'm excited for the opportunity. Wherever that might leave me, you know me pathway. And I'm really excited. But I can't wait to get started. Because now it's time for preseason where, you know, that's where the hardware starts. And that's where you start to see different personalities and different players in the squad and stuff and meeting new people. And I'm really excited with that. So hopefully there'll be an announcement soon where when I go home, no, I'm not gonna differentiate myself. Yeah. Yeah, I don't think we're far from that. It's almost sort of brilliant. And listeners if they want to follow Jeff on social media you on social media, so they can be on Twitter, or acts as it is now and you want to find out. You've enjoyed listening to Jeff's story. It's been so inspiring and great Avenue on as a guest today. And if you want to keep continuing to follow Jeff and see where his next move is then yeah, Jeff, I've absolutely loved catching up with him. A it's been brilliant. And yeah, I'm really excited for the new season and watching what happens because no one ever it's gonna be a good one. Yeah, definitely is gonna be a good one. And thanks for having me on. And I'm really happy that I get to tell the story especially like yourself, because you sort of you've seen that escalate from what it was and you seem fair some of political change and it's a great way to target people who listen might take a little bit on board rather than thinking Oh 1111 And I'm gonna motivate some people thinking with email or, boy, yeah. Can you show humble with a whole show? Yeah. Nice. Well, good luck.