When Altrincham splashed out £3,500 to sign John King from Northwich Victoria in November 1977, he was asked to help them win a Cheshire Senior Cup.
But, in the words of Robins' current co-chairman Bill Waterson, the uncompromising player made Tony Sanders' already good team, great.
Two Alliance Premier League titles, FA Trophy glory – as well as another Wembley final experience – and FA Cup history, Alty got a whole lot more than they could have imagined.
Tributes have been pouring in for the club icon following his sad passing.
“He was an absolute leader,” Waterson told The NLP. “He had a reputation and got sent off more than a few times! But he was also a very good footballer.
“I remember Bill Shankly, the Liverpool manager, actually sat in the Altrincham dug-out when we played at Anfield in 1981. He said of Kingy, ‘If he'd have been at Liverpool with me I'd have got him into the England team'.
History
“Kingy was an Evertonian but, obviously, he ran out onto the field at Anfield with his head swelling at words like that. He was an absolutely superb player.
“He did great stuff for Wigan too – he won the Northern Premier League and got to the FA Trophy final with them.
“He did great stuff with Northwich – they got to the FA Cup fourth round with him as captain and missed out on the Northern Premier League title on goal difference.
“When he was a manager he led South Liverpool to their most successful season in a long time. He managed Runcorn and they were flying high.”
NPL chairman Mark Harris recalls: “He epitomised that Altrincham team of the late 70s that absolutely dominated Non League football.”
Among Alty's FA Cup exploits was a famous battle with Spurs' Ossie Ardiles in their 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane in 1979.
Respect
“Straight from kickoff he just went up and floored him,” Waterson recalls. “Ardilles got up and punched him. After that they had the upmost respect for each other.
“We had a reunion and it was very clear they remembered each other. As he described the first minute clash: two world class players going for a 50/50 ball!”
King, uncle of Chesterfield's Jeff King, came back as manager in 1985-86 and led Alty to FA Cup victory at Birmingham City and back to Wembley to win the FA Trophy.
He returned to the Robins' dug-out in 1991 and nearly guided them to Conference title glory before, in 1994, returning to help avoid relegation – and another trip to White Hart Lane in the FA Cup third round the following season.
Later, he helped keep the club afloat by buying John Maunders' shares for £1.
King's funeral will be held at St Oswald's Church in Liverpool on March 2.
