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Ledley King – The One Club Man

By on April 7, 2014

Cast your mind back to a hazy Spring afternoon in 2012. Queens Park Rangers consigned Tottenham to a fifth Premier League defeat in nine games at Loftus Road. The result severely dented Tottenham’s hopes of Champions League football and was a huge disappointment for all Spurs supporters. But something far more important occurred that day which everyone was blissfully unaware of. It was to be the last time that cult hero Ledley King would grace a football pitch in a professional capacity.

In a career which spanned thirteen years Ledley became a record holder, Wembley winner and even managed to scale the dizzy heights of Champions League football. But what’s truly remarkable about Ledley’s career is the fact that each and every one of his 323 career appearances were for one club – Tottenham Hotspur.

It all began on the playing fields of east London at Senrab FC. King was a standout performer in a youth team which has produced an illustrious list of talented footballers such as Jermain Defoe, John Terry and Sol Campbell. In recent years, Senrab FC have fallen on hard times financially. Speaking at the time, Ledley said: “The thought of the club folding is a worrying one. I owe Senrab a lot and it would be a shame if this important part of the community was no longer there.” It’s a testament to Ledley’s character that he remains grateful to the team which provided him with the platform to become a Premier League superstar.

Ledley’s hard work as a youngster was rewarded in July 1996 when he signed on as a trainee with Tottenham Hotspur. It was the be the first and last contract he would sign in his entire career. After impressing for the U19s, Ledley was finally given his first team debut by George Graham in May 1999. The opposition, Liverpool. The venue, Anfield. The result, a 3-2 defeat. It could hardly have been a more daunting way to begin your professional career! A year later Ledley made history by becoming the quickest goalscorer in Premier League history, netting after 9.7 seconds against Bradford City – a record that still stands to this day.

In the early days Ledley found himself operating in the unfamiliar central midfield role and was by no means the hottest prospect in town. That accolade was reserved for a certain Sol Campbell. Campbell, who was Spurs captain at the time, controversially moved to bitter rivals Arsenal on a free transfer in 2001. It was a transfer which fueled hatred amongst the Spurs faithful. But as one door closes another opens. Campbell’s departure allowed King to become a mainstay at the heart of the Spurs defense, and it wasn’t long before England came calling. In 2002, Ledley made his debut for the Three Lions in a 2-1 loss to Italy. Just a year later he was appointed Tottenham’s club captain and represented Sven Goran Eriksson’s men in Euro 2004. England faced France in the group stages and Ledley came up against the lethal goalscorer Thierry Henry who rated King as the “only guy who doesn’t hold players” and can “get the ball off you without you even noticing”. High praise indeed.

Ledley soon established himself as a fan favorite and was given his very own song to boot! Arsenal fans found out in no uncertain terms where they could stick Sol Campbell… Comparisons were made between King and legendary England center half Bobby Moore due to their composure on the ball, strength in the air and exquisite tackling ability. It is rarity for modern day defenders to tick all of those boxes. Whilst Moore won the World Cup with England, Ledley only managed a solitary appearance. That came in a 1-1 draw against USA in 2010.

Football can be a cruel game and Ledley found that out in the most brutal fashion. A chronic knee injury restricted playing time and limited progress on the field. Ledley was averaging fewer than 25 games a season and it seemed as though he was spending more time on the treatment table than the football field. Despite injury troubles King persevered and learnt to adapt his game. Memorable moments include a fine challenge on Arjen Robben and headed goals against Arsenal in the North London Derby. However, Ledley’s crowning glory undoubtedly came in 2008 when he captained Spurs to a victory over Chelsea in the League Cup final at Wembley. King went on to describe the win as a “dream come true”.

Ledley later represented Spurs in Europe’s elite competition, the Champions League – the pinnacle in any footballer’s club career. Former Spurs manager Harry Redknapp described Ledley as an “absolute freak” for being able to play each week without training. Unfortunately, Ledley’s body wasn’t able to sustain the demands of Premier League football for much longer. By 2012, injury problems worsened and match fitness became a real issue.

Ledley’s decision to hang up his boots didn’t come as a huge surprise to many. For years he had defied doctors advice and potentially put his body at risk for the team he is devoted to. With the lure of money and guaranteed success elsewhere at teams such as Manchester City and Real Madrid, one club men are a rare breed in the modern game. Ledley may not have won numerous trophies but he certainly won the hearts of every Spurs supporter across the land. His desire, commitment and loyalty is something we may not see for a very long time.

Recently, Tottenham announced that Ledley’s testimonial will take place on 12th May at White Hart Lane. One final chance to say thank you to a living legend. It’s sure to be an emotional night.

Until next time…

(Tickets for the match are available on the club’ official website at http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/king-of-the-lane-040414/)

About Callum Haymes

Aspiring sports journalist • Spurs ST holder. Personal blog at http://callumhaymes.blogspot.co.uk/