TOM KING admitted his new-found status as a world record holder is beyond his wildest dreams.
The Newport goalkeeper scored straight from a goal kick in his side’s 1-1 League Two draw at Cheltenham on Tuesday.
Newport keeper Tom King launches the goal kick which sent him into the record booksCredit: Sky Sports
King celebrates the 105-yard strikeCredit: Alamy Live News
King’s strike has been officially confirmed by Guinness World Records as the longest goal ever scored in a competitive match. It came from 96.01 metres (105 yards).
The previous record was held by King’s former Portsmouth team-mate Asmir Begovic who scored from 91.9 m (100.50 yds) for Stoke against Southampton in 2013.
King revealed he’d rub Begovic’s nose in it after making history.
He said: “I’m obviously absolutely delighted because it’s not something I intentionally set out to do.
“I’m sure it will be talked about for a long time to come.
“I’m proud and I’m sure my family will be extremely proud too. I’ll have to drop Asmir a message to send my commiserations, but in all honesty it’s different territory for me because I never dreamt of being in the books you get for Christmas every year.
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“Hopefully I might actually read it if I get one for Christmas this year. I’m delighted and hopefully no one beats it for a long time now so I can show my grandkids!”
Asmir Begovic congratulated after his 100-yard goal for Stoke against Southampton in 2013 – the previous record holderCredit: Action Images – Reuters
King joked he’d need a goal bonus in his next contract after his strike.
He said: “I’ve got a clean-sheet bonus but no goal bonus. My agent texted me after the game so I’ll have to ask him to get me one!
“The goal wasn’t expected or something I was going for but it is something we practise.
“We do go a bit longer sometimes and we noticed the wind early in the warm-up.
“It took a lucky bounce and landed over the goalkeeper.
“I didn’t celebrate too much — it’s the goalkeeper’s union.
“I even apologised to him (Cheltenham keeper Josh Griffiths) after the game and said sorry. I’ve not meant it and if he’d done the same to me then I’d hope he would have apologised — the bounce was unbelievably lucky.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
