Coaches Profile : Jason King

Name : Jason King

Age : 41 (the old boy of the team!)

Birth town :  Romford

Profession : Program Manager for Automotive Supplier

Family : Married to Tina King with three children Joshua (6), Brandon (5) and Holly (3 months!)

What football team do you support?: Never really been a hardened football supporter of a specific team, if I had to pick one I would say Arsenal in the Premiership or Southend United as my local team.

Football background: I was regretfully never really given the opportunity to play much football as a child other than at school. My Dad was not really a sporty sort of person and never encouraged / supported us much. Post school I tried playing 5-a-side for a while but having been doing karate for over 25 years I found it difficult to control the elbows and the sweeps!!! Figured best I stop before someone gets hurt.

Most memorable football moment:  Oddly enough I would say my most memorable moment was watching my youngest son Brandon watching his first ever football match at Southend United. He is usually so quiet and reserved but was yelling “common you shrimpers” and “ses, sea, seasiders” at the top of his voice. He was getting looks from spectators on the adjacent side of the stadium as he was so loud!

Who will win in Rio? Holland (I have to say them as they are always my Plan B team for when England get knocked out). Shows my age as it stems back to watching the dream team with the likes of Marco Van Basten and Ruud Gullet etc.

Sporting Achievements: In 2006 I was the UK Octathlon team champion (gym based fitness competitions and ranked number 2 in the country). Over the years I have competed in many karate tournaments, ToughGuys, marathons and even ultra-marathons including last years Saltmarsh 75 miler which I finished 9^th place in. In 2011 I placed 3rd in the 24 hour Adidas Thunder Run. I have also achieved my 1^st dan black belt in Ishinryu karate and currently hold a 3^rd dan black belt in Ni-Sen karate.  

Hobbies / Interests:  my children, karate, running, cycling, gym / fitness, UFC Mixed Martial Arts, golf, metal music, cooking, archery, Gran Turismo 6 (see I am still a big kid) and watching just about any sport on TV (except cricket).

Favourite food: Always used to be simply tuna and pasta as I was very strict on my diet, however every now and then I like to treat myself to a dinner of liver, bacon, mash, fired oonions and gravy. I also love all stodgy traditional English puddings like jam roly poly, spotted dick, syrup pudding, apple crumble etc (all with nice thick custard!).

Favourite drink: Guinness (as Schwarzenegger once famously said – milk is for babies, men drink beer!).

Favourite Movie / TV Program:  Movies - I was brought up in the Stallone era and love the old Rambo’s and Rocky’s (I know its sad). I enjoy films from my youth such as “The Goonies”, “ET”, “Back To The Future” etc. Also a good war film such as “Full Metal Jacket” or “Platoon”. TV Program – used to like “Friends”, the new “Hawaii 5-0”, “Strikeback” series and the “Spartacus” Series.

Favourite music / group / song: easy going I like all types of music but my clear favourite (much to the wife’s dislike) is metal. Good old “ACDC”, “Metallica” etc.. Probably say that “Korn” is one of my all-time favourite bands. Favourite song would have to be either “Stargazer” – by Rainbow, or“Teenage Wasteland” by The Who, or “We Salute You” by ACDC.

One piece of advice you would give the Under 6’s: I would actually give two bits of advice which I live by, 1) Train hard – win easy! And 2) If a job is worth doing then it is worth doing properly.

One thing about you that no-one would know:  I can juggle and also started to learn to ride a unicycle!