A teenage prodigy, Cyril King represented Devon while still only 15. Having joined Southampton as a 17 year-old amateur, he made his first-team debut, as a professional, two years later.

He would play all across the half-back line over the next four years, without ever achieving 30 appearances in any season.

In November 1936, Cyril King allegedly insulted the club’s Board outside the Echo’s office in Above Bar. The “team committee”, composed of senior players and empowered to rule on disciplinary matters, determined that he be suspended and offered to Liverpool for £1000. (What the Board had done to anger him (or what Liverpool had done to warrant such an invitation) is not known and whatever the remarks were, the suspension was lifted and Cyril was cautioned as to his future conduct).

He quit football during the 1938-39 season – although Southampton retained his registration – to work in his home-town dockyards. But not for long: Darlington took him on loan in the summer of 1939. Before Cyril could kick a ball for them in the Third North, however, “official” football was abandoned and he was soon serving in the RAF in North Africa. After the War, he played part-time – first at Southern League Yeovil and then, with Winchester, in the Hampshire League. Meanwhile, following his entrance into H.M. Prison Service, Cyril served as a House Master at Portland Borstal, and at various High Security establishments after finally being promoted to Senior Officer at Leyhill Open Prison prior to his retirement in the late1970s. Following a short illness he passed away at the age of 68 in 1983.