BRECKLANDERS HAIL KING CAM
UPBEAT player-manager Matt Morton reckons Thetford Town have pulled off a ‘massive coup’ in signing Cameron King – and it could help them make a top six assault.
Eyebrows were raised in midweek when the 26-yearold midfielder stepped down four levels to join the Eastern Counties Premier side, having been with National League side King’s Lynn Town (now Step 2) for the past two years.
However, King does have previous with the Norfolk side. After being released by Norwich, he played for Thetford in 2016-17 and made a big impression before going on to play for Shamrock Rovers, King’s Lynn (first spell) and FC Halifax Town.
Another major factor was that a health scare last season saw him sidelined and gave him time to ponder his future.
Brecklanders boss Morton, who is approaching three years in the hotseat and previously played alongside King, said: “The season before last he received huge plaudits for his performances for King’s Lynn, but last season he had an episode with heart palpitations and a shortage of breath.
“They took ultra-caution and decided he wouldn’t be involved until he had all the relevant tests. He got the all-clear, but missed a lot of the season. There was also a change of management at King’s Lynn and he just wasn’t selected.
“It was frustrating for him. He’s probably assessed everything and wanted a bit of stability. At 26, he was probably weighing up that he might have five or six years left in the pro game or he could establish himself with a career over the next year or two to set himself up for the future.”
Having chosen the latter, King could well have still tried to play higher than Step 5, but he decided to make a return to Thetford.
“There was a trade off with the level he could play at,” said Morton, who had tried to bring King in on loan in the latter part of last term. “It could have been Step 3 or 4, but we were just lucky we have history with him. A few of us are friends with him and the stars aligned so that we won the race.
Quality
“It’s a massive coup for us. It’s a big statement not just about what we are looking to do by bringing in a player of his quality, but a statement of where we are at in Cameron’s mind. He had a high number of suitors for his signature.”
Having finished 14th last season, Morton is hoping King can play a big role in catapulting the Mundford Road outfit into the top six in the coming campaign.
“He’s going to be a key component,” said the 35-year-old, who has also recruited goalkeeper Tom Smith and attacker Chukwuka Eseka. “It’s not just his own ability, it’s his influence on others and experience at certain points. You can’t overestimate how important that is. I have got some personal targets and I’m an ambitious person by nature, but our club target would be to be in the top six this season.
“It’s a big jump from 14th but it’s something we think is realistic.
“We don’t want to put too much pressure on ourselves but when you sign people like Cam King and have finished the previous season top of the form table, it’s a new, exciting position to be in.”