Ex-Portsmouth, Palace and Millwall keeper hoping for Asmir Begovic's world record after freak goal

Tom King of Newport County looks on prior to the Carabao Cup First Round match between Gillingham and Newport County at MEMS Priestfield Stadium on August 13, 2019 in Gillingham, England. (Photo by Jack Thomas/Getty Images)

Tom King's strike for Newport in their 1-1 draw at Cheltenham on Tuesday night is racking up hundreds of thousands of views on social media.

The former Pompey youngster and self-proclaimed fan achieved a feat that happens so infrequently in football.

From a goal kick, the keeper's wind-assisted punt forward took one bounce before looping over opposite-number Josh Griffiths' head.

A remarkable achievement indeed, with King joining an exclusive list that includes the likes of Paul Robinson, Tim Howard and his good friend Asmir Begovic in recent years.

The 25-year-old was on the Blues' books as a youngster when Begovic was making his first-team breakthrough.

King, who left for Crystal Palace in 2011, still keeps in touch with the current AFC Bournemouth No1.

It's Begovic who currently holds the longest goal in football history, netting from 100.5 yards for Stoke against Southampton in 2013.

King, who attended Admiral Lord Nelson School, quipped that he'll be asking for his effort to be measured to beat that accomplishment.

He told the South Wales Argus: ‘It took a lucky bounce and went over the goalie with the help of the wind.

‘The lads were asking why I didn’t celebrate, but it’s the Goalkeepers’ Union and I even apologised to him after the game. I said sorry and if it was the other way around I’d like to think that he’d say sorry to me!

‘The wind was very swirly but the bounce was unbelievably lucky – I nearly had one against me when we played Morecambe at home last year, when I only just managed to dig it out. I know what it’s like to be on the receiving end.

‘It felt weird, I didn’t know how to react. The boys were saying that I should have sprinted down to the other corner for a celebration.

‘I am quite good friends with Asmir so I might just get my tape measure out!

‘I was a trainee at Porstmouth when he was the first-team goalkeeper and I made the connection through a friend of mine because we used to wear the same gloves. He will be laughing and joking I am sure.’

King becomes the first stopper in five years to score in the Football League – with that effort ironically coming against Pompey.

In February 2016, Barry Roache headed home Morecambe's late equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Paul Cook's Blues.