Swindon Town’s latest addition to the squad Jeff King will be hoping to finally prove himself as an EFL performer after joining having left Chesterfield.

Town brought their total number of signings up to 11 for the summer as King arrived, a two-time National League Team of the Season member but he has also played just once in the EFL previously, for Bolton Wanderers against Bristol City in 2017/18.

The 28-year-old has had a long career in Non-League, along with a brief stint at St Mirren, before catching fire at Halifax Town earning him a move to Chesterfield, as he was converted from an attacking midfielder into a wing-back, the role he seems to be likely to fill at Swindon.

 

 

As you might expect from a converted forward, his attacking capability is what jumps off the page about King. He notched 12 assists in 2022/23 as he made the National League Team of the Season, the fourth-most in the league, and that was added to with seven goals, many of which were especially eye-catching long-range strikes.

Mark Kennedy looks for wing-backs who can offer width to the team and create from out wide through their crossing ability and that is something he proved to be effective at with Chesterfield.

Liam Norcliffe of the Derbyshire Times said of him: “His best qualities are going forward. In his first two seasons, his goals and assists made him one of the best attacking full-backs in the National League.

“He used to play further up the pitch earlier in his career so I guess you could say those instincts have never left him. His creativity, energy and his front-foot approach are some of his best assets and you can tell that is the side of the game that he enjoys the most.”

Will Wright has taken most of Swindon’s set pieces during pre-season, but King will be looking to stake his claim to take over that. He scored numerous direct free-kicks for the Spireites and his crossing ability will also see him as an obvious candidate for corners.

 

 

He said: “King is capable of the spectacular so I wouldn't be surprised if he is soon taking the free-kicks and corners at Swindon. He has provided Spireites fans with some memorable moments from those situations. One day he might smash one in the top corner from 30 yards and then on another day he might put one over the stand. He isn't afraid to come inside and have a pop with his left peg either, something he has improved upon in the last couple of seasons.”

King featured as a right wing-back against Wycombe Wanderers and that has been his main role, although he told club media he is also happy on the left after signing. He fits the mould Kennedy has spoken about of being attack first as a wing-back and will tussle with Tunmise Sobowale to start on the right as well as offering cover for Rosaire Longelo.

The former Bolton man was an out-and-out wing-back for Halifax but was used as a conventional full-back by Paul Cook at the SMH Group Stadium. His transition to that position was not entirely seamless and Norcliffe said that some of his defensive shortcomings contributed to his game time falling last season.

He said: “This is seemingly the main reason why he was let go. Probably because he is an attacking player, the defensive side of the game didn't come as naturally to him, but I do think we saw him get better at it over time. In the end, you just sensed that manager Paul Cook didn't fully trust him.”