Former Preston North End favourite Jack King hangs up his boots

Jack King grapples with Jordan Pickford in Preston North End's game with Bradford City in November 2014

King turns 35 in August and will soon be out of contract with Ebbsfleet where he has played for the last two years.

In an interview with the Lancashire Post last week, King said he was thinking of retiring from football and returning to the groundworks business which his dad runs.

On Monday night he confirmed that move in a post on Twitter.

Jack King in action for Preston North End in the FA Cup against Norwich City in January 2015

King wrote: “That’s a wrap! I’ve decided to hang up my boots.

“Just want to say thanks to all my team mates, staff, friends and family that have helped me over the years.

“Racked up over 700 games and a good few promotions, but more importantly I’ve made some great friends along the way.”

King played 102 games for North End in his three years at Deepdale after joining the club in July 2012.

He was a regular in his first season and while not used quite as often over the next two campaigns, still featured prominently.

In his time as PNE, King played in a variety of positions.

He operated as a midfielder, right-back, centre-half and a striker.

In the 2014/15 promotion season, King played 28 times, the last of those in a 1-1 draw against Bristol City at Deepdale on April 11, 2015.

He didn’t feature in the match day squad for the play-off final at Wembley but was in the travelling party.

King left PNE that summer to join Scunthorpe and has since played for Stevenage and Ebbsfleet.

When speaking to the Post, King said: “For the last two or three years I’d been saying I would retire if the enjoyment was not quite there as much as it once was.

“My dad isn’t getting any younger so I could go back to the real world and help with the family business.

“I enjoy my golf so it would give me more time to improve my handicap.”

Several former PNE team-mates and a number of North End supporters took to Twitter to wish King well.

Former Preston left-back Scott Laird said: “What a great career. How you didn’t play professionally until 27 I will never know!

“You could play in any position and make it look like a stroll in the park. You were someone I hated playing against but now someone I call a friend.

“Good luck in whatever you do next.”