📅 Publicado el: December 13, 2024
🔄 Última actualización: August 3, 2025
Tom King: The goalkeeper who made history with football's longest goal
Football is a sport full of epic moments that remain etched in the collective memory, from last-minute goals to incredible feats on the pitch. One of these exceptional moments belongs to Welsh goalkeeper Tom King, who entered the Guinness Book of World Records with a goal as unusual as it was admirable. His strike from 96.01 meters in an official match became the longest goal ever scored by a goalkeeper. In this article, we'll explore how a simple goal kick became a world record and what this means for football and its fans.
A goal from the goal to history
On January 19, 2021, Newport County, a fourth-tier team in England, was playing a League Two match against Cheltenham Town. The match was proceeding ordinarily until, in the 12th minute, Tom King took a goal kick that would change his career forever. Taking advantage of the power and direction of his shot, the ball traveled almost the entire length of the field, bounced once on the turf, and ended up inside the opponent's net, beating an astonished goalkeeper, Joshua Griffiths.
Although it may seem like an oddity, this goal wasn't a fluke. King's strength, technique, and precision combined with favorable wind conditions and ball bounce to create a moment that defied the odds. This goal shattered the previous record of 91.9 meters, set in 2013 by Asmir Begovic, another talented goalkeeper playing for Stoke City in the Premier League.
What makes this goal so special?
Soccer has given us many long-range goals, but seeing a goalkeeper score from his own penalty area is a rare occurrence. These kinds of goals represent the essence of the sport: its ability to surprise us and defy our expectations. King's feat is not just a statistical curiosity, but a reminder of how soccer, with its unexpected twists and turns, can give prominence to any player at any moment, even those whose primary role isn't scoring goals.
Furthermore, this goal holds special significance in Newport County culture and for fans of English League Two, a division where such records rarely occur. King's feat was not only celebrated by his team and fans, but was also quickly recognized internationally. For Newport County, a team with less of a spotlight than the big clubs in the Premier League, this kind of world record represents a significant milestone.
The importance of goalkeepers in modern football
Tom King's goal is also a testament to how the goalkeeper's role has evolved in modern football. Today, goalkeepers are much more than just goalkeepers; they are expected to actively participate in the game, build from the back, and even, as in King's case, contribute directly to the scoreline. The versatility and skill of goalkeepers have redefined their responsibilities, and sometimes their offensive capabilities are transformed in historic moments like this one.
𝙆𝙞𝙣𝙜 of the castle👑 #OneClubOneCountypic.twitter.com/LJA2I2Bo0X
— Newport County AFC (@NewportCounty) January 19, 2021
Tom King's 96.01-meter goal left a unique mark on football, reminding us that this sport is unpredictable and that any player can be a protagonist at any moment. This record not only speaks to King's skill and precision, but also underscores the exciting nature of football, a game where even the seemingly improbable can become reality.
So the next time we see a goalkeeper preparing for a goal kick, let's remember Tom King and his unusual goal that literally broke all distance barriers in football.
English 
Spanish