GRUNDISBURGH coach Dave King admits that he will be rooting for opponents Stowmarket Town in Tuesday's Touchline Sports Suffolk Senior Cup final at Portman Road.

By Elvin King

GRUNDISBURGH coach Dave King admits that he will be rooting for opponents Stowmarket Town in Tuesday's Touchline Sports Suffolk Senior Cup final at Portman Road.

King spent 11 seasons as a player at Greens Meadow and scored over 100 goals for the Ridgeons League club.

“Stowmarket are the only club I felt truly at home with as a player,” said King. “I love the club to bits.”

King started working with Grundisburgh joint managers Micky Squirrell and Kevin Cunningham last summer and has played his part as the Metaltec SIL club has pursued a hat-trick of trophies.

“It is a weird situation for me,” added King. “Naturally I want Grundisburgh to win, but if they do I will feel sad for Stowmarket.

“I won the Suffolk Premier Cup when they were a Premier Division side.

“In John Bultitude and John Gillingham, Stowmarket have two outstanding stalwarts. They could not give any more and are prepared to do the messy jobs.

“I will be overjoyed for them if Stowmarket win, and sad for them if they lose.”

Despite his allegiance to his former club, King is plotting their downfall in the county's showpiece game at the home of Ipswich Town.

“I could not ask for any more from the players,” he said. “Their commitment is tremendous and training sessions are very well attended.

“Both teams look evenly matched, but what might tip the scales is the fact that Grundisburgh will always score goals.

“To have reached this stage of the season and only lost twice is down to the hard work of the players.”

After playing rugby to the age of 22, King took up football and impressed in a friendly playing for Grundisburgh against Stowmarket.

“Doug Wade, who was the Stowmarket manager, is a family friend and he told the then Grundisburgh manager Jimmy Fitzgerald that he thought I was too good for the SIL.

“I moved to Stowmarket - and stayed most of my playing career. Now I am back with Grundisburgh.”

It was King who got Cunningham involved in management when both were playing Sunday football for Heathfield.

“I made Kevin my assistant, and he took over when I moved on.

“The art of running a football team is about man management and Kevin and Micky (Squirrell) have both got what it takes to get the best out of characters.

“It is the player who likes to spend his Friday night on the town who makes the difference - not the ones who are happy to stay indoors.

“You won't win anything with a team full of rather colourless individuals - and Kevin and Micky can get the best out of those with more flair in their lives.”