Gary King, a Lincoln City academy graduate and one-time hot prospect, has stepped up to the role of full first-team manager at Skegness Town.
King came through the academy at the same time as Martin Pembleton, and the two were often seen as proof the setup was working, with Peter Jackson affording both game time: Pembleton played six times, King got 12 chances to shine.
It’s not his first role in the dugout: he’s been joint manager of the Lilywhites after retiring in 2025. The retirement didn’t last long, and he was back amongst the goals, appearing twice at the end of last season and bagging on the final day as they beat Kimberley Miners Welfare to secure 11th-place in the division.
King will be assisted by Nick Jackson, while Chris Rawlinson steps up to take on a director of football role, after the club were ‘treading water’ with another midtable finish.
“We were in the Lincolnshire League less than ten years ago and are not steady in mid-table at step five so we’ve come a long way, but at times this season could have promised so much more,” he said after the Kimberley Miners’ win.
“Our home form has been good, and we only lost four games on our own patch, which is up there with the teams in the top half of the table. Our away form has been the biggest problem.”
King came through the Lincoln City academy after joining the club at Under 9 level, spending a decade in the system before earning his first professional contract in April 2008. His senior debut could hardly have been better timed, as he started later the same day and scored in a 3-1 win against Brentford, marking a memorable first step into League football with the Imps.
A loan spell at Boston United followed in January 2009, before he moved on to Accrington Stanley ahead of the 2009-10 season, where he also found the net against Grimsby Town, his only goal in eight outings. He later became a familiar name across the non-league circuit, playing for Hinckley United, Louth Town, Stamford, Harrogate Town, Worksop Town, Grantham Town, Corby Town, Spalding United, Brigg Town, Coalville Town, Deeping Rangers, Holbeach United, Lincoln United, Cleethorpes Town, Frickley Athletic and Skegness Town.
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