King notches up District League dozen
It is inevitable this weekend’s Grand Finals will be the first and last for a number of people involved. This can’t be said for Warilla Wanderers coach Barney King who will be in the dugout for a record 12th District League decider.
King has coached for the past 28 seasons after a prolific career as a striker across a number of clubs in the Illawarra. Since 2006, he has become close to a permanent fixture on Grand Final Saturday qualifying for 11 of the last 13 — four with Berkeley and seven with Warilla. King’s first Grand Final came with Shellharbour City in 2002 and he admits the record astounds him but he points to three potential reasons for his success.
“I put it down to my experience in this particular league. I also put it down to no matter where I am coaching — I am intense,” King said.
“It can take until the second half of the season until new players understand the way I go about things. Of course, there is also a bit of luck and that’s what I put it down to.”
King has overseen a number of high scoring thrillers but rates last season’s 1–0 win over Helensburgh as his favourite Grand Final win to date — though it could be challenged if they were to get up against Coniston this weekend after a mass turnover of players in the offseason.
“The best win I feel was last season, it was nip-and-tuck, nip-and-tuck, nil-nil-nil-nil-nil and Kaine Good scores this header with only a few minutes to go,” King said.
“I thought if you’re going to score, score with only a few minutes to go because at least you don’t have long to shut them out.”
“This year is the year where I have been most proud of my team. We lost a lot of key players after the [2017] Grand Final and we have had a lot of injuries throughout the season.”
Win Stadium — King believes — is the ideal venue for Grand Finals as it helps the clubs build up the occasion. During the regular season, King who hails from the north of England wears track pants and a polo, come Grand Final day, he takes a more professional approach.
“We make a big day of it because some players have never played a Win Stadium, some haven’t even played in Grand Finals. Some of the players will never see Win Stadium again,” King said.
“That’s my team talk, that’s my motivation to them and I have said that for the last bloody nine seasons but fortunately we keep on getting there.”
“I’ve got Newcastle United in my blood, it’s my all-time favourite team and up until this day, it still hurts when I see them get beaten on the tv.”
“The [Newcastle United] tie? Well, it’s a dressy tie, I guess it’s become a bit of a superstition because I have won the last two with it on so I’ll keep that going.”
King revealed there isn’t a plan to bring up the baker’s dozen next year as well as admitting the idea of a move to a Premier League club is not one that tickles him.
“I’ll be retiring [from work] in January next year,” King said.
“I want to travel with my wife around the world and see the family back in England — what’s the point of retiring if I don’t travel?”
“After a year I will see how much I miss it. There always comes a time when the old-timers sort of move over and give the young people a go.”
“I’ve have had a few nibbles from clubs in the Premier League but in the last few years I never felt I needed to take on a Premier League club, I have had my fair share of success and I am content with that.”
