Former Gillingham defender Simon King has told KSN how he is grateful to be given the chance to carry on playing.

In May 2008 he had the footballing world at his feet as he was named Man of the Match as Gillingham beat Shrewsbury Town in the Play Off Final at Wembley.

Yet just a few short weeks later, Simon King’s footballing world collapsed literally at his feet after being stretchered away from a pre season friendly at Bromley.

Now playing Non League football for a “familiar” manager, KSN caught up with Simon this week after his Thurrock side had been beaten 2-0 by VCD Athletic, and started by asking just how he got involved with the Essex club.

“I got involved with Thurrock because of the gaffer (his ex Gills boss Mark Stimson) really. When I retired, I had some time off and then started missing it.”

“I spoke to Mark and he said get fit, see how the ankles hold up and come and have a game for us, and I haven’t looked back really!”

“I started training, felt good – got the bug back – we’ve got a good bunch of young lads and if I can add some experience to that… I enjoy working with the gaffer – obviously have done for years now – it’s nice to be back playing really.”

“Obviously at this level and the weather at the moment, we’ve been getting a lot of time off… We were a bit rusty at VCD in the week, but we’ve been on a good run!”

“It’s disappointing we lost at VCD, but we’ll bounce back and show our character and determination and move onto the next game!”

Simon then recalled that fateful day at Bromley. He told us, “It was a nightmare really. I’d just come off probably THE best season I’ve ever had in football honestly – the promotion, Wembley, playing Villa in the FA Cup and getting Man of the Match at Wembley it was such a great season,”

Simon said with such pride happiness in his face – an expression that changed as he recalled what came next. “To get an injury like that and never really recover from it was absolutely devastating.”

“But I’ve put that to bed now – there really is no point in dwelling on it; everything happens for a reason, but yes I did have a nightmare time, and like I said never really recovered from it, but life goes on and you kind of move past that now; there’s no point having what ifs and I’d have stayed fit, you just end up beating yourself up about it – it’s all gone now and I’m just enjoying playing again!”

The reaction and support that Simon got from the Priestfield faithful as he told us, “To be honest it was very touching. I always thought that the Gillingham fans were always excellent towards me.”

“To be honest they kept me going a lot of the time – when you go and watch the games when you were injured, they were constantly asking how I was getting on; any idea when you’re going to be back; it’s nice as sometimes when you’re injured and off for a long time you get forgotten about – I never wanted that really.”

“I always tried to stay in and around the team, and that was partly because the fans were fantastic. A lot of the time you do have tough times – those long days in the gym trying to rehab – just the fans remembering you and asking after you it does lift your spirits and sometimes you really do need that, and I’ll always thank them for doing that and helping me the way that they did.”

“I was a terrible watcher – I wanted to support the club and the lads but I was a terrible watcher as I just wanted to get involved so much.”

“I went up to Inverness after I left Priestfield for a clean break. Terry Butcher called me up and I couldn’t really say no could I – an ex England legend such as himself!”

“It was a fresh start and I managed to get fit and I began to feel alright considering and he understood what I was going through as I think he had to retire as he had a similar problem with his knees.”

“He was looking after me and managing me well, but unfortunately it was just the other ankle that then went – I had the problems with the left ankles at Gills and the other ankle similar – one day I’d gone up for a header and just landed awkwardly on the right one, needed another operation and never really recovered and that’s when I knew it was time to call it a day once and for all as hard as it was.”

“It was a weird feeling – the hardest thing was that it was my life. It had been everything that I’d ever known since school – just been through football all the time and I think at the time as you’re so down with the injury anyway you don’t realise.”

“It’s only after a couple of months that you start missing the everyday thing and seeing the lads and there’s nothing better than starting a game on a Saturday afternoon taking three points and a clean sheet there’s no better feeling!”

“You’ll never really replace it and that’s why I was so pleased to stay in the game. I’m only training once a week and it suits me and now I’m just trying to tick on by and trying to help Thurrock along.”

“Stimmo and Scott Barrett (his assistant) were probably the reason I got back into football really – Stimmo’s been great with me and has looked after me. He asked me to come down to Thurrock and I couldn’t really say no really as I wanted another go.”

“But you know I’m only 30 and hope to have a few years in the game yet and part time suits me now…”