Welsh goalie breaks world record for longest football goal

A Welsh goalkeeper has broken a Guinness World Record for the longest ever football goal.

Newport County’s Tom King officially broke the record for the longest goal scored in a competitive match, with a strike that covered an incredible distance of 96.01m, in a 1-1 draw against Cheltenham Town on 19 January.

King, who has received callups for the Welsh international team, booted the ball from his own six-yard-box, which was picked up by the wind and soared into the net just out of the reach of opposition goalkeeper Joshua Griffiths.

The previous record was held by Asmir Begovic, of Bosnia, which stood for seven years before King’s goal. Begovic scored that 91.9 m goal against Southampton while playing for Stoke City in the English Premier League, on 2 November 2013.

After the world record was confirmed, King said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have set the record.

“It’s something that could never really dreamt of doing but I’m sure it’s something that is going to make my family and future family very proud indeed.”

𝙆𝙞𝙣𝙜 of the castle👑 #OneClubOneCountypic.twitter.com/LJA2I2Bo0X

— Newport County AFC (@NewportCounty) January 19, 2021

Speaking to Sky Sports News on Wednesday, King joked he would return to Cheltenham’s stadium to measure the pitch in a bid to get his name into the record books.

He added: “I hope that somebody can check that for me – saves me the trip back there – but that would be quite the achievement.

“I get given enough of the Guinness book of records for Christmas so to be in one would be lovely.”