Oxford City Tempt Keeper King Back To Football

King joins the club following a short spell out of the game having previously spent nine years with SkyBet League Two side Luton Town.

The 21-year-old came through the ranks with the Hatters, making four appearances as the Bedfordshire side made their way to a Checkatrade Trophy semi-final, and has also enjoyed brief spells in the National League and National League South with Southport and Bishops' Stortford respectively.

The move sees the 6'4'' stopper re-unite with former Luton Town coach Joe Deeney, the pair having worked together on a regular basis during their spells with the club.

He replaces Jack Stevens, who was suddenly re-called by parent club Oxford United during the week.

Stevens made twenty-five appearances in his second period for the club, keeping five clean-sheets.

Two of these came in City’s record equalling Emirates FA Cup run against Bognor Regis Town and Colchester United to see City through the Second Round for the first time since 1969/70.

Manager Mark Jones is looking forward to seeing the new signing in action: “Craig is a good signing for us, he’s got good pedigree at Luton Town and he’s got all attributes to be a top keeper. We bring him straight into the team for Saturday.”

Meanwhile, as reported on this site earlier, City also confirmed a re-union of another kind as Matt Peake-Pijnen re-joins the club following a brief spell with Evo-Stik League South Premier neighbours Banbury United.

The young full-back returns to the club for his second spell, having gained much-needed game time with the Puritans and will provide further competition in the Hoops' defence.

Peake-Pijnen featured as an unused substitute in Tuesday's trip to Havant & Waterlooville.

Jones thinks his time spent at Banbury will have certainly benefitted him: “Matt has had good experience playing in the Southern Premier and we just think that he’ll provide good cover for us on the left-hand side defensively”.