Hailstorm Sign Scottish Winger King (original) (raw)

WINDSOR, Colo. – Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC announced today that they have signed Scottish winger William “Billy” King for the 2023 season, pending league and federation approval.

“I finally got my man,” head coach Eamon Zayed said. “He has a fantastic pedigree and background. What he brings is not just his level of experience, but his quality. He’ll add assists and goals from that wide position, which I felt we lacked last year. I’m expecting big things.”

King’s been a man of many professional stops, most of which came in Scotland’s top two divisions. He turned pro at 18 years old and spent his first four seasons with Heart of Midlothian, a then-second-division club that plays just a few miles from his hometown of Edinburgh.

His best pro season came with Hearts. In 2014-15, King’s third year there, he tied for the league lead in assists (13) and scored a career-high eight goals. The budding star started 22 of the 31 matches he played during Hearts’ run to the Scottish Championship title.

King claimed a Championship crown the next year too, winning the league with Rangers after being loaned to the club mid-season.

An FAI Cup in 2021 completes King’s trophy case. It came with St. Patrick’s, a club in Ireland’s top division where the veteran played his last three seasons. He scored 12 goals in his tenure with The Saints.

Even though King’s compiled close to 200 pro appearances so far, NoCo provides the 28-year-old with a brand new opportunity: the chance to play in America. He’s excited to expand his horizons with the Hailstorm.

“It was an opportunity that I couldn’t really turn down, to play over in the States and experience something new,” King said. “Obviously, it takes time to mesh with a new squad, but I’m looking forward to seeing a different environment and working with different people. I can’t wait for the first game.”

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The future home of Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC, 118-acre Future Legends Complex, will feature 6,500-seat TicketSmarter Stadium, 2,500-seat Future Legends Field, multiple baseball diamonds, multi-purpose fields, an indoor sports arena, lodging, and retail; and will host guests for major sports leagues, tournaments, events and more.

More information is available at HailstormFC.com and FutureLegendsComplex.com.