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Newport County have their goalkeeper Tom King (UK) to thank for their 1-1 draw against Cheltenham Town on Wednesday (19 January 2021) - but that's not all that King achieved. 

With his epic downfield kick, King officially broke the record for the longest goal scored in a competitive football (soccer) match, which covered an incredible distance of 96.01 m (105 yds).

Booting the ball from his own six-yard-box, it was picked up by the wind and soared into the net just out of opposition goalkeeper Joshua Griffiths' (UK) reach.

Newport County were playing an away game at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium in Cheltenham, UK.

The previous record, held by Asmir Begovic (Bosnia), stood for seven years before King's goal. 

When playing for Stoke City in the English Premier League, Begovic scored against Southampton with a 91.9 m (100.50 yd) goal on 2 November 2013.

His kick downfield, just 13 seconds into the match, got caught in a breeze that helped it sail over Artur Boruc (Poland) in the opposition goal.

Current record holder King joined Newport County in 2019 and has featured regularly, cementing his position as the club's first choice goalkeeper.

longest goal scored tom king kicking the ball

He was also called up to the Welsh national team the same year.

He's helped his side to 2nd in the League Two table after the previous 2019/20 season was cancelled due to COVID-19.

This record is the latest in a long line of achievements for this recent Newport County side under manager Michael Flynn, with the Welsh side beating Premier League giants Leicester City in the FA Cup back in January 2019. 

They also beat Championship side Watford in the EFL Cup earlier in the season despite playing two divisions lower.