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ARTICLE ON LEDLEY KING - from the Torygraph

ANYONE who has chanced upon the Wanstead Flats chain of pitches, a bleak expanse adjacent to the City of London Cemetery, would struggle to imagine it as a field of dreams. But it is home to a teenage talent factory called Senrab FC, whose most famous team of recent years starred John Terry, Paul Konchesky, Bobby Zamora, J Lloyd Samuel and a player many feel is gliding smoothly towards England recognition, Ledley King, the Tottenham Hotspur defender.

"We were just East End lads coming together and making a good team," said the personable King, who seeks to continue Spurs' revival against Middlesbrough at White Hart Lane today. "The name Senrab comes from Barnes spelt backwards; I don't know why. I was with Senrab from nine until 14 and they were good times. Lee Bowyer played for Senrab before me and Ashley Cole played for our rivals, Puma; we had some good games against them.

"I played with John Terry at Senrab. He was in midfield and I was centre-half. Last season in the England Under-21s, I was in midfield and John was at the back. Ashley was a centre-forward back on Wanstead Flats. It's funny to see the way our positions have changed.

"The pitches at Wanstead Flats weren't the best but that wasn't important to us. We just wanted to play. I have always been single-minded; always wanted to be a footballer. Growing up in London, there could have been distractions but my friends never got themselves into trouble which helped me.

"My family encouraged me, put me on the right path, and made sure I reached my goals without being strict. I don't actually see my dad; it has been my mum, my nan and my granddad who have helped me. You grow up quick in situations like that [when parents split]. I watched my mum - who works for the council - struggling to raise me and my brother. As the oldest one, I wanted to help my mum out as much as I could."

Before becoming King of the Lane, he was King of the Road - Brisbane Road.

Initially attached to Leyton Orient, he was invited by Spurs for a trial during the Gerry Francis era and was eventually blooded by George Graham at Anfield. Entering the first-team dressing-room was daunting at first. "I looked up to these players and if one of them said a word to me I was quite pleased with myself! I kept telling myself: `I've just had a little conversation with one of the senior players!' Players like Les Ferdinand, a great pro, have always been good to me."

Because of his mobility, King began as a defensive midfielder under Graham and the then Under-21 coach Howard Wilkinson, but now flourishes at centre-half for Glenn Hoddle's spritely Spurs and David Platt's bouyant England aspirants. "Some managers have played me in midfield but I have always said I am a defender," continued King, 20. "I actually enjoy playing in midfield more than in defence because I have more freedom and see more of the ball. But my best position is defence.

"I am compared to Sol Campbell. It's definitely a compliment and I don't feel any pressure by the comparison. In certain ways, we are similar. Sol was great to me, always encouraging me. I was disappointed to see him leave Spurs but it did give me a chance to come through quicker."

Like Campbell, King is not the noisiest. "I get very nervous before games but as soon as the whistle goes those nerves are gone. I need the nerves to get me focused for the game. I don't talk much."

Hoddle agrees. "Ledley's probably too quiet," said the Spurs manager. "I want him to be more demonstrative, to boss people about on the pitch. The good thing about Ledley is that he is a level-headed lad who learns quickly. He has been our most consistent player this season."

King has developed partly by watching others. "But I didn't really look at defenders when I was younger. I preferred watching strikers like Marco van Basten and creative players like Paul Gascoigne. Even though we lost 5-3 to Manchester United I was pleased to have played against Ruud van Nistelrooy and Juan Sebastian Veron - both great, great players.

"We went into a 3-0 lead and didn't really want half-time to come. We sat down and talked about how United would come at us but not to panic. Unfortunately, they scored straight away and it all went wrong from there. I have the video at home but haven't watched it yet. It's a game I would like to forget. I watch United's Champions League games, observe their players and learn from them. That's what we are aiming for this season, getting into Europe to give ourselves the experience.

"When I look at myself on videos I look lazy, slow and sluggish. But that is just the way I play. I look laid-back even when I am not trying to. My pace is decent, I'm quite strong and I'm decent on the ball. My heading is still not up to scratch, although I enjoyed the game against Everton and Duncan Ferguson and also against Niall Quinn at Sunderland.

"Tricky strikers? Hasselbaink was tricky! Fowler started against us for Liverpool and then Owen and Heskey came on; Litmanen was also playing - so that was four great players in one game but I did quite well. Earlier in the season, we were playing well but the results weren't going our way, like against Chelsea, Liverpool and United. We are still playing the same way but now we are punishing teams."

King's two-footedness has been apparent in Spurs' rise. "I seem to play on the left in [central] defence so, over the years, my left foot has got stronger and stronger. I dribble with my left and, if I am doing a skill, I do it with my left which is weird because I am naturally right-footed."

Of Hoddle's obvious influence, King enthused: "He encourages me to express myself on the ball." Platt has also inspired the Under-21 regular. "He has brightened things up," said King. "The lads are a lot bubblier in training with him. It helps that he's quite young and I remember watching him on television at Italia 90. All the Under-21 players get on so well together. We are all friends."

People talk about possible promotion to the seniors. "That's nice to hear but all I can do is keep playing to the best of my ability for the Under-21s and Spurs. I'm at under-21 level now and I have to look to the next step." As well as Japan and Korea, Wanstead Flats occupies his thoughts. "My younger brother is playing for Senrab now," smiled King. It is business as usual at the East End talent factory.