Matt King pictured (bottom right) with the South Beds Festival-winning Biggleswade U12s side of 1998-1999.
It was with a heavy heart that we received the sad news this week of the passing of former Biggleswade RUFC minis and youth player Matt King OBE, aged 33.
Matt passed away on Tuesday after suffering heart failure following a prolonged stay in hospital.
He was married, with two daughters, and our thoughts go out to all his family and friends.
Matt, was a much-loved and influential young player, joining Biggleswade RUFC at U7s level and being part of a team grew in skill and stature as they went up the age grades, winning local and regional festivals and honours along the way.
As a teenager, he played for Bedfordshire and East Midlands county youth sides, and went on to play rugby league to a very high standard, representing the South of England and being signed up to the London Broncos professional rugby league side’s academy squad. It was during his debut professional academy league game at the age of just 17 that Matt sustained a serious neck injury, which left him paralysed from the neck down and unable to breathe independently.
Matt’s tremendous willpower and indomitable spirit meant that the devastating injury did not stop him from achieving great things.
He was awarded an OBE at the age of 25 for services to charity and those with disabilities, having raised tens of thousands of pounds for the Rugby League Benevolent Fund and having also worked as an advisor and trustee to several other charities.
He became an inspirational public speaker, author, and a successful and talented mouth artist.
He gained a First Class honours law degree and worked as a solicitor for a top London law firm, specialising in personal injury claims.
He became the first paralysed athlete on a ventilator to ski and also the first to complete a marathon in New York, steering his motorised wheelchair with his chin.
In 2012 he was chosen as one of the torchbearers for the London Olympics (see video).
Everyone at the club who knew Matt - coaches, teammates, supporters, friends, and people who have been inspired by him - wishes his family all the best at this difficult time.
He will not be forgotten.
