RICHARD Kingson is becoming a Seasiders cult hero – and he's loving every minute.
The 32-year-old celebrated in memorable fashion with the travelling supporters after pulling off a string of fine saves in the hard-earned 2-0 victory at Sunderland.
The fans chanted "Ghana's Number One' and held aloft a Ghanaian flag with The King written on it. And the man who has kept three clean sheets in five games since replacing the injured Matt Gilks couldn't be happier.
"I love the fans. Every time I see them behind my goal I feel good," he said. "I always say to myself that if I were a (outfield) player I would score every day for them, but as I am a goalkeeper I have to do my best to stop the goals instead!
"We were delighted with what happened at Sunderland. We all listened to what the manager said and did as he told us, and it paid off.
"It is Manchester City next, which is very tough, but every game in the Premier League is difficult.
"We will play our normal game at City and I believe that if we do the same things we did at Sunderland we will get a point."
Kingson's popularity in the dressing room shouldn't be underestimated.
He always has a smile on his face and plays gospel music to his team-mates before and after games... and it's going down a storm.
Manager Ian Holloway said: "Richard deserves to be a cult hero and the lads are loving him. He has been a ray of sunshine ever since he got here. His music in the dressing room is fantastic. His smile is terrific and the odd thing is that if Gilks had stayed fit Richard probably wouldn't even have played.
"That's what life is all about. When you are part of something that is good, you have to try to bring something extra to it and he has been an absolute revelation.
"He has made us a lot calmer, I believe, because he is so calm himself. He tells the lads where he wants them and he has some fantastic ability. Well done to him and I'm glad we managed to get him."
_____________________________________
