Dennis Jennings (footballer) explained

Dennis Jennings
Fullname:Dennis Bernard Jennings
Birth Date:20 July 1910
Birth Place:Habberley Valley, England
Death Place:Cornwall, England
Height:5 ft 6 in[1]
Position:Outside right, left back
Youthclubs1:Stourport Swifts
Youthclubs2:Romsley Village
Years1:1928–1929
Years2:1929–1930
Years3:1930–1932
Caps3:33
Goals3:5
Years4:1932–1936
Caps4:99
Goals4:29
Years5:1936–1951
Caps5:192
Goals5:12
Years6:1951–1953
Years7:1953

Dennis Bernard Jennings (20 July 1910 – 16 March 1996) was an English professional footballer. He played more than 300 games in the top two divisions of the Football League over a 21-year career which was interrupted by the Second World War, and was the oldest player to appear for Birmingham City in a competitive first-team match.

Born in Habberley Valley, Kidderminster, Worcestershire, Jennings played for several local clubs before joining West Bromwich Albion as an amateur. He then played for Kidderminster Harriers before turning professional with First Division club Huddersfield Town with a transfer fee paid of £600.[2] He played 33 games for them before moving to Grimsby Town, where he helped the club to win the Second Division title in 1933–34. Birmingham paid £1,200 for his services in 1936.

Originally an outside right, in his 15-year Birmingham career he played in every outfield position apart from centre half. During the war he made 174 appearances for the club, contributing to them winning the wartime Football League South in 1945–46; he also guested for Nottingham Forest. After the war he played for five seasons at full back, most often left back, and helped Birmingham win the Second Division championship in 1947–48. He played his last competitive first team game for the club on 6 May 1950 at the age of 39 years 290 days, which made him the oldest player to appear for the first team.[3] He then moved on to former club Kidderminster as player-coach, finishing his career at Lockheed Leamington.

After football, he retired to the Wadebridge area of Cornwall where he and his son Anthony Jennings ran Little Dinham caravan park. He died on 16 March 1996, aged 85.[4]

Honours

Grimsby Town

References

General

Specific

Notes and References

  1. News: Birmingham. Few old hands . Sunday Dispatch Football Guide . London . 23 August 1936 . iv . Newspapers.com.
  2. C.Youngjohns, History of Kidderminster Harriers, p. 32.
  3. Matthews, Encyclopedia, 'Age', p. 10.
  4. Book: Matthews, Tony . Birmingham City: The Complete Record . 2010 . Derby Books . Derby . 142–143 . 978-1-85983-853-2.