George Kennedy (Scottish footballer) explained

George Kennedy
Fullname:George William Kennedy
Birth Date:12 March 1882
Birth Place:Dumfries, Scotland[1]
Death Place:Passchendaele salient, Belgium
Position:Half back
Clubs1:Maxwelltown Volunteers
Years2:1906–1908
Clubs2:Lincoln City
Caps2:42
Goals2:0
Years3:1908–1909
Clubs3:Chelsea
Caps3:10
Goals3:0
Years4:1910–1913
Clubs4:Brentford
Caps4:73
Goals4:2
Years5:1913–1914
Clubs5:Dumfries

George William Kennedy (12 March 1882 – 16 November 1917) was a Scottish footballer. He played at left half or centre half.

Career

He began his career in his native Dumfries with Maxwelltown Volunteers.

He then made 45 appearances over two seasons playing for Lincoln City, making the move along with Norrie Fairgray and George Nisbet.[2] Under David Calderhead, Lincoln pulled off an FA Cup upset when a goal by Fairgray knocked out Chelsea 1–0 in a replay. Calderhead became Chelsea manager soon after and took Fairgray with him. Kennedy followed a year later.

Kennedy spent the years in the lead up to World War I playing for another team in West London, then-Southern League club, Brentford.[3] [4] George left Brentford at the end of the 1912–13 season,[5] returning to Dumfries for the following season.

Personal life

George Kennedy emigrated to Canada in June 1914. Sailing from Glasgow to Montreal on board the .[6]

War service

Private 418239 G.W. Kennedy enlisted in the 42nd Battalion (Royal Highlanders Regiment) of the Canadian Infantry in March 1915 and was sent to France with the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF). He would subsequently be awarded both the Military Medal and Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallantry, and was also Mentioned in Despatches.

Having risen to the rank of Company Sergeant Major (CSM), Kennedy was wounded during the Third Battle of Ypres and subsequently died from his injuries on 16 November 1917. He was 35 years old.

CSM 418239 G. Kennedy is now buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, located 12 km west of Ypres close to the town of Poperinge.

Career statistics

Club! rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueFA CupTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Lincoln City1906–07Second Division25030280
1907–0817000170
Total42030450
Chelsea1908–09First Division10020120
Brentford1910–11[7] Southern League First Division22210232
1911–1228040320
1912–1323000230
Total73250782
Career total12521001352

Notes and References

  1. Web site: George Kennedy – Chelsea, Brentford and Lincoln City . 21 December 2021.
  2. https://www.londonhearts.com/scores/images/1906/1906060802.htm Around the Country
  3. Book: Joyce, Michael . Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939 . SoccerData . 2004 . 978-1-899468-67-6 . Nottingham . 147.
  4. Web site: Playing record: George Kennedy . 13 May 2013 . Swindon-Town-FC.co.uk.
  5. Web site: Former player George William Kennedy added to Brentford list of honour as Remembrance Sunday marked . 26 November 2015 . www.brentfordfc.co.uk . 29 May 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160529144014/http://www.brentfordfc.co.uk/news/article/george-william-kennedy-remembered-09.11.14-2072361.aspx . dead .
  6. Web site: Remember & Honour – The WW1 Brentford Players . 21 December 2021 . Beesotted . en-GB.
  7. Book: 100 Years Of Brentford . Brentford FC . 1989 . 0951526200 . White . Eric . 361–362.