Ross Jenkins (footballer, born 1990)

Ross Jenkins
Personal information
Full name Ross Aden Jenkins[1]
Date of birth (1990-11-09) 9 November 1990 (age 34)
Place of birth Watford, England
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[2]
Position(s) Central midfielder
Team information
Current team
Oxford City (manager)
Youth career
2007–2008 Watford
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2014 Watford 81 (2)
2012Plymouth Argyle (loan) 2 (1)
2013Barnet (loan) 5 (1)
2015–2016 Crawley Town 14 (0)
2016 Poli Timișoara 9 (1)
2017 Pirin Blagoevgrad 11 (0)
2017 Viking 12 (0)
2018 Hamilton Academical 11 (0)
Total 145 (5)
International career
2009 England U20 5 (0)
Managerial career
2022–2024 Oxford City
2024 Boreham Wood
2024– Oxford City
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Ross Aden Jenkins (born 9 November 1990) is an English former professional footballer who played as a central midfielder and is currently manager of Oxford City.

Career

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Jenkins was born in Watford and began a two-year academy scholarship with his hometown club in summer 2007. During the 2007–08 season he played regularly in the club's under-18 side, as well as appearing for the reserves.[3] After appearing frequently for Watford's first team during the 2008 pre-season, he made his competitive debut on 12 August 2008 whilst still an academy scholar. Jenkins played the entire game as Watford beat League One side Bristol Rovers 1–0 in the League Cup. He remained in the club's League Cup team, playing full games against Darlington, West Ham United and Swansea City before Watford bowed out to Tottenham Hotspur in the quarter-final.[4]

Jenkins made his league debut in the defeat at Barnsley on 15 November 2008 under the management of Malky Mackay,[5] and retained his place in the team thereafter, scoring his first league goal in the 3–2 defeat at promotion contenders Birmingham City on 6 December.[4] In 2009, Jenkins formed a midfield partnership with Jack Cork under manager Brendan Rodgers in which the team climbed to 13th place in the league by the end of the season. He made his 50th start for Watford on 20 October 2009 against Ipswich Town.[6]

Jenkins then went on to represent England at U20 level, playing in a 5–0 win over Montenegro at The Hawthorns.

Jenkins signed for Plymouth Argyle on an initial one-month loan on 21 September.[7][8] He scored on his debut in League Two as the club came from two goals behind to win 3–2 at Morecambe.[9] After scoring his first goal, Jenkins said he determined to expect to score more goals at Plymouth.[10] However, his time at Plymouth Argyle was short-lived and he returned to his parent club after suffering a groin injury.[11] Jenkins joined Barnet on loan in March 2013,[12] and made his debut when he played 90 minutes in a 4–1 home win over Morecambe.[13] He scored his first goal for Barnet in a 3–2 defeat at Accrington Stanley on 16 March 2013.[14] Jenkins made 5 appearances in total before returning to Watford.

After leaving Watford, Jenkins started training with Malky Mackay's Wigan Athletic at the beginning of the 2014–15 season.

On 17 September 2015, he joined Crawley Town. In January 2016, less than four months after joining Crawley, Jenkins cancelled his contract and moved to Romania to join Poli Timișoara.[15]

In February 2017, Jenkins joined Bulgarian club Pirin Blagoevgrad, signing a 6-month contract.[16] He left the club after his contract expired.[17]

On 2 August 2017, Jenkins signed with Norwegian Eliteserien side Viking.[18] He was released by Viking at the end of the 2017 Norwegian season, and signed for Scottish Premiership club Hamilton Academical in February 2018.[19]

Coaching career

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Persistent injury led Jenkins to retire from professional football at the age of 28; he subsequently moved into a coaching role at non-League side Oxford City.[20]

Following the departure of first-team manager David Oldfield to Weymouth in January 2022, Jenkins was placed in caretaker charge with the club sitting in fourth position in the table.[21] On 9 March, Jenkins was appointed Head Coach on a permanent contract.[22]

The 2022–23 season saw Jenkins guide Oxford to promotion to the fifth tier for the first time in the club's history, defeating St Albans City 4–0 in the play-off final.[23] However, Oxford City suffered an immediate relegation back to the sixth tier in the following season.[24] On 15 May 2024, the club confirmed Jenkins' departure.[25]

On 15 May 2024, Jenkins was appointed manager of National League South club Boreham Wood.[26] He left in September after eight games in charge, with Wood winless in four games.[27]

On 27 September 2024, Jenkins returned to Oxford City, now in National League North, as manager.[28]

International career

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Jenkins received his first call up to the England U20 squad on 7 August 2009.[29] He started in their friendly against Montenegro a few days later at The Hawthorns which ended in a 5–0 victory.

Personal life

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Jenkins is the second player with his name to have played competitive football for Watford. He is no relation to the Ross Jenkins who played for Watford from 1972 to 1983, and was a two-time Watford Player of the Season.[30][31]

Career statistics

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Club

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[32]
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Watford 2008–09 Championship 29 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 32 1
2009–10 Championship 24 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 26 0
2010–11 Championship 19 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 22 1
2011–12 Championship 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 0
2012–13 Championship 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
Total 81 2 5 0 4 0 0 0 90 2
Plymouth Argyle (loan) 2012–13 League Two 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1
Barnet (loan) 2012–13 League Two 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 1
Crawley Town 2015–16 League Two 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 0
Poli Timișoara 2015–16 Liga I 9 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 1
Pirin Blagoevgrad 2016–17 First Professional Football League 11 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 12 0
Viking 2017 Eliteserien 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 0
Hamilton Academical 2017–18 Scottish Premiership 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 0
Career total 145 5 6 0 4 0 0 0 155 5

Honours

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Manager

Oxford City

References

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  1. ^ "Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13" (PDF). The Football League. 18 May 2013. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  2. ^ "Ross Jenkins". Watford Football Club. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  3. ^ "Academy stat pack 2007/08". Watford Football Club. 5 July 2009. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
  4. ^ a b "Ross Jenkins". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
  5. ^ Smith, Frank (17 November 2008). "Ross Jenkins says Watford 'should not have lost' at Oakwell". Watford Observer. Newsquest.
  6. ^ "Landmark appearances". Watford Football Club. 26 October 2009. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
  7. ^ Parsons, Chris (21 September 2012). "Boosting the Roster". Plymouth Argyle Football Club. Retrieved 21 September 2012.
  8. ^ "Fletcher thrilled to land Jenkins". The Herald. 22 September 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  9. ^ "Morecambe 2–3 Plymouth". BBC Sport. 22 September 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  10. ^ "Ross Jenkins hopes first goal isn't his last for Plymouth Argyle". This is Plymouth. 28 September 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  11. ^ "Jenkins' injury prompts early return?". Watford Vital Football. 12 October 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  12. ^ "JENKINS JOINS ON LOAN FROM WATFORD". www.barnetfc.com. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  13. ^ "Barnet 4-1 Morecambe". BBC Sport. BBC. 9 March 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  14. ^ Accrington 3–2 Barnet
  15. ^ "Former Hornets midfielder Ross Jenkins frustrated by lack of opportunities after Pozzo takeover". Watford Observer. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  16. ^ "Пирин урежда англичанина за Локо (Пд)" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 27 February 2017.
  17. ^ "Напуснал Славия започна с Пирин, Радуканов тества двама" (in Bulgarian). blitz.bg. 14 June 2017.
  18. ^ "Velkommen til Ross The Boss" (in Norwegian). viking-fk.no. 2 August 2017.
  19. ^ "Hamilton Academical sign Kenny Van der Weg & Ross Jenkins". BBC Sport. BBC. 12 February 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  20. ^ Oxford City F.C. (25 April 2019). "Club update – Oxford City first team management". www.oxfordcityfc.co.uk. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  21. ^ "Club Statement: David Oldfield". www.oxfordcityfc.co.uk. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  22. ^ "Oxford City Football Club Unveil Ross Jenkins As New Head Coach". www.oxfordcityfc.co.uk. 9 March 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  23. ^ a b "Kidderminster And Oxford Are Up As Promotion Secured!". www.thenationalleague.org.uk. 14 May 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  24. ^ Rice, Liam (25 March 2024). "Oxford City head coach Ross Jenkins on relegation from National League". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  25. ^ "Ross Jenkins Departs". www.oxfordcityfc.co.uk. 15 May 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  26. ^ "INTRODUCING YOUR NEW MANAGEMENT TEAM". www.borehamwoodfootballclub.co.uk. 15 May 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  27. ^ https://www.borehamwoodfootballclub.co.uk/uncategorized/club-statement-2/
  28. ^ "Club Statement". www.oxfordcityfc.co.uk. 27 September 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  29. ^ "A Tip of the Cap". Watford Football Club. 7 August 2009. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  30. ^ "My name is... Ross Jenkins!". Watford Football Club. 8 August 2008. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  31. ^ Phillips, Oliver (2001). The Golden Boys: A Study of Watford's Cult Heroes. Alpine Press Ltd. p. 230. ISBN 0-9528631-6-2.
  32. ^ R. Jenkins at Soccerway. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
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