Roy Jennings

Roy Jennings
Personal information
Full name Roy Thomas Edward Jennings
Date of birth (1931-12-31)31 December 1931
Place of birth Swindon, England
Date of death 21 October 2016(2016-10-21) (aged 84)
Place of death Crawley, England
Position(s) Centre half
Youth career
Swindon Town
Southampton
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1952–1964 Brighton & Hove Albion 276 (22)
1964–1969 Crawley Town 156
Total 432 (22+)
International career
England youth
Managerial career
1968–1970 Crawley Town
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Roy Thomas Edward Jennings (31 December 1931 – 21 October 2016) was an English professional football player and manager.

He played as a centre half for Swindon Town, Southampton, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Crawley Town, making over 500 career appearances. He also managed Crawley Town for two years.

Career

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Born in Swindon, Jennings initially played for Swindon Town as an amateur.[1] While at Swindon he represented Wiltshire and also England youth.[2] While studying accountancy he was spotted by a scout for Southampton,[2] playing for them as an amateur.[3]

Jennings signed for Brighton & Hove Albion in May 1952.[1] Initially a full back, he primarily played for Brighton as a centre half.[1][2] He scored 22 goals in 276 League appearances,[3][4] and 22 goals in 297 appearances for the club in all competitions.[1] 13 of his goals were penalties.[1] At Brighton he was known for as "a firm fans' favourite due to his strong aerial presence and physical style of play."[1] He won promotion with the club to the old Second Division.[2]

Jennings joined Crawley Town on a free transfer in 1964, after being released by Brighton.[1][2] He scored 38 goals for Crawley, all penalties, in 220 appearances in all competitions.[2] 156 of his appearances were in the league.[5] He made his last appearance for Crawley in 1969.[2] He also managed the club between 1968 and 1970.[2] He was the club's third ever manager, and won promotion to the Southern League Premier Division in 1969.[2]

After retiring from football, Jennings remained in Crawley, and became a partner in an accountancy firm, and also served as a magistrate.[1][2]

He died on 21 October 2016, at the age of 84.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Roy Jennings". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. 24 October 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Talbot, Bruce (25 October 2016). "RIP Roy Jennings". Crawley Town F.C. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Profile". Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  4. ^ "Roy Jennings". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  5. ^ Gurney, Tom (16 December 2007). "Pick your Crawley Town legends XI". The Argus. Retrieved 26 October 2016.