Jack Gregory (footballer)
Encyclopedia
John Leslie "Jack" Gregory (25 January 1925 – March 2008) was an English
professional footballer who played as a full back for Southampton
and Leyton Orient
during the 1940s and 1950s.
and after playing youth football with Woolston Youth Club, he was signed by Southampton
as a professional in December 1944. He made his first team debut as a replacement for Bill Rochford
in a 3–1 defeat to Luton Town
at a snow-covered Dell on 22 February 1947.
Gregory spent most of his Southampton career in the reserves and his next first team appearance came on 23 September 1950. After another spell in the reserves, he replaced Norman Kirkman for the final five games of the season
. He retained his place in the first team for the start of the following season, before giving way to Kirkman after four matches. He made the occasional appearance over the next few months, with a run of eight games from January to March as replacement for Peter Sillett
, who had taken over at fullback from Kirkman.
Gregory's best season for the Saints came in 1953–54 after they had been relegated to the Third Division South
. He was appointed team captain and only missed four league matches during the season as Saints failed to make the expected return to Division Two. He then lost his place to Tommy Traynor
and after another season in the reserves, he was given a free transfer to Leyton Orient
in July 1955. In his ten years at the Dell, he made 68 appearances in all competitions, without scoring.
In his final season at The Dell, Gregory was an ever-present member of the Southampton reserve team which won the Combination Cup under the management of Ted Bates
.
, Gregory only missed two league matches as Orient consolidated their position in mid-table.
Gregory spent two more years at Brisbane Road before returning to the South coast in July 1959 to join Bournemouth
, where he spent one season before retiring from professional football.
, followed by a year with Hastings United. He then returned to Southampton where he managed Isle of Wight
team Cowes Sports
and then Southampton based Sholing Sports
.
He was now employed in Southampton Docks as a boilermaker
. He was married to Pauline and had four children. On 20 March 2008, it was reported that he had died.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional footballer who played as a full back for Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
and Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
during the 1940s and 1950s.
Southampton
Gregory was born in SouthamptonSouthampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
and after playing youth football with Woolston Youth Club, he was signed by Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
as a professional in December 1944. He made his first team debut as a replacement for Bill Rochford
Bill Rochford
William "Bill" Rochford was a member of the Portsmouth team that won the 1939 FA Cup. He played over 100 matches for Portsmouth and for their south coast rivals, Southampton.-Playing career:...
in a 3–1 defeat to Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
at a snow-covered Dell on 22 February 1947.
Gregory spent most of his Southampton career in the reserves and his next first team appearance came on 23 September 1950. After another spell in the reserves, he replaced Norman Kirkman for the final five games of the season
1950-51 in English football
The 1950–51 season was the 71st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Tottenham Hotspur won their first League Championship, while Newcastle United defeated Blackpool 2–0 to win their fourth F.A. Cup. They would win it twice more over the next four seasons. The league was expanded...
. He retained his place in the first team for the start of the following season, before giving way to Kirkman after four matches. He made the occasional appearance over the next few months, with a run of eight games from January to March as replacement for Peter Sillett
Peter Sillett
Peter Richard Tudor Sillett was an England footballer. He played for Chelsea and Southampton as a right-back, and made three appearances for England....
, who had taken over at fullback from Kirkman.
Gregory's best season for the Saints came in 1953–54 after they had been relegated to the Third Division South
Football League Third Division South
The Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
. He was appointed team captain and only missed four league matches during the season as Saints failed to make the expected return to Division Two. He then lost his place to Tommy Traynor
Tommy Traynor
Tommy Traynor was an Irish footballer who played his entire English professional career for Southampton between 1952 and 1966....
and after another season in the reserves, he was given a free transfer to Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
in July 1955. In his ten years at the Dell, he made 68 appearances in all competitions, without scoring.
In his final season at The Dell, Gregory was an ever-present member of the Southampton reserve team which won the Combination Cup under the management of Ted Bates
Ted Bates (footballer)
Edric Thornton "Ted" Bates MBE was a former Southampton F.C. player, manager, director and president which earned him the sobriquet Mr. Southampton.-Playing career:...
.
Leyton Orient
At Orient, he joined another club playing in the Third Division South, and helped them to take the Division title in his first season with his new club. The following season, now back in the Second DivisionFootball League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
, Gregory only missed two league matches as Orient consolidated their position in mid-table.
Gregory spent two more years at Brisbane Road before returning to the South coast in July 1959 to join Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
, where he spent one season before retiring from professional football.
Later career
He then dropped down to non-league football, spending two years with Ashford TownAshford Town F.C. (Kent)
Ashford United F.C. are an English football club based in Ashford, Kent. The 'new' United was formed in 2011 . Between 1930 and 2010 the town was represented by Ashford Town FC, before it ultimately went into administration...
, followed by a year with Hastings United. He then returned to Southampton where he managed Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
team Cowes Sports
Cowes Sports F.C.
Cowes Sports F.C. is a football club based in Cowes, Isle of Wight, England. They were established in 1881.The history of Cowes Football Club can be traced back to 1881, when the club was originally formed, although competitive action did not arrive until 1886 in the shape of the Hants and Dorset...
and then Southampton based Sholing Sports
Sholing Sports F.C.
Sholing Sports F.C. were a long running Southampton based football team who for many years played with great success in the Hampshire and Wessex Leagues, who folded in 1994 after suddenly losing their ground...
.
He was now employed in Southampton Docks as a boilermaker
Boilermaker
A boilermaker is a trained craftsman who produces steel fabrications from plates and sections. The name originated from craftsmen who would fabricate boilers, but they may work on projects as diverse as bridges to blast furnaces to the construction of mining equipment.-Boilermaking:Many...
. He was married to Pauline and had four children. On 20 March 2008, it was reported that he had died.
Honours
Leyton OrientLeyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
- Football League Third Division SouthFootball League Third Division SouthThe Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
champions: 1955–56