Lee Jenkins (English footballer)
Encyclopedia
Lee Robert Jenkins is an English
former footballer who played in the Football League
for Aston Villa
, Port Vale
and Birmingham City
.
, Staffordshire
. A midfield player
, he began his football career as an apprentice with Aston Villa
in 1977. The following year he was part of the Villa side that reached the final of the FA Youth Cup
, and in 1979 he signed his first full professional contract and was capped for England at youth level. Jenkins made three substitute appearances in the First Division
before joining Port Vale
in November 1980. His only appearance was on Boxing Day
1980 in a 1–0 home defeat by Lincoln City
. Given a free transfer in April 1981, he moved to Finland
where he played for Rovaniemi
in the Mestaruussarja
(top division). Jenkins returned to England, signing for Birmingham City
in October 1985. He broke his ankle on his Birmingham debut, and the following April, with the club in financial difficulties, he was given a free transfer. He then returned to Finland where he played for FinnPa
.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
former footballer who played in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
for Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
and Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
.
Playing career
Jenkins was born in West BromwichWest Bromwich
West Bromwich is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, in the West Midlands, England. It is north west of Birmingham lying on the A41 London-to-Birkenhead road. West Bromwich is part of the Black Country...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
. A midfield player
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
, he began his football career as an apprentice with Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
in 1977. The following year he was part of the Villa side that reached the final of the FA Youth Cup
FA Youth Cup
The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
, and in 1979 he signed his first full professional contract and was capped for England at youth level. Jenkins made three substitute appearances in the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
before joining Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
in November 1980. His only appearance was on Boxing Day
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
1980 in a 1–0 home defeat by Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
. Given a free transfer in April 1981, he moved to Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
where he played for Rovaniemi
RoPS
Rovaniemen Palloseura is a Finnish football club, founded in 1950 and based in the town of Rovaniemi. In 2009 RoPS played in the Finnish Premier Division but got relegated to Ykkönen after being the lowest-placed team in the end of the season...
in the Mestaruussarja
Mestaruussarja
Mestaruussarja was the top division of Finnish football from 1930 to 1989. It was replaced by Veikkausliiga in 1990.In 1930 league format was used for the first time to decide Finnish champion. Before that from 1908 to 1929 the championship was decided with cup competition. The league was...
(top division). Jenkins returned to England, signing for Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
in October 1985. He broke his ankle on his Birmingham debut, and the following April, with the club in financial difficulties, he was given a free transfer. He then returned to Finland where he played for FinnPa
FinnPa
Finnairin Palloilijat, or FinnPa as the club is more commonly known as, was a Finnish association football club established in 1965. The club was based in Helsinki and it operated from 1965 to 1998....
.