Rod Fletcher
Encyclopedia
James Rodney "Rod" Fletcher (born 23 September 1945) is an English former professional footballer who scored 60 goals from 201 games in the Football League
playing as a centre forward for Crewe Alexandra
, Lincoln City
, Scunthorpe United
and Grimsby Town
.
in the Lancashire Combination
before turning professional with Leeds United
in 1962. After two years playing for Leeds' junior teams he began a teacher training course, and in his final year played for Crewe Alexandra
where he made his debut in the Football League
. Fletcher signed on a part-time basis for Lincoln City
while working in his first teaching post in nearby Grimsby
. He scored regularly for the reserves but only established himself in the first team towards the end of the 1968–69 season. The following year he was the club's top scorer with 17 goals in all competitions and played in every game.
When managerial changes left Fletcher out of favour, he joined Scunthorpe United
in 1971 for a £3,000 fee, to replace Kevin Keegan
who had joined Liverpool
. Still combining his football and teaching careers, Fletcher was ever-present in the 1971–72 season. His 19 goals helped Scunthorpe to the Third Division
title and made him the club's leading scorer, a feat he repeated the following season, though with only 10 goals as they were relegated
. He finished his professional career with two injury-hit seasons at Grimsby Town
, going on to play non-League football
for Immingham Town, which he also managed, and Louth United
.
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...
playing as a centre forward for Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
, 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....
, Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
and Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
.
Career
Fletcher was born in Preston, Lancashire. He played for NelsonNelson F.C.
Nelson F.C. are an English football club, based in Nelson, Lancashire. They are currently members of the North West Counties Football League Division One, who played their home matches at Victoria Park, Lomeshaye Way. They are full members of the Lancashire County Football Association.-Early years:...
in the Lancashire Combination
Lancashire Combination
The Lancashire Combination was a football league founded in the North West of England in 1891–92. It absorbed the Lancashire League in 1903. In 1968 the Combination lost five of its clubs to the newly formed Northern Premier League...
before turning professional with Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
in 1962. After two years playing for Leeds' junior teams he began a teacher training course, and in his final year played for Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
where he made his debut 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...
. Fletcher signed on a part-time basis for 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....
while working in his first teaching post in nearby Grimsby
Grimsby
Grimsby is a seaport on the Humber Estuary in Lincolnshire, England. It has been the administrative centre of the unitary authority area of North East Lincolnshire since 1996...
. He scored regularly for the reserves but only established himself in the first team towards the end of the 1968–69 season. The following year he was the club's top scorer with 17 goals in all competitions and played in every game.
When managerial changes left Fletcher out of favour, he joined Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
in 1971 for a £3,000 fee, to replace Kevin Keegan
Kevin Keegan
Joseph Kevin Keegan, OBE is a former international footballer and former manager of the England national football team and several English clubs, most notably Newcastle United....
who had joined Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
. Still combining his football and teaching careers, Fletcher was ever-present in the 1971–72 season. His 19 goals helped Scunthorpe to the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
title and made him the club's leading scorer, a feat he repeated the following season, though with only 10 goals as they were relegated
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
. He finished his professional career with two injury-hit seasons at Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
, going on to play non-League football
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
for Immingham Town, which he also managed, and Louth United
Louth United F.C.
Louth United F.C. are now defunct having run into severe financial difficulties. Louth Town FC have taken over the running of all junior sides and no senior terams now exist in the name of Louth United...
.