Ross Jenkins (footballer born 1951)
Encyclopedia
Ross Anthony Jenkins is an English
former footballer. He was a striker
and started his career at Crystal Palace
, before spending eleven years with Watford
. He played for the club whilst they were both bottom and top of The Football League
.
Jenkins started his career at Crystal Palace
, becoming an apprentice in July 1968, and signing professional terms in November 1969. In November 1972 he was bought by Watford
manager George Kirby for a club-record fee of £30,000 initially, with £5000 to come a year later. Kirby had made a series of unsuccessful bids for other players before signing Jenkins.
Jenkins' debut coincided with the club's first away win in 18 months. However, he was unable to score until late in the season, his two goals in a 5–1 win over Scunthorpe United
being greeted with ironic applause from his supporters. The following season, under new manager Mike Keen
, Jenkins only scored four goals in 26 appearances.
Watford were relegated from the Third Division
in 1974–75
season, with Jenkins finishing top scorer with 11 goals in 34 appearances. In the summer of 1975 Jenkins chose to turn down a transfer to Huddersfield Town
for a fee of £12,000.
After a 1–0 defeat to Darlington
, which Jenkins played in, their fourth game and defeat of the 1975–76
season Watford were bottom of the Fourth Division
. The club had a strong second half of the season and finished eighth, with Jenkins top-scorer with 19 goals. His achievements saw him win the player of the season award.
In summer 1977 Keen was sacked and Graham Taylor
was brought in. Under Taylor Watford advanced through the leagues, with Jenkins in the side. They were promoted from the Fourth Division in 1977–78
, the Third in 1978–79
and the Second in 1981–82
. Jenkins played in their first game in the top flight, a 2–0 win at home to Everton
and early in the 1982–83
Watford topped the league. They eventually finished second to Liverpool
and Jenkins left Watford at the end of the season to play in Hong Kong
.
He is no relation to the Ross Jenkins who currently plays for Watford as a midfielder. http://www.watfordfc.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10400~1360408,00.html
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...
former footballer. He was a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
and started his career at Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
, before spending eleven years with Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
. He played for the club whilst they were both bottom and top of 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...
.
Jenkins started his career at Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
, becoming an apprentice in July 1968, and signing professional terms in November 1969. In November 1972 he was bought by Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
manager George Kirby for a club-record fee of £30,000 initially, with £5000 to come a year later. Kirby had made a series of unsuccessful bids for other players before signing Jenkins.
Jenkins' debut coincided with the club's first away win in 18 months. However, he was unable to score until late in the season, his two goals in a 5–1 win over 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....
being greeted with ironic applause from his supporters. The following season, under new manager Mike Keen
Mike Keen
Michael Thomas "Mike" Keen was an English former footballer who played during the 1960s and 1970s. He was the father of former West Ham United and Stoke City player Kevin Keen....
, Jenkins only scored four goals in 26 appearances.
Watford were relegated from 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...
in 1974–75
1974-75 in English football
The 1974–75 season was the 95th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Dave Mackay guided Derby County to their second league title in four years having overcome strong competition from Liverpool, Ipswich Town, Everton, Stoke City, Manchester City, Sheffield United and...
season, with Jenkins finishing top scorer with 11 goals in 34 appearances. In the summer of 1975 Jenkins chose to turn down a transfer to Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
for a fee of £12,000.
After a 1–0 defeat to Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
, which Jenkins played in, their fourth game and defeat of the 1975–76
1975-76 in English football
The 1975–76 season was the 96th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool won their first major trophy under Bob Paisley by narrowly winning the league title after heated competition from Queens Park Rangers. They also lifted the UEFA Cup for the second time in their...
season Watford were bottom of the Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
. The club had a strong second half of the season and finished eighth, with Jenkins top-scorer with 19 goals. His achievements saw him win the player of the season award.
In summer 1977 Keen was sacked and Graham Taylor
Graham Taylor (football manager)
Graham Taylor OBE is a football pundit, ex-football manager, and a former player. He is best known as the manager of the England national football team, as well as being manager of Watford, a club he took from the Fourth Division to the First in the space of five years, then from bottom of the...
was brought in. Under Taylor Watford advanced through the leagues, with Jenkins in the side. They were promoted from the Fourth Division in 1977–78
1977-78 in English football
The 1977–1978 season was the 98th season of competitive football in England, from August 1977 to May 1978:-First Division:Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest side took on the First Division by storm, by winning the League Cup on 22 March and confirming themselves as league champions the following month...
, the Third in 1978–79
1978-79 in English football
-FA Cup:Manchester United had seemingly pulled off a remarkable comeback against Arsenal in the 1979 FA Cup Final to make the score 2–2 after being two goals down, but a last-minute goal from Alan Sunderland saw Arsenal lift the trophy with a 3–2 scoreline...
and the Second in 1981–82
1981-82 in English football
The 1981–82 season was the 102nd season of competitive football in England.It was also the first season that the Three points for a win system was introduced.- First Division :Three points for a win was introduced for the first time in England...
. Jenkins played in their first game in the top flight, a 2–0 win at home to Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
and early in the 1982–83
1982-83 in English football
The 1982–83 season was the 103rd season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Bob Paisley's last season as Liverpool manager ended on a high as they topped the First Division with a comfortable lead. Bob Paisley retired as Liverpool manager with a record 21 prizes in nine years. His...
Watford topped the league. They eventually finished second to 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...
and Jenkins left Watford at the end of the season to play in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
.
He is no relation to the Ross Jenkins who currently plays for Watford as a midfielder. http://www.watfordfc.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10400~1360408,00.html