Kenny Jenkins
Posted in Dumbarton FC at 21:52 on 16 November 2009
The actor Edward Woodward‘s death was in the news today but from a personal perspective the fact that the Dumbarton FC club website has just announced the death of Kenny Jenkins affected me more.
Kenny, known to my generation as “Gilbert” for some strange reason which I can’t recall, was a member of the fabled promotion winning team of 1972. One of his key contributions to that success was the goal he scored at Cliftonhill in the 1-0 win over Albion Rovers where, with his back to goal, he gave a driven free kick the merest of deflections with his head to take it past the keeper.
He was an exponent of the “mazy dribble” when playing in midfield but later in his Sons career he dropped into central defence.
He had a really peculiar pecadillo, though, (or superstition, perhaps) in that he always used to trot into the opponents half of the field during the warm up and have a wee meander as if the other side weren’t there. This was something that was just not done. Players stayed strictly in their own half until kick off, then as now.
I think it was a subtle form of gamesmanship.
Edward Woodward 1/6/30-16/11/09. Kenny Jenkins -16/11/09. So it goes.
Tags: Albion Rovers, Kenny Jenkins
Sonnyrock
17 November 2009 at 20:17
If I recollect correctly, he was top scorer at centre forward in his first season 69/70 after signing from Albion Rovers. The following season he was a standout at right back, before going to Right-half after Eddie Ferguson transferred to Rotherham. A real utilty player, whose father I think was a keeper with Rangers. The thing I remember most was his prodigious throw-ins. I’m sure I remember a number of goals being scored from a regular ploy where big Roy was the target man for these and Kenny Wilson netted from what is now known as “the second ball”. One of my favourite players of that time.
jackdeighton
17 November 2009 at 22:37
Thanks for looking in, Sonnyrock.
I don’t remember him much as a centre forward, would need to check Jim McAllister’s book. Right back or midfield in those glory seasons, though.
He was one of my favourites too.
Cliftonhill Stadium, Coatbridge – A Son of the Rock -- Jack Deighton
15 April 2012 at 10:05
[…] (below) is now, I believe, closed to spectators for safety reasons but it was from here that I saw Kenny Jenkins deflect with the neatest of touches with his head a Charlie Gallagher free kick to score in a 1-0 […]