Leigh Jenkinson
Encyclopedia
Leigh Jenkinson is an English
-born Welsh
former professional football
er.
Jenkinson, who played on the left wing, began his career with Hull City
in 1987 and remained at Boothferry Park
for six years, making over 130 league appearances for the Yorkshire club. Whilst at Hull, Jenkinson was reputed to be the fastest winger in the Football League and ran in the final 8 of an ITV organised sprint competition that was organised to test just who was the fastest.
In 1993, the midfielder moved to Premier League
side Coventry City
, then under the guidance of Phil Neal
. After just two years at Highfield Road, which included a short loan spell at Birmingham City
, Jenkinson tried his hand at Scottish
football with St. Johnstone. He won the First Division championship with the Perth
club in 1996-97
before leaving McDiarmid Park
in 1998 to return to England with Wigan Athletic
. His stay at the JJB Stadium
was short, and he left again for Scotland later the same year to sign for Hearts
.
In 2000, Jenkinson was reunited with former St. Johnstone manager Paul Sturrock
when he joined Tayside
rivals Dundee United
. It was while he was at Tannadice that Jenkinson retired from the professional game.
He finished out his playing career in non-league football with Barrow
and Goole
.
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...
-born Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
former professional football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
er.
Jenkinson, who played on the left wing, began his career with Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
in 1987 and remained at Boothferry Park
Boothferry Park
Boothferry Park was a football stadium in Kingston upon Hull, and was home to the football club Hull City for over 50 years from 31 August 1946 until December 2002, when they moved to the Kingston Communications Stadium....
for six years, making over 130 league appearances for the Yorkshire club. Whilst at Hull, Jenkinson was reputed to be the fastest winger in the Football League and ran in the final 8 of an ITV organised sprint competition that was organised to test just who was the fastest.
In 1993, the midfielder moved to Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
side Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
, then under the guidance of Phil Neal
Phil Neal
Philip George "Phil" Neal is a former footballer who was, at one time, the most successful player in English football history. He played for Liverpool 650 times over an eleven year period and is the only player to have appeared in the first five of their European Cup finals, winning four of them...
. After just two years at Highfield Road, which included a short loan spell at 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...
, Jenkinson tried his hand at Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
football with St. Johnstone. He won the First Division championship with the Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
club in 1996-97
1996-97 in Scottish football
The 1996–97 season was the 100th season of competitive football in Scotland. This season seen a playoff system introduced between the 2nd bottom club in the Premier Division and the 2nd top club in Division One.-Scottish Premier Division:...
before leaving McDiarmid Park
McDiarmid Park
McDiarmid Park is a football stadium in Perth, Scotland, the home ground of St. Johnstone FC. It has an all-seated capacity of 10,673.-History:...
in 1998 to return to England with Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
. His stay at the JJB Stadium
JJB Stadium
The DW Stadium is a sports stadium in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England, that is home to Wigan Athletic football club and Wigan Warriors rugby league club....
was short, and he left again for Scotland later the same year to sign for Hearts
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
.
In 2000, Jenkinson was reunited with former St. Johnstone manager Paul Sturrock
Paul Sturrock
Paul Whitehead Sturrock is a Scottish football manager who, since July 2010, is the manager of Southend United. Until this appointment, Sturrock had most recently been at English League 1 club Plymouth Argyle in a business support role, having been relieved of his managerial duties, until he quit...
when he joined Tayside
Tayside
Tayside Region was a local government region of Scotland from 15 May 1975 to 31 March 1996. It was created by the 1973 Act following recommendations made by the 1969 Wheatley Report which attempted to replace the mishmash of counties, cities, burghs and districts, with a uniform two-tier system...
rivals Dundee United
Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
. It was while he was at Tannadice that Jenkinson retired from the professional game.
He finished out his playing career in non-league football with Barrow
Barrow A.F.C.
Barrow A.F.C. are an English football club founded in 1901 based in the town of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria. Following promotion at the end of the 2007–08 season, they currently play in the Conference National. The club spent over fifty years in the Football League between 1921 and 1972, and have...
and Goole
Goole A.F.C.
Goole AFC is a semi-professional English football club based in the town of Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1912. They currently compete in the Northern Premier League Division One South, which is at Level 8 on the English football league system pyramid.The club has spent its entire...
.