Mick Jenkins (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Mick Jenkins is an ex-professional footballer and former manager of Conference South
side Bognor Regis Town
.
. His long association with Havant Town
and Waterlooville
saw him play for both sides as well as Bognor Regis Town
. It was at Bognor Regis Town that Jenkins ended his career. The former defender was a year into his career as a player at Nyewood Lane, where he moved in 1994 after a long spell at Waterlooville, when he snapped his cruciate ligament. Bognor and Jack Pearce
in particular stood by him and gave him time to recover and try to get fully fit again to rejoin the first-team squad. But the injury was too bad, and Jenkins had to abandon his attempts to get back into playing through the Sussex County League and go into coaching.
in 1996. They moved as a management team to Havant Town
in 1997. When Dick Semark left in 1998, Jenkins continued as assistant manager under new manager Billy Gilbert. In 1998 Havant Town merged with Waterlooville
to become Havant & Waterlooville
and play at Havant Town's West Leigh Park ground.
were appointed joint-managers in April 2000. Jenkins and Daish guided the Hawks to notable successes in the FA Cup
where they reached the first round, the first and second of four occasions achieved by the club. In 2000–01, Havant & Waterlooville] lost 2–1 at home to Southport
of the Conference North
, and 3–2 away to another Conference side, Dagenham & Redbridge
in 2002–03. The 2002–03 season was also notable for the Hawks' FA Trophy
run when Havant & Waterlooville 'giant-killed' Forest Green Rovers
en route to the semi-final where Hawks lost 2-1 on aggregate to Tamworth
. During a five-year stay in the Southern League
Premier Division, Havant & Waterlooville's best season came in 2001–02, finishing third after leading the table during September. In the 2003-04 season the club struggled and this led to the pair being dismissed in January 2004. However the club recovered and finished 12th in the Southern League and qualified for a place in the re-structured Conference South
.
to work under former Portsmouth
team mate Steve Claridge
in January 2004, Shaun Wilkinson followed. Jenkins remained at Weymouth until May 2006. Shortly afterwards he took the manager's job at Dorchester Town
in August 2006. Although he guided the Magpies to a 17th place finish in the Conference South and avoided relegation, this was not enough to stop him from being let go at the end of the season in June 2007 by a new shareholder. Jenkins then had a year off football until June 2008 when he was appointed manager of Bognor Regis Town
. He resigned as manager on 3 January 2009.
Conference South
Conference South is one of the second divisions of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National...
side Bognor Regis Town
Bognor Regis Town F.C.
Bognor Regis Town Football Club is an English football club based in Bognor Regis, West Sussex. The club are currently members of Isthmian League Division One South and play at Nyewood Lane.-History:...
.
Playing career
Jenkins started off as a trainee at PortsmouthPortsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
. His long association with Havant Town
Havant Town F.C.
Havant Town F.C. was an English football club based in Havant, Hampshire. They ceased to exist in 1998 when they merged with Waterlooville to form Havant & Waterlooville.-History:...
and Waterlooville
Waterlooville F.C.
Waterlooville F.C. was an English football club based in Waterlooville, Hampshire. They ceased to exist in 1998 when they merged with Havant Town to form Havant & Waterlooville.-History:...
saw him play for both sides as well as Bognor Regis Town
Bognor Regis Town F.C.
Bognor Regis Town Football Club is an English football club based in Bognor Regis, West Sussex. The club are currently members of Isthmian League Division One South and play at Nyewood Lane.-History:...
. It was at Bognor Regis Town that Jenkins ended his career. The former defender was a year into his career as a player at Nyewood Lane, where he moved in 1994 after a long spell at Waterlooville, when he snapped his cruciate ligament. Bognor and Jack Pearce
Jack Pearce
Jack Pearce is a former football player and manager of Bognor Regis Town. He is currently general manager of Bognor Regis Town and continues to serve the club after 40 years.-Player and manager:...
in particular stood by him and gave him time to recover and try to get fully fit again to rejoin the first-team squad. But the injury was too bad, and Jenkins had to abandon his attempts to get back into playing through the Sussex County League and go into coaching.
Management
His first role was as assistant manager to Dick Semark at Fareham TownFareham Town F.C.
Fareham Town F.C. is a football club based in Fareham, Hampshire, England. They were formed in 1946 and have reached the 1st round proper of the FA Cup on four occasions in their history. Fareham's most successful exploit in the FA Trophy came in the 1986–87 season when they reached the semi finals...
in 1996. They moved as a management team to Havant Town
Havant Town F.C.
Havant Town F.C. was an English football club based in Havant, Hampshire. They ceased to exist in 1998 when they merged with Waterlooville to form Havant & Waterlooville.-History:...
in 1997. When Dick Semark left in 1998, Jenkins continued as assistant manager under new manager Billy Gilbert. In 1998 Havant Town merged with Waterlooville
Waterlooville F.C.
Waterlooville F.C. was an English football club based in Waterlooville, Hampshire. They ceased to exist in 1998 when they merged with Havant Town to form Havant & Waterlooville.-History:...
to become Havant & Waterlooville
Havant & Waterlooville F.C.
Havant & Waterlooville Football Club are an English football club based in Havant, Hampshire. The club formed in 1998 after a merger between Havant Town and Waterlooville, and are currently members of the Conference South. Nicknamed The Hawks, they play at West Leigh Park.-History:In 1998 Havant...
and play at Havant Town's West Leigh Park ground.
Havant & Waterlooville
After Billy Gilbert left Havant & Waterlooville, Jenkins and Liam DaishLiam Daish
Liam Sean Daish is a former football player who played as a centre-half. Since 2005 he has been head coach of Conference National team Ebbsfleet United . Despite being born in England, Daish played internationally for the Republic of Ireland due to his Irish ancestry...
were appointed joint-managers in April 2000. Jenkins and Daish guided the Hawks to notable successes in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
where they reached the first round, the first and second of four occasions achieved by the club. In 2000–01, Havant & Waterlooville] lost 2–1 at home to Southport
Southport F.C.
Southport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference National, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008...
of the Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
, and 3–2 away to another Conference side, Dagenham & Redbridge
Dagenham & Redbridge F.C.
Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club , informally known as Daggers, is an English association football club based in Dagenham, in the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, East London. It was formed in 1992 after a merger between Redbridge Forest and Dagenham...
in 2002–03. The 2002–03 season was also notable for the Hawks' FA Trophy
FA Trophy
The Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams...
run when Havant & Waterlooville 'giant-killed' Forest Green Rovers
Forest Green Rovers F.C.
Forest Green Rovers Football Club is an English football club based in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, currently the longest-serving members of the Conference National. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA.-Early years:...
en route to the semi-final where Hawks lost 2-1 on aggregate to Tamworth
Tamworth F.C.
Tamworth Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Tamworth, Staffordshire. Nicknamed 'The Lambs', they are currently members of the Conference National, the fifth highest tier in the English league system....
. During a five-year stay in the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
Premier Division, Havant & Waterlooville's best season came in 2001–02, finishing third after leading the table during September. In the 2003-04 season the club struggled and this led to the pair being dismissed in January 2004. However the club recovered and finished 12th in the Southern League and qualified for a place in the re-structured Conference South
Conference South
Conference South is one of the second divisions of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National...
.
Weymouth, Dorchester and Bognor Regis
When Jenkins moved to WeymouthWeymouth F.C.
Weymouth F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Weymouth, who currently play in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:Weymouth Football Club were founded in 1890 and played their first game on 24 September of that year...
to work under former Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
team mate Steve Claridge
Steve Claridge
Stephen Edward Claridge is an English football player, pundit and coach. He is currently a pundit for BBC Sport football shows including Football Focus and the The Football League Show, whilst also playing as a striker for semi-professional team Gosport Borough.Claridge's career is known for its...
in January 2004, Shaun Wilkinson followed. Jenkins remained at Weymouth until May 2006. Shortly afterwards he took the manager's job at Dorchester Town
Dorchester Town F.C.
Dorchester Town Football Club are a semi-professional football club, based in Dorchester, Dorset, England, and currently playing in the Blue Square Bet South...
in August 2006. Although he guided the Magpies to a 17th place finish in the Conference South and avoided relegation, this was not enough to stop him from being let go at the end of the season in June 2007 by a new shareholder. Jenkins then had a year off football until June 2008 when he was appointed manager of Bognor Regis Town
Bognor Regis Town F.C.
Bognor Regis Town Football Club is an English football club based in Bognor Regis, West Sussex. The club are currently members of Isthmian League Division One South and play at Nyewood Lane.-History:...
. He resigned as manager on 3 January 2009.