Tommy Jenkins
Encyclopedia
Thomas Ernest "Tommy" Jenkins (born 2 December 1947) is a retired English
footballer. He played professionally in two continents as a gifted winger
and is now a soccer coach in the United States.
, Jenkins played for East London Schoolboys before joining Leyton Orient
in January 1966. He only made one first-team appearance before moving on to West Ham
in December 1967. He never broke into West Ham's first-team and moved to non-league football with Margate
at the end of January 1968. He remained with Margate until July 1969 when he was transferred to Reading
snapped him up from Margate for £500. However, Margate negotiated a condition to his transfer that Reading would pay an additional £1000 if Jenkins made ten appearances for Reading. His form was such that, after only half a season of 21 games, in December 1969, Ted Bates
signed him for £60,000 for Southampton
.
on 13 December 1969, where he took the place of long-time club servant, John Sydenham
, on the left-wing. At his best, Jenkins was a high-class winger with great speed, dazzling trickery and the ability to beat several defenders in one run, but unfortunately he would exasperate his fans by dribbling himself into trouble rather than release the ball to a team-mate. He was never a prolific goal-scorer, but his best goal came on 31 August 1970 at Upton Park
, where he left half the West Ham
(including Bobby Moore
) on their bottoms in a mazy run which culminated with a fine shot into the Hammers' net. He never realised his full potential at Southampton and was sold to Swindon Town
in November 1972, having made a total of 96 appearances for Southampton, scoring six goals.
, but unfortunately within days of signing, the man who signed him, Dave Mackay, resigned to join Nottingham Forest
.
He made his debut on 11 November 1972 in a 1–1 draw at home to Huddersfield
, but unfortunately was injured on his debut, and was not selected by new manager Les Allen
when he returned to fitness. He didn't really feature for most of the 1972-73 season, making just 14 full and 2 substitute appearances. The following season was more productive for Jenkins, making 36 league and 5 cup appearances, but Swindon were relegated to Division Three. In January 1974, he scored his best goal for the club in an FA Cup
third round match away to Portsmouth
, when after just four minutes he broke down the left-wing, beat two defenders before firing home a right foot shot from the edge of the area. Swindon drew this match 3–3 but were beaten in the replay.
Jenkins remained at the club for two more seasons. Overall, in his four years at Swindon, Jenkins struggled to hold down a regular first-team place - despite being described by manager Danny Williams as the most skilful player at the club. He left the club in 1976 to play in America, having made a total of 114 appearances with 5 goals.
, then managed by John Best, of the North American Soccer League
. He remained with the Sounders through the 1979 season, but by that time his career was waning. He was constantly hampered by a nagging groin injury. In 1978, he played only five games and in 1979, he appeared only once with the first team. When it became apparent that he would no longer play for the Sounders, he became an assistant coach with the team. However in 1981 he began a three year period of playing indoor soccer with the MISL
. He began with the Pittsburgh Spirit
before moving to the Phoenix Inferno
.
In 1984, he became the head coach of the amateur F.C. Seattle
for the F.C. Seattle Challenge '84, a series of exhibition games against NASL and national teams. He returned to F.C. Seattle, now known as the F.C. Seattle Storm for the 1988 Western Soccer League
season, replacing Scotsman Jimmy Gabriel
. That year, Seattle ran away with the league championship, defeating the San Jose Earthquakes
5–0. While Jenkins returned for the 1989 season, it did not go as well and he resigned at the end of the season to be replaced by Stuart Lee.
He later coached the CISL
Seattle SeaDogs
. Tommy was appointed as coaching director for a local girls youth club in Washington. Over the years he has coached many boys and girls youth teams. He currently resides in Washington and coaches youth soccer in Redmond, Washington
.
and Tommy were teammates at Southampton
, Swindon Town
and Seattle Sounders
. They continued coaching in the Seattle area long after the NASL
disbanded. Four-Four-Two, the English football magazine, had an article on the impact of the NASL imports as youth coaches in the USA.
On an interesting side note, Jenkins continues to live in the Seattle area where his son, Steve, is team mates with sons of four other former Sounders.
"Tommy Jenkins on the wings, 6ft 2 eyes are blue, Jimmy Steele is after you ..."
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...
footballer. He played professionally in two continents as a gifted winger
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
and is now a soccer coach in the United States.
Early career
Born in Bethnal GreenBethnal Green
Bethnal Green is a district of the East End of London, England and part of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, with the far northern parts falling within the London Borough of Hackney. Located northeast of Charing Cross, it was historically an agrarian hamlet in the ancient parish of Stepney,...
, Jenkins played for East London Schoolboys before joining Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
in January 1966. He only made one first-team appearance before moving on to West Ham
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
in December 1967. He never broke into West Ham's first-team and moved to non-league football with Margate
Margate F.C.
Margate Football Club is an English football team based in the seaside resort of Margate, Kent, currently playing in the Isthmian League Premier Division. The club was known for a number of years during the 1980s as Thanet United....
at the end of January 1968. He remained with Margate until July 1969 when he was transferred to Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
Reading
In July 1969, ReadingReading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
snapped him up from Margate for £500. However, Margate negotiated a condition to his transfer that Reading would pay an additional £1000 if Jenkins made ten appearances for Reading. His form was such that, after only half a season of 21 games, in December 1969, Ted Bates
Ted Bates (footballer)
Edric Thornton "Ted" Bates MBE was a former Southampton F.C. player, manager, director and president which earned him the sobriquet Mr. Southampton.-Playing career:...
signed him for £60,000 for Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
.
Southampton
He made his debut for Southampton at home to Nottingham ForestNottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
on 13 December 1969, where he took the place of long-time club servant, John Sydenham
John Sydenham
John Sydenham, born in Southampton 15 September 1939 is a former footballer, who played most of his career for Southampton F.C.-Early career:...
, on the left-wing. At his best, Jenkins was a high-class winger with great speed, dazzling trickery and the ability to beat several defenders in one run, but unfortunately he would exasperate his fans by dribbling himself into trouble rather than release the ball to a team-mate. He was never a prolific goal-scorer, but his best goal came on 31 August 1970 at Upton Park
Boleyn Ground
The Boleyn Ground, more commonly referred to as Upton Park due to its location in Upton Park, London is the football stadium of West Ham United.-History:...
, where he left half the West Ham
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
(including Bobby Moore
Bobby Moore
Robert Frederick Chelsea "Bobby" Moore, OBE was an English footballer. He captained West Ham United for more than ten years and was captain of the England team that won the 1966 World Cup...
) on their bottoms in a mazy run which culminated with a fine shot into the Hammers' net. He never realised his full potential at Southampton and was sold to Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
in November 1972, having made a total of 96 appearances for Southampton, scoring six goals.
Swindon Town
Jenkins was bought from Southampton on 1 November 1972, for a then club record of £50,000. He was signed to replace the legendary Don RogersDon Rogers (footballer)
Donald Rogers is an English former footballer who has often been seen as the most exciting player to pull on a Swindon Town shirt; his principal rival in this respect being Harold Fleming...
, but unfortunately within days of signing, the man who signed him, Dave Mackay, resigned to join Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
.
He made his debut on 11 November 1972 in a 1–1 draw at home to Huddersfield
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...
, but unfortunately was injured on his debut, and was not selected by new manager Les Allen
Les Allen
Leslie William Allen is a former English footballer and manager.As a player, 16 year-old Les Allen made his senior football debut in February 1953 for Briggs Sports in an unforgettable FA Amateur cup quarter final tie at Victoria Road, Dagenham against the holders Pegasus, the great amateur team...
when he returned to fitness. He didn't really feature for most of the 1972-73 season, making just 14 full and 2 substitute appearances. The following season was more productive for Jenkins, making 36 league and 5 cup appearances, but Swindon were relegated to Division Three. In January 1974, he scored his best goal for the club in an 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...
third round match away to 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...
, when after just four minutes he broke down the left-wing, beat two defenders before firing home a right foot shot from the edge of the area. Swindon drew this match 3–3 but were beaten in the replay.
Jenkins remained at the club for two more seasons. Overall, in his four years at Swindon, Jenkins struggled to hold down a regular first-team place - despite being described by manager Danny Williams as the most skilful player at the club. He left the club in 1976 to play in America, having made a total of 114 appearances with 5 goals.
United States
When he arrived in the United States, he signed with the Seattle SoundersSeattle Sounders (NASL)
The Seattle Sounders were a U.S. professional soccer team based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1974, the team belonged to the North American Soccer League where it played both indoor and outdoor soccer. The team folded after the 1983 NASL outdoor season.-Stadium:The Sounders played at Memorial...
, then managed by John Best, of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
. He remained with the Sounders through the 1979 season, but by that time his career was waning. He was constantly hampered by a nagging groin injury. In 1978, he played only five games and in 1979, he appeared only once with the first team. When it became apparent that he would no longer play for the Sounders, he became an assistant coach with the team. However in 1981 he began a three year period of playing indoor soccer with the MISL
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
. He began with the Pittsburgh Spirit
Pittsburgh Spirit
Pittsburgh Spirit were an indoor soccer team based out of Pittsburgh and were one of the original six teams that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League...
before moving to the Phoenix Inferno
Phoenix Inferno
The Phoenix Inferno was an American indoor soccer team based out of Phoenix, United States, that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League from 1980 to 1983. In 1983 new ownership renamed the team the Phoenix Pride. The Pride folded at the end of the 1983-1984 season...
.
In 1984, he became the head coach of the amateur F.C. Seattle
Seattle Storm (soccer)
Football Club Seattle Storm, also known as the F.C. Seattle Storm, was an American soccer team based in Seattle, Washington. F.C. Seattle was a "super club" created to provide Seattle players an opportunity to play at a higher level than the local recreational and semi-pro leagues. In addition to...
for the F.C. Seattle Challenge '84, a series of exhibition games against NASL and national teams. He returned to F.C. Seattle, now known as the F.C. Seattle Storm for the 1988 Western Soccer League
Western Soccer League
Western Soccer Alliance was a professional soccer league featuring teams from the West Coast of the United States and Western Canada. The league began in 1985 as the Western Alliance Challenge Series. In 1986, it became the Western Soccer Alliance...
season, replacing Scotsman Jimmy Gabriel
Jimmy Gabriel
James Gabriel is a Scottish former football midfielder who earned two caps with the Scotland national football team. Chiefly associated with English club Everton, Gabriel played extensively in Scotland and England before ending his career with the Seattle Sounders of the North American Soccer...
. That year, Seattle ran away with the league championship, defeating the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
5–0. While Jenkins returned for the 1989 season, it did not go as well and he resigned at the end of the season to be replaced by Stuart Lee.
He later coached the CISL
Continental Indoor Soccer League
The Continental Indoor Soccer League was an indoor soccer league that played from 1993 to 1997.-History:When the Major Soccer League folded in the summer of 1992, two of its former teams joined a group of hockey and basketball arena owners led by Ron Weinstein who wanted to create a league to...
Seattle SeaDogs
Seattle SeaDogs
The Seattle SeaDogs are a defunct indoor soccer team that played in the Continental Indoor Soccer League from 1995 to 1997. They won the last CISL championship in 1997.-History:...
. Tommy was appointed as coaching director for a local girls youth club in Washington. Over the years he has coached many boys and girls youth teams. He currently resides in Washington and coaches youth soccer in Redmond, Washington
Redmond, Washington
Redmond is a city in King County, Washington, United States, located east of Seattle. The population was 54,144 at the 2010 census,up from 45,256 in 2000....
.
Teammates
Jimmy GabrielJimmy Gabriel
James Gabriel is a Scottish former football midfielder who earned two caps with the Scotland national football team. Chiefly associated with English club Everton, Gabriel played extensively in Scotland and England before ending his career with the Seattle Sounders of the North American Soccer...
and Tommy were teammates at Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
, Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
and Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders (NASL)
The Seattle Sounders were a U.S. professional soccer team based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1974, the team belonged to the North American Soccer League where it played both indoor and outdoor soccer. The team folded after the 1983 NASL outdoor season.-Stadium:The Sounders played at Memorial...
. They continued coaching in the Seattle area long after the NASL
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
disbanded. Four-Four-Two, the English football magazine, had an article on the impact of the NASL imports as youth coaches in the USA.
On an interesting side note, Jenkins continues to live in the Seattle area where his son, Steve, is team mates with sons of four other former Sounders.
Memories
In Southampton the old time fans still remember Tommy in their songs:"Tommy Jenkins on the wings, 6ft 2 eyes are blue, Jimmy Steele is after you ..."