Billy Jennings

Billy Jennings (born 20 February 1952) is an English former footballer who played as a striker in the Football League for Watford, West Ham United, Orient and Luton Town. He also played in the North American Soccer League for Chicago Sting.

This article is about the English player of the 1970s and 1980s. For the Welsh player of the 1910s, 1920s and 1930s, see Billy Jennings (Welsh footballer).

Billy Jennings
Personal information
Full name William John Jennings
Date of birth (1952-02-20) 20 February 1952
Place of birth Hackney, London, England[1]
Position(s) Striker
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1970–1974 Watford 93 (33)
1974–1979 West Ham United 99 (34)
1977 → Chicago Sting (loan)[2] 19 (6)
1979–1982 Orient 67 (21)
1982 Luton Town 2 (1)
Dagenham
Bishop's Stortford
Heybridge Swifts
International career
England Youth
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

A former youth player with Watford, Jennings made his professional debut for the Hornets on 10 April 1970, a third place play-off game against Manchester United in the 1969–70 FA Cup campaign at Highbury which the team lost 2–0. He made 10 League appearances that season, 16 in 1971–72, and 19 in 1972–73.[3]

The 1973–74 season ended with Jennings as Third Division top scorer on 26 goals,[4] and Watford Player of the Season.[5] After 100 appearances for Watford,[3] and England Youth international honours, Jennings signed for West Ham United for £110,000 in September 1974,[1][6] an early signing for new manager John Lyall.[7] The fee was almost double Watford's previous record for a received transfer fee, and was £5,000 less that West Ham's record spend.[8]

Jennings scored on his Hammers debut on 7 September 1974, against Sheffield United, and was a member of the FA Cup winning team of 1974–75. The following season, West Ham got to the Final of the European Cup Winners' Cup, with Jennings scoring two goals in the away leg of club's quarter-final. The second-leg home game against ADO Den Haag saw the Hammers score three, to bring the aggregate score to 5–5, and go through on away goals.[1][9]

In 1977, Jennings spent three months on loan at NASL club Chicago Sting, playing with fellow Englishman Ronnie Moore and Scot Willie Morgan.[10] On his return, he suffers an Achilles injury, after which he failed to hold on to a regular place in the West Ham team. After 127 league and cup appearances and 41 goals for West Ham, he moved to Orient in August 1979.[1][11][12]

Jennings scored 26 goals in 78 appearances for Orient before moving to Luton Town. Although he retired after two substitute appearances for the Hatters, he later played for Isthmian League clubs Dagenham, Bishop's Stortford and Heybridge Swifts.[1][3]

Jennings later worked as a football agent, running the Premier Management agency, whose clients included former West Ham players Hayden Mullins and Kevin Nolan. He left the company in 2005.[1][13][14]

References
  1. Hogg, Tony (2005). Who's Who of West Ham United. Profile Sports Media. p. 110. ISBN 1-903135-50-8.
  2. "Bill Jennings". North American Soccer League Players. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  3. "William John JENNINGS". www.watfordfcarchive.com. Archived from the original on 30 July 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  4. "Football League Div 3 & 4 Leading Goalscorers 1947-92". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  5. "Players of the Season". Watford F.C. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2009.
  6. "Billy Jennings". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  7. Dr. Phil Stevens (2015). John Lyall: A Life in Football. Andrews UK Limited. p. 141. ISBN 978-0-9931796-0-0.
  8. "Watford sold Billy Jennings to West Ham United for a then club record fee 40 years ago today". Watford Observer. 3 September 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  9. "Billy Jennings". www.westhamstats.info. Retrieved 11 February 2007.
  10. "JENNINGS: 'I Nutmegged Pele!'". Leyton Orient F.C. 24 July 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  11. "On this day - 20 February". West Ham United F.C. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  12. Marsh, Steve. "Billy JENNINGS (1974 - 1979)". theyflysohigh.co.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  13. "Premier Management Football Limited". Companies House. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  14. "Premier agency draws a blank". Evening Standard. 26 October 2009. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
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