Caesar Jenkyns

Caesar Augustus Llewellyn Jenkyns (24 August 1866 – 23 July 1941[1]) was a Welsh international footballer who played in the Football League for Small Heath, Woolwich Arsenal, Newton Heath and Walsall.

Caesar Jenkyns
Jenkyns in 1895–96 Arsenal kit
Personal information
Full name Caesar Augustus Llewellyn Jenkyns
Date of birth (1866-08-24)24 August 1866
Place of birth Builth Wells, Wales
Date of death 23 July 1941(1941-07-23) (aged 74)
Place of death Birmingham, England
Position(s) Centre half
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Builth
Small Heath St. Andrews
Walsall Swifts
Unity Gas
1888–1895 Small Heath 75 (11)
1895–1896 Woolwich Arsenal 27 (6)
1896–1897 Newton Heath 35 (5)
1897–1902 Walsall 80 (2)
1902–1903 Coventry City
1903–1904 Unity Gas
1904–1905 Saltney Wednesday
International career
1892–1898 Wales 8 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

Born in Builth Wells, Jenkyns played for a number of English clubs, as well as winning eight caps for Wales.[2]

After playing for several amateur sides in the Birmingham area, Jenkyns joined Small Heath (later renamed Birmingham) in 1888, despite aggressive interest from Aston Villa, who were looking to poach players from Unity Gas and Aston Shakespeare, which Jenkyns even more aggressively rebuffed.[3] Jenkyns was at Small Heath as they first joined the Football Alliance in 1889 and then became founder members of the Football League Second Division in 1892. By now he had made his debut for Wales and was club captain; he skippered Small Heath to promotion to the First Division in 1894, beating Darwen 3–1 in a test match.

Known as one of the most rugged defenders of his era, he was sent off four times while playing for Small Heath and that at a time when such occurrences were extremely rare. His career at Small Heath ended in March 1895 when he was released after an incident at Derby where, after being ordered from the field, he attempted to assault two spectators. Jenkyns moved to London in April 1895, joining Woolwich Arsenal, who had joined the Second Division less than two years ago. He was immediately made Arsenal captain, and made his mark in Arsenal history by becoming the club's first ever international player, after winning a cap for Wales against Scotland on 21 March 1896.

Playing at centre-half (which in those days was a midfield position), Jenkyns scored six times in 27 matches for Arsenal and was regarded by the club as one of their star players. However, his stay at the Gunners did not last long; in the summer of 1896 he moved to Newton Heath (who later became Manchester United). Jenkyns made his debut for the club on 1 September 1896 against Gainsborough Trinity.[1] He spent two seasons with the Manchester club, taking over as captain from James McNaught,[4] helping them to runners-up position in the Second Division in 1897. In November 1897, he left the club for Walsall, where he spent five years before joining Coventry City.

After retirement, Jenkyns ran a public house in Moxley , The George Inn, before joining the police force.

Career statistics

International
Appearances and goals by national team, year and competition[5]
Team Year Competitive Friendly Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Wales 1892 3[lower-alpha 1] 0 0 0 3 0
1895 1[lower-alpha 2] 0 0 0 1 0
1896 1[lower-alpha 3] 0 0 0 1 0
1897 1[lower-alpha 4] 1 0 0 1 1
1898 2[lower-alpha 5] 0 0 0 2 0
Career total 8 1 0 0 8 1

Notes

  1. Appearances in the 1891–92 British Home Championship
  2. Appearance in the 1894–95 British Home Championship
  3. Appearance in the 1895–96 British Home Championship
  4. Appearance in the 1896–97 British Home Championship
  5. Appearances in the 1897–98 British Home Championship

References
  1. Stats at mufcinfo.com
  2. Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Soccerdata. p. 138. ISBN 1-899468-67-6.
  3. "Football Notes". Birmingham Daily Mail: 4. 28 March 1888.
  4. "Newton Heath and Manchester United Captains". Manchester United Museum Information Sheets. Manchester United. June 2009.
  5. "National football team player Caesar Jenkyns". eu-football.info. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  • Harris, Jeff (1995). Hogg, Tony (ed.). Arsenal Who's Who. Independent UK Sports. p. 30. ISBN 1-899429-03-4.
  • Davies, Gareth M. (1991). Garland, Ian (ed.). Who's Who of Welsh international Soccer Players. Bridge Books. ISBN 1-872424-11-2.
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