| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Roy Thomas Edward Jennings | ||
| Date of birth | 31 December 1931 | ||
| Place of birth | Swindon, England | ||
| Date of death | 21 October 2016 (aged 84) | ||
| Place of death | Crawley, England | ||
| Position(s) | Centre half | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Swindon Town | |||
| Southampton | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1952–1964 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 276 | (22) |
| 1964–1969 | Crawley Town | 156 | |
| Total | 432 | (22+) | |
| International career | |||
| England youth | |||
| Managerial career | |||
| 1968–1970 | Crawley Town | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Roy Thomas Edward Jennings (31 December 1931 – 21 October 2016) was an English professional football player and manager.
He played as a centre half for Swindon Town, Southampton, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Crawley Town, making over 500 career appearances. He also managed Crawley Town for two years.
Born in Swindon, Jennings initially played for Swindon Town as an amateur.[1] While at Swindon he represented Wiltshire and also England youth.[2] While studying accountancy he was spotted by a scout for Southampton,[2] playing for them as an amateur.[3]
Jennings signed for Brighton & Hove Albion in May 1952.[1] Initially a full back, he primarily played for Brighton as a centre half.[1][2] He scored 22 goals in 276 League appearances,[3][4] and 22 goals in 297 appearances for the club in all competitions.[1] 13 of his goals were penalties.[1] At Brighton he was known for as "a firm fans' favourite due to his strong aerial presence and physical style of play."[1] He won promotion with the club to the old Second Division.[2]
Jennings joined Crawley Town on a free transfer in 1964, after being released by Brighton.[1][2] He scored 38 goals for Crawley, all penalties, in 220 appearances in all competitions.[2] 156 of his appearances were in the league.[5] He made his last appearance for Crawley in 1969.[2] He also managed the club between 1968 and 1970.[2] He was the club's third ever manager, and won promotion to the Southern League Premier Division in 1969.[2]
After retiring from football, Jennings remained in Crawley, and became a partner in an accountancy firm, and also served as a magistrate.[1][2]
He died on 21 October 2016, at the age of 84.[1]