Jack Kennedy
Name: John KennedyBorn: 4 September 1939, Newtownards
Height: 6.03 ft
Weight: 12.07 st
Position: Goalkeeper
Representative Honours: Ireland: 7 Amateur Caps (1961-1965); Great Britain Olympic Team; Irish League: 3 Caps (1964).
Club Honours: (with Distillery) Irish League Champion 1962/63; Irish Cup Runner-Up 1962/63; City Cup Winner 1959/60, 1962/63; Co. Antrim Shield Winner 1963/64, Runner-Up 1957/58.
Club Career:
Teams | Seasons | Signed | Fee | League | FA Cup | FL Cup | Europe | Other |
Distillery | 57/58-64/65 | 1957 | Amateur | 241(0)/0 | - | - | 2(0)/0 | - |
Celtic | 64/65-66/67 | Mar-65 | £5,000 | 0(0)/0 | - | 1(0)/0 | - | - |
Detroit.Cougars | 1967 | May-67 | Guest | 11(1)/0 | (United Soccer Association) | |||
Lincoln City | 67/68-73/74 | Jul-67 | Free | 251(0)/0 | 10(0)/0 | 16(0)/0 | - | 1(0)/0 |
Lincoln United | - | - | Free | - | (Yorkshire League) | |||
TOTALS | - | £5,000 | 503(1)/1 | 10(0)/0 | 17(0)/0 | 2(0)/0 | 1(0)/0 | |
Biography:
Jack Kennedy made his debut in senior football in the 1958 Co. Antrim Shield semi-final and his second appearance as Distillery lost 3-1 to Linfield in the final. He spent eight seasons as The Whites regular goalkeeper, claiming winners medals in the League, City Cup (twice) and Shield. He also appeared in a 2-1 Irish Cup final defeat by Linfield in 1963 as Distillery were denied the "Double".
In 1961, Kennedy claimed his first major representative honour, playing alongside club-mate John Anderson for Ireland Amateurs in a 4-1 defeat by Wales in Portmadoc. He battled for his place in the Amateur international side for the next four years with the likes of Iam McFaul also staking a claim. During 1964 Kennedy played in all of the Irish League's representative fixtures. In 1964 he also appeared for Great Britain in a two-legged Olympic qualifier against Greece.
On 10th March 1965 Kennedy signed his first professional contract, with Distillery receiving a £5,000 fee from Celtic for his signature. He spent two years at Parkhead, only once appearing for the firstteam - in a 4-0 League Cup win over Raith Rovers in September 1965. He was released in the summer of 1967, joining up with the Glentoran squad that travelled to the USA to play as the Detroit Cougars.
On his return from America, Kennedy joined Lincoln City and was a popular player for The Imps for seven seasons, including being named as the club's Player of the Season in 1970. Throughout his time with Lincoln, he combined playing with teaching at local schools and remained in the area after retiring from the game.
RedImps
Ireland Amateur Cap Details:
14-01-1961 Wales... A L 1-4
18-02-1961 Scotland H D 3-3
28-09-1963 England. H W 2-1
11-01-1964 Wales... H D 2-2
08-02-1964 Scotland A D 2-2
26-09-1964 England. A L 1-2
16-01-1965 Wales... A D 1-1
Summary: 7/0. Won 1, Drew 4, Lost 2.
Irish League Representative Appearance Details:
17-03-1964 League of Ireland A L 2-4
15-04-1964 League of Ireland H D 2-2
28-10-1964 Football League.. H L 0-4
Summary: 3/0. Won 0, Drew 1, Lost 2.
