James Jennings
Jennings playing for Kettering Town in 2009
Personal information
Full name James Ryan Jennings[1]
Date of birth (1987-09-02) 2 September 1987[2]
Place of birth Manchester, England
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2]
Position(s) Left back
Team information
Current team
 Stockport County (Head of Professional Player Support)
Youth career
0000–2006 Manchester City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2009 Macclesfield Town 38 (1)
2008 → Altrincham (loan) 9 (0)
2009–2010 Kettering Town 37 (3)
2010–2013 Cambridge United 101 (6)
2013–2014 Mansfield Town 46 (4)
2014–2016 Forest Green Rovers 34 (6)
2016–2017 Cheltenham Town 3 (0)
2016–2017 → Morecambe (loan) 13 (0)
2017 → Wrexham (loan) 15 (0)
2017–2020 Wrexham 107 (10)
2020–2021 Stockport County 31 (2)
Total 433 (32)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

James Ryan Jennings (born 2 September 1987) is a former English professional footballer who played as a defender. He is currently Head of Professional Player Support at Stockport County.

Career

Macclesfield Town

Born in Manchester, Jennings joined the senior Macclesfield Town team in May 2006 from Manchester City, making his debut in a 1–0 victory against Walsall in the FA Cup as a 90th-minute substitute on 21 November 2006, this led to Jennings famously playing in Macclesfield Town's 3rd Round FA Cup clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in 2007[3][4][5] His League Two debut came in Macclesfield's first league victory of the 2006–07 as they defeated Rochdale 1–0 in December.[6] He finished the season with 11 appearances,[7] after which he was offered a new contract which he accepted a month later.[8][9] He signed a new deal with the club until the end of the 2007–08 season in December,[10] and after making two appearances for the team that season he joined Conference National side Altrincham on loan.[11][12] He made his debut in a 2–1 victory over Northwich Victoria on 1 January 2008 and finished this spell with nine appearances before being recalled by Macclesfield in February.[13][14][15] He made a further 20 appearances for Macclesfield after his return and was offered a new contract at the end of the season,[11][16] which he subsequently signed.[17]

Kettering Town

In the summer of 2009, Jennings left Macclesfield to join Kettering Town.[18] His first appearance for Kettering came in a 2–1 away win over Forest Green Rovers on the opening day of the 2009–10 season.[19] His first goal for the club came in a 2–0 home win against Grays Athletic on 6 March 2010.[20]

Cambridge United

Jennings joined Cambridge United in summer 2010 from Kettering on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee decided by a tribunal.[21] He made 43 first team starts in his first season with the club. In his second season with The U's, Jennings was named as vice-captain by new manager Jez George.[22] In January 2012, Jennings put pen to paper in a new deal keeping him at the club until the summer of 2014.[23]

Mansfield Town

On the final day of the transfer window, 31 January 2013, Cambridge United allowed Jennings to join Mansfield Town. Jennings signed an 18-month contract with The Stags, with some media outlets mentioning that a fee was involved, with some stating it was a free-transfer. .He was part of the team which won the league with Mansfield in April 2013, gaining promotion to League Two.

Forest Green Rovers

On 3 June 2014, Jennings signed for Forest Green Rovers on a two-year deal.[24] A frustrating start to life at Forest Green saw him suffer an anterior cruciate ligament injury in pre-season training.[25] The injury kept him out of action for eight months, however he returned to make his debut in a 2014–15 Conference National play-off semi-final second leg defeat against Bristol Rovers in front of 10,563 supporters.[26]

He scored his first goal for the club on 22 August 2015 in a 3–1 home win against Lincoln City.[27] He then scored twice in a 2–1 win against Bromley on 31 August 2015 to help Forest Green to a seventh straight win at the start of the 2015–16 National League season.[28] He also scored the equaliser in a game that Forest Green went on to win 3–1 against promotion rivals Dover on 14 November 2015.[29]

After registering a new club record highest league finish of second place, he appeared for Forest Green in the play-offs, going onto make an appearance at Wembley Stadium on 15 May 2016 in a 3–1 loss against Grimsby Town.[30] A day later on 16 May 2016, it was confirmed that he was being released by the club at the end of his two-year contract.[31] His efforts over the season earned him a place in the 2015–16 National League team of the year.[32]

Cheltenham Town

On 26 May 2016 he signed for Cheltenham Town.[33] He scored his first goal for Cheltenham in an EFL Trophy tie against Blackpool on 30 August 2016.[34] A day later it was announced on deadline day that he had joined Cheltenham's League Two rivals Morecambe on loan until January 2017.[35]

Wrexham

Jennings signed for Wrexham on a loan deal until the end of the 2016–17 season, following in the footsteps of his younger brother Connor who left The Racecourse to join Tranmere the previous season.[36] Following his release from Cheltenham at the end of the season, he resigned with Wrexham on a 2-year deal on 23 May.[37]

Stockport County

Following his release from Wrexham, Jennings joined Stockport County on 16 July 2020.[38]

On 5 August 2021, Jennings announced his retirement from football following knee surgery and advice from a knee consultant.[39]

Coaching career

In July 2022, Jennings was appointed to the newly created role of Head of Professional Player Support at Stockport County having continued to be involved at the club since his retirement twelve months prior.[40]

Personal life

James's younger brother is Connor Jennings who also plays for Tranmere Rovers but is a striker

Career statistics

Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Macclesfield Town 2006–07[41] League Two 90200000110
2007–08[42] League Two 110000010120
2008–09[43] League Two 181100000191
Total381300010421
Altrincham (loan) 2007–08[42] Conference Premier 9000–0090
Kettering Town 2009–10[43] Conference Premier 36300–00363
Cambridge United 2010–11[43] Conference Premier 38130–21432
2011–12[43] Conference National 41230–41483
2012–13[43] Conference National 22310–20253
Total101670–821168
Mansfield Town 2012–13[43] Conference National 13000–00130
2013–14[43] League Two 334101010364
Total464101010494
Forest Green Rovers 2014–15[43] Conference National 1000–0010
2015–16[43] National League 33630–00366
Total34630–00376
Cheltenham Town 2016–17[43] League Two 3000101151
Morecambe (loan) 2016–17[43] League Two 130200000150
Wrexham (loan) 2016–17[43] National League 15000–00150
Wrexham 2017–18[43] National League 40410–00414
2018–19[43] National League 37240–30442
2019–20[43] National League 30440–00344
Total1221090–3013410
Stockport County 2021–22[43] National League 31200—20332
Total 433322102016348235

Honours

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "James Jennings". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  2. 1 2 "James Jennings". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  3. ↑ "First Year Professionals". Macclesfield Town F.C. 9 May 2006. Retrieved 4 August 2008.
  4. ↑ "Walsall 0–1 Macclesfield". BBC Sport. 21 November 2006. Retrieved 4 August 2008.
  5. ↑ "English National Football Archive". English National Football Archive. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  6. ↑ "Macclesfield 1–0 Rochdale". BBC Sport. 5 December 2006. Retrieved 4 August 2008.
  7. ↑ "Macclesfield 2006/2007 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 August 2008.
  8. ↑ "Player Contract Update". Macclesfield Town F.C. 17 May 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2008.
  9. ↑ "Contract Update". Macclesfield Town F.C. 19 June 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2008.
  10. ↑ "Contract Update". Macclesfield Town F.C. 31 December 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2008.
  11. 1 2 "James Jennings". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 August 2008.
  12. ↑ "Macclesfield give five new deals". BBC Sport. 31 December 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2008.
  13. ↑ "Northwich 1–2 Altrincham". BBC Sport. 1 January 2008. Retrieved 4 August 2008.
  14. ↑ "Altrincham 2007/2008 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 August 2008.
  15. ↑ "Defender recalled". Macclesfield Town F.C. 28 February 2008. Retrieved 4 August 2008.
  16. ↑ "Alexander upbeat after departures". BBC Sport. 20 May 2008. Retrieved 4 August 2008.
  17. ↑ "Transfer news". Macclesfield Town F.C. 30 June 2008. Retrieved 4 August 2008.
  18. ↑ "Poppies bring in Silkmen defender". BBC Sport. 7 July 2009. Retrieved 8 July 2009.
  19. ↑ "Forest Green 1–2 Kettering Town". BBC Sport. 8 August 2009. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  20. ↑ "Kettering 2–0 Grays Athletic". BBC Sport. 6 March 2010. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  21. ↑ "Jennings is ready for a reunion with Kettering". Northamptonshire Telegraph. 21 September 2010.
  22. ↑ "Wylde is United's captain". Cambridge News. 8 September 2011. Archived from the original on 1 August 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  23. ↑ "New deals for Coulson and Jennings". Cambridge News. 25 January 2012. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  24. ↑ "Forest Green Rovers sign ex-Mansfield defender". BBC Sport. 3 June 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  25. ↑ "Forest Green defender James Jennings could miss whole season". Gloucester Citizen. 16 August 2014. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  26. ↑ "Bristol Rovers 2–0 Forest Green". BBC Sport. 3 May 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  27. ↑ "Forest Green 3–1 Lincoln City". BBC Sport. 22 August 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  28. ↑ "Forest Green 2–1 Bromley". BBC Sport. 31 August 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  29. ↑ "Forest Green 3–1 Dover". BBC Sport. 14 November 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  30. ↑ "Forest Green 1–3 Grimsby". BBC Sport. 15 May 2016.
  31. ↑ "Darren Carter: Forest Green Rovers have 'unfinished business' in National League". BBC Sport. 16 May 2016.
  32. ↑ "Robins' honoured at National League Awards evening". Cheltenham Town F.C. 12 June 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  33. ↑ "James Jennings: Left-back joins Cheltenham Town from Forest Green Rovers". BBC. 26 May 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  34. ↑ "Blackpool 2 Cheltenham Town 1: Robins defeated in first Checkatrade Trophy game". gloucestershirelive.co.uk. 30 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  35. ↑ "Shock departure as defender leaves Cheltenham Town for League Two rivals". Gloucestershire Live. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  36. ↑ "Wrexham AFC James Jennings Arrives on Loan". Wrexham A.F.C. Archived from the original on 6 January 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  37. ↑ "DEFENDER RETURNS|James Back on Board". Wrexham A.F.C. Archived from the original on 15 June 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  38. ↑ "Connor and James Jennings sign for County". 16 July 2020.
  39. ↑ "Club Statement: James Jennings". stockportcounty.com. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  40. ↑ "Jennings appointed in new role". www.stockportcounty.com. 16 July 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  41. ↑ "Games played by James Jennings in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  42. 1 2 "Games played by James Jennings in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  43. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "J. Jennings". Soccerway. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  44. ↑ "Robins' honoured at National League Awards evening". Cheltenham Town. 12 June 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
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