Jenkyns Caesar Image 1 Arsenal 1895

Description

Builth Wells, Brecknockshire born centre half Caesar Jenkyns began his football career with Builth in 1884 and played for Small Heath St Andrew’s and Walsall Swifts in 1885, and Unity Gas in 1886 before re-joining  Small Heath (now Birmingham City) in 1888, playing for them as they joined The Football Alliance in 1889, the year in which he made his senior match debut when he played for them against West Bromwich Albion in a First Round FA Cup tie that February.

The defensive backbone of every club he played for, and was club captain at every one, and nicknamed “The Mighty Caesar”, he was first selected for Wales in February 1892, playing in a 1-1 draw with Ireland at Penrhyn Park, Bangor and he won 8 caps for Wales, scoring once, through to 1898.

When Small Heath joined the newly formed Second Division, he made his Football League debut in their inaugural match against Burslem Port Vale in September 1892 as they proceeded to win the Second Division Championship, however they were not promoted, losing out to Newton Heath in the Test Matches. The following season he scored 6 goals as they finished Second Division runners up, however they were promoted with a win over Darwen in the Test Matches, Jenkyns then played in their first season in the top flight.

Known as one of the most rugged defenders of his era, he was sent off four times whilst 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. He had scored 11 goals in 81 appearances during Small Heath’s Football League era in addition to his previous appearances.

He then joined Woolwich Arsenal the following month and spent 1895-96 with The Gunners scoring 6 times in 27 appearances, before transferring to Newton Heath in the 1896 close season. Jenkyns made his debut for the club on 1st September 1896 against Gainsborough Trinity. He spent two seasons with Newton Heath, taking over as captain from James McNaught, helping them to runners up position in the Second Division in 1897, where they lost out on promotion with defeat to Sunderland in the Test Matches. After 6 goals in 47 appearances he left the club for Walsall in November 1897, where he scored twice in 88 appearances before joining Southern League Coventry City in 1902 as player-coach. After a season with Coventry, he returned to non league Unity Gas in 1903 and finished his career playing for Saltley Wednesday in 1904.