Rogers Jack Image 1 Aberdare Athletic 1922

Description

Helston, Cornwall born inside right Jack Rogers began his senior football career after the First World War, to which he had lost his early football years, with Southern League club Crystal Palace in 1919 and joined Third Division (South) club Aberdare Athletic for their inaugural League season, making his Football League debut at Charlton Athletic in October 1921, already aged 26. He remained a regular for the rest of the season and for their 1922-23 campaign, and he was sold to First Division club Sunderland in the summer of 1923 after 11 goals in 65 appearances for Aberdare.

He was very much on the fringes at Roker Park, and had to wait for his top flight debut which came in a defeat at Arsenal in April 1924, but he scored twice in 8 appearances during a run in the team after Christmas 1924, his goals coming in consecutive 3-0 wins, firstly in an FA Cup tie at Bury and then in a home win over West Bromwich Albion, his final match for Sunderland coming in a 2-0 defeat to local rivals Newcastle United at St James’ Park in February 1925. He joined Norwich City in the 1925 close season and scored in four consecutive appearances in December and January 1925-26, but after 12 matches for The Canaries he lost his place in February 1926 and returned to Cornwall with non league Newquay later in 1926, playing for Helston British Legion in 1927 until his eventual retirement.