Eddie Jenkins

Edwin Jonathan Jenkins (16 July 1909 – 5 August 2005) was a Welsh professional footballer. He began his professional career with Cardiff City, making his debut for the club in February 1930. After two seasons as a reserve, he featured regularly for the club in the Third Division South between 1932 and 1934, making 87 appearances in all competitions before being released. He later played for Bristol City and Newport County before retiring.

Early life Jenkins was born in Cardiff, where his father worked as a blacksmith in a local steelworks before setting up his own milk business. Jenkins attended Howard Gardens School but left school at the age of 14 to work for his father.

Career Jenkins worked as a milkman while playing local amateur football for Splott Labour Amateurs and Cardiff East when he was spotted by coaches at Cardiff City. He was invited to a trial and joined the club in 1930, making his professional debut on 4 February 1930 in a 2–1 defeat to Bradford City in the Second Division. He made seven further league appearances for the club at the end of the 1930–31 season in place of club captain Fred Keenor, who would leave the club soon after to join Crewe Alexandra, as Cardiff suffered relegation to the Third Division South. After a second season as a reserve player, serving as backup to the more experienced Jack Galbraith and making just five appearances, he eventually established himself in the first team at the start of the 1932–33 season after displacing William Roberts. However, Jenkins returned to professional football the following season, joining Bristol City where he spent one season. He later moved to Newport County where he finished his professional career. He also became a qualified referee. He later wrote a book on Splott in Cardiff, the area of the city that he grew up, entitled The Splott I Remember. He died on 5 August 2005 at the age of 96 in Cardiff.