Jack Kendall

John William Kendall (9 October 1905 – October 1961) was an English professional footballer who made 220 appearances in the Football League playing for Lincoln City (in two spells), Everton, Preston North End and Sheffield United. He played as a goalkeeper. He also played 125 games for Peterborough United in the Midland League.

Life and career Kendall was born in Broughton, near Brigg in Lincolnshire.

First Division club Everton sent a director to watch Kendall in March 1924; he reported back "very favorably", and thought the player could be available for "about £1,500". After further scouting trips, the club authorised his purchase at "up to £1,000". A fee of £1,250 was eventually agreed, and Kendall joined Everton in April. Selected instead of incumbent Alfred Harland for the second of three games in four days over the Easter weekend, he made what the Daily Express described as "a promising debut" as Everton beat Tottenham Hotspur 4–2. With Harland injured, Kendall began the 1924–25 season in the first team, and kept his place for a time after Harland's return to fitness. He made two more first-team appearances that season, in February 1925, again while Harland was unfit. At the end of the season, he was initially transfer-listed at a fee of £750, but was later re-engaged at a weekly wage of £6.

Early in the 1925–26 season, both Harland and Kendall played, but when Everton introduced a new first-team goalkeeper in England international Harry Hardy in October 1925, both were made available for transfer at fees of £1,500. The directors were not prepared to allow either to go out on loan to Crystal Palace. Kendall was retained for 1926–27, but returned for pre-season training in need of knee cartilage surgery that was to leave him unavailable for selection until mid-November. He was transfer-listed again in April 1927 at a fee of £100, and joined Preston North End in May for £50; Everton agreed to pay him the same amount as accrued share of any long-service benefit which he might have expected.

Kendall made only two league appearances for Preston, He eventually displaced Len Hill as first choice goalkeeper, and played his last game for Lincoln in March 1930. The last of his 80 league appearances for Sheffield United, and his last in the Football League, was also against Arsenal: a 2–0 defeat on the final day of the 1933–34 season that confirmed Arsenal as league champions.

He became the first full-time professional to be signed by the newly formed Peterborough United in 1934 as they prepared for their first season in the Midland League. He remained with the club as first-choice goalkeeper for four years.