Sam Kennedy

Sam Kennedy (1896 – 9 December 1963) was an English professional footballer who played for five different Football League clubs. He started his career as a right-half, but later played in the centre forward position.

Biography Samuel Kennedy was born in the small village of Platts Common near Hoyland, West Riding of Yorkshire, in 1896. Apart from football, he was also a keen sprinter. After retiring from football, he lived in Scunthorpe, where he worked in a hotel. After the Second World War, Kennedy became a director of Scunthorpe United. He remained in the town for the rest of his life and died there on 9 December 1963.

Career Kennedy started his footballing career in local-league football with Wombwell. In August 1920, he was signed by Football League First Division side Huddersfield Town. He failed to make a first-team appearance for the club. The following summer, Kennedy joined Football League champions Burnley. However, he was again unable to break into the senior team, and was only used in the reserve side. He subsequently returned to non-League football with Denaby United in December 1921 before re-joining Wombwell for the start of the 1922–23 season. The team was relegated to the Third Division North at the end of the season, but Kennedy remained at Nelson despite the departures of several other players.

Kennedy returned to the Second Division in October 1924, when he was signed by London-based team Fulham. During a two-year association with Fulham he played six league matches for the Cottagers, scoring one goal. In October 1926, Kennedy transferred to Barnsley, thus returning to Yorkshire. He scored five goals in nine league appearances for the club in the most prolific period of his professional career. Upon his departure from Barnsley in March 1927, he joined Mexborough Town and went on to play non-League football for several seasons, representing clubs as Shirebrook, Scunthorpe & Lindsey United, Brigg Town and Broughton Rangers.