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John Kennedy
(1967/68-1973/74)
Full Name: Kennedy, John
Date Of Birth :
04/09/1939
Birthplace : Newtownards
LCFC career record :
Apps : 278 ;
Subs : 0 ;
Goals : 0
LCFC Football League record :
Apps : 251 ;
Subs : 0 ;
Goals : 0
LCFC Debut : 19/08/1967, Aldershot (h) 1-1, FL Division 4
Last Match : 20/04/1974, Northampton Town (h) 1-1, FL Division 4
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Back in the late 1960s and early 1970s Irishman John Kennedy was
first choice 'keeper at Sincil Bank for seven seasons and is regarded
by many as one of the best in his position for the Imps during the
post-War period.
As a goalkeeper he is remembered for his calm authority he exercised
over his penalty area, his clean handling of the ball and above all
his fair play. He was one of the last part-timers to appear in the
Football League for the Imps combining his playing career with a
day-time job as a school teacher after moving south from Glasgow
Celtic in the summer of 1967.
Throughout his career with the Imps John was a stalwart of the
defence and had a reputation of saving penalties. His feat of saving
two spot-kicks within five minutes in City's match at Colchester back
in March 1973 is one that is unlikely to be repeated. Ironically City
went onto win that match after Dixie McNeil successfully scored when
the Imps were awarded a penalty and set up a 2-0 victory.
John was brought up in Northern Ireland attending a rugby-playing
grammar school. His early football was with the Boys' Brigade and
then in the local Churches League before he signed as an amateur for
the Irish League club Distillery at the age of 18. His performance
won him a call-up for the Northern Ireland amateur international team
making his debut against Wales in January 1961 and he also played for
the Irish League representative team.
The 1962/63 season proved a tremendous campaign with his club, who
were managed by former Imps' star George Eastham, as they clinched
the Irish League title for the first time in 60 years thanks to a
final day win against Linfield. Distillery's hopes of a double had
already disappeared following a 2-1 defeat in the Irish Cup Final but
the championship win put the club in the European Cup where they were
drawn against the mighty Benfica. The first match produced a
memorable 3-3 draw but the Portuguese outfit comfortably went through
thanks to a 5-0 second leg win - the legendary Eusébio scoring
three of Benfica's eight goals.
John's form earned him selection for the Great Britain Olympic squad
and after appearing in warm-up matches against top club sides such as
Chelsea, Manchester United and Aston Villa, he appeared in both legs
of 1964 Olympics qualifying matches against Greece.
He turned professional in March 1965 when he signed for Celtic,
joining the day after Jock Stein arrived at the club. He shared the
reserve team position with Ronnie Simpson getting his only break into
the senior team in September 1965 for a League Cup tie against Raith
Rovers. Although the club won 4-0, Celtic then turned to the more
experienced Simpson and at the end of the 1966/67 season, John was
released and spent the summer with the Irish team Glentoran who
played as Detroit Cougars in the USA.
The Imps and Shrewsbury Town were both interested in signing John
along with several Scottish clubs but he accepted an offer to join
City after playing in a friendly match against Hearts.
In his first season he was part of the City team that reached the
fourth round of the Football League Cup only going out 3-0 to Derby
County in a Sincil Bank replay watched by a record 23,196 crowd.
Kennedy had a run of 78 consecutive first team appearances before
suffering a fractured elbow in a dramatic FA Cup clash with Chester
in December 1968. Once fully fit he won his place back and in 1969/70
was voted the first ever Supporters Club "Player of the Season".
He stayed at Sincil Bank until the summer of 1974 and this meant that
he never played for the club at a higher level than Division Four.
The nearest the Imps came to promotion in his time was in 1971/72
under David Herd when City were just one point away from going up.
At the start of his career with the Imps John taught at the old
Sincil School and was able to train at the Club at lunchtime. Later
he moved to the City School and either Bert Loxley or George Kerr
would normally come over to train him or he would have a session with
athletics coach Jack Murphy.
Graham Taylor's appointment at City brought big changes with training
routines altered and generally a more business-like attitude around
the Club. John eventually decided to retire but continued to assist
in coaching young players. He also played for Lincoln United in the
Yorkshire League for a couple of seasons before retiring following a
cartilage operation.
He retired from teaching at the City School in 1994 and is currently
the president of Washingborough village tennis club, having also been
heavily involved with the village's Twinning Association.
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