George Kennedy (Scottish footballer)

George William Kennedy DCM MM (12 March 1882 – 16 November 1917) was a Scottish footballer. He played at left half or centre half.

George William Kennedy
Kennedy while with Brentford in 1911.
Personal information
Full name George William Kennedy[1]
Date of birth 12 March 1882
Place of birth Dumfries, Scotland[2]
Date of death 16 November 1917(1917-11-16) (aged 35)
Place of death Passchendaele salient, Belgium[2]
Position(s) Wing half
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Maxwelltown Volunteers
1906–1908 Lincoln City 42 (0)
1908–1909 Chelsea 10 (0)
1910–1913 Brentford 73 (2)
1913–1914 Dumfries
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He began his career in his native Dumfries with Maxwelltown Volunteers.

He then made 45 appearances over two seasons playing for Lincoln City. Under David Calderhead, Lincoln pulled off an FA Cup upset when a goal by another ex-Maxwelltown Volunteers player, Norrie Fairgray, knocked out Chelsea 1–0 in a replay. Calderhead became Chelsea manager soon after and took Fairgray with him. Kennedy followed a year later.

Kennedy spent the years in the lead up to World War I playing for another team in West London, then-Southern League club, Brentford.[1][3] George left Brentford at the end of the 1912–13 season,[4] returning to Dumfries for the following season.[2]

George Kennedy emigrated to Canada in June 1914. Sailing from Glasgow to Montreal on board the SS Grampian.

War service

Private 418239 G.W. Kennedy enlisted in the 42nd Battalion (Royal Highlanders Regiment) of the Canadian Infantry in March 1915 and was sent to France with the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF).[4] He would subsequently be awarded both the Military Medal and Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallantry,[4] and was also Mentioned in Despatches.

Having risen to the rank of Company Sergeant Major (CSM), Kennedy was wounded during the Third Battle of Ypres and subsequently died from his injuries on 16 November 1917.[4] He was 35 years old.

CSM 418239 G. Kennedy is now buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, located 12 km west of Ypres close to the town of Poperinge.[4]

Career statistics
Club Season League FA Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Chelsea 1908–09[5] First Division 10 0 2 0 12 0
Brentford 1910–11[6] Southern League First Division 22 2 1 0 23 2
1911–12[6] 28 0 4 0 32 0
1912–13[6] 23 0 0 0 23 0
Total 73 2 5 0 78 2
Career total 83 2 7 0 90 2

References
  1. Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 147. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
  2. George Kennedy - Chelsea, Brentford and Lincoln City
  3. "Playing record: George Kennedy". Swindon-Town-FC.co.uk. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  4. "Former player George William Kennedy added to Brentford list of honour as Remembrance Sunday marked". www.brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-11-26.
  5. "George Kennedy | Chelsea Player Profile | Stamford-Bridge.com The History of Chelsea FC". stamford-bridge.com. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  6. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. pp. 361–362. ISBN 0951526200.


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